UNITED STATES CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDALS GIVEN TO SURVIVING KIN OF 24 FILIPINO WORLD WAR II VETERANS
COLMA, CALIFORNIA, USA – Families of 24 Filipino World War II veterans received bronze replicas of the United States Congressional Gold Medal Award, the highest award the U.S. government confers on civilians, in a solemn and moving ceremony at the Colma Community Center on 8 November 2021.
Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Frank R. Ferrer joined the ceremony organized by the Bayanihan Equity Center (BEC) and the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Program (FilVetREP)—in commemoration of U.S. Veterans Day, and the 4th anniversary of the awarding of the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal at the U.S. Congress in Washington, D.C.
In his remarks, Consul General Ferrer said that the award received by the Filipino World War II veterans from the U.S. Congress “was a watershed moment almost eight decades in the making, when the heroism of more than 260,000 Filipino veterans was finally recognized with the highest civilian award the U.S. government can bestow.”
Consul General Ferrer told the surviving kin in attendance: “They may be your fathers, grandfathers, great grandfathers, brothers or uncles, but for the rest of us, they are our heroes. Their hardships and sacrifices paved the way for the peace and liberties that all of us enjoy today. Rest assured that the legacy of your forebears will never be diminished nor forgotten by future generations of Filipinos and Filipino Americans.”
As the Philippines and the United States mark 75 years of diplomatic ties this year, Consul General Ferrer also recalled the contributions of Filipino veterans during the Second World War in the “strong Philippines-U.S. alliance that we continue to enjoy today.”
During the ceremony, Colma Mayor Dianne Colvin paid homage to the Filipino World War II veterans by issuing a proclamation, enjoining the citizens of Colma “to recognize the valor and devotion of the brave veterans.”
The 24 honorees of the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal were: Marcelo Acosta; Marciano Agbunag Sr.; Balbino Anzano; Jose Aragon; Henry Arenas; Eugenio Baloca; John Bamont; Atanacio Bayan; Dick Bilyeu; Louis Gadduang Sr.; Pablo Gonzales; Andrew Huliganga; Cesar Lucero; Casiano Magdaluyo; Ramon Melgarejo; Silveno Mina; Felix Pabros Sr.; John Padua; Juanito Patalinghug Sr.; Marcial Peteros; Lucio Ragucos Rabe; Celestino Sabado; Pantaleon Sagun; and Gorgonio Salvador.
Consul General Ferrer echoed the call of BEC Executive Director Luisa Antonio for living Filipino War War II veterans as well as the surviving kin of those who have already passed on, to receive the bronze replicas of the medal.
Public Law No. 114-265, signed by U.S. President Barack Obama on 16 December 2016, legislated the conferment of the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal to Filipino World War II veterans. The original medal, made of pure gold by the U.S. Mint, is currently housed at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.
Since the first presentation of the medal in 2017, bronze replicas of the original medal have been received by mostly descendants of the Filipino veterans. To date, 541 Filipino veterans have been honored with the award in the State of California. END
