By Christopher Hedreyda March 5, 2023 The Los Baños LGU, UPLB, and the descendants of the World War II veterans expressed their intention to...
March 5, 2023
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| The Los Baños LGU, UPLB, and the descendants of the World War II veterans expressed their intention to make the Liberation Day commemoration as an annual event in the campus, which serves as an important part of UPLB’s history and to preserve the legacy of the Filipino guerrillas. (CAO/PIA-4A) |
LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — The brave young guerrillas who fought the Japanese Imperial Army during the World War II were the center of the commemoration of the 78th Liberation Day of the Los Baños Internment Camp at Charles Fuller Baker Hall, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna on February 23.
Local government officials led by Laguna Governor Ramil Hernandez, Los Baños Mayor Anthony Genuino, Vice Mayor Josephine Sumangil-Evangelista, and representative for Laguna 2nd District Congresswoman Ruth Mariano-Hernandez and UPLB Vice Chancellor Forester Roberto Cereno graced the event and offered wreaths to the marker remembering the atrocities occurred at the site.
Meanwhile, families of the veterans and various organizations also attended the event, such as the Philippine Veterans Bank, Descendants of Hunters ROTC Guerrillas Inc., Veterans Federation of the Philippines, Wa Chi Veterans Descendants Association Inc., respectively.
Mayor Anthony Genuino opened the event urging the youth to espouse the heroism and bravery of the young guerrillas and make use of it in the present time.
“I hope that this event would serve as a very good inspiration to our young citizens… Sana maging inspirasyon ninyo ang mga sakripisyong ginawa ng ating mga beterano sa ating mga kabataan ngayon,” the local chief executive said.
In his speech, Governor Ramil Hernandez said that it is important to commemorate not just the heroes of the war but also the victims of the atrocities, primarily the countless civilians and prisoners of war.
“Ang tapang at katatagan ng mga gerilyang Pilipino ay lumutang at ipinagbunyi ng buong mundo sa kanilang matagumpay na pagpapalaya sa mga bilanggo dito sa Baker Hall,” the governor said.
Hernandez added, “Ang araw na ito ay pagpapaalala sa atin ng kabayanihan at kalupitan ng digmaan. Dapat nating alalahanin ang mga biktima kasabay ng pagkilala natin sa ating mga bayaning mandirigma.”
The keynote speaker, Dr. Ricardo T. Jose of the University of the Philippines Diliman, delivered a lecture and laid out how the guerrillas successfully defeated the Japanese forces, and the subsequent events which occurred after the liberation of the internment camp.
According to Jose, the young guerrilla forces were primarily mostly high school to college students, or as young as 13 years old, when they successfully staged the largest successful civilian liberation operation of World War II.
As stated in the official records, there were 2,147 civilian internees at the Los Baños Internment Camp when they were liberated by the combined strength of the US Forces and the various Filipino-led guerrillas most notably Hunters ROTC Guerrillas, Hukbalahap, Chinese Wah Chi Guerrillas, USSAFE Intelligence Unit, President Quezon’s Own Guerrillas, and Markings Fil-American Guerrillas, respectively.
The Los Baños LGU, UPLB, and the descendants of the World War II veterans expressed their intention to make the Liberation Day commemoration as an annual event in the campus, which serves as an important part of UPLB’s history and to preserve the legacy of the Filipino guerrillas. — CH
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