IT has been 73 years after Filipino and American soldiers waved the white flag before Japanese troops. Now the war veterans, who are in their twilight years, plea before the Philippine and US governments for higher pension and recognition for their unwavering bravery.
Of the 200,000 Filipino soldiers who fought in World War II, only 16,000 live to this day.
The old-aged warriors survived the 97-kilometer “Bataan Death March,” where they were made to travel by foot from Mariveles, Bataan to San Fernando, Pampanga. Many died of maltreatment and outright execution by the Japanese troops.
Filipino veterans fought with America as the Philippines was a colony of US during the time of the war.
“But for all their sacrifices and wartime service, they have yet to receive their well-deserved recognition from this country,” Retired Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba, son of a war veteran, said at the commemoration of the Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) in Washington, DC.
“It was with honor when these veterans served the country of their birth, and defended the nation which called them to serve. They would be honored if this nation (US) would now grant them the recognition they highly deserve,” he noted.
Taguba insisted that the US Congressional Gold Medal granted to the Filipino war veterans could be “the most important piece of paper hanging on the wall because it’s proof of their service to this country.”
“And I know that some will take it with them to their grave. For families and survivors of veterans who died, this piece of paper will tell their story of how they have willingly, unquestionably and with dignity and undivided devotion gave their life to a country they were not even born in,” he said.
For these heroes, it is more than just the medal– it represents the undying recognition and appreciation by the people they have offered their services to that matters for these modern heroes.
Moreover, veterans in the Philippines call on the government to raise their monthly pension from P5,000 to P20,000. The men of valor need assistance for their medical conditions due to their age.
The law that mandates the government to provide a P5,000 pension to the veterans was crafted in 1994—more than two decades ago. The Peso value has changed and prices of medicine and necessary supplies have risen. It is high time that the law is amended, allowing our heroes to live their lives to the fullest.
(AJPress)