Ayungin Shoal defenders hailed
HONORING NATION’S HEROES President Aquino looks on as US Ambassador Philip Goldberg and Japan Ambassador Toshinao Urabe shake hands at the 72nd commemoration of the “Araw ng Kagitingan” (Day of Valor, also known as Fall of Bataan) at the Mt. Samat shrine in Pilar town, Bataan province, on Wednesday. LYN RILLON
MT. SAMAT, Bataan—President Aquino on Wednesday hailed Marine soldiers for protecting the Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea as he led military rites to pay tribute to the Filipino war veterans.
Speaking at the Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor), marked in honor of World War II veterans, the President acknowledged the Marines for their “dedication” in safeguarding the Ayungin Shoal, which is claimed by China.
“Day and night, on board the stranded BRP Sierra Madre, their dedication was anchored on keeping watch over and safeguarding our territory. This is why, together with our veterans, soldiers like them are among those we honor today. The Filipino nation salutes all of you,” he said, drawing applause.
Aquino reminded Filipinos about the “gravity of sacrifice” by the Marines—their world revolving around the sea for five months, with “almost no communication” with their families.
“There were even times when the supplies and food they needed were blocked from reaching them,” he said, referring to the March 29 incident when a Chinese Coast Guard ship tried to block a resupply mission to the shoal.
US, Japanese, Chinese diplomats
The guests at the Shrine of Valor atop Mount Samat included Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua, who presented his credentials to Aquino last Tuesday, US Ambassador Philip Goldberg and Japanese Ambassador Toshinao Urabe.
The President specifically mentioned 1st Lt. Mike Pelotera, who was stationed on the shoal with six other Marines.
The rusty BRP Sierra Madre, which the military purposely ran aground on the shoal since 1999, serves as the military outpost in resource-rich waters miles off Palawan province.
Shoulder to shoulder
In his speech, Goldberg said the United States was standing “shoulder to shoulder” with the Philippines in the face of threats or disasters, given their shared history of heroism when they fought together against the Japanese during the second World War.
“As shown in history and present until this very day, we can and will continue to work together, shoulder to shoulder to improve each other’s militaries and our nations as a whole. As [Super Typhoon] ‘Yolanda’ demonstrated, when our nations’ soldiers and civilians worked together, we are prepared to react and respond to any disaster,” he said.
Treaty allies
“As treaty allies, when the Philippines faces threats or natural disasters, so do we,” Goldberg added.
The US State Department has accused China’s Coast Guard of harassing Philippine vessels and called its attempt to block a Philippine resupply mission to the disputed Ayungin Shoal “a provocative and destabilizing action.”
Aquino said more support for the veterans will come because the government has saved P396.61 million when the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) succeeded in purging 22,534 fake accounts and suspended 14,616 dubious accounts in validating the pensioners’ list.
“This is good news to you,” the President said, drawing cheers from a crowd of mostly war veterans and their relatives.
“We make sure that every peso from our treasury would go to those deserving of support,” he said.
Aquino said the Veterans Memorial Medical Center has provided additional services, including cataract operations, cardiac bypass and coronary angiogram.
Right and just
When World War II broke out, the Philippines, a country of 16 million people in Asia, knew early on how to fight for a just cause, the President said in his speech.
“World War II began as the Philippines was preparing to transition from being an American colony to being a truly independent nation. And it was precisely because American forces were still here that our country became involved in a large-scale war,” Aquino said.
“When our country was invaded, their fight became our fight as well. Even back then, it was clear to all Filipinos: Small though we may be, if we know that we are on the side of what is right and just, we will fight,” he added.
More than a million Filipinos perished in the war that ruined Manila, which was second only to Warsaw in terms of damage.
Lessons of past
The President said the lessons of the past should “never be forgotten.”
“Today, it is clear that we [the Philippines and Japan] are friends and partners—understanding that we are fellow citizens of humanity, with our own goals and our own fears; capable of comprehending the thinking, culture and principles of each one; and working together to achieve the collective aspirations of our countries,” he said.
“In this way, we can ensure that that dark chapter of our history will not repeat itself,” Aquino added.
Aquino said the Philippines had faced many trials, and each time, the Filipino spirit grew “stronger” and shone more clearly.
‘Bright spot’
That was why, Aquino added, Filipinos should always fight for what was right.
“As we faced disasters that came one after the other, we showed the world that no calamity can crush the Filipino. We are today overcoming the cancer of corruption, which is why we are now recognized as a bastion of good and honest governance. We have shed our identity as the ‘Sick Man of Asia,’ which is why we are now called a ‘bright spot’ in the global economy,” he said.
“And on this day, on the Day of Valor, I ask all of you to join me in declaring: The Filipino will always stand for what is right,” Aquino said.
Aquino said the current generation of Filipinos need not look far to find true role models. He said the Filipino spirit had been fanned by the example set by war veterans.
Heroism of veterans
Aquino said the Dambana ng Kagitingan (Shrine of Valor) on Mt. Samat was a reminder of how much Filipinos “recognize and appreciate” the heroism of the veterans.
“Through the example you have set, the Filipino spirit remains alive today,” he added.
As of last month, Aquino said the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) was providing service to 133,784 veterans and their spouses.
Last year, he said, the VMMC provided medical services worth P17 million to 1,092 veterans.
“Just last year, the PVAO was able to provide for the schooling of 2,059 students. And when it comes to financial aid: We were able to give up to P36,000 a year for each qualified dependent of our veterans,” Aquino said.
Military modernization
On top of caring for the veterans, the President said the government was undertaking a P36-billion modernization program for the Armed Forces to better equip soldiers.
From July 2010 to March this year, the government completed 38 projects, including the acquisition of modern vessels and equipment.
“Should we ever need to enter battle, we cannot send our soldiers off armed only with their courage and daring,” he said.
More than 100 war veterans who attended the event received medicines, wheelchairs and medical and dental checkups in a medical mission sponsored by former Rep. Estrella Santos of the Veterans Freedom Party.—With reports from Tonette Orejas Greg Refraccion, Inquirer Central Luzon; and Christian V. Esguerra
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