The city government of this Negros Oriental provincial capital will pay tribute to World War II and post-war veterans when it commemorates its 78th Liberation Day on April 26.

The city had to forego the usual April 9 nationwide celebration of Day of Valor (Araw ng Kagitingan) to give emphasis to the commemoration of local heroes, said retired Judge Rafael Crescencio Tan in an interview Tuesday with the Philippine News Agency.

Tan, the post commander of the 4th Dumaguete City Veterans Post and the district president of the VFP’s Sons and Daughters Association here, said he has requested the city to celebrate Liberation Day as mandated by law.

Both deceased and living WWII veterans will be given tribute during the liberation day ceremony, although the attendees are mostly post-war veterans, he said.

Assistant Secretary Restituto Aguila, deputy administrator of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), will be the keynote speaker while Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo will deliver his inspirational message, he added.

There are less than 10 living WWII veterans in this capital, but the WWII-Veterans Federation of the Philippines Sons and Daughters Association, Inc. will be on hand to represent deceased veterans’ next-of-kin, Tan said.

The liberation day commemoration will be held at the Quezon Park here, with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Rizal monument, the playing of taps, three volleys of fire, and a medical mission.

Tan, meanwhile, said they are now working on putting up a Heroes Wall of Fame at the Silliman University (SU) here.

“The Wall of Fame will feature SU’s graduates of ROTC (Reserved Officers’ Training Corps) who died during World War II,” he said.

The Silliman University’s ROTC was the first unit activated in the Philippines to serve in WWII alongside the United States armed forces, he added.

The PVAO has promised to help fund the project, which Tan said is expected to be finished before the end of the year. (PNA)