Press Kit
Philippine Veterans Week
Events
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The Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC), the only exclusive medical facility for veterans and their dependents, will
be holding the HANDOG-KAGITINGAN: LUNAS SA MAMAMAYAN Year 2, an outreach that will provide free medical, surgical
and dental services on April 8, 2015 at Bataan General Hospital (formerly Bataan Provincial Hospital), Tenejero, Balanga
City, Bataan.
The outreach is VMMC’s contribution to the national observance of the 2015 Philippine Veterans Week (April 5-11, 2015)
and 73rd Araw ng Kagitingan (April 9), pursuant to Executive Order No. 203, Series of 1987 and Proclamation No. 466,
series of 1989 and in keeping with VMMC’s mission to provide quality health care and hospital services to veterans and
their families, especially those residing in provinces distant from Quezon City where the hospital is located.
“This is now the second time that the VMMC is doing a project this big. It’s like bringing the entire hospital in Bataan because
150-160 surgeons, doctors and medical professionals will offer volunteer services,” Dr. Dominador M. Chiong, Jr., VMMC
Chief of Professional Services, said.
A pre-surgery screening will be held on April 7, 2015 for surgery patients prior to the major operations that will be
performed on April 8, 2015. Post-operative care to patients who have undergone surgery will also be done on the
following day. Minor surgeries for cyst extraction and circumcision will also be performed.
A total of 150 medical specialists, social workers and nurses from the VMMC and the 62 nd Medical Service Battalion of the
AFP Reserved Command will render their voluntary services to patients.
Aside from medical consultation and surgery, diagnostic services such ECG and X-ray will be offered to beneficiaries as
well as maintenance medicines and vitamins.
While the free medical and surgical services will be offered to the public, priority will be given to veterans (war veterans
and retirees) and their families, as a
way of giving gratitude and tribute to
the veterans’ sacrifices for the
nation.
Medicines will be donated by the
Filipino War Veterans Foundation,
Inc. who will also be bringing
additional staff for outpatient
services, distribution of free reading
glasses, and provision of ambulatory
device such as wheelchairs and
canes.
HANDOG-KAGITINGAN: LUNAS SA
MAMAMAYAN – Year 2 is cosponsored by the Office of Rep.
Herminia B. Roman, Armed Forces of
the
Philippines,
Provincial
Government of Bataan, and other
generous benefactors. #
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Army Commander Leads
Sunrise Ceremony
LtGen. Hernando Delfin Carmelo A. Iriberri, AFP, the 56th Commanding General of the Philippine Army, will lead
this year’s Sunrise Ceremony - the event that traditionally starts the annual observance of the Philippine Veterans
Week at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers, Libingan ng mga Bayani, Taguig City at the break of dawn on 5 April 2015.
The Sunrise Ceremony provides an opportunity for Filipino veterans to honor their fallen comrades and for the
families of these veterans to do the same. Thus, soldiers and civilians, veterans and the youth, gather in this symbolic
event to offer flowers to those who have offered their lives in the altar of freedom amid the majestic rising of the sun
in the horizon that symbolizes the dawning of a new era of freedom, peace and democracy.
Col. Andres Bonifacio O. Belleza, Chief, Chaplain of the Philippine Army will lead the blessing rites and
ecumenical prayer while MGen. Gamaliel S. Cruz, AFP, Commander of the Army Support Command, will introduce the
guest of honor and speaker for the ceremony.
LtGen. Iriberri served as spokesperson of Honorable Voltaire T. Gazmin, Secretary of the Department of
National Defense (DND) when he was then the Army Chief in 2000. He became the commander of the Army's 503rd
Brigade in Abra and later 7th Infantry Division. He also served as senior military assistant to the Defense Chief.
The 503rd Brigade in Abra under Iriberri was instrumental in achieving the most peaceful elections in Abra, a
perennial election hotspot, on 2013. Effectively responding to various threats in peace and order and security, the unit
contributed to an 83% voters turn out in the province, the highest recorded so far in the Cordillera Administrative
Region in the past elections.
Most of Iriberri's combat duties were in Mindanao. He was a recipient of two Gold Cross Medals, the 3rd
highest combat honor. He received the first in 1996 when he commanded a Scout Ranger Regiment that overran a
Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) camp in Maguindanao and later in 1999 when he was Army spokesperson and
survived an ambush in Lanao.
He was also a
recipient of five Distinguished
Service Stars, and one Bronze
Cross Medal.
After the program,
soldiers and civilians, veterans
and the youth will offer
flowers in the Tomb of the
Unknown soldiers to honor
those who have offered their
lives for the country’s
freedom.
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Defense Chief Honors Veterans
Defense Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin will lead war veterans, veterans support institutions, veterans servicing
institutions, and youth representatives in the Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the onset of the 2015 Observance of the
Philippine Veterans Week on 5 April 2015 at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, Taguig City.
The Wreath-Laying Ceremony is an institutional way of venerating the memory of Filipino patriots and martyrs
who laid down their lives for the motherland, thus offering the most supreme sacrifice of all. War veteran leaders,
veterans support institutions, veterans servicing institutions, and organizations of men and women in World War II
resistance movements will offer memorial wreaths, followed by youth leaders who represent the hope and the future
of the nation upon whose hands the veterans bequeath the precious blessings of freedom, peace and democracy, and
the task of safeguarding these gifts which the veterans have defended at the cost of their lives.
As a veteran himself, and a son of a veteran - the late BGen Segundo L. Gazmin, AFP (Ret.), who served as an
artillery officer in the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) under the 2nd Battalion, 91st Division during
World War II, Secretary Gazmin will offer a wreath to pay tribute to our country’s defenders at the Tomb of the
Unknown Soldier.
To join him is Taguig City Mayor Laarni L. Cayetano; members of the Technical Working Committee headed by its
Chairperson, Hon. Eduardo G. Batac, Undersecretary for Public, Veterans and Retiree Affairs; and the heads of servicing
institutions for veterans namely: Administrator Ernesto G. Carolina of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office; Dr. Nona F.
Legaspi, Director of the Veterans Memorial Medical Center.
Servicing banks and financial institutions for veterans and their legal beneficiaries will likewise offer wreaths
during the event. These include the Philippine Veterans Bank, Development Bank of the Philippines, Land Bank of the
Philippines, Asia United Bank, United Coconut Planters Bank, Maybank Philippines, Armed Forces and Police Savings and
Loan Association, Air Materiel Wing Savings and Loan Association Inc. and Composite Wing Savings and Loan
Association Inc.
Youth representatives from the National Youth Commission, Boy Scouts of the Philippines, Girl Scouts of the
Philippines and students from various schools within the National Capital Region will also participate in the ceremony.
The observance of the Philippine
Veterans Week and Day of Valor (Araw ng
Kagitingan) is pursuant of Proclamation No.
466 series of 1989 and Executive Order No.
203, series of 1987, respectively, during the
administration of the late President Corazon
C. Aquino.
This year’s commemorative theme
is, “Ipunla ang Kagitingan sa Kabataan,
Ihanda ang Beterano ng Kinabukasan.” #
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NEWS RELEASE
AFP Salutes Senior Defenders
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will offer its snappy salute to the nation’s senior defenders by hosting a
Review in Honor of the Veterans at the Hunters - ROTC Guerrilla Field Headquarters, Philippine Army Grandstand in Fort
Bonifacio, Taguig City on 5 April 2015 during the start of the observance of the 2015 Philippine Veterans Week.
A battalion-sized contingent from the AFP will perform the review wherein veterans are paraded and accorded
honors at par with high-ranking military officers and visiting dignitaries who are entitled to such honor. The review has
four elements: the formation of troops, presentation and honors, ceremonial inspection (passing around the troops) and
march in review where the veterans-leaders will stand in front of the stage to acknowledge the parading troops.
Gen. Gregorio Pio P. Catapang, Jr., AFP, Chief of Staff, is the military host who will lead the Review as the AFP’s
way of paying tribute to their forebears and the country’s senior defenders – the Filipino war veterans who brought to
fore the Filipino’s peculiar brand of heroism and love for country.
The review is a time-honored annual tradition of the AFP whereby men and women in the uniformed service show
their respect to veterans for their unparalleled services, selfless sacrifices, numerous accomplishments and the distinct
values which shaped the Armed Forces into what it has now become - a more capable, more professional and more
reliable Armed Forces serving the Filipino people.
Hon. Leopoldo N. Bataoil, Representative of the 2nd District of Pangasinan will be the Special Guest and Keynote
Speaker in the review. He is a nephew of a World War II veteran, his namesake, who was missing-in-action in Bataan
during World War II. He will be introduced by MGen. Raul Z. Caballes, AFP (Ret), Deputy Administrator of the Philippine
Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) who is also a son of another World War II veteran, the late Col. Mauro S. Caballes, PA (Ret),
member of PMA Class 1945 who fought under the Marking’s Fil-American Irregular Troops.
Senior veterans will be awarded with plaques and medals in recognition of their wartime services and honorable
performance of duties during World War II. The living awardees are Col. Francisco T. San Miguel, PA (GSC) Ret, MNSA;
Sgt. Jose Felix F. Caparas Inf (Inact); Sgt. Manuel C. Carpio, Inf (Inact); Col. Francisco S. Tamondong PA (GSC) Ret; Pfc
Pilar Hipolito De Ocampo, MD (Inact); Maj. Jesse M. Baltazar AUS (Ret); Pvt. Manuel T. Cannu PA (Ret); PFC Valentin R.
Ege, Inf (Inact); TSgt. Silvestre D. Sarmiento PA (Ret); and Col ./ Atty. Catalino D. Ibañez PA (Ret), CE.
Meanwhile, the posthumous awardees are as follows: Pvt. Francisco S. Cordoba, Sr. PA (Ret); LCdr. Vicente A.
Perez, PN (Ret); Sgt. Domingo G. Padiernos (Inact); MSgt. Jesus V. Delos Santos, PA (Ret); LtCol . Saturnino R. Silva, Sr.
AUS (Ret); MGen. Calixto M. Duque, AFP (Ret); and 3Lt Leopoldo G. Bataoil, PA (MIA). #
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Former Naval Commander leads
“Tribute to all Filipino Heroes”
Hon. Guillermo L. Parayno, Jr., former Philippine Navy Commander and current member of the Board of
Directors of the Philippine Veterans Bank, will lead veterans and the youth in a “Tribute to all Filipino Heroes”
ceremony on 7 April 2015 in the historic Corregidor Island in the province of Cavite.
Mr. Parayno is the former BIR and Customs Commissioner and a current Board of Director of the Philippine
Veterans Bank. He is a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) class of 1970 where he was one among
the top students and the first recipient of the Jacobo Zobel Award, an award given to the cadet who has achieved
the most exemplary performance in all aspect of a cadet life – academics, leadership, conduct athletics, extracurricular activities, character & department.
He is a son of a World War II veteran, Ssgt Guillermo Delos Santos Parayno, Sr. (Ret) who joined the United
States Army Forces in the Far East – Philippine Army (USAFFE-PA) on 19 December 1941 .
“Tribute to All Filipino Heroes” aims to honor all Filipino heroes, patriots and defenders who fought and
died for country’s freedom and liberty – from the time of Lapu-lapu to the Revolutionary and World War II era up to
the present, including the veterans of anti-dissident campaigns. It also honors Filipino defenders who fought in the
Korean War, Vietnam War, veterans of military campaigns, members of humanitarian contingents to other
countries and our modern-day veterans who render honorable military service in defending the country in times of
war or peace and in faithfully upholding their duty to preserve our sovereignty and national security.
The event will be attended by veterans and other guests from Manila, Bataan or Cavite who will be ferried
by the vessels of the Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard and Sun Cruises. The luxury cruise of the veterans via
MV Sun Cruiser was made possible through the sponsorship of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming corporation
(PAGCOR), a member of the TWC.
The program proper will feature a “Tolling of Bell” by a veteran, with a youth representative reciting a
pledge extolling those who sacrificed their lives for their love for the Philippines, and vowing to keep the flame of
patriotism ever burning in the hearts of Filipinos of all generations.
After the program, the guests will be given a tour around the historic place, including the lights and sound
show at the Malinta Tunnel after the program.#
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Prisoners of War to be
Honored in Capas, Tarlac
World War II soldiers who were held Prisoners of War (POWs) at Camp O’Donnell by the Imperial Japanese Forces will be
given a tribute in the “Paggunita sa Capas” as part of the week-long celebration of the 2015 Philippine Veterans Week on 10 April
2015, 9:00 AM at the Capas National Shrine, Capas, Tarlac - the former site of the said concentration camp that served as the final
stop of the infamous Bataan Death March.
The “Paggunita sa Capas” will commence with a Wreath-Laying Ceremony to be led by Hon. Paolo Benigno “Bam” A.
Aquino IV, Senator of the Republic of the Philippines, the Guest of Honor and Speaker. He will be joined by the members of the
Technical Working Committee (TWC) headed by Hon. Eduardo G. Batac, Defense Undersecretary for Public, Veterans and Retiree
Affairs (PVRA) and Chairperson of the TWC; LtGen. Ernesto G. Carolina, AFP (Ret), Administrator of the Philippine Veterans Affairs
Office (PVAO) and Hon. Ludovico D. Badoy, Executive Director of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP).
His Excellency, Ambassador Jaroslav Olsa, Jr of Czech Republic, and Capas Mayor Antonio C. Rodriguez, Jr. will also offer
wreaths before the “Obelisk,” the towering structure of the shrine. The other wreath offerors include descendants of World War II
veterans represented by Atty. Rafael E. Evangelista, National Commander of the Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor (DBC), Inc.;
veterans belonging to the DBC, Veterans Federation of the Philippines, Philippine Veterans Legion; and youth representatives from
the Sangguniang Kabataan, Boy Scouts of the Philippines and Girl Scouts of the Philippines.
After the wreath laying ceremony, the program will start with an ecumenical prayer to be led by Rev. Fr. Jason C Aguilar,
Parish Priest of St. Joseph the Patriarch Parish Church followed by the “Tolling of Bell” by Col. Romeo C. Castro, PS (Ret) of DBC,
while a special tribute for the veterans will be read by Chrisel M. Angeles, a student from Dolores Elementary School.
The highlight of the program is the recognition ceremony to veterans: Col. Vicente R. Balbin PC (GSC); 1Lt. Candido L.
Guiam, Jr. PA (Inact); Pvt. MacarioT. Ilaga, Inf. (Inact); Pvt. Felix M. Valdez, MS (Inact) and Cpl. Fortunato D. Villanueva, OS (Inact).
The Capas National Shrine is formerly Camp O’Donnell, an American facility that was turned by the Japanese Imperial
Forces into a concentration camp where around 25,000 Filipino and 6,000 American soldiers ultimately succumbed to death due to
sickness, brutal treatment, deprivation and hardships of war. At the center of the shrine stands an Obelisk with a towering height
of 73 meters which symbolizes peace. The needle-like tower consists of three sections which represent the Filipino, American and
Japanese people in this modern age of global peace, who have learned the lessons of war.
The shrine also features a mini-forest with 341,000 trees where every tree represents each of the 6,000 Americans and
25,000 Filipinos who offered the supreme sacrifice in the last world war. This reforestation project not only aims to honor the
gallantry of the soldiers but also to evoke environmental consciousness among the people. #
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Sunset Ceremony Culminates
2015 Philippine Veterans Week
The week-long national observance of the 2015 Philippine Veterans Week began that began at sunrise will come
to a close with a Sunset Ceremony on 11 April 2015 at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.
Veterans, widows, children and great grandchildren of veterans – both the alive and the fallen, gather before
the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier like one big family, to share their personal reflections on how their lives were
touched by the veteran in the family.
Ms. Carmela Estrada, daughter of Col. Rafael Estrada, Chairman emeritus and Founder of the Defenders of
Bataan and Corregidor, will address the audience in her welcome remarks to be followed by the awarding ceremony of
distinguished war veterans.
Impressions will be shared by spouses, children, and grandchildren of the awardee veterans. The speakers are
Mr. Ronald John Recio, son of the late Col. Juanito C. Recio, PA (Ret); Ms. Maria Regina D. Ibarra, granddaughter of
the late World War II surgeon and post-war athlete Col. Rafael Joson de Leon, MC PA (Ret); Atty. Cherrie Belmonte Lim, Chief of the DND Office of Legal Services, daughter of physician, Sgt. Nemesio F. Belmonte, PA MC (Inact); Ms.
Cecilia Gaerla, Executive Director of the US-based Bataan Legacy Heritage Society, daughter of the late World War II
Veteran 2Lt Luis R. Gaerlan, Jr., PA (Ret); Atty. Horatio Dante R. Mauricio, President of the Sons and Daughters of
Hunters-ROTC Inc. and son of the late Col. Eugenio M. Mauricio (GSC), PC (Ret); Ms. Gloria Bautista, wife of the late
World War II and PEFTOK veteran, BGen. Teodulfo S. Bautista, AFP; and Civil Service Commission Director Lucila
Pagdanganan, daughter of World War II veteran SSgt Vicente Pagdanganan (Inact), the only living awardee.
BGen. Joel A. Cabides, AFP (Ret) of the Board of Trustees of Veterans of World War II (BTVWWII) will introduce
the guest of honor and speaker, Hon. Orlando S. Mercado, former Senator and Secretary of National Defense.
After his keynote speech, former Sec. Mercado will then receive the posthumous recognition of his father, the
late Sgt. Guillermo P. Mercado, (Inact) who fought during World War II and earned for the former Senator his
Educational Benefit from the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO).
The Sunset Ceremony will conclude with
a Pledge of Patriotism to be led by Lorraine
Amanda F. Rivera, student of Global Gleam
Montessori. It will be followed by lighting of
candles at the Flame of Freedom by the
participants and the nation’s youth as the sun
recedes in the horizon – setting the mood for a
dramatic and solemn ceremony of remembering
the veterans’ heroism.
The participants will thereafter sign their
names in the Wall of Patriotism to affirm their
commitment to contribute to nation building and
preserve the freedom, peace and democracy the
veterans had fought and died for.#
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