WW2 Cordillera veterans to receive US Congressional awards

BAGUIO CITY -- Forty-seven World War 2 veterans are set to receive Congressional Gold Medal awards from the United States during the commemoration of Victory Day on Sept. 3, 2023, here at the Baguio City Convention Center.
    Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) deputy administrator and assistant secretary retired Brig. Gen. Restituto Aguilar said that US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson and Defense Secretary Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. will be present to award the prestigious medals to the surviving veterans and family members of veterans who had passed away.
    Aguilar said that the Congressional Gold Medal award is given by the US Congress to deserving World War 2 veterans in recognition of their services during the war.
    Over 500 veterans have already received the awards since the US Congress started giving the said award to deserving World War 2 veterans in 2018.
    The PVAO official said award giving was temporarily stopped during the Covid-19 pandemic when 20 veterans were supposed to receive the award.
    Aguilar added that there were 27 additional veterans from the different parts of the country who were validated and included in the recipients.
    Aguilar said that out of the 17 million population in the country during the second World War, one million died from the hostilities, including more than 500,000 enlisted personnel.
    However, he claimed that of the 500,000 who fought in the war, more than 200,000 were recognized by the US government as war veterans because they fought with arms.

On Sept. 3, 1945, Gen. Tomoyoki Yamashita of the Japanese Imperial Army signed the surrender documents at the US ambassador's residence in Camp John Hay, a day after his capture in Kiangan, Ifuga0.

Aguilar lamented that what is ironic about the situation is that those who fought with the Filipinos with arms such as the laundrywomen, cooks, quartermasters, or those who fought without arms, were not actually given due recognition.

The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian award bestowed by the United States Congress, along with the Preential Medal of Freedom. The Gold Medal seeks to impart the highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions by individuals or institutions.

The congressional practice of issuing gold medals to occasionally honor recipients began with members of the military during the American Revolution.