Filipino WWII book to be formally launched Tuesday

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 14): Filipino WWII book to be formally launched Tuesday

As part of this year's commemoration of the Philippine Veterans Week and 74th Araw ng Kagitingan, a book entitled “For Love of Freedom: Pursuit of Freedom From Want” Book Two is set to be launched at the Tejeros Hall, AFP Commissioned Officers' Club, Camp Aguinaldo on Tuesday.

The book was penned by Dr. Senen R. Asuan who served as an intelligence officer during the Second World War.

The former was his personal narrative of his experiences at the time of the great global conflict in the Philippines.

Asuan was then a student at the Ateneo High School in Camarines Sur when the Japanese declared their attack in the Philippines on the Dec. 8, 1941.

He then enlisted into the 53rd Infantry Regiment with base at Mount Isarog on Dec. 9, 1942 with the rank of 2nd lieutenant, serving initially as an intelligence operative in Camarines Sur.

In Nov. 2, 1944, he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant and was eventually discharged honorably from his guerilla unit on April 30, 1945.

It was in 2001 when Asuan wrote and published the Book One of “For Love of Freedom: Memoirs of a World War II Philippine Resistance Fighter” with the assistance of author John Levi.

This time, Asuan will formally unveil the sequel of his book entitled “For Love of Freedom: Pursuit of Freedom from Want”, which paints a chilling description of the horrors of the Japanese occupation in his province.

At 1:00 p.m., a Symposium on the Images of Valor and Victory will be held at the same venue.

It will feature unsung heroism of soldiers during and after the World War II in the Philippines.

The first part will discuss “Heroism at War: Selflessness of Filipino Soldiers during the Japanese Occupation and the Liberation Period”, while the second part will present “Medal of Valor Awardee: Testimonials of Gallant Defenders of our Country.”

The observance of the Philippine Veterans Week and Araw ng Kagitingan is pursuant to Proclamation No. 499 series of 1989 and Executive Order No. 203, series of 1987 that aim to promote, preserve, and memorialize the principles, ideas, and deeds of Filipino veterans and consequently deepen the citizen’s love for country and strengthen a collective sense of national pride, especially among the youth.

The week-long observance is an occasion which honors not only the Filipino Veterans who had served or died for the nation but also those who render honorable military service in defending the country in times of war or peace, to gratefully acknowledge their contributions in preserving the country's sovereignty and defending national security.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=866269