War vets celebrate 65th Liberation Day
A grand civic-military parade is set today as the Sixth Military District World War II Veterans Association Inc. commemorates the 65th anniversary of the Liberation of Panay, Guimaras and Romblon.
The civic-military parade which starts at 8 a.m. will kick off at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol grounds up to the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand. Ageing war veterans and guests will view the parade as it passes Iznart and J.M. Basa Streets. The Traffic Management and Engineering Unit (TMEU) has designed a traffic rerouting scheme to ease the traffic in the parade routes.
A short program follows after the grand civic-military parade. Mayor Jerry Treñas and Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas Sr. are among the expected guests to attend the celebration while former Cong. Eduardo P. Pilapil of the 3rd district of Camarines Sur and Veterans Freedom Party will be the guest of honor. Today is also a special holiday here.
The celebration of the diamond anniversary of Victory Day started yesterday with the Sunrise-Veterans Memorial Day program at the Balantang Memorial Cemetery.
National and local officials led the Sunrise Ceremony with wreath laying activity at the “Tomb of the Unknown Soldier” by Administrator Ernesto G. Carolina of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office; “Tomb of Gen. Macario Peralta” by Iloilo Governor Niel D. Tupas; and the “Tomb of Natividad Peralta” by Mayor Treñas.
“Rarely can we find someone who can match the passion and patriotism of those soldiers in the battlefield. Let us not forget what they did for us. Let us continue remembering that if not for their heroic deeds, we may still be under foreign rule and a nation without identity,” Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said in his message.
March 18 of every year has been declared a non-working special holiday in Panay, Guimaras and Romblon by virtue of Proclamation No. 430 or “An Act Declaring March 18 of every year as Victory Day in the Islands of Panay and Romblon including the cities of Iloilo and Roxas” issued by former President Corazon Aquino in 1989.
It was the day when the Panay Guerilla Forces launched the final assault on the Japanese Imperial Army, making it one of the most important events leading to the recapture of the Philippines from foreign occupation. (with reports from PNA)
