World War II Filipino heroes honored in rites

From the Philippine Information Agency (Apr 5): World War II Filipino heroes honored in rites

Filipino World War II veterans were honored during a ceremony held Friday at the Philippine Army Grandstand in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

The event is part of activities in observance of the Fall of Bataan, which for this year has for its theme, “Ang Beterano: Sigla at Inspirasyon ng Kabataan tungo sa Tuwid na Daan.”

The Philippine Veterans Week will be observed from April 5 to April 11.

A number of veterans were awarded plaques and medals in recognition of their wartime services and honorable performance of duties during the war.

Among the awardees were MGen Fortunato Abat (Ret), Col Vicente Alhambra PC (Ret), Cpl Primitivo Cuenca PA (Ret) Pvt Tiburcio Dela Cruz PA (Ret), Capt. Jaime Guerrero PA (Ret), Capt Alejandro Hontiveros, Sr. PA (Ret), Col Manuel Panlilio PA (Ret) and Bgen Domingo Tucay, Sr. AFP (Ret).

Posthumous awards were given to Bgen Gonzalo Batac AFP (Ret) Ssg Jose De Leon PA, LtCol Gustavo Ingles PA, Gen Guillermo Nakar, Sr. AFP (Ret) and Maj Benedicto Pinga, Sr. PA (Ret). The awards were received by their respective families.

Before the awarding, a sunrise ceremony was held at the Libingan ng mga Bayani also in Taguig City followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the same venue.

According Department of National Defense (DND) Usec for Civil, Veteran & Reserve Affairs Eduardo Batac, other activities to be observed during the Philippine Veterans Week include the annual celebration of “Araw ng Kagitingan” or Day of Valor on April 9.

A tribute to all Filipino Heroes will also be conducted on April 7 in Corregidor Island.

The Philippine Veterans Administration Office in partnership with Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), other government agencies and private sectors will hold a commemorative program on April 9 at the Mount Samat Shrine in Bataan to celebrate Day of Valor.

Batac said the Fall of Bataan is the most intense phase of Imperial Japan's invasion of the Philippines during World War II. It saw the largest surrender in American and Filipino military history, and is still being jointly commemorated by Filipinos and Americans.

On April 10, AFP and the US military soldiers will attend a wreath-laying ceremony at the new Capas National Shrine in Capas, Tarlac.

The shrine was built by the Philippine government in 1991 as a memorial to the Filipino and American soldiers who died in Camp O'Donnell at the end of the Bataan Death March.

A Sunset Ceremony will culminate the series of activities on April 11 at the "Libingan ng mga Bayani" in Taguig.

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=231365152439