PANGASINAN CELEBRATES 70TH LINGAYEN GULF LANDINGS TODAY AMID HISTORICAL QUESTIONS by Jojo Riñoza January 9, 2015 Lingayen, Pangasinan — The people of Pangasinan pay tribute to its unsung heroes in World War II in today’s celebration of the 70th Lingayen Gulf Landings Anniversary and 8th Pangasinan Veterans’ Day. The celebration, which calls to mind the US Navy Fleet landing at the Lingayen Gulf on January 9, 1945, will start with a thanksgiving mass at the Veterans’ Memorial Park and wreath-laying ceremony. Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. is spearheading the celebration with invited guests to include National Defense Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin; Maj. Gen. James F. Pasquarette, Deputy Commanding General of US Army Pacific; Col. Bruce Murray, Defense Attache-Australian Embassy to the Philippines; and Maj. Gen. Raul Z. Caballes, Deputy Administrator-Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO). Espino said, “the celebration of Pangasinan Veterans’ Day and the Lingayen Gulf Landings is very parochial to me as a military man, I wanted our province mate, especially the youth the sacrifices and heroism of our war veterans, they fought for our freedom. They are our heroes.” The celebration will be highlighted by the presentation of recognition to war veteran centenarians and presentation of Pangasinan Medallion of Valor. Gazmin and Pasquarette will deliver their speeches at the program, followed by a medical mission devoted to veterans and their families. HISTORICAL DISPUTE In the midst of the celebration, a local historian has stood by his claim that there was no such landing in Lingayen in 1945 by the US forces led by Gen. Douglas MacArthur. Restituto Basa claimed that the position of the provincial government of the MacArthur landing is inaccurate since the landing site is in “Dagupan City.” Basa cited that the best evidence here is the historical marker in Barangay Bonuan Gueset, Dagupan City and the picture shown in “History of World War II,” a book published by the Armed Services Memorial. He said that four battalions landed within the 12-mile stretch of the coastal villages of Libsong, Lingayen, Mabilao, San Fabian and midpoint Agno River in Bonuan. Basa explained the only reason why Lingayen had been written as the site of the landings is because some Pangasinan officials claimed that MacArthur landed in Lingayen to honor the site of the Capitol. He recalled that the alleged false claim was fortified during the time of Gov. Conrado Estrella, Sr., who served as agrarian reform minister in the administration of former President Ferdinand Marcos. Basa also claimed that from 1942 to 1945, Dagupan City was the capital of Pangasinan, but many officials who served in Lingayen refused to acknowledge this. (shared link from: manilabulletin.epaperflip/MB010915/#?page=8)
Posted on: Fri, 09 Jan 2015 00:33:43 +0000
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