Gov’t officials extol valor of Filipino forebears

• Source:http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1371460344914/gov-t-officials-extol-valor-of-filipino-forebears-
• Tuesday, April 12, 2016

By Gideon C. Corgue (ALT/GCC/PIA9/Zamboanga del Sur)

PAGADIAN CITY (PIA) –Government officials here extolled the valor and heroism of Filipino forbears in a simple but memorable celebration of the 74th Araw ng Kagitingan on Saturday, April 9.

MGen. Gerardo F. Barrientos, Jr., 1st Infantry “Tabak” commander in his message delivered by Colonel Casimero R. Tamparong of the Service Support Battalion during the Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) rites held at the Veterans Memorial at City Hall compound here said, “the whole nation is remembers the courage of the people who took arms against enemies of our country, and led the nation to freedom and democracy during the dark period of our nation’s history.”

“Today, we are celebrating the steadfast conviction of our forefathers who faced the enemies audaciously for the love of our country,” Tamparong said quoting Barrientos statement.

“Our forebears, indeed have pledged their lives and their sacred honor to rise against tyranny and oppression,” he added.

Board Member Marilyn G. Pajares of the first district of the province said she felt honored to be part of the historic and momentous event.

“This historical event is commemorated every year, to pay tribute and respect to our forebears who died and survived to defend and protect our country,” Pajares, whose father was a veteran and her mom an army nurse during World War II, said.

She said the Battle of Bataan which was fought on April 9, 1942 where Filipino and American soldiers have fallen where 76,000 starving and disease-ridden soldiers surrendered to the Imperial Japanese army in the infamous 140-kilometer Bataan Death March to Camp O’Donnel in Capas, Tarlac.

“In today’s celebration, Pajares said, we have been reminded that it was because of those brave countrymen who fought not just to protect our Motherland but also to fight for our freedom.”

City Councilor Bienvenido Culve, officer-in-charge of the City Mayor’s office said, “we commemorate the efforts of our veterans in order to promote and preserve their principles, ideals, and deeds as a means to enhance the love of country, peace and progress.”

This year’s Araw ng Kagitingan commemoration carries the theme “Isabuhay ang Kagitingan, Isulong ang Kapayapaan, Kamtin and Mithing Kaunlaran.”