By Mariela Angella Oladive
Ilonggos paid tribute to the bravery and sacrifices of the Panay Guerrilla Forces, who played a key role in liberating Panay, Guimaras, and Romblon from Japanese forces 80 years ago, during a commemorative ceremony at the Balantang Memorial Cemetery National Shrine in Barangay Quintin Salas, Jaro, on Tuesday, March 18.
The ceremony included wreath-laying rites at the tombs of Col. Macario Peralta Jr. and his wife, Natividad, as well as at the Wall of Memories and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers.
Around 1,500 attendees—including descendants of war veterans, post-war veterans, and members of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines—gathered for the ceremony.
Representatives from non-government organizations and various agencies also participated in the tribute.
Currently, there are nine surviving World War II veterans in Western Visayas, but unlike in previous years, none were able to attend this year’s event.
Glen Castañares, head of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) Iloilo Field Service Extension Office, noted that the surviving veterans are between 94 and 104 years old.
Assistant Secretary Domingo Carbonell Jr., deputy administrator for operations at PVAO, emphasized the significance of the commemoration and the agency’s continued support for war veterans.
“This event is very significant because we honor our veterans, we remember their heroic deeds, and we want to perpetuate the memory of what they have done for our country,” Carbonell said.
“At present, we have existing benefits for our World War II veterans, especially for hospitalization and other non-pension benefits. We acknowledge their present condition, so we are looking after them in the best possible way we can,” he added.
Retired Maj. Gen. Romeo Alamillo, president of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines, stressed that the liberation of Panay, Guimaras, and Romblon was a major step toward the country’s freedom.
“The Veterans Federation of the Philippines, as a program, we are trying to, with all due respect to the Americans, we are trying to shy away from the concept that the Americans liberated us,” Alamillo said, emphasizing that guerrilla forces had already gained ground before the arrival of American troops.
The Battle of Balantang, where the national shrine now stands, was one of the bloodiest battles fought by the Panay Guerrilla Forces under Peralta.
The resistance fighters survived seven suicidal attacks by Japanese Imperial Forces from Feb. 6 to March 20, 1945, paving the way for the Allied 40th Infantry Division of the United States Army to land in Barangay Parara, Tigbauan, Iloilo.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas urged the younger generation to uphold the legacy of war heroes through actions that promote the welfare of the community.
“Their courage and sacrifices continue to inspire us as we strive to safeguard the freedoms they so valiantly defended.
Let us fight—not with weapons, but armed with compassion, cooperation, and a steadfast resolve to create a brighter and more inclusive future for all,” he said in a message read by Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon.
Provincial Information and Community Affairs Office Chief Nereo Lujan, speaking on behalf of Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., emphasized the importance of preserving and correcting history.
“Part of our duty as historians is not just to preserve history, but to correct it.
We must expose the untold stories of heroism while also unmasking the false claims of those who have rewritten history for their own gain,” Lujan said.
Victory Day is observed annually following Proclamation No. 430, issued by then-President Corazon Aquino in 1989.
The proclamation declared March 18 as a special non-working holiday in Panay and Romblon, including Iloilo and Roxas cities, in recognition of the region’s role in the country’s liberation.
