Araw ng Kagitingan
(Delivered at the observance of Philippine Veterans Week and the 76th Araw ng Kagitingan held at the ROTC Guerrilla Field, Philippine Army headquarters, Fort Bonifacio.)
TODAY, we are celebrating in high spirit and grandeur the 76th Araw ng Kagitingan. This is a memorable event embodied in the heart and soul of every freedom loving Filipino who cherishes independence and democracy. The height of this reverence of love of country is emphasized in the last phrase of our national anthem “ang mamatay ng dahil sa iyo.” The battles of Bataan and Corregidor and the death march that immediately followed are vivid attestations to these historical events.
It is really appropriate and proper that the celebration in honor of our veterans is held today at the Headquarters of the Philippine Army in Fort Bonifacio. This place is a vantage point where the veterans can view in this historical field their fallen comrades evidenced by the humble crosses marking their graves. I may have said it before, but let me honor them again today by saying that despite inseparable odds and overwhelming forces against them they went to battle against superior enemies who were armed to the teeth but they were only armed with their teeth, so to speak as they were poorly armed.
Anyhow, after everything is said and done, we were able to preserve and maintain our independence and freedom which we are enjoying today; the four freedoms of mankind: – freedom from fear, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom to travel.
If at all, the only sour note that we have today is the neglect of our impoverished veterans whom we failed, and still fail, to give the attention that they richly deserve – the proper pension for them to keep both ends meet. Now they are receiving only a meager 16,700 a month from the Philippine Veterans Administration Office – 15,000 as pension and 11,700 for disability assistance.
The fact that they are in the twilight of their lives they have now become more sickly and needing medicines, but unfortunately they have not been adequately provided for their falling health and feeble bodies. Some of them still live in shattered shacks as shelter; these certainly would hardly protect them from the elements. It is lamentable that others could hardly afford three square meals a day. Yet, these are our veterans to whom we owe the liberties we enjoy. Aptly stated, they are abandoned heroes neglected by the leader of the country in particular and their countrymen in general.
It is indeed a blessing that Senator Panfilo M. Lacson whose love of country is a fitting example is our Special Guest for him to rub elbows with the veterans and feel the help that the veterans needed. His presence shows the importance of the event.
It is fervently hoped and prayed that in the leaders of our country headed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte, our veterans will find solace and comfort like a child being cradled with love and devotion in the arms of his loving parents.
Long live our freedom, long live our democracy, long live our humble country making its presence meaningful in the family of nations.
Finally, I conclude: ask not what your country can give you, but ask yourself what you can give to your country, adopting what President John F. Kennedy of the United States said exhorting his countrymen during the early making of the American nation making it the most powerful nation on earth.