48,702 heroes buried at Libingan ng mga Bayani

From the Manila Standard Today (Nov 2): 48,702 heroes buried at Libingan ng mga Bayani

“I DO not know the dignity of his birth but I know the glory of his death.”

These immortal words, emblazoned at the entrance of the “Libingan ng mga Bayani,” or Cemetery of Heroism, were uttered by Gen. Douglas MacArthur when he made a sentimental journey to the Philippines in 1961 or 16 years after World War II ended.

Thanks for the Sacrifice. A student from Fort Bonifacio
Elementary school in Taguig City offers candles at a tomb
of one of the soldiers who died during the Death March
in 1942 at the Libingan ng Mga Bayani in Makati City
on Saturday. DANNY PATA

Libingan ng mga Bayani, located at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City, is the burial place of gallant Filipinos mostly soldiers who died as heroes fighting in defense of freedom and democracy.

It is also the burial site of awardees of the Medal of Valor, the highest award given by the Armed Forces of the Philippines for bravery in combat.

There are 48,702 people, including women, who served the country with honor and beyond the call of duty who are buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani as of Oct. 29, 2014, according to Col. Noel Detoyato, spokesman of the Philippine Army.

Over the past three years, 1,474 more people have been in the cemetery over the past three years, compared to 47,228 in October 2011.

Bereaved families of soldiers and former World War II guerrillas have started visiting the graves of their loved ones at the LNMB since Friday.

The 142-hectare Libingan ng mga Bayani is under the supervision of the Military Shrines Services of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office of the Department of National Defense, currently headed by retired Lt. Gen. Ernesto G. Carolina.

Those buried at LNMB are military personnel who died in line of duty or were honorably discharged, Filipino veterans, former presidents, government dignitaries, statesmen and national artists.

Of the 47,228 remains interred at the Libingan Ng Mga Bayani, 32,268 were military personnel who died in the infamous “Death March” from Bataan to Capas, Tarlac during World War II.

So far only two former Philippine presidents are buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. They are former Presidents Carlos P. Garcia and Diosdado Macapagal.

The third president slated to be buried was the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos which did not push through due to strong opposition by various sectors.

The main features and structures found at the Libingan ng mga Bayani are:
Tomb of The Unknown Soldier—the main structure constructed at the center of the cemetery. This is the site where wreath laying ceremonies are held when Philippine government officials and foreign dignitaries visit the LNMB. The following inscription is found on the tomb: “Here lies a Filipino soldier whose name is known only to God.” Behind the tomb are three marble pillars representing the three main island groups in the Philippines—Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Heroes Memorial Gate—a structure shaped in the form of a large concrete tripod with a stairway leading to an upper view deck and a metal sculpture at the center. This is the first imposing structure one sees upon entering the grounds of the cemetery complex.

Black Stone Walls—erected on opposite sides of the main entrance road leading to the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier and just near the Heroes Memorial Gate are two 12-foot high black stone walls which bear the words: “I do not know the dignity of his birth, but I do know the glory of his death.”

Korean Memorial Pylon—is a towering monument honoring the 112 Filipino officers and men who were members of the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea (PEFTOK) who perished during the Korean War.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Pylon—this memorial pylon is proudly dedicated to the members of the Philippine contingents and Philippine civic action groups to Vietnam (PHILCON-V and PHILCAG-V). These dedicated men and women served as medical, dental, engineering construction, community and psychological workers, and security complement who offered tremendous sacrifices as they alleviated human suffering in war-ravaged Vietnam from 1964 to 1971. Inscribed on the memorial pylon are the words: “To build and not to destroy, to bring the Vietnamese people happiness and not sorrow, to develop goodwill and not hatred.”

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/11/02/48-702-heroes-buried-at-libingan-ng-mga-bayani/