In Pangasinan, war heroes never forgotten
LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN—Their advancing age and frailty did not prevent the 10 of the 25 remaining World War II veterans in Pangasinan to attend, accompanied and aided by relatives, the 80th anniversary of the Lingayen Gulf Landings and the 18th Pangasinan Veterans Day celebration held in this capital town recently.
Wheelchair-bound and many struggling with hearing and speech, they quietly absorbed the tributes from national and provincial officials who honored their “courageous contributions and sacrifices” in liberating the Philippines from Japan during the war.
The number of living veterans from the province is down from 37 last year. Records from the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office show that the oldest surviving veteran is Valentin Mamanta Untalan who is 108 years old, from Calasiao town. The youngest is Pedro Nayan Corpuz from Agno town, now 94.
Reaching the century mark and coming from various towns are Adriano Sinlao Salomon, 104; Hospicio Ninobla Mallari, 103; Pedro Fernandez Fernandez and Serapio Medrano Placido, both 102; Victorina Garcia Urmaza, 101; and Eduardo Gabiola Caerlan, Adriano Gabiola Herrera and Federico Carbonel Villon, all 100.
Six veterans are 99 years old: Raymundo Manaois Cabrera, Gabaldon Castil Cacho, Candido Marzan Fabia, Ricardo Cariaga Manzano Sr., Santiago Defunturum Nonay and Andres Nipales Ramirez. One veteran, Efren Valentino Nivera, is 98.
Eight are 97: Ernesto Cabaes Cantillo, Godofredo Valencerina Dela Cruz, Daniel Mondok Drapete, Narciso Bugayong Fabiculanan, Constantino Jose Palos, Juan Malubay Santiago, Fernando Divina Sison and Pedro Nayan Corpuz.
During the occasion on Jan. 9, Gov. Ramon Guico III extended the Pangasinenses’ “utmost respect and gratitude for your courage and sacrifices in fighting for our hard-earned freedom.”
“May this day remind you that your dedication and service to the country will never be forgotten. Without your bravery, we would not be enjoying the freedom we have today,” Guico said.
He said the activities were special occasions as these were held at the heart of the provincial capitol complex which is under a development project “that will include a Veterans Plaza to feature fountains and monuments to honor the sacrifices of the veterans.”
Vice Gov. Mark Lambino said the province was “deeply privileged to be joined by the surviving veterans who are living witnesses to the bravery and sacrifices that shaped our nation’s history.”
“To these heroes, we owe [an] unpayable debt of gratitude,” he said.
Health, financial aid
During the program, Defense Undersecretary Pablo Lorenzo urged the youth to learn from the stories of Filipino war veterans, as only 950 of them are still alive.
“Their courage is our inheritance and their bravery is our guide and inspiration. Let their sacrifices rekindle your spirit of nationalism and service to the nation,” he said.
During this year’s commemoration, the provincial government awarded the veterans with financial assistance, a tradition that these Pangasinan heroes receive every year.
They were also treated with free medical checkup as well. The provincial government also gave the centenarians P20,000 cash.
The Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City, Lorenzo said, continues to render health services to war veterans and their descendants, while satellite hospitals are being established in the Visayas and Mindanao. There are 24 projected veteran wards in different hospitals while five, including one at the Region I Medical Center in Dagupan City, are already operational.
“As the [department] that supervises the Veterans Federation of the Philippines, the [Department of National Defense] is taking significant measures to make it more effective and efficient in generating revenues to fund programs to promote the welfare and well-being of the veterans,” he added.
