Veteran forebears of PVB officials receive US Congressional Gold Medal
Even as we have quite a number of onscreen action heroes today, many real-life Filipino heroes go unnoticed.
Thankfully, the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), together with the United States embassy, recently held the presentation of US Congressional Gold Medal to 40 Filipino World War II veterans, both living and posthumous.
The US Congressional Gold medal is the US Congress’ highest civilian honor.
All of the recipients were the forebears of the directors, officers and employees of Philippine Veterans Bank at the BTVWWII Theater in Taguig.
US Ambassador Sung Kim led the awarding ceremonies along with Usec Reynaldo Mapagu of National Defense representing Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.
After many decades, the Congressional Gold Medal is the realization of another victory of a long fought battle for many Filipino veterans. Because of the Rescission Act of 1946, all the recognition and benefits due the Filipino Veterans were annulled. The Medal represents the United States’ official recognition of the veterans’ sacrifice and service during World War II, when the Philippines was still a commonwealth under the USA after 70 years.
The awardees served in various units and regions around the country during the war, including its former chairman and VFP president Col. Emmanuel de Ocampo, the uncle of current chairman and former DOF Secretary Roberto de Ocampo whose father 1Lt. Jose De Ocampo was also recognized.
Other awardees include the father and mother of PVB president Renato Claravall, Lt.Col. Juan Mauri Claravall and 2Lt Rizalina Claravall; and Lt. Guillermo Parayno, father of PVB vice-chairman Guillermo Parayno; and former labor leader Democrito Mendoza, also a former PVB director.