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3rd anniversary of Lingayen Gulf landing commemorated
By Jennelyn Mondejar

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – For these two oldest living war veterans honored in last week’s 63rd anniversary commemoration of the Lingayen Gulf Landing, time does heal wounds.

Leovigildo Bacugan, 93, and Victorina Urmaza, 84, said only the memories of war – not the bitterness – remain in their hearts.

The two were the awardees in the observance of the Lingayen Gulf Landing, now known as Pangasinan Veterans’ Day, which was graced by former President Fidel Ramos.
Bacugan, incumbent commander of the fourth district of Pangasinan, said that fear used to haunt him during the World War II.

When the war broke out, he served as a driver of the 71st Motor Transport Unit, mobilizing and transferring soldiers and equipment.

He also served in the 11th Infantry Division of the Commonwealth Army, under the US Armed Forces of the Far East which guarded the shorelines from Dagupan to Damortis.

Bacugan said he hopes there will be no more wars. “Onsabi takot ko met no nanononotan koy giyera (I also feel fear when I recall the war),” he said.

For her part, Urmaza, a corporal of the Women’s Auxiliary Service, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion Infantry of the US Armed Forces in the Philippines, said she bears no more hatred in her heart against the Japanese.

Many were said against them for their atrocities, according to Urmaza, but “it’s already peacetime.”
Urmaza’s deceased husband, Marciano Sr., was also a war veteran.

She recalled that they hid in ricefields whenever the Japanese soldiers went to a school near their house that served as a Japanese garrison.

She said she pities the people whose country is into war “because I know that war is very, very dangerous.”

In his speech, Gov. Amado Espino Jr. said, “The veneration we have for our World War II veterans is still throbbing in our hearts, and this ceremony is not enough to express the eternal gratitude that our nation, our province and our people eternally hold for them.”

Standing in what he described as an “impressive setting” within the Pangasinan provincial capitol grounds, a mere stone’s throw away from the Lingayen Gulf where Gen. Douglas MacArthur waded ashore, fulfilling his promise of “I shall return,” Espino said the 63rd anniversary of the Lingayen Gulf Landing should remind every Pangasinense of the days of fear, gallantry and heroism of the hardiest and bravest World War II veterans, both Filipinos and Americans.

Sixty-three years ago, fulfilling his promise to the Filipino people, MacArthur returned to liberate the Philippines from the Japanese Imperial Forces.

Upon Espino’s initiative, with the concurrence of Vice Gov. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas, the commemoration of the historic event has been institutionalized to serve as a fitting tribute to the war veterans.

Starting this year, Jan. 9 shall be known as Pangasinan Veterans’ Day by virtue of a resolution approved by the provincial board.

In his speech, Ramos, the guest of honor, said he has sought the help of the US government to take up measures benefiting surviving war veterans, which number 24,000.

He said he has appealed to US President George W. Bush to push the passage of two legislative bills which have been pending for four decades at the US House of Representatives – the Filipino Veterans’ Equity Act of 2006 and the Filipino Veterans’ Equity of 2005 sponsored by former Senator Daniel Inouye.

“I have pointed out that time is running out for our Filipino veterans who willingly took up arms in the service of the US when they were called to duty by then President Franklin Roosevelt,” he said.

“It is time for America to repay these remaining valiant soldiers,” he said.