In Honor of Filipino Veterans
by Heidi M. Pascual

In 1941, more than 250,000 Filipino soldiers responded to President Roosevelt’s call-to-arms and later
fought under the American flag during World War II. Many made the ultimate sacrifice as both soldiers in
the U.S. Army Forces in the Far East and as guerilla fighters during the Imperial Japanese occupation of
the Philippines. --Chris Lu

This issue of Asian Wisconzine is dedicated to Filipino men and women who served their country during
World War II, either as soldiers and guerilla forces who fought the enemy, or as civilians who helped their
armed compatriots. We also think deeply about our heroes of the 1900s who fought the Spaniards, most of
whom lost their lives in the process. After more than 300 years of being a colony of Spain, the Philippines
declared its independence on June 12, 1898, when the new Philippine flag was raised in Kawit, Cavite,
while the Filipino anthem, Lupang Hinirang, was sung. The sorrowful part was the loss of lives of Filipinos
who only had bolos with them. Americans came to the rescue; the Spaniards left; and The Philippines
became America's protectorate. The country became a Commonwealth, until World War II erupted in 1941.

Filipino and American soldiers fought together to fight the Japanese Imperial Army that invaded the
Philippines. Thousands of lives were lost. The Death March from Bataan to Capas, Tarlac was a grim
reminder of the atrocities committed to Filipinos and Americans during that war. Memorials in both the
Philippines and the United States had been erected as a strong reminder of the gallantry and heroism of
the men and women who served their countries, many of whom paid the ultimate sacrifice in the process.
(Counterclockwise from top left)
Capas National Shrine Museum
photo of the Bataan Death  
March; Names of soldiers--both
Filipinos and Americans-- who
were in the march; memorial in
Fort Santiago, Manila for POWs
killed as prisoners; author in
front of the Bataan Memorial  
Building in Santa Fe, New
Mexico; a look-out in Fort
Santiago.