“Ang kagitingan ng mga bayani natin noon ay nakikita natin ngayon sa ating kasalukuyang sitwasyon, sa pamamagitan ng mga medical worker, frontliner, at mga kababayan na nagmamalasakit sa kapwa-tao nila.”
Beaming with pride, Mayor Edwin “EdSa” Santiago commended medical workers in his message during the City Government of San Fernando’s commemoration of the Araw ng Kagitingan or Day of Valor.
Araw ng Kagitingan is observed every year in the country, in honor of Filipino soldiers who defended the nation against Japanese forces during the war.
Santiago, along with City Tourism Officer Ching Pangilinan, Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB)-San Fernando Branch Manager Marlon Mañalac, and personnel of the City of San Fernando Police, led the wreath-laying ceremony at the Death March marker at the San Fernando Old Train Station in Sto. Niño,.
Flowers were also offered at the station’s “Wall of Valor” where names of the Filipino war veterans, that included Fernandino soldiers and doctors, are posted. Pangilinan said despite the simple observance, the real message of the Day of Valor remains strong.
“Kung ikukumpara natin sa mga nakaraan nating pagdiriwang, mas simple yung kapamaraanan ng pag-aalala natin ngayon, lalo na nung sinimulan natin yung COVID-19 pandemic response. Pero hindi ibig sabihin na nakakalimutan natin yung mga importanteng tala sa kasaysayan, lalo na sa ating Siyudad at sa ating bansa,” she said.
Mañalac meanwhile shared that the PVB continues its operations to serve the families of the veterans.
“Tuloy-tuloy pa rin po yung serbisyo natin sa mga beterano, lalo na sa mga descendants nila. Patuloy pa rin natin silang inaantabayanan sa kanilang mga pangangailangan, katulad ng pension nila,” he said.
PVB website states that 20-percent of its annual net income is allocated for the benefit of the shareholders of the bank, which are the war veterans and their families.
Mañalac said that their branch is catering to more than a thousand Kapampangan war veterans.