The Power of COMMUNITIES and STORIES remind us about what being Human is all about, October 2026
The Power of COMMUNITIES and STORIES remind us about
What being Human is all about
October 2026
Once again, I am grateful for the power of Knowledge Communities and the power of inspiring stories!
Tireless efforts of the Filipino Veterans Education and Recognition Project and Communities supporting Military Veterans
On 20 October 2026, my father was one of 9 honored this year with the Congressional Gold Medal (CGM), the highest civilian award bestowed by the US Congress.
Many thanks to Major General Tony Taguba, Regional Director Sonny Busa, Jay Cabacar and members of the Filipino Veterans Education and Recognition Project for fighting for the recognition of all the 500,000 Filipinos (though only 267,000 were registered in the official roster) who fought in the Army and Guerilla forces for the Philippines and the US during WWII.
A huge and special thanks also go to Herbert Valle from the KM Community of Washington DC who let me know about this important honor (through a LinkedIn post) and how my father might be eligible. If I hadn’t been connected to him because of the KMCDC I would not have known about the medal, and more importantly, why this part of my father’s life was so important to him.
And how timely that this medal was given yesterday, 20 October, on the 82nd anniversary of the day General Douglas MacArthur came back to the Philippines after his famous 1942 pledge to the Filipino people when he said, “I shall return” when the Philippines was under Japanese occupation.
Stories from my Father, passed down to generations
My father would have been thrilled to know about this before he passed away 4 years ago at 98 years old. He often spoke about the war and often told stories about this time of his youth to anyone he could - over dinner, during family reunions and especially to his grandchildren. Talk about Knowledge Transfer! He so was doing it and I didn’t even have to nudge him to do it!
Apparently, it’s usually quite rare for veterans to talk about their time at war. But I can only guess that it must have been both exciting and not just dangerous for a teenager to experience being part of something big and important. He often mentioned how at 17 years old he decided, just like that without telling his parents, to leave his family and join the efforts to help in the war, at the time when then President Franklin D Roosevelt made a Call to Action after the attack of the Japanese in Pearl Harbor in December 1941. He was rejected by the Filipino army because he was too young. But that didn’t stop him. So he joined the Filipino Guerilla forces entering as a 3rd lieutenant.
How cheeky of him to do such a thing! Although as a mother myself, I probably would have forbidden him to do it and understand why he didn’t tell them. Still, a bold and maybe impulsive move. It was definitely a different time then. And not even communicating with his parents for 2 years must have been traumatic, especially for his mother! Later, I was told that our grandmother, his mother, eventually found out of his whereabouts from a connection of hers in the Philippine army and made a special request that he be confined to a desk job rather than being in the line of fire, particularly because of his age. So, in the end, his job was mostly deciphering codes. After the war, he was asked to join the first Filipino cohort to be invited to go to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York.
The Power of Inspiring Stories
During the CGM ceremony, it was amazing to hear stories of those whose family members have lived to tell the tale and whose stories have remained vivid in their minds. And it’s a good reminder for us, at least for me, to not take for granted what others have sacrificed a lot for. These young men and women serving in WWII under the Philippine and US Army sacrificed their lives and safety in order for the current generation to have the liberties and rights we have today.
By listening to these stories, one gets to know how much many have lost and gone through and which hopefully lead us to care and be more mindful. Similiar to a famous quote from the 2016 movie, “A Plastic Ocean”, this leads me to reflect out loud that, "From Knowing comes Caring and from Caring comes a stronger Commitment to enshrine the freedoms and rights that countless others have fought hard for us to have today.
In the photos below, to receive the medal on my Papa’s behalf was his youngest sister (my aunt, still so youthful in her 80s), his youngest daughter (me) and his youngest granddaughter (my daughter, Sarah). My aunt was a toddler in 1941 when they were told they had to flee to the hills after the Pearl Harbor bombing. She still remembers being carried by her older siblings when they fled to hide. Also is a photo of my father right after graduating from Kings Point after the war, and then in his twilight years of 96 and before his passing almost 3 years later.
May the sacrifice of all these Filipino veterans, and all other military veterans never ever be forgotten.
Are you Filipino and your father or mother served in World War II?
So if you’re Filipino and your father or mother happen to have served in the US or Filipino Army or Filipino Guerillas in their youth in World War II, contact the Filipino Veterans Education and Recognition Project, to see if they are elgible to receive this important recognition, too. Or feel free to contact me or chat with me directly.
