SFA-AGR-258-08

SAN FRANCISCO FIL-AMS CELEBRATE ARAW NG KAGITINGAN

15 April 2008--The Fil-Am community in the Bay Area together with the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco and the War Memorial Commission commemorated The Day of Valor, or Araw ng Kagitingan in Filipino, at the War Memorial Veterans Building in San Francisco on 9 April 2007.

The event was held in honor of the Filipino and American men and women who bravely fought for the freedoms of the United States and the Philippines in Bataan and Corregidor during the Second World War.

The meaningful and solemn event was attended by Filipino WWII veterans and their families, as guests of honor, and community members and leaders of veterans’ groups and NGOs. Representatives of local and state government officials also graced the special occasion. The speakers extolled the heroism and sacrifices of both Filipino and American soldiers who fought in the epic battles of Bataan and Corregidor, endured the infamous Bataan Death March, and later joined the resistance movement against the Japanese forces in the Philippines.

Philippine Consul General to San Francisco Marciano A. Paynor, Jr. led the distinguished group of speakers who participated at the event, including Cdr. LeRue Grin, Chairman of the American Legion War Memorial Commission; Cdr. Rudy Asercion of the American Legion – Bataan Post 600, Ltc. Jesiros Bautista; Battalion Commander of the 1-363^rd Regiment of the US Army;  representatives of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom; and children from the West Bay Community Center in San Francisco who read excerpt from the famous “Bataan has fallen” essay written by the late Salvador P. Lopez.

In his keynote address, Consul General Paynor said that the selflessness, love of country, and heroism shown by the Filipinos and Americans who fought in Bataan and Corregidor during WWII should “constantly remind us that, without their sacrifices, without their courage and bravery, we and our children would not be living in a world as we know it today – a society that is free of tyranny, oppression and terror; a world where everyone can fully enjoy the blessings of freedom and democracy.” 

Consul General Paynor also took the opportunity to remind the Fil-Am community of the urgency to seek the passage of the Filipino Veterans Equity Bill pending in the US legislature, and ensure that the search for justice and equity for our Filipino World War II veterans is finally achieved. He also mentioned the recently signed Philippine law, the Filipino WWII Veterans Pension and Benefits Act of 2008, which ensures that these veterans will continue to receive the pensions from the Philippine Government even in the event the Filipino Veterans Equity Bill is passed by the US Congress.

Referring to a well-recognized photograph of soldiers held as prisoners and seen walking alongside another during the Bataan Death March shown during the event, Consul General Paynor said that “if pictures paint a thousand words, we clearly see the message of equality and brotherhood in this photograph. From where we are standing, would you know who the American or Filipino soldier is?”

Among the major highlights of the event was the wreath laying ceremony, where Consul General Paynor and Cdr. Rudy Asercion presented the wreath to honor the American and Filipino soldier of the Second World War. Certificates of honor and recognition were also issued by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and San Francisco Mayor Gavin. The event was covered by the local media, including the various Filipino American newspapers in San Francisco and the other Bay Area media outfits. END.

gary