PVAO honors five war vets for heroism

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 11): PVAO honors five war vets for heroism

The Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) on Friday cited five aging war veterans – the oldest 98 years old and the youngest 88 - for heroism during the Second World War.

The honorees Col. Vicente R. Balbin, Ist Lt. Candido Amang” Lopez Guiam, Jr., Pvt. Macario T. Ilaga, Pvt. Felix Marquez Valdez, and Cpl. Fortunato D. Villanueva were cited for their gallantry in combat against the well-armed invading Japanese forces.

The citation was made during the celebration of the Veterans Week held in Capas, Tarlac.

Retired Lt. Gen. Ernesto G. Carolina, PVAO administrator, cited the five war veterans for their contribution in the fight for freedom and democracy.

In his profile Col. Balbin, a native of Gerona, Tarlac was inducted into the United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) as 3rd Lieutenant on September 1, 1941.

Aside from being a USAFFE, he joined the guerrilla forces following the fall of Bataan in 1942. After the war he joined the Philippine Constabulary (PC) and fought in the government’s anti-dissidence campaign in Luzon until he retired in 1970.

Balbin is now 97 years old.

On the other hand, Guiam as a guerrilla fighter, aided Filipino soldiers in the Philippine Commonwealth Army and American troops in fighting Japanese forces during World War II.

Born on Feb. 10, 1925, this native of San Gavino, Victoria, Tarlac , was only a teenager when he joined the Fil-American Irregular Troops (FAIT), which was also known as Marking’s Fil-American Troops (MFAT) because the said unit was organized by Marcos “Marking” Villa Agustin, an amateur boxer and bus driver who transported most of the USAFFE soldiers to Bataan during the onset on World War II in 1942.

He was among the courageous Markings who fought in the rear in the Battle of Ipo Dam - a position heavily fortified by the Japanese. Thereafter, he did perimeter guarding in the areas of Angat and Norzagaray, Bulacan.

At age 90, Guiam continues to serve as a shining example for all citizens, especially on patriotism.

He was formerly the governor of Tarlac.

Another war veteran Macario Ilaga, born on Dec. 7, 1923 and a native of Batac, Ilocos Norte, was called and inducted to active duty in the United States Army Forces in the Philippines – Northern Luzon (USAFIP-NL) with the rank of private on March 7, 1945.

He was assigned at the “G” Company, 2nd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment of the USAFIP-NL which was responsible for the victory in the Battle of Bessang Pass that paved way to the capture and surrender of Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita also known as the “Tiger of Malaya”. This victorious moment substantially helped in liberating the Philippines from the Japanese Imperial Army.

After fulfilling his nationalistic duty during World War II, he was honorably discharged on Nov. 10, 1945. He celebrated his 91st birthday last Dec. 7, 2014.

Felix Marquez Valdez was enlisted in the United States Army Forces in the Far East in September 1941.

He served in the Medical Unit of the 22nd Infantry of the 21st Division which was responsible for the medical treatment of the Filipino and American soldiers wounded during World War II. He is now 97 years old.

The oldest honoree, Cpl. Villanueva, 98, was inducted into the United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) on Nov. 29, 1941.

He served in the “C” Company 1st battalion, 23rd Infantry, 21st Division of the Philippine Commonwealth Army that helped in liberating the Philippines from the Japanese Imperial Army.

The celebration was held at the Capas National Shrine (Paggunita Sa Capas) in Barangay Navy Capas, Tarlac.

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

There is also a memorial to the nationals who fought alongside the Filipino and US soldiers during the war.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=752202