VETERANS DAY. Twelve of the 37 living veterans of World War II in Pangasinan attend the Veteran's Day at the Capitol Compound in Lingayen town, Pangasinan on Jan. 9, 2024. The Philippine Veterans Administration Office on Monday (April 8) said 966 Filipino World War II veterans are still alive. (Photo by Liwayway Yparraguirre)
MANILA – The Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) said 966 Filipino veterans of World War 2 (WW2) are still alive as of April 8.
PVAO Undersecretary Resty Aguilar shared the data on the eve of Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) and the 82nd anniversary of the Fall of Bataan.
In an interview on Monday, Aguilar said the oldest is Emelia Guerrero, 105, who was recently awarded a medal for her services in defending the country during WW2.
The 966 living WW2 veterans, he said, continue to receive their monthly pensions and benefits, including free hospitalization and health services.
Aguilar, a retired army brigadier general, also said there are 16,899 spouses of WW2 veterans who are receiving pension pay.
Another war veteran, Col. Cesar Pobre, who wrote over a dozen of WW2 books, recalled the historic Battle of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija where he and his colleagues clashed with Japanese troops.
Pobre was a member of the famous United States 98 Mortar Brigade, which engaged the Japanese in a close-quarter battle.
The bravery of Filipino soldiers was displayed during WW2 when they held their ground in defending the country against the Japanese on Dec. 8, 1941.
For over three months, Filipino and American forces fought the Japanese, delaying advancing enemy forces and enabling Gen. Douglas McArthur to escape to Australia.
McArthur fulfilled his “I shall return” promise when he landed in Leyte on Oct. 20, 1944 to help liberate the Philippines.
It was in Bataan that the combined Filipino and American forces made their last stand until they ran out of bullets and ammunition which forced them to surrender on April 9, 1942.
The “Fall of Bataan” was followed by the infamous “Bataan Death March” where thousands of Filipino and American soldiers died. (PNA)
