ACTS OF bravery, gallantry and heroism from World War II were remembered by the Baguio City Government together with other line agencies during the 72nd Baguio Liberation Day at the Veterans Park in Harrison Road.
With a theme “WWII Veterans: The Guiding Light of Our Mother Land,” Benguet Governor Cresencio Pacalso, whose father also fought during the war, gave salute and thanked the bravery of the war veterans for fighting the country and the city.
Baguio City Vice Mayor Edison Bilog, meanwhile, reminded the Boys and Girls Scout of the Philippines to value the bravery of the veterans who fought for the liberation of the country.
Bilog added the celebration should be an instrument for the scouts to be good citizens of the country as the youth are the hope in nation building.
Together with the surviving World War II veterans, the event was also graced by local officials USAFIP-NL WW II Veterans, Veterans Federation of the Philippines, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Fleet Reserve Association (FRA), PVAO, USAFIP-NL-SDAI, and Philippine Veterans Bank-Baguio Branch.
According to history, December 8, 1941 was the start of war in the Philippines which began in Baguio. At least 17 Japanese planes came over in Camp John Hay and dropped 128 bombs, many of which did not explode.
On December 28, 1941, Japanese forces occupied Baguio City using Camp John hay as their headquarters. On February 1942, the heroism of Igorot guerillas in the jungles of Bataan was reported by Time Magazine and New York Times in its February 1942 issue.
On October 30, 1944, the freedom fighters under the 66th infantry pulled off the evacuation and escape from Baguio of the First Lady, Esperanza Osmeña and six other members of the family through Naguillian Road by making it appear that they left through the Kennon Road.
On April 26, 1945, the 33rd division of the United States (US) Army and the 2nd Battalion of the 66th Infantry liberate Tuba, Benguet.
On April 27, 1945, the US Army and the 66th Infantry enter and liberate Baguio from Japanese forces. On May 3, 1945, the 66th Infantry and US Forces liberate La Trinidad, Benguet while on September 2, 1945, General Tomoyoki Yamashita, commander of the Japanese Forces, surrender to the US Army in Kiangan, Ifugao and on September 3, General Yamashita signs the terms of surrender at Camp John Hay, thereby marking the end of the war in the Philippines, in the same place where the first Japanese bombs fell on December 8, 1941.
World War II Veteran and 91–year-old Albert Bugtong, said during the commemoration “some of us are already weak and some are bedridden that is why they did not attend today. We wish also the government to add the pension we are receiving for our daily expenses. We need also to enjoy our lives.” (With reports from Joy Calantas, UC Intern/VoxPop Baguio)