ILOILO City – Today is the 77th anniversary of Liberation of Panay, Guimaras and Romblon from the occupying Japanese Imperial Army.
A memorial will be held today at the Balantang Memorial Cemetery National Shrine in Barangay Quintin Salas, Jaro district – the only military cemetery established outside Metro Manila. It was declared a national shrine in 1994.
According to Glen Castañares, Veterans Assistance Officer I and officer-in-charge of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) – Iloilo, the ceremony will start at 7 a.m.
The raising of the Philippine flag will be led by Veteran Hannibal S. Lipardo, regional president of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP) in Region 6 and DP Arnold V. Catamin, provincial coordinator of VFP-Iloilo City, Iloilo Province and Guimaras.
It will be followed by a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, tombs of General Macario Peralta and wife Legionaire Natividad Peralta, and the Wall of Memories.
Castañares said there will also be a Thanksgiving Mass and World War II-related video clips.
Attendees to the event will include Veteran Federation Officers, PVAO personnel, shrine personnel, and representatives from the Philippine Veterans Bank.
Invitations were also sent to local chief executives in Iloilo.
“The pandemic may have taken our freedom to do and enjoy the things that we used to. But as we commemorate the 77th liberation of Panay, Guimaras and Romblon islands, may we be reminded that we can once again attain our freedom like how our veterans managed to free us from our foreign enemies if we work on it together,” said Castañares.
Today’s celebration – alternatively known as Panay Landing Day or Victory (Liberation) Day on Panay – will be stream live via PVAO FSEO-Iloilo official Facebook account.
Guimaras was included in the celebration because it was part of Iloilo province in 1989 when then President Corazon Aquino issued Proclamation No. 430 declaring March 18 of every year as “Victory Day in the islands of Panay and Romblon, including the cities of Iloilo and Roxas.”
On Dec. 8, 1941, several hours after the Empire of Japan attacked the US’ Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, they attacked the American colony of the Philippines, eventually defeating the combined American and Philippine forces and beginning nearly four years of Japanese occupation.
On Oct. 20, 1944, American and Filipino forces led by General Douglas MacArthur landed on Leyte during the Battle of Leyte, liberating the island of Leyte and beginning the successful Philippine campaign of 1944–1945.
As part of that campaign, the Battle of the Visayas began on March 18, 1945 with the Allied landing in Tigbauan, Iloilo.
According to PVAO, Iloilo was where the country had the most successful resistance movement during the war against the Japanese invading forces.
The success of the movement here was boosted by the supportive political leadership. General Macario Peralta provided the military leadership and Tomas Confessor, governor during that period, provided political leadership./PN
