President Aquino hails 'unsung heroes'

PILAR, Bataan, Philippines—Tens of thousands of Filipino and American soldiers, both living and dead, were lauded by President Benigno Aquino III for their uncommon valor in Saturday’s commemoration of Araw ng Kagitingan at the World War II mountaintop shrine here.

Mr. Aquino said the Philippines would not be in a democracy now if not for the soldiers who put up a heroic resistance before succumbing to the superior force of the Japanese invaders in Bataan 69 years ago on Saturday.

“I know that you, our veterans, may have lost some battles during those times, but your courage and love for country became instruments in winning a larger war—a war to awaken the Filipino heart, which allowed us to achieve independence,” he said in a speech.

A day after the Social Weather Stations announced that his late parents—former Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. and former President Corazon Aquino—ranked behind Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio as the Filipinos’ “real heroes,” Mr. Aquino particularly paid tribute to those lacking in accolades.

“There are the named and the nameless. Today, we gather to pay tribute to our unsung heroes,” he said.

US Ambassador Harry Thomas and Japanese Ambassador Makoto Katsura delivered their own speeches at the Mt. Samat ceremony. Among the other Filipino officials present were Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Education Secretary Armin Luistro and top military officers.

War veterans and their families also participated in the event.

The President said that three generations after the war, the government was still trying its best to show its gratitude in terms of services for the vets and their families.

“More than seven decades after, we still remember your sacrifices,” he said, adding:

“Our generation has a lot to learn from our veterans. We would do well to emulate the spirit of service that they exhibited.

“Let us show that their sacrifices have not gone to waste.”