Install allied landing markers in all beaches
TO HONOR ALL ALLIED SOLDIERS
TO put an end to the contentious debate where Gen. Douglas Mac Arthur landed in Pangasinan when allied forces started of the liberation of Luzon on January 9, 1945, markers on the beachhead that extended from Lingayen, Binmaley, Dagupan to San Fabian will be installed.
VILLAFLOR
Dr. Vicencio Villaflor Jr., son and namesake of Dr. Vicencio Villaflor Sr., who served in the medical corps of Col. Windel Fertig of the Mindanao Command during World War II, made the suggestion as he pointed out all the soldiers that landed ahead of MacArthur in all the towns’ beaches represented the American general.
“I believe that every rank and file, soldiers and officers, that set foot on the beach represented the 6th Army of General Walter Krueger and under the command of General Mac Arthur. These soldiers all represented General Mac Arthur,”. Villaflor intoned.
The date and the place on where Mac Arthur first set foot when he began the liberation of the Philippines is being fiercely debated by local histoirans and witnesses in Lingayen, Dagupan and San Fabian.
He said in order to finally put an end to the controversy, World War II markers should be put up along the on a 20-mile (32-kilometer) beachhead 72 years ago.
Villaflor was the guest of honor and speaker during the commemoration of the 72nd Anniversary of the Lingayen Gulf Landing at the Pangasinan Memorial Park attended by Filipino veterans and veterans from the United States and Australia.
He suggested the following statement on the markers: “On this hallowed ground in San Fabian, Dagupan, Binmaley and Lingayen, the soldiers of the 6th Army under General Walter Krueger under the command of General Douglas MacArthur landed to begin the liberation of the Philippines from Japanese occupation and thus fulfilled his promise ‘I shall return to the Filipino people’.”
This, he said, should encourage partnership among neighboring towns for the rapid development of tourist attractions and make tourists come here to our beaches.
He suggested the formation of commission that can help improve and protect the markers with civic spirited citizens encouraged to help in the endeavor.
He cited the 1948 marker put up by the National Historical Commission (NHC) in Bonuan with the help of the Rotary Club of Dagupan marking the spot where soldiers of the 6th Army under General Krueger, had already disappeared.
Villaflor recalled that in1984, Mayor Cipriano Manaois also erected a monument statue of Mac Arthur on the property of veteran Moises Maramba in Bonuan, Dagupan City but this too is now decrepit and vandalized.
Villaflor also cited the accreditation of private hospitals by the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) enabling veterans in Pangasinan to get quality health care in the province instead of traveling to be treated at the Philippine Veterans Memorial Hospital in Quezon City.
He said there are 20 surgical procedures that can be given to veterans for free by any government and private hospitals accredited by PVAO. (With report from PIO)
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