Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano joined the commemoration of the 81st Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) and Philippine Veterans Week at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on April 9.
Cayetano participated in the wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier together with National Defense Officer-in-Charge Carlito Galvez Jr.
Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano at the commemoration of Araw ng Kagitingan (Photos from the Taguig City government)
The Araw ng Kagitingan commemorates the fall of Bataan. It was on April 9, 1942 when Filipino and American troops surrendered.
Filipino-American radio broadcaster Norman Reyes announced through the Voice of Freedom radio of the fall of Bataan.
“Bataan has fallen. The Philippine-American troops on this war-ravaged and bloodstained peninsula have laid down their arms. With heads bloody but unbowed, they have yielded to the superior force and numbers of the enemy,” he announced.
In her speech, Cayetano urged Filipinos to remember the heroism of Filipinos.
“Bukod sa pag-alala, nawa, mga ginigiliw kong kababayan, isabuhay natin ang mga aral at legasiyang iniwan para sa susunod na henerasyon … sapagkat ang kasaysayan ay mabubuhay lamang kung ipapasa natin ito sa susunod na henerasyon (Besides remembering, I hope, my beloved countrymen, that we put into practice the lessons and legacies left for the next generation…because history will live only if we pass it on to the next generation),” she said.
She also welcomed veterans to Taguig.
“Ako po muli, sa ngalan ng ating mga opisyales, ay tumatanggap sa inyong lahat sa lungsod ng Taguig. Nawa'y magkaroon tayo ng makabuluhang pagdiriwang ng Araw ng Kagitingan. Kay palad po natin, hindi na po natin kailangang magbuwis ng buhay para tayo ay makapamuhay sa isang bansang tinatawag na malaya (I, on behalf of our officials, welcome you all to the City of Taguig. Hoping that we have a meaningful celebration of the Araw ng Kagitingan. We are lucky that we did not need to risk our lives so that we can live in a country that is called independent),” Cayetano added.
Joining the celebration were representatives from the World War II and post-war veteran leaders, civil, veterans, and reserve affairs, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, veterans serving institutions, partner stakeholders, Department of Education, National Youth Commission, Boy Scouts of the Philippines, Girl Scouts of the Philippines, and relatives of veterans.