THE Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB), partnered with the Department of Education, conducted a history lecture of the guerrilla files found in United States (US) National Archives to instill sense of nationalism to Filipinos.
Dubbed as “Finding our Heroes,” the lecture was attended by Araling Panlipunan and history teachers in Grade 7 and 8, librarians and principals of public schools.
The Filipino guerilla files came from the US National Archives in Maryland, United States of America or known in the Armed Forces of the Philippines Museum as the Brigadier General Francisco Licuanan Jr. Collection.
Marie Vallejo, head researcher and key speaker, said during the free demonstration, the activity aimed to spread awareness on the untold stories of guerrillas who fought during World War II (WWII) which could be a source of inspiration because of their heroism.
About 280,000 records were scanned from June to September 2015 and digitalized which contains little known guerrilla activities in various municipalities and provinces that will further expand historical knowledge of local war history and promote nationalist pride.
Vallejo cited Philippine Archives collection at the US National Archives must be digitalized in order to preserve the crumbling documents, make known the heroic resistance of the Filipino guerillas, civilians and historical events.
She added Mt. Samat Center for WWII studies gives honor to WWII veterans. This is also a way to disseminate the records for research and teaching materials and instill sense of nationalism through the stories in these records that could be helpful for researchers.
Vallejo said the content of the files which includes the treatment of prisoners of war, how guerrilla warfare was waged in the Philippines through their personal histories, diaries, unit histories, medical reports.
Activities with guerilla units, accounts of efforts to liberate the Philippines from Japanese control and conditions in the Philippines under Japanese occupation were also included in the files.
Michael Angelo Abril, PVB official who supported the undertaking, hopes the participants could share the learning and new discovery to their students to preserve the documents of the past for the future and use it as reference and material for research.
He said the Filipinos will appreciate more the history and the heroic acts of the guerrillas.
“We hope when you will go back to your respective schools with knowledge from historical lectures. Let us continue take part and [share] untold stories of our veteran heroes so they could learn from them and never take for granted the freedom we enjoyed today,” he said.