WWII Filipino Veterans Honored at 76th Araw ng Kagitingan Commemoration in Honolulu
From left: Rear Admiral Patrick A. Piercey, US Pacific Command: Hawaii Governor David Ige; and Consul General Joselito A. Jimeno give their remarks for the 76th Commemoration of the Araw ng Kagitingan at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific on April 07.
11 April 2018 HONOLULU – Nearly 130 individuals comprising of U.S. and Philippine government officials, military officials from the U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM), and members of the Filipino community in Hawaii on 07 April gathered to pay tribute to the legacy and bravery of Filipino World War II veterans at a commemoration ceremony marking the 76th Araw ng Kagitingan at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Special guests include U.S. Senator Brian Schatz, Hawaii Governor David Y. Ige, Rear Admiral Patrick A. Piercey of the U.S. PACOM and Undersecretary for Policy Enrique A. Manalo of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs.
In his Araw ng Kagitingan Address, Philippine Consul General Joselito A. Jimeno remarked that the solemn celebration was being held “to pay tribute to the sacrifice and heroism of the men who fought and perished in Corregidor, and in the infamous Bataan Death March. Some lived through those horrific events. They are with us here today, Filipino American veterans and their families. We proudly honor them, as we do the 80,000 Filipino and American prisoners of war who fought in valiant defense of their country”.
He also added that this year’s commemoration is particularly significant because just last 25 October 2017, nearly 75 years after the Fall of Bataan and Corregidor, the U.S. Congress finally bestowed the Congressional Gold Medal – the highest civilian honor – to Filipino World War II veterans at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC.
The Consul General also announced that an awarding ceremony of Congressional Medals replicas in Honolulu is being organized by the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project at the Filipino Community Center on 06 May.
Offering their messages for the occasion were Hawaii Governor Ige and Rear Admiral Piercey. Senator Mazie Hirono, Representative Tulsi Gabbard, and Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim also sent their messages for the occasion. Consul General Jimeno, accompanied by Madame Araceli C. Jimeno, led the wreath-laying ceremony, where wreaths, leis and other memorial offerings were presented in honor of the fallen war veterans.
The solemn ceremony was capped with military honors, consisting of a rifle salute and playing of taps by the U.S. PACOM and its command units.
The Araw ng Kagitingan is an annual commemorative event organized by the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu, in cooperation with the AFP Liaison Office to the U.S. PACOM and the Philippine Celebrations Coordinating Committee of Hawaii, to honor the heroism of our fallen heroes who fought for freedom during the Second World War.
It is held on the anniversary of the Fall of Bataan, which culminated in the surrender of nearly 80,000 Filipino and American troops, and the Bataan Death March, which claimed around 10,000 Filipino and American lives in April 1942. END
Veterans Mr. Artermio Caleda and Mr. Oscar Bangui, representing around 20 or so surviving Filipino American veterans in attendance, march towards the dedication stone to pay tribute to their fallen comrades.
The officers and staff of the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu, led by Consul General and Madame Jimeno, pose with US Senator Brian Schatz (9th from left) and Hawaii Governor David Ige (10th from right).
For more information, visit www.honolulupcg.dfa.gov.ph / www.philippineshonolulu.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHinHonolulu/.