19 WWII veterans get honors, cash assistance

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — At least 19 surviving World War II veterans will be conferred with honors and given financial assistance in today’s Veterans Day celebration, coinciding with the 73rd commemoration of the Leyte Landing.

The Leyte Landing commemorative celebration is an annual event honoring the gallantry of war veterans who fought during the WW II, and that of the US forces, led by General Douglas MacArthur, in the push toward the liberation of the Philippines from the Japanese occupation.

The Veterans Day celebration will be headed by Mayor Cristina Romualdez, with Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo,  US Naval Attaché Commander Brian Clark, Leyte 1st District Representative Yedda Romualdez, and 8th Infantry Division commander, Major General Raul Farnacio.

A motorcade will start the activities at around 4 p.m. and will be followed by a short program at the historic Price Mansion in the city, where the honors rites will be done for the surviving veterans.

Mayor Romualdez said that, under the city ordinance, financial aid of P5,000 and a basket of groceries will be distributed to each of the 19 war veterans.

They are: Xerxes Abadiano, Jose Acedillo, Pilar Alvero, Paulita Asis, Eduardo Bermudo, Pablito Candela, Aguila Closa, Marcelo Gatela, Felicidad Lagarde, Teresa Malpas, Sugundo Matias, Ramon Modina, Margaito Olguera, Epistemia Rama, Maxima Satorre, Rufino Sumayod, Remegia Tomol, Pacencia Tripolo, and Felicidad Varona, all residents of Tacloban. (FREEMAN)