Bataan Day celebration in Chicago

The Philippine Consulate General in Chicago, in collaboration with the Mayor’s Office, Commission on Human Relations Advisory Council on Veterans Affairs, celebrated with the Filipino community and the Filipino-American veterans the 69th Commemoration of Bataan Day in Chicago.

In his remarks, Consul General Leo M. Herrera-Lim said: “Truly, if the brave Filipino and American soldiers did not make their gallant stand in Bataan and Corregidor, the course of war may have be markedly different. The imperial Japanese forces may have had an easy going invading Australia and none of us would have been here today. We owe so much to the brave Filipino and American soldiers in Bataan and Corregidor.”

Mr. William Schmutz, Director/Community Liaison, Chicago City Mayor Office’ Commission on Human Relations Advisory Council on Veterans Affairs, read the Proclamation by City of Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, proclaiming 09 April 2011 as “BATAAN DAY IN CHICAGO”. Mr. Emilio Hidalgo, World War II veteran and Commander of Fil-Am Post 509, and Major Edwin H. Walker IV (USMC) (ret.) of the Maywood Bataan Day Organization, likewise paid tribute to their fellow veterans’ heroism and courage during World War II.

Ninety three (93) years old Cleopatra Dulay Pactol joined the Bataan Day celebration in Chicago for the first time this year. A holder of Nursing and Dentistry degrees, veteran Cleopatra served as a Third Lieutenant at the Philippine Army Nurse Corps / Headquarters of U.S. Forces at Fort Mills in Corregidor, Philippines on 20 April 1942 and was prisoner of war from 07 May 1942 to 23 July 1942 at Fort Mills and Old Bilibid Prison in Manila. For her bravery, she was awarded the “Bronze Star Medal”.

Consul General and Mrs. Herrera-Lim were joined by the veterans, members of the Fil-Am community, Director William Schmutz, Director Kripal Zala (Director and Community Liaison, Chicago City Mayor Office’ Commission on Human Relations Advisory Council on Asian Affairs), Ms. Abbey Eusebio (Consitutent Advocate and representative of Representative Jan Schakowsky), and the Consulate’s officers and staff in the floral offering.
The event, which was participated in by World War II veterans and survivors of the infamous Bataan “Death March”, paid tribute to thousands of Filipino and American soldiers who, despite overwhelming odds, displayed extraordinary gallantry and courage beyond the call of duty in defending Bataan and Corregidor against the invading Imperial
After the event, the participants and the public were served Filipinos foods and refreshments.

The Consulate extends its sincere thanks to all those who attended the Commemoration of Bataan Day in Chicago last Friday (08 April 2011), and to those who worked hard to make the event a success – Director William Schmutz of the Chicago Commission on Human Relations Advisory Council on Veterans Affairs; Ms. Abbey Eusebio, Constituent Advocate, Office of U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky; Director Kripal Zala of the Chicago Commission on Human Relations Advisory Council on Asian Affairs ; Ms. Angeles Carandang of the National Federation of Filipino American Association, Illinois (NaFFAA); Ms. Carmen Estacio of the Asian American Liaison, Office of the Secretary of State; Mr. Andy Maburaco, Filipino American Grandparents Association; Mrs. Norma Manankil, Circulo Capampangan; Bataan Association (represented by Ray Galicia, Dorie Estipona, Gloria Paguio, Ed Cruz & Linda Framil); Ms. Estrella Alamar, Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago; Zamboanga National Association in Illinois (ZAMNAI) / Zamboanga Del Norte National Provincial High School Alliance (ZNNPHSA) (represented by Ms. Sol Anderson, Mr. Greg Trabanca & Dr. Concepcion Bernabe); Philippine Association of CPAs in Greater Chicago (PCPAs) (represented by Adelina Vergara, Susan Silvano & Lettie Natividad); Knights of Rizal (represented by Dr. Rufino Crisostomo and Mr. Paypon); Maj. Edwin H. Walker IV (USMC) (ret.), Vice-President, Maywood Bataan Day Organization (MBDO); Lt. Colonel Dr. Marjerie M. Badilla (U.S. Army) (ret.); Excellent Home Health Care and Estella Escudero, Master Sergeant Nestor Evaristo (U.S. Air Force Reserve; the members of the Fil-Am owned newspapers who covered the event, and the following veterans: Emilio Hidalgo, Emilio Garcera, Mariano Nazareno, Juan Millio, Dr. Crispin Echiverri, Catalino Macarulay, Isabelo Campollo, Ricardo Caronongan, Fortunato Mallari, Servillano Cabagnot, Jose Juachon, Cleopatra Dulay De Pactol, Henry Jao, Dominador Ramirez, Jaime Pesongco and the other veterans of World War II.