PHL Embassy in Washington DC, Consulate General in Los Angeles, New York and Honolulu Commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Bataan Death March
Philippine Embassy Chargé d’ Affaires, ad interim, Minister Patrick A. Chuasoto led the wreath laying ceremony at the World War II Memorial to commemorate the 75th Araw ng Kagitingan in the afternoon of 07 April 2017.
Filipino World War II Veterans, Mr. Potenciano Dee, Mr. Ray Cabacar, and Mr. Rodolfo Panaglima attended the reception held at the Romulo Hall of the Philippine Embassy in commemoration of Araw ng Kagitingan on April 07.
Mr. Sonny Busa of FilVetRep (2nd from left) presents a copy of the signed Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015 to Philippine Embassy Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Minister Patrick A. Chuasoto (3rd from right).
The MacArthur Memorial in Norfolk, Virginia commemorated the 75th anniversary of the Bataan Death March on April 09 by publicly unveiling the Ben Steele Collection and showing the new documentary film Survival Through Art.
Philippine Consul General Adelio Angelito S. Cruz joined the commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Bataan Death March at the White Sands Missile Range on March 19. Considered to be the largest commemoration of the Bataan Death March outside the Philippines, the annual march was started by Army ROTC Department of the New Mexico State University in 1989. A record number of 7,200 participants joined the event, composed of both military personnel and civilians, including eight survivors of the 1942 Bataan Death March.This year’s commemorative event was made even more significant by the recent signing of the Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015 on 14 December 2015, recognizing Filipino and American World War II veterans for their service.
From left: Fil-Am veteran Marcelino Gawat, PSHS Ricardo Molina, Robert Tidwell as Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Consul General Adelio Angelito S. Cruz, WW II veteran Commander Roger Dagdag, PSHS Rey Ortega, PSHS Gil Mislang at the ribbon-cutting ceremony launching the exhibit commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Bataan Death March on April 03.
Philippine Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega joined the commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Bataan Death March in Orangeburg, New York on April 08. Over 200 persons participated in the march with the Filipino-American contingent comprised of organizations based in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Consul General Ma. Theresa Dizon-De Vega and Mayor Chuck Cahn of Cherry Hill join the veterans at the Bataan Death March Memorial at the Cooper River Park in Cherry Hill, New Jersey on April 09. The Memorial was installed by the Filipino Community organizations in Philadelphia and New Jersey in honor of the joint forces of 66,000 Filipinos and 12,000 American heroes who fought against the Japanese Army during the Battle of Bataan in World War II.
Ms. Mary Lou Stefanko (middle) donated the hand-sewn flag of her late father Commander Anacleto Luartes to Mr. Jonathan Magpantay, President of Philippine Community of Southern New Jersey (3rd from L). Consul Ma. Theresa Dizon- De Vega, Ms. Nida Imperial, President of the Filipino Executive of Greater PA, Mr. Senen Fontanilla, and Ms. Hermie Aczon and other community leaders witnessed the turnover ceremony.
The Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu led the 75th commemoration of Araw ng Kagitingan or Day of Valor at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific or Punchbowl Cemetery on April 08. The ANK 2017 was attended by some 200 guests that included Filipino World War II veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the veterans’ families and friends, local government officials, the U.S. and Philippine military and the Consular Corps of Hawaii.