KADA buwan, tinatayang 300 World War II veterans ang namamatay, ayon kay Melinda Luna, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) Veterans Records Management Division chief.
Nito lang Marso, ang natitira na lamang buhay na beterano ay 12,297.
Sila ang mga ordinaryong tao na lumaban at nakaligtas sa isa sa pinakamasklap na bahagi ng kasaysayan ng bansa at ng mundo.
Sa ngayon, bawat isa sa kanila ay tumatanggap ng monthly pension na P5,000 at P1,700 naman bilang Total Administrative Disabilty Pension, kapalit sa buhay na inialay sa bayan, at kulang para makasapat sa pangangailangan araw-araw.
JOSE “LOLO PEPING” PEREZ JAVIER
World War II veteran Dr. Jose Perez Javier, 105 years old, shows an old photo of himself in his youth. Javier was among those who survived the Death March. INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON
World War II veteran Dr. Jose Perez Javier, 105 years old, is assisted by his wife Filomena at their home in Quezon City. Javier was among those who survived the Death March. INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON
Si Capt. Jose “Lolo Peping” Perez Javier, ay isang doktor by profession.
Ipinanganak noong February 18, 1910 sa Laoag, Ilocos Norte. Kumuha na medisina sa University of Sto.Tomas. Sa ngayon, siya ang officially recognized na oldest senior alunmnus.
Si Javier naman ay napasama sa United States Army Forces in the Far East or USAFFE noong Sept. 1, 1941, kung saan tumayo siya bilang Executive Officer of the 21st Medical Batallion sa ilalim ng 21st Infantry Division.
Kasama niya ang kapatid na si Engineer Fernando “Panding” Perez Javier, kapwa sila survivor ng Bataan Death March at naging bihag ng gera sa Camp O’Donnell sa Tarlac.
ALBERTO CARIAGA SOLOMON
World War II veteran Alberto Solomon, 94 years old, inside his small house in Barangay Santolan, Pasig City. On the walls are old photos of some of his children and a nephew. At left is a “sibat” that his daughter Elena says he brings with him when he goes out. Mr. Solomon is physically fit for his age, but two of his grandsons still stay with him here to care for his needs. INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON
94 year old World War II veteran Alberto Solomon’s daughter Emmalyn explains something to him in a louder voice as he has difficulty hearing. As a father, she describes him as a teacher who taught his children how to survive and help others without expecting in return, to avoid trouble and live peacefully. She and her children take care of him, with his house located right beside hers in a depressed area in Barangay Santolan, Pasig City. INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON
Si Alberto Cariaga Solomon ay isinilang sa Lalibertad, Negros Oriental noong May 21, 1921. Maagang naulila sa ina si Solomon. Sa muling pag-aasawa ng kanyang ama, nakaranasa siya nang pagmamalupit sa kanyang madrasta, dahilan para umalis siya sa kanilang tahanan.
Napasali siya sa USAFFE noon December 1941 at ipinadala bilang bahagi ng kampanya sa Mindanao. Hindi raw niya makakalimutan na nakahawak siya noon ng machine gun sa pakikipagbakbakan. At sa mga labanang ito, nakatanggap siya ng base pay na P14.00 at P8 bilang allowance. Noong May 1942, naging Prisoner of war din siya ng Japanese forces at ipinadala sa Camp O’Donell in Tarlac.
PORFIRIO GABEATAN LAGUITAN
World War II veteran Porferio G. Laguitan, 91 years old. He was an informer for guerillas, reporting enemy position and activities during the war. After WWII, he worked for the US forces looking for deserters in the Japanese army for turn-over to the USAFFE headquarters and also worked under the US military police command to maintain peace and order. He has 7 children and more than two dozen grandchildren. INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON
World War II veteran Porferio G. Laguitan, 91 years old, checking his mobilephone while one of his grandchildren plays on the floor insid ehis home in Taguig City. INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON
Sakabila ng kanyang edad at kahinaan, parati pa ring dumadalo sa Monday flag ceremonies sa Taguig City Hall ang 94-anyos na si Pfc. Porfirio Gabeatan Laguitan. Nagtutungo siya rito tuwing Lunes habang suot ang plantsadong puting polo na may veteran logo, blue cap, at government identification tag, taglay ni Laguitan ang karangalan na inialay sa bayan.
Ipinanganak siya sa Pozorrubio, Pangasinan noong February 10, 1924. Noong gera, nagsilbi siya bilang informer para sa mga guerilla. At nang matapos ang gera, nagtrabaho siya bilang tagahanap ng mge deserter ng Japanese Army at nagsusuplong sa USAFFE.
PEDRO SANTOS GUTIERREZ
World War II veteran Pedro Santos Gutierrez, 87 years old. He has a house in Bataan but stays with his daughter Eva Natividad (R) partly for better access to free medical services for veterans in Manila. INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON
World War II veteran Pedro Santos Gutierrez, 87 years old, spends time reading his Bible in a house he shares with his daughter Eva Natividad. INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON
JOSE S. QUILATAN
100 year old World War II veteran Jose Santiago Quilatan Sr. showing a black-and-white photo of his wedding day with his young bride Lourdes Dimaguila, then 20 years old and he at 26. INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON
World War II veteran Jose Santiago Quilatan Sr.’sGSIS Member’s Service Record from his first employment in July 1937 (pre-war) and his last one listed on February 1979. INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON
