Remembering World War II Veterans*

* Short remark of Atty. Francisco M. Belongilot, District Commander, Aklan Veterans District delivered during the First Akeanon Veterans Week celebration held on April 10, 2012 at Kalibo Veterans Shrine, Poblacion, Kalibo, Aklan

First of all, allow me to express my deep and profound thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ for giving us this day to remember and honor the 584 Aklan Veterans of World War II. The 584 veterans were united in their commitment to fight and defend their country especially their province of Aklan and the whole Panay island. That commitment was sincere and by heart coupled with integrity. 

They in fact allowed themselves to be inducted into and included in the roster of troops organized by the late Gen. Macario Peralta, Jr. at Camp Tiring, Cabatuan, Iloilo. They later dispersed to Balete, Aklan, the others to Ibajay and Kalibo. The unit in Balete was directed to attack the Japanese Garrison in Libas, Banga, Aklan, while the unit at Kalibo and Ibajay were directed to attack the Japanese soldiers in Pandan, Antique to clear the area for the landing of an American submarine carrying firearms and ammunitions for dis-tribution to different military units in Panay Island which increased the fire power of the soldiers leading to the surrender of the Japanese forces in Panay.

Our soldiers were courageous to fight the enemy because of their newly acquired firearms and easily tracked down their enemies because they were knowledgeable of the terrain. It was really a sacrifice on their part in their quest for freedom, peace, and democracy. 

The above-mentioned sacrifices of our veterans during World War II, Panay Island was liberated by the people of Panay who composed the 6th Military District under the command of General Macario Peralta, Jr. the Americans came in only after the whole area was cleared by our own soldiers. This was confirmed and declared by the Undersecretary of National Defense and concurrent Director of Philippine Veterans Affair’s Office, Lt. Gen. Ernesto Carolina, my contemporary in GHQ in 1958.

In behalf of the World War II veterans, we sincerely give thanks to our governor, Engr. Carlito S. Marquez for sponsoring the cons-truction of the statue of Gen. Macario Peralta, Jr. as a token of gratitude to the late founder of the guerilla forces in Panay. The same is chargeable against our continuing appropriation of P100,000.00 for CY 2012. This continuing appropriation is started by Cong. Joeben T. Miraflores when he was the governor of Aklan which was sponsored by the former board member, Atty. Plaridel Morania and approved by the former vice governor, Atty. Ronquillo C. Tolentino.

Gov. Marquez, sir, please allow me to report to you our travel to Tigbauan, Iloilo last March 18, 2012 to answer the directive of our regional president of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines, Region 6. That affair was very significant. It was about the celebration of the liberation of Panay of which Aklan is a part.

For arriving first at the assembly area, we were commended by the regional president and other officers from the central office. We arrived at 5:30 o’clock in the morning, 30 minutes before the parade started at 6:00 o’clock in the morning from the boundary between Oton and Tigbauan, more than 5 kilometers away from the scene of the American landing. Our province of Aklan was properly represented as every van (vehicle) carried a banner: “Contingent from Aklan Province”.

Thank you and may the good Lord Jesus Christ bless us all.  /MP