The Pasig City local government offered and laid wreaths at the city’s World War II Memorial Monument to honor the veterans and heroes in commemoration of the city’s 78th Liberation Day on Sunday, Feb. 19.

City officials, led by Mayor Vico Sotto, Vice Mayor Robert “Dodot” Jaworski Jr., and the 11th City Council held a short ceremony at the “Pang-alaalang Bantayog” or “Bantayog ng Kagitingan,” located along Caruncho Avenue at around 7:30 a.m.
Also gracing the ceremony were representatives from the Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP).

Pasig celebrates Liberation Day annually every Feb. 19 in accordance with Proclamation No. 653, series of 1993, signed by former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos on Sept. 18, 1995.
It marks the day that Pasig, which was previously a town in Rizal Province, was liberated from the Japanese occupation forces, during the Second World War, through the cooperative operations of the Filipino-American militaries and guerilla movements in the nearby provinces.
“Such commemoration appropriately called attention to the heroism and gallantry of Filipino war veterans who carried on the armed struggle against the enemy during those dark days, as well as the spirit of sacrifice of Filipino civilians who bore their sufferings with dignity and equanimity,” read the proclamation.
According to historical research done by Historian Wensley Reyes, the very first Liberation Day celebration was held on Feb. 19, 1946, wherein Col. Braulio Sedano, a Guerilla Commander of the McKinley Brigade, Fil-American Irregular Troops (FAIT), was conferred a Liberation Medal by the people of Pasig.

“Ngayong araw kinikilala natin ang kadakilaan ng mga bayaning Pasigueño na naging instrumento sa ating kalayaan (Today, we recognize the valor of our Pasigueño heroes who were instrumental to achieving the freedom we have now),” Vice Mayor Jaworski said on his social media page.
“Hindi dapat natin makalimutan ang mga tunay na bayaning nagsakripisyo para sa ating bayan, at gawin silang ehemplo na kahit ordinaryong mamamayan ay may kapasidad na makiambag sa bayan (We must not forget our true heroes and their sacrifices for our city. Let us uphold them as examples and proof that ordinary citizens are capable of contributing to their city),” he added.