PRESS RELEASE
SFPCG-PR-028-2021
Consul General Neil Ferrer Participates in Bataan Death March Commemoration on Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor)
SAN FRANCISCO, 9 April – Philippine Consul General Neil Frank R. Ferrer participated in a ceremony led by the Bataan Legacy Historical Society to mark the 79th Anniversary of the Bataan Death March at the World War II West Coast Memorial in the Presidio.
The Philippines is commemorating Araw ng Kagitingan on even date in homage to the thousands of Filipino soldiers who fought alongside American soldiers in the Pacific theatre of the Second World War.
Consul General Ferrer and U.S. Colonel Otto Padron laid a wreath before the WW II West Coast Memorial, which is dedicated to missing soldiers of World War II.
In his remarks, Consul General Ferrer thanked the event’s organizers, particularly, Ms. Cecilia Gaerlan, Executive Director of the Bataan Legacy Historical Society, and Major General Eldon Regua, for putting up the event despite the challenges of the pandemic.
“As we remember the great pain and hardship that our veterans endured, including many who paid the ultimate sacrifice of laying down their lives, it is important that we pay tribute to their bravery and heroism, which paved the way for the freedoms that we now enjoy,” said Consul General Ferrer in his remarks. As the Philippines and the U.S. are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year, he also acknowledged that the sacrifices of the heroic WWII veterans greatly contributed to the development and strengthening of the countries’ bilateral relations.
Aside from the yearly Bataan Death March commemorative event, the Bataan Legacy Historical Society also worked for the awarding of the Congressional Gold Medal to Filipino war veterans, and the inclusion of World War II in the Philippines in the history curriculum of California high schools, among other efforts to pay tribute to WWII veterans and increase awareness about World War II in the Philippines among the public./END
Consul General Neil Frank R. Ferrer.
Consul General Neil Frank R. Ferrer and Maj. Gen. Eldon Regua, USA, Ret.
