Filipino veterans honored on 82nd anniversary of Bataan Death March

Philippine Consul General Neil Ferrer (center) with Vice Admiral Andrew Tiongson (center, right) — the Filipino American commander for the Pacific Area and Defense Force West of the US Coast Guard. Photo from San Francisco PCG

SAN FRANCISCO – Against the backdrop of the Golden Gate Bridge, the US veteran and Filipino American communities marked the 82^nd anniversary of the Fall of Bataan and the Bataan Death March in a solemn ceremony led by the Bataan Legacy Historical Society at the San Francisco National Cemetery on April 13.

Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Ferrer took part in the commemorative event, where he recognized the 18 Filipino World War II veterans interred at the San Francisco National Cemetery.

The veterans were Maj. Anastacio Q. Ver; Technician 5th Grade Andy Ramos Andra, 1st Lt. Elias Guzman Basa, Steward Petty Officer 1st Class Bernardo Ababao Bitoon, Seaman Sutro Cabanilli, 2nd Lt. Pedro Flores Cabiluna, Senior Master Sgt. Leoncio Joseph Javier Cruz, Master Sgt. Isabelo Manois de Vera, Sgt. Vicente Cortez Diala, Operations Specialist 1st Class Andres Duque Escobar, Sgt. Benito Cabutotan Isla, Sgt. Morris D. Junio, Cpl. Pedro Maguddato, Col. Narciso Manzano, 1st Lt. Andro Salvador Marana, Shipfitter 1st Class Elias Mina Riveral, Sgt. Vicente Robillos and 1st Lt. Sid Ortiz Valledor.

“What transpired in Bataan led to our most important triumph: Filipinos never lost hope, and showed bravery and resilience under the most dire circumstances,” Consul General Neil Ferrer said in his remarks.

“The enemy failed to break the indomitable spirit of the fighting Filipino. It is for this reason that the Fall of Bataan anniversary on April 9 is officially celebrated in the Philippines as the Araw ng Kagitingan, the Day of Valor.”

Ferrer also said the Philippines-US relations, part of the legacy left behind by Filipino and American World War II veterans, are “at an all-time high.”

He said this was made evident last week during the first-ever trilateral meeting between the US, Philippines and Japan at the White House, led by President Joe Biden, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

Fil-Am and US veteran communities commemorate the 82nd anniversary of the Fall of Bataan and Bataan Death March. Photos from San Francisco PCG

In his keynote speech, Vice Admiral Andrew J. Tiongson, the Fil-Am commander for the Pacific Area and Defense Force West of the US Coast Guard, highlighted the strategic ties between the Philippine and US Coast Guards.

Eight Filipino WWII veterans, represented by their descendants, were awarded US Congressional Gold Medals during a special ceremony. It marked the 105^th ceremony conferring America’s highest civilian award on Filipino veterans.

Fil-Am community leader Cynthia Bonta, the mother of California Attorney General Rob Bonta, took part in the “tolling of the bells,” which paid tribute to all those who perished during WWII. Mrs. Bonta survived the massacre of civilians in Los Baños, Laguna in February 1945.

Following the “tolling of the bells,” Ferrer and Acting Mexican Consul General Vicente Sanchez Ventura led a wreath-laying ceremony in honor of Filipino and American World War II veterans. A flyover by the Memorial Squadron, flying past the San Francisco Bay, capped the event.

The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco has been a partner of the Bataan Legacy Historical Society in activities such as the “Remember Bataan” exhibit at the Philippine Center in San Francisco in April 2022, and the 6^th Conference on World War II in the Philippines at the University of San Francisco in September 2023.

On April 9, 1942, officials in command of Philippine and American forces in Bataan Peninsula surrendered to the Japanese Imperial Army after three months of valiant resistance to the foreign invaders.

Close to 80,000 Filipino and American fighters endured atrocities by Japanese forces and were forced to march along a 70-mile route, from Mariveles, Bataan, to Camp O’Donnell, Tarlac, in what is now known as the Bataan Death March.

Almost 20,000 perished due to starvation, disease, abuse and summary killings. Many consider the Bataan Death March as one of the worst atrocities committed on the Pacific front during WWII.