BAGUIO CITY – Forty-three Filipino World War II veterans were awarded the United States Congressional Gold Medal, the oldest and highest civilian award of the United States, on Tuesday, September 3, at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center here.
WORLD war II veteran Sgt. Eumellia D. Cacaninidin, 99, is awarded the United States Congressional Gold Medal by Assistant Director Kevin McAllister, Undersecretary Reynaldo Mapagu, and Mayor Benjamin Magalong during the awarding ceremony at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center in Baguio City on September 3. (Zaldy Comanda)
Eleven were living and 32 were posthumous awardees. Five of them were centenarians.
The 34th US Congressional Gold Medal awarding was led by Assistant Director Kevin McAllister of the Manila Regional Benefit Office, representing the US Department of Veterans Affairs and US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson; Undersecretary Reynaldo Mapagu, administrator, Philippines Veterans Affairs Office, Department of National Defense, and Mayor Benjamin Magalong here.
Of the 11 surviving awardees, only Sgt. Eumellia D. Cacanindin, 99, arrived.
Cacanindin served at the Women's Auxiliary Service of the 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry United States Army Forces in the Philippines.
She served from March 21, 1944 to April 30, 1945 as medical aide in Ilocos Sur and La Union.
The other living awardees were Private Estrella Nares, Private Juan Cabe, 96; Private Esther Fe, 97; Private Prudencio Paguirigan, 97; Private Antonia Sanchez, 98;
Private Virgilio Costales, 100; Private First Class Maximo Lictaoa, 100; Sgt. Martin Lubrin, 100; Private Regina, 100; and Private Constancia Nones, 101.