THREE World War II veterans were bestowed with posthumous awards Tuesday, April 10, on the occasion of Paggunita sa Capas 2018 in Tarlac province.
Relatives of Private Serafin B. Peñaflor, Corporal Eugenio L. Huliganga and 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin Rivera received the recognition from Defense Undersecretary for Civil, Veterans and Retiree Affairs Reynaldo Mapagu and Capas Mayor Reynaldo Catacutan.
Peñaflor joined the resistance in 1943 and was assigned as a rifleman.
During his service, he gathered intelligence and distributed propaganda materials throughout Pangasinan, Tarlac and adjoining Central Luzon provinces and part of Manila.
He also engaged the Japanese in several fierce battles during the occupation until the Liberation period.
Huliganga, on the other hand, joined the resistance in 1945 with his main task of providing medical care for wounded guerillas and sick civilians, as well as securing medical supplies for his unit’s use.
Meanwhile, Rivera who joined the movement in 1943 as a junior officer, participated in engaging the Japanese forces in hit and run and sabotage operations, taking of airfields, destroying of bridges, blocking of roads and mountain trails and disrupting the enemy’s supply lines.
In his message, Catacutan commended the valor of the veterans who dedicated their lives to free the nation.
“Our soldiers bravely withstood all forms of torture, hunger, thirst, pain and longing for their loved ones. This is proof that the Filipino spirit does not easily falter in the face of adversities,” he said.
Paggunita sa Capas is part of the annual observance of Philippine Veterans Week which honors the bravery of war veterans.
This year’s commemoration carries the theme "Kagitingan at Pagmamahal sa Pilipinas para sa Tunay na Pagbabago." (PIA)