Angono relives heroism of WWII veterans during town's 78th liberation anniversary
By Nel Andrade
Memories of the bravery and heroism of the veterans of the Second World War in Angono, Rizal were highlighted by the family of the war heroes during the commemoration of the 78th anniversary of the town’s liberation from the Japanese forces on Feb. 23.
Led by the groups, Sons and Daughter Association Inc. and Sons and Daughters of Hunter Inc, the family members of the war veterans joined together in a ceremony held at the monument created by Angono Artist, Nemesio “Nemiranda” Miranda, Jr.
Angono’s Sangguniang Kabataan President, Bernard Joecel “BJ Tolits” Forbes, who heads the Committee on Tourism at the Sangguniang Bayan, rallied the residents, including the youth, to continue giving honor to the war heroes of the town.
Miranda, a renowned sculpture who also crafted the war veteran monuments in Cardona, Rizal, Dinalupihan in Bataan, and other historical markers in other parts of the country, emphasized the active participation of the relatives of the war veterans in keeping the memories about the bravery and heroism of the town and the country’s heroes alive up to his day.
Angono Mayor Jeri Mae Calderon, who is herself, a granddaughter of the town’s World War II heroine, Salome “Nanay Umeng” Calderon, who, at the young age of 17, helped the guerillas forces in intelligence gathering, also encouraged the young generation to always remember the acts of the town’s war heroes that led to Angono’s freedom from foreign forces.
A wreath laying event was also held at the war monument.