THE Philippine Veterans Administration Office (PVAO) yesterday said 966 Filipino veterans of World War 2 (WW2) are still alive and will join the Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) commemoration and the 82nd anniversary of the Fall of Bataan today.

In an interview, PVAO Undersecretary Resty Aguilar said the oldest is Emelia Guerrero, 105, who was recently awarded a medal for her services in defending the country during WW 2.

The 966 living WW2 veterans, he said, continue to receive their monthly pensions and benefits, including free hospitalization and health services.

Aguilar, a retired army brigadier general, also said there are 16,899 spouses of WW2 veterans who are receiving their pension.

Another war veteran retired Col. Cesar Pobre, who wrote over a dozen of WW2 books, recalled the historic Battle of Munoz, Nueva Ecija where he and his colleagues clashed with a large number of Japanese troops.

Pobre was a member of the famous United States 98 Mortar Brigade, who engaged the Japanese in a close-quarter battle.

The bravery of Filipino soldiers was displayed during WW2 when they held their ground in defending the country when the Japanese invaded the Philippines on Dec. 8, 1941.

For over three months, Filipino and American forces fought the Japanese in many battles across the country that delayed the advancing enemy forces and enabled Gen. Douglas McArthur to escape to Australia. He fulfilled his promise “I shall return” when he landed in Leyte on Oct. 20, 1944 to liberate the Philippines.

It was in Bataan that the combined Filipino and American forces made their last stand until they ran out of bullets and ammunition which forced them to surrender on April 9, 1942.

The “Fall of Bataan” on April 9, 1942 was followed by the infamous “Bataan Death March” where many Filipinos and American soldiers died during the long march.

April 9 was declared holiday all over the country to honor Filipino and American soldiers, including guerrillas, who fought the Japanese invaders during WW2.

Over a million Filipinos fought the Japanese in WW2. Philippine News Agency

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