Lingayen – A top official of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) cited Pangasinan as ‘Phillippine Cradle of Heroes’ as he recently thanked the incumbent provincial administration for upholding the welfare of Filipino World War II (WW-II) veterans in Pangasinan.
PVAO Administrator Ernesto G. Carolina, who was guest of honor and speaker during the 71st Lingayen Gulf Landings anniversary and 9th Pangasinan Veterans’ Day celebration held on January 9 at the Veterans Memorial Park here, lauded the provincial government led by Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. for providing support services and projects which benefit WW-II veterans and their kins.
“It is our hope that the young generation of Pangasinenses and our country will continue what Gov. Espino has already started for our veterans,” Carolina said, as he pointed out that the worthy endeavors of the provincial administration must serve as inspiration in molding the younger generation as ‘future defenders of the nation.’
Under the Espino administration, valuing to Pangasinense WW-II veterans had been given with deeper emphasis with the passage of Provincial Ordinance No. 331-007 which institutionalized the annual celebration of Pangasinan Veterans’ day every 9th of January.
Starting in 2008, Lingayen Gulf Landings anniversary was celebrated along with the 1st staging of Pangasinan Veterans’ day.
It was in 1995 during the administration of former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos, a son of Pangasinan, and former Governor Aguedo Agbayani that Gov. Espino, who was then Provincial Director of Philippine National Police (PNP), was tasked to lead the preparations for the 50th Lingayen Gulf Landings anniversary which featured the actual re-enactment of the landings and unveiling of the Veterans’ Memorial Park at the Capitol Complex.
Carolina also said that he was surprised when he inaugurated a building that solely houses the PVAO built by the Espino administration last year.
“We only requested for a space for PVAO within the Capitol Complex, but we were surprised Governor Espino provided the biggest provincial office of PVAO in the entire country,” Carolina said.
Citing Pangasinan as ‘Philippine Cradle of Heroes,’ Lt. Gen (Ret.) Carolina bared that “the large number of WW-II veterans in the province imply that Pangasinan has the most number of heroes across the country.”
It was also learned that Pangasinan played a crucial role in Philippine and World War II (WW-II) history — the Lingayen Gulf Landings in 1945 which served as prelude to the Battle of Manila and subsequent liberations.
“Lingayen became an ideal place for the take off of liberation from Japanese invaders, and today under the present provincial administration was even more improved,” Carolina said.
“You see pieces of good evidence of good governance at the Capitol compound. Para kang nangibang-bansa, may ibang tanawin, malinis ang paligid. You feel fresh air at para kang nakawala sa masikip at mainit na Maynila,” he added.
The provincial government also extends support to WW-II veterans who hail from various towns and cities in six congressional districts of Pangasinan, granting them with Php5,000 financial assistance, regular medical check up with free medicines and vitamins.
The annual commemorative program is also followed by a medical mission for veterans sponsored by the provincial government.