CONSUL GENERAL FERRER TAKES PART IN 81ST FALL OF BATAAN ANNIVERSARY IN SAN FRANCISCO
SAN FRANCISCO, USA – Against the backdrop of the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco Bay, the Filipino American Community marked the 81st anniversary of the Fall of Bataan and the Bataan Death March in an event organized by the Bataan Legacy Historical Society at the San Francisco National Cemetery on 15 April 2023.
Philippine Consul General Neil Ferrer joined the commemorative event and gave a speech, where he cited the recognitions given by the U.S. federal and California state governments to Filipino World War II veterans.
“At the state level, Assembly Bill No. 199 was enacted into law in 2011, mandating the inclusion of Philippine World War II history in California’s basic education curriculum. At the federal level, Public Law No. 114-265 was approved in 2016, conferring on Filipino World War II veterans the highest civilian award the U.S. government can bestow—the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal,” Consul General Ferrer said.
In his remarks, the Philippine Consul General also mentioned the recently concluded 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue between the Philippines’ and America’s top foreign and defense officials in Washington, D.C.
“Through our shared experience and memory of Bataan, Filipinos and Americans have forged their ties in blood, sweat and tears. The Philippines is the oldest treaty ally of the United States in Asia, and our two nations continue to work on making our strategic alliance more robust and resilient… [The 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue] recognizes the importance of the Philippines-U.S. alliance to regional peace and security—an enduring legacy of our World War II veterans,” the undersigned said.
Major General Miles Davis, Commanding General of the 63rd Readiness Division of the U.S. Army, delivered the keynote remarks of the commemorative event.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Mexican Deputy Consul General in San Francisco Vicente Sanchez joined the “tolling of the bells,” paying tribute to all those who perished during the Second World War. Attorney General Bonta’s family survived the massacre of Los Baños, Laguna in February 1945.
Following the “tolling of the bells,” Consul General Ferrer and Mexican Deputy Consul General Sanchez led a wreath-laying ceremony in honor of Filipino and American World War II veterans. An aerial flyover by the Memorial Squadron capped the event.
The Consulate has previously partnered with the Bataan Legacy Historical Society for activities such as the “Remember Bataan” visual exhibit at the Philippine Center in San Francisco in 2022, to mark the Fall of Bataan and the Bataan Death March’s 80th anniversary. END
