PH Consulate General in New York Honors Filipino World War II Veterans with U.S. Congressional Gold Medal

Awardees and their family representatives gather with Consul General Senen T. Mangalile (second from right), Permanent Representative Antonio Manuel R. Lagdameo (second from left), Colonel Ralph Hibionada (rightmost), and Mr. Sonny Busa, Director of the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FilVetREP) (leftmost), following the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal awarding ceremony. (Photo by Nikka B. Arenal)

NEW YORK 11 April 2025 – The Philippine Consulate General in New York commemorated Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) and the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Manila with a solemn tribute to Filipino and American World War II veterans, held at the Philippine Center in New York. The evening featured a lecture by author Mr. Brett Moyer, a ceremonial awarding of the United States Congressional Gold Medal, and musical performances that paid homage to the heroism of those who fought to defend freedom in the Pacific.

In his welcome remarks, Philippine Consul General in New York Senen T. Mangalile reflected on the meaning of the commemoration, stating, “We are remembering tonight not just the cost of war, but the strength of the human spirit. Not just the fall of a city, but the rise of a people. Not just a long and arduous Good Friday, but the dawning of a glorious Easter Sunday.” He added that while April 9 marks a military defeat, it continues to resonate across generations because of what it reveals about the Filipino character.

Mr. Brett Moyer, author of Had MacArthur Not Returned, presented “Lessons from Liberation: WWII and Beyond”, highlighting the Philippines’ wartime alignment with the United States, the resilience of Filipino nurses under fire, and the essential role of resistance fighters in liberating Manila. “Without the courage and strength of the American and Filipino troops to fight on, there would be no amazing history to look back on today,” Moyer said.

The highlight of the program was the awarding of the Congressional Gold Medal, one of the highest civilian honors granted by the United States, to four veterans or their surviving family members. Petty Officer Arthur Grabiner, a 99-year-old U.S. Navy veteran who served aboard the USS Laurens, received the medal in person. The medals were also posthumously awarded to Captain Teodoro P. Lomuntad, Private Herbert M. Morgan, and Sergeant Abundio G. Gultiano, and were accepted by their next of kin.

Presiding over the ceremony was Mr. Sonny Busa, Director of the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FilVetREP), who helped lead the advocacy for the medal’s approval by the U.S. Congress. “Many Americans still don’t realize that the Philippines took part in the war,” Busa remarked. “Filipinos fought side by side with American soldiers. Their stories need to be told—and remembered.” He added that it took years of sustained lobbying and outreach to educate lawmakers about the Philippines’ contributions to World War II, culminating in the Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2016.

Permanent Representative Antonio Manuel R. Lagdameo and Colonel Ralph Hibionada of the Philippine Mission to the United Nations in New York joined Consul General Mangalile in presenting the medals.

The evening closed with musical performances by Ms. Evita Cruz and Ms. Ligaya Cullo, who sang Bayan Ko and Dahil Sa ‘Yo in tribute to the spirit of patriotism and remembrance. END

Author Brett Moyer presents “Lessons from Liberation: WWII and Beyond,” highlighting the Philippines’ alliance with the United States and the role of Filipino nurses and resistance fighters during WWII. (Photo by Nikka B. Arenal)

(Right photo) Consul General Mangalile addresses guests during the Araw ng Kagitingan and Liberation of Manila commemoration hosted by the Philippine Consulate General in New York. (Left photo) Mr. Busa delivers remarks on the multi-year campaign to secure recognition for Filipino WWII veterans. (Photos by Nikka B. Arenal)

Ms. Evita Cruz (left photo) and Ms. Ligaya Cullo (right photo) perform musical tributes during the Araw ng Kagitingan program at the Philippine Center in New York. The two young Filipino-American artists closed the evening with heartfelt renditions of “Bayan Ko” and “Dahil Sa ‘Yo,” honoring the courage and sacrifice of World War II veterans. (Photos by Nikka B. Arenal)

For more information, visit https://www.newyorkpcg.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.newyorkpcg.org, https://www.facebook.com/PHLinNY/ or https://www.instagram.com/phinnewyork/.