PH Consulate in New York Commemorates Day of Valor, Honors WWII Veterans with Congressional Gold Medal

The Philippine Consulate General in New York commemorated Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) and the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Manila with a solemn tribute to Filipino and American World War II veterans on April 9, 2025. The event, held at the Philippine Center, honored the heroism and sacrifices of those who fought in the Pacific during the Second World War.

The evening’s centerpiece was the awarding of the United States Congressional Gold Medal, one of the highest civilian honors in the U.S., to four veterans or their surviving family members. Petty Officer Arthur Grabiner, a 99-year-old U.S. Navy veteran who served aboard the USS Laurens, received his medal in person. Posthumous awards were given to Captain Teodoro P. Lomuntad, Private Herbert M. Morgan, and Sergeant Abundio G. Gultiano, accepted by their next of kin.

Consul General Senen T. Mangalile, in his welcome address, reflected on the significance of the day.

“We are remembering tonight not just the cost of war, but the strength of the human spirit. Not just the fall of a city, but the rise of a people. Not just a long and arduous Good Friday, but the dawning of a glorious Easter Sunday.”

Mangalile emphasized that while April 9 marks the fall of Bataan in 1942, it also symbolizes the courage, resilience, and enduring spirit of the Filipino people.

Guest speaker Mr. Brett Moyer, author of Had MacArthur Not Returned, presented a historical lecture titled “Lessons from Liberation: WWII and Beyond.” Moyer highlighted the Philippines’ alliance with the United States during the war, the bravery of Filipino nurses under fire, and the pivotal role of resistance fighters in liberating Manila.

“Without the courage and strength of the American and Filipino troops to fight on, there would be no amazing history to look back on today,” Moyer said.

The Congressional Gold Medal ceremony was presided over by Mr. Sonny Busa, Director of the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FilVetREP), who played a key role in lobbying for the passage of the Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2016.

“Many Americans still don’t realize that the Philippines took part in the war,” Busa noted. “Filipinos fought side by side with American soldiers. Their stories need to be told—and remembered.”

Joining Consul General Mangalile in presenting the medals were Permanent Representative Antonio Manuel R. Lagdameo and Colonel Ralph Hibionada of the Philippine Mission to the United Nations in New York.

The program concluded with musical tributes by Evita Cruz and Ligaya Cullo, who performed stirring renditions of Bayan Ko and Dahil Sa ‘Yo, evoking patriotism and remembrance.

The event was a moving reminder of the shared history between the Philippines and the United States, and a call to continue honoring the bravery of World War II veterans for generations to come.