Ifugao gov leads ritesin WW2 Jap surrender

By Vency D. Bulayungan

KIANGAN, Ifugao -- The provincial and municipal local government units here gave tribute to living veterans and officers of the military and the police during the celebration of the 66th Victory Day here Sept. 2.

Gov. Eugene Balitang led the rites saying this was a simple way of giving recognition to efforts of men in uniform from the 11 municipalities here who had the rank of colonel to general. “We would like to give homage to our roots of gallantry and heroism.”

Balitang called on awardees to develop their positions to become assets in the country which will help much in the development of our province and the country as a whole.

He also acknowledged past military officers who also served the province such as Gen. Ildefonso Dulinayan who also served as a governor of the province.

“We would like to solicit your advices on what we can do in order to perform our duties well for the welfare of our province mates,” Balitang said n his speech adding that ‘may this activity inspire each and everyone as he is looking forward to improve as the years go by.’

In response, police Senior Supt. Laurence Mombael, said with the honor accorded to them, they will do their best in performing their duties so that the expectation of the Ifugao people will not go in vain.

“We will work as one in fulfilling our duties as peace officers in order to meet our objective of a peaceful place for our people to live and that the efforts of our veterans who fought bravely for the peace which we are enjoying right now will not be meaningless and that we all can live where there is justice and freedom’, Mombael said. “As we continue serving our province, let us not forget the lessons of war so that we will not anymore experience the pains it brings to everyone.”

Meanwhile, board member Frederick Dulnuan, organizer of the said event, said paying tribute to living veterans and officers of the men in uniform who hail from this province is a “way of expressing our gratitude to them because if not of them, we cannot enjoy the freedom and peaceful place we are enjoying today.”