LINGAYEN–Gov. Amado Espino Jr. led officials and veterans in launching the updated history panels at the Veterans Memorial Park at the Provincial Capitol grounds here on Friday.

The panels consist of rare photographs, maps and paintings about events relating to the Lingayen Gulf Landing that took place during the Second World War.

Ricardo Balbido Jr., president of the Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB), joined the Pangasinan governor in cutting the ceremonial ribbon marking the opening of the exhibit as part of the programs for the 64th Anniversary of the Lingayen Gulf Landing.

Twelve history panels were updated and installed by the PVB in partnership with the Pangasinan provincial government and the Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP).

Mike Villa-Real, vice president of PVB’s Corporate Communications and Marketing Services, said the new history panels donated by the PVB to the province consisted of numerous photographs and maps about the Lingayen Gulf Landing and other World War II vintage photographs taken from various locations in Pangasinan, such as Dagupan, San Fabian, and Damortis.

Also featured are photographs of the landing of the Japanese invasion forces in 1941 led by General Masahuro Homma in La Union.

Vila-Real said the most striking piece is entitled “Spirit of 1945” featuring a lone Filipino guerilla spotted by U.S. observation planes, waving an American flag while standing at the surf to signal to the U.S. troops that the Japanese had retreated in the midst of heavy pre-invasion bombardment.

The act was described as “probably one of the greatest single acts of heroism of the whole operation”. However the identity of the lone guerilla remains unknown.

PVB President Balbido said more improvements will be done at the Veterans Memorial Park as agreed by the bank and the Pangasinan provincial government soon.—LM

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