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94 World War II veterans still alive in Western Visayas

Philippines | Luzon

94 World War II veterans still alive in Western Visayas

By Tara Yap

ILOILO CITY – There are still 94 living World War II veterans in Western Visayas, an official of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) disclosed Thursday.

Veterans gather at the Balantang Memorial National Shrine in Iloilo City Thursday, March 18, 2021. The ceremony for the 76th Victory Day of Panay, Guimaras and Romblon is subdued due to the threat of COVID-19. (Tara Yap/Manila Bulletin)

“There’s less than 100 of them who are still alive,” said Glenn Castañares of the Philippine Veteran’s Affairs Office (PVAO)-Iloilo during the subdued ceremony for the 76th Victory Day for Panay, Guimaras, and Romblon Islands held here Thursday.

None of the 94 living World War II veterans attended the ceremony that marked how joint Filipino and American forces liberated the islands from the Japanese Imperial Army.

Due to pandemic restrictions, only a wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Balantang Memorial National Shrine.

Castañares said that this city and Iloilo have the most number of World War II veterans who are still alive with 34, followed by Negros Occidental and Bacolod City with 22 veterans each.

There are 16 remaining World War II veterans in Antique, 12 in Aklan, nine in Capiz, and one in Guimaras.

Hannibal Lipardo, president of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP) Western Visayas, said the number of World War II veterans who are alive may be higher than 105 as some of them have not been registered with PVAO.

The 74-year-old Lipardo said that despite the subdued celebration, Western Visayans should not forget the courage and heroism of World War II veterans, including his father Adriano Sr.

“We must individually celebrate the event even in our own households,” said Demy Sonza, a former Iloilo vice governor and historian.

The Balantang Memorial National Shrine has reopened to the public this month after a year-long closure. Shrine curator Heitrid Firmantes said only a certain number of people are allowed inside the museum as part of health protocols.

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