ABOUT THE COVER Over the years, the war becomes “ a reminder and testament that the Filipino spirit has always withstood the test of time.” The Official News Magazine of the - Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson Philippine Veterans Affairs Office Special Guest and Speaker during the Review in Honor of the Veterans on 05 April 2018 Advisory Board IMAGINE A WORLD, wherein the Allied Forces in Europe and the Pacific LtGen. Ernesto G. Carolina, AFP (Ret) Administrator did not win the war. The very course of history itself, along with the essence of freedom and liberty would be devoid of the life that we so enjoy today. MGen. Raul Z. Caballes, AFP (Ret) Deputy Administrator Now, imagine at the blossoming age of your youth, you are called to arms to fight and defend your land from the threat of tyranny and oppression. Would you do it? Considering you have a whole life ahead of you, only to Contributors have it ended through the other end of a gun barrel. Are you willing to freely Atty. Rolando D. Villaflor give your life for the life of others? This was the reality of World War II. No Dr. Pilar D. Ibarra man deserves to go to war, but our forefathers did, and they did it without a MGen. Alfredo S. Cayton, Jr., AFP (Ret) moment’s notice, vouchsafing a peaceful and better world to live in for their children and their children’s children. BGen. Restituto L. Aguilar, AFP (Ret) Col. Agerico G. Amagna III, PAF (Ret) WWII Veteran Manuel R. Pamaran The cover for this Bulletin was inspired by Shena Rain Libranda’s painting, Liza T. Dela Cruz “Bayaning Beterano sa Bayang Malaya” which became the winning piece for the 76th Araw ng Kagitingan Painting Competition. In her brief description Ferdinand C. Palor of her art, she states how the freedom enjoyed today is a reflection of the is New VFP President Raquel A. Cajuguiran actions of veterans who fought before and for them. Melinda I. Luna As the fulfillment of the KAGITINGAN Roadmap 2022 draws near, PVAO Mariciel E. Estacio, MNSA continues to gear towards the Institutionalization Stage of the Performance Engr. Diomedes C. Palor Governance System which would guide the Agency in creating a systematic Engr. Valerico C. Lim III, MNSA approach on integrating the identified risks and opportunities that will impact the organization’s strategic and operational objectives. PVAO will never forget the veterans. As such, PVAO concerns itself with the PVAO Public Affairs Office management of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP), with the Office of the Administrator appointment of WWII veteran and former Sandiganbayan Justice Manuel R. Pamaran as the new President of the umbrella organization for the veterans, Landline: and supporting joint activities that strengthen not only the veterans’ health, 02-9124526 / 02-9124728 but also their morale. Website: The continuous effort to enhance the facilities of the Libingan ng mga Bayani http://www.pvao.gov.ph (LNMB) has also been highlighted for this quarter with the Supplemental Email: Memorandum-of-Agreement (MOA) signing for the Comprehensive Master [email protected] & Development Plan of the national military cemetery. With this, the complete [email protected] development and rehabilitation of LNMB is now underway and is expected to be fully implemented come 2023. Facebook: Philippine Veterans Affairs Office “They did not know me. They did not know my family. They did not know all of us. But they died for us,” said President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Tune in to “VETERANS HOUR” radio program, pertaining to the veterans who fought for the liberty of this nation. Indeed, 1-2 PM every Tuesday and Thursday at Katropa the peace and democracy we so enjoy today is a reflection of the sacrifices DWDD 1134 kHz-AM or watch the real-time livestreaming at www.facebook.com/dwdd1134 our veterans made for the safety and security of this nation, may we not take it for granted. PVAO Public Affairs Team SERBISYO SA BETERANO 2 VOLUME 11 I ISSUE 2 SERBISYO SA BAYAN The Official News Magazine of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office WWII Veteran Manuel R. Pamaran is New VFP President [ ANGELA KAYE F. CRESCINI ] 28 May 2018, Department of National Defense Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana appointed World War II veteran and retired Sandiganbayan Justice Manuel R. Pamaran as the new President of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP). Secretary Lorenzana administered the oath of office of Justice Pamaran College of Law. He also served as Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice (11 at the Department of National Defense (DND) Social Hall. Justice June 1978-31 March 1986), Legal Consultant for the Office of the Vice Pamaran will immediately assume the Office of the President of the VFP President (1996-1998), and Presidential Assistant on Justice for the and exercise the powers and functions of his position. Office of the President (1998-2001). Prior to his appointment as President of the VFP, he was the Executive He was also part of the veterans-legislative-executive team that went Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Federation. He also to Washington, D. C. in 2008 to lobby for the approval of the Filipino became a member of the Executive Board, and the Vice President for Veterans Equity Compensation (FVEC) Act which resulted to the grant of Charter Organizations of the VFP Supreme Council. He is also the $9,000 to World War II veterans residing in the Philippines, and $15,000 current President of the Hunters ROTC Guerrilla Association, Inc., and to those residing in the U.S. Mainland. It is also noteworthy to know Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Veterans of WWII (BTVWWII). that he was a professor of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during his law school days. Born on 17 June 1926 in Bacoor, Cavite, Justice Pamaran joined the guerilla forces as Private First Class (PFC) serving in the “O” Company The Veterans Federation of the Philippines, created under Republic Act MVCR of the Hunters ROTC. His unit was responsible for providing No. 2640, serves as the umbrella organization of all Filipino veterans’ intelligence and protection of civilians. He also figured in the liberation organizations. It aims to uphold the interest and general welfare campaigns of areas outside Manila – Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas of all veterans, their spouses and orphans. Through its member- and Tayabas (now Quezon). His name is also included in the Approved organizations, the Federation also aims to perpetuate the veterans’ Revised Recognized Guerrilla Roster of the Philippine Veterans Board heroic deeds, foster patriotism and love of country among the citizenry (now Philippine Veterans Affairs Office). especially the youth, and inculcate civic consciousness among all members. He became a beneficiary of PVAO’s Educational Benefit which he used to take up Bachelor of Laws at the Manuel L. Quezon University. During A government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC) attached to his stint as a lawyer, Justice Pamaran became known for his leadership the Department of National Defense, the VFP is under the control and in legal education as the Dean of the College of Law of Pamantasan supervision of the Secretary of National Defense. Through the Federation, ng Lungsod ng Pasay, and Lecturer at the University of the Philippines the DND aims to build a unified Filipino veterans community. JUNE 2018 3 DND Posts New VFP Leadership [ ARLA E. FONTAMILLAS ] he new officers of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP) took their oath of office at the VFP T Headquarters, Arroceros, Manila on 31 May 2018. Their appointment followed the directive of DND Department Order No. 184, which was issued on 24 May 2018. This order terminated the hold-over capacity of the incumbent VFP officers under President Col. Bonifacio G. De Gracia, PA (Ret) who was succeeded by former Sandiganbayan Justice and World War II Veteran Manuel R. Pamaran. Pursuant to DND Department Order No. 193, issued on 30 May 2018, the following are appointed to their respective positions: LtGen. Raul S. Urgello, AFP (Ret), Executive Vice President/COO; Col. Leopoldo M. Amar, (GSC) PAF (Ret), Vice President for Administration; Commo. Salvador Q. Esguerra, AFP (Ret), Vice President for Operations; Capt. Gilbert M. Baladhay, PN (Ret), Vice President for Finance; Col. Diosdado M. Domingo, PA (Ret), General Manager, VFP-Industrial Complex, and; BGen. Pedro L. Sinajon, Jr., AFP (Ret), Assistant General Manager, VFP-IC. Defense Undersecretary for Civil, Veteran, and Retiree Affairs (USCVRA) Reynaldo B. Mapagu led the oath-taking of the newly appointed officers with PVAO Administrator Ernesto G. Carolina and members of the PVAO Executive Committee as witnesses. Department Order Nos. 184 and 193 aim to hasten the implementation of reforms in the VFP and further improve the management as an organization that will truly serve the veterans. The VFP is a government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC) attached to the DND and is under the direct control and supervision of the Secretary of National Defense. The VFP was created through Republic Act No. 2640 and serves as an umbrella organization of all organizations of Filipino veterans and their dependents. It is mandated by law to uphold the interest and general welfare of all Filipino veterans, spouses and orphans. 4 VOLUME 11 I ISSUE 2 Secretary Lorenzana Keynotes VFP 58th Anniversary [ SIMEON CALEB L. GASILAO ] efense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana led the celebration of the 58th Founding Anniversary of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines D (VFP) as the Guest of Honor and Keynote Speaker at the VFP Headquarters in Arroceros, Manila on 18 June 2018. VFP President Manuel R. Pamaran ushered in the event with his welcoming remarks highlighting a hopeful term for the VFP in serving the veterans.