At a special meeting called Kapihan sa Baguio last April 5, 2024, the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office Cordillera (PVAO-CAR) talked about what’s coming up for the 2024 Philippine Veterans Week. Rose Malekchan from the Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club (BCBC) and Helen R. Tibaldo, who heads the Philippine Information Agency in Baguio, hosted the event. They wanted to talk about how important it is to remember and honor the brave people who fought for our country.
Instead of just talking about plans, they discussed why Veterans Week matters. They talked about how it’s not just something we do out of duty but because it’s the right thing to do. They explained how important it is to remember the sacrifices our veterans made for us.
Cherrylyn Sabling, who leads PVAO, explained how their office helps veterans. They make sure veterans get the support they need, like money to live on and other benefits. There are thousands of veterans in the Cordillera region alone who rely on these benefits.
Jose Maria Rivera talked about the special ceremony planned for Araw ng Kagitingan at the Veteran’s Park on April 9. They’ll have a big event to honor veterans, with General Rowen Tolentino from the Philippine Military Academy speaking. It’s a way to show respect for the sacrifices veterans made, and to help young people understand why it’s important.
Helen Boquiren spoke about why it’s important to teach young people about Veterans Week. She talked about how they’re working with the local government and schools to make sure students understand why we honor veterans.
Two veterans, Angelo Andrada and Marshall Guinatang, shared stories from their time in World War II. Their stories showed the hard times they went through. Guinatang also talked about why it’s important for veterans to get the benefits they’re owed.
Overall, the meeting wasn’t just about plans for Veterans Week. It was about why it’s important to remember and honor our veterans. It was a reminder of the sacrifices they made for our country, and why we should always be grateful for what they did. | Micko Sison
