Wednesday, August 20, 2008 Filipino World War II accounts sought By Jane Cadalig
TO GET recognized for their sacrifices, bravery, and heroism, war veterans are encouraged to write their stories, saying the National Library keeping war archives lack stories on how Filipino warriors helped America win the battle in the Pacific during World War II.
Jesus Terry Adevoso, Undersecretary for Veterans Affairs, said there are not many written stories on how Filipinos fought during the war.
Adevoso was reminded on the need to come up with Filipino soldiers' accounts, after a war veteran from Kapangan handed him a book that recounts the sacrifices of the country's warriors.
Kapangan was then the communications center of North Luzon and headquarters of the US Armed Forces. The town was one of the bases of the 66th Infantry of the United States Army Forces in the Philippines-Northern Luzon (Usafip-NL). Women in this town were also instrumental in devastating the planned escape of General Tomoyuki Yamashita who planned to flee the country via the north.
Adevoso said most of the WWII books piled at the National Library were written by Americans, with little mention of Filipino soldiers who also fought under the American flag.
"It is important that you (veterans) write your own history, because we lack written records of your sacrifices. Most of the WWII books are written by the Americans (and are short) of mentioning the sacrifices made by Filipino soldiers who helped the US win the battle."
"If we recall, General Douglas McArthur (at the start of the war) left the country for Australia leaving the Filipino soldiers behind. Had it not been for your persistence and sacrifices, the US would not have won the war," Adevoso, who was the guest of honor of Benguet's 63rd Liberation Day celebration last week, said.
The US, together with the Philippines, fought against the then Rome-Berlin-Tokyo alliance, known as the Axis Powers.
Adevoso said a publication on WWII is being worked out for filing at the Malacañang library, in honor of the Filipino soldiers.
Adevoso meanwhile admitted government is "hard-pressed" in paying the benefits due to the war veterans, but assured efforts are being worked out to pay their pensions.
He told the veterans of government's optimism on the passage of the War Veterans Equity Bill, which is delayed at the US Congress due to controversy on the source of funds. The bill seeks to pay Filipino war veterans the equal amount received by American veterans.
Controversies arose when the US Senate approved the equity bill that seeks to allot funds for Filipino veterans from the US$100 million yearly allocation for disabled American veterans.
