FVR Pays Tribute to Fil-Am Defenders of Bataan, Corregidor During WWII

(PNA) — Former President Fidel V. Ramos extolled on Saturday Filipino and American World War II veterans for their gallantry in combat and their ordeal during the Bataan Death March as an inspiring lesson for Filipinos of today to work together to “provide the vision and energy to build the bedrock foundation of lasting peace, national stability, and sustainable progress.”

Ramos made the statement as the keynote speaker during the reenactment of the Death March held at the World War II Concentration Camp in O’Donnell, Capas, Tarlac. The reenactment was attended by some few living war survivors.

Ramos and Lt. Gen. Ernesto G. Carolina (Ret.), administrator of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), joined the celebration with a symbolic walk of the 10.5-kilometer Death March by soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Retired Brig. Gen. Resty Aguilar, PVAO personnel director, joined the full length of the march.

The celebration was made possible through the partnership of the Department of National Defense, Department of Tourism, and the Automobile Association of the Philippines to honor Filipino heroes of World War II. Over 2,000 participated in the reenactment.

Ramos also disclosed that a replica of the Capas Prisoners of War (POW) camp will soon be constructed in the area.

In his speech, the former President paid tribute to the Filipino-American defenders of Bataan led by then Capt. Salvador Lopez, who later became president of the University of the Philippines (UP) and foreign affairs secretary.

That historic occasion was broadcast over the “Voice of Freedom” by Lt. Norman Reyes when Bataan fell to the Japanese invading forces on April 9, 1942 after more than three months of mortal combat that left tens of thousands of soldiers killed in action from both sides.

To emphasize the occasion’s importance, Ramos recited word-for-word the radio broadcast on that fateful day:

“BATAAN HAS FALLEN. WITH HEADS BLOODY BUT UNBOWED, WE YIELD TO THE ENEMY. THE WORLD WILL LONG REMEMBER THE EPIC STRUGGLE. WE HAVE STOOD UP UNCOMPLAINING. BESIEGED ON LAND AND BLOCKADED BY SEA,WE HAVE DONE ALL THAT HUMAN ENDURANCE COULD BEAR. WHAT SUSTAINED US WAS A FORCE MORE THAN MERELY PHYSICAL. IT WAS THE FORCE OF AN UNCONQUERABLE FAITH,SOMETHING IN THE SOUL THAT IS IMMORTAL! IT IS THE THOUGHT OF NATIVE LAND. ALL THE WORLD WILL TESTIFY, MEN FIGHTING WITH AN UNSHAKABLE FAITH, ARE MADE OF SOMETHING MORE THAN FLESH. BUT WE ARE NOT MADE OF IMPERVIOUS STEEL. THE FLESH MUST YIELD AT LAST, ENDURANCE MELTS AWAY AND THE END OF THE BATTLE MUST COME.”

A former soldier himself who fought during the Korean War and was a member of the Philippine Civic Action Group to Vietnam (PHLCAGV), Ramos said, “From Mariveles, Bataan, the Filipino and American soldiers, in defeat, were made to walk more than a hundred kilometers to Capas, Tarlac, in what is now infamously known as the ‘Death March.'”

He said the Japanese military inflicted cruel treatment upon the Bataan marchers.

“Thousands died on the Death March. Although the Japanese military drove away the good Samaritans at gunpoint, Filipino civilians bravely nourished and cared for the exhausted soldiers, many of whom were seriously wounded.”

“This kind of courageous, sacrificial civilian support for our veterans, however dangerous, was admirably reflected in the countrywide guerrilla resistance movement against the Japanese invaders for three long years.”

In a related development, Ramos recalled another historic day on April 9, 1997 when he was still the President of the Philippines: “FVR (his initials) stood proudly with hundreds of WWII veterans led by National Commander Rafael Estrada of the ‘Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor’ in front of the imposing, then brand-new monument. That spot marked the center of the notorious 1942 Capas POW Camp, now dedicated as our ‘National Shrine’ by virtue of Republic Act 8221 (enacted 9 October 1996 during the Ramos period).”

FVR further said, “It is only fitting that we develop and maintain the Capas National Shrine to be worthy of veneration by our grateful nation. To recall the valor and heroism of our forebears is not to waste our time in idle homage, but instead renew within ourselves the resolve to uphold and enhance the patriotic values that have characterized the national spirit of the Filipino people.

“We celebrate this historic Anniversary without distinguishing between the victors and the vanquished. In the spirit of reconciliation, friendship, and international brotherhood, we leave the past behind us as we move forward – with joined hands – to attain enduring peace and sustainable development for all mankind…”

“This is the same spirit of fraternity and cooperation that governed the GRP-MNLF Peace Process that concluded the 1996 Final Peace Agreement and (presumably) also now characterizes the GPH-MILF Peace Panels.”

A Future Of Peace And Development.

Ramos also said that since the onset of the 21st century – all around the world – the twin aspirations of Peace and Development have been advocated by all 195 U.N. member-nations.

“Let us agree as patriotic Filipinos – whether members of the USAFFE, AFP, PNP, recognized guerrillas, bolomen, women’s auxiliary service, ordinary Filipinos, or the incumbent Philippine President himself – that a future of enduring peace and sustainable development is the supreme aspiration of Filipinos today.

“It was clear from the beginning that the USAFFE’s role would be sacrificial: there was simply no way the Philippine Islands could be defended in the teeth of Imperial Japan’s dominance of Southeast Asia – particularly since the Western Allies had agreed to designate Europe as their principal theater of operations against the Axis Powers.

“The most the USAFFE could do would be to try and hold Manila Bay and the Bataan highlands above it – until the American Naval Fleet could arrive to recover the archipelago.

“And this, the USAFFE did on Bataan and Corregidor with outstanding courage and utmost tenacity. The defense of the entire archipelago, indeed, was carried on for three more long years by ill-equipped but gallant, patriotic, and sacrificial Filipino fighters and a handful of American officers.”

Ramos also recalled that his mother, Angela; her sister, Consuelo Valdez-Fonacier; and his future mother-in-law, Josefa Jara-Martinez went to Capas on April 1942 to establish the first “Social Service Center” for the POWs after the fall of Bataan, under the umbrella of the original group of YWCA and YMCA volunteers.

At that time, Angela and Consuelo had relatives and loved ones to worry about: their youngest brother, Major Simeon Valdez; brothers-in-law Col. (Dr.) Mamerto Timtiman, Private Felixberto Ramos, and Colonel Demetrio Tabije; and nephews Major Ferdinand E. Marcos and Lawag Fonacier.

During the Pacific War, Ramos was only 14, but he did secret errands for the guerrillas such as delivering letters to POW families at the risk of being caught by Japanese soldiers. He also worked as a stretcher-bearer carrying released POWs arriving at the Tutuban Railroad station in Manila.

He said that the Bataan, Corregidor, Capas and the nationwide guerrilla movement gave new meaning to the liberties Filipinos enjoy today.

“In 1942, Filipinos showed the whole world how freedom could be defended and nurtured by the synergy of civilian-police-military team working,” Ramos said, “it is not enough that we honor our heroes and lavish them with praises today. It would be truly meaningful if we can also show by deeds and examples that we, too – in our time – can live, love, and die for our country, and that we are willing to work harder for the greater good of country and people.

“The lessons of the past should inspire Filipinos to work together — of whatever capacity, religious faith, or ethnic origin and collectively provide the vision and energy — to build the bedrock foundation of lasting peace, national stability, and sustainable progress so that there will never be another Death March; nor a Capas concentration camp; nor a Patikul, Sulu; nor an Al-Barka, Basilan; nor a Mamapasapano, Maguindanao,” he added, referring to the massacre of 44 police commandos of the Special Action Force (SAF) by rebels of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the breakaway group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Mamasapano last Jan. 25 when they served a warrant of arrest for wanted international terrorist Zulfikli bih Hir, alias Marwan. (PNA) SCS/RBC/PJN