Adivay Festival features “War of our Fathers” Exhibit at Benguet Capitol
Benguet celebrated its 123rd Founding Anniversary through the Adivay Festival in November 2023. Governor Dr. Melchor Daguines Diclas invited the public to visit the War of Our Fathers – A Brotherhood of Heroes’ Exhibit at the Provincial Capitol featuring photos, historical accounts, and artifacts of World War II.
The exhibit from November 13-23, 2023 is the fifth and last leg of the Philippine Veterans Bank’s (PVB’s) Traveling Exhibit which started at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) last September.
Leading the untying of the ribbon on Monday, November 13, were PVB’s Officials led by its Vice President Andres B. Saracho, Board Member Marie Rose Fongwan-Kepes representing Governor Diclas, members of the VFP Sons and Daughters Association, Inc. Benguet Chapter headed by its President Dr. Ermelinda C. Guinaran, representative of Congressman Eric Go Yap, and other guests and visitors.
In his message, PVB Vice President Saracho expressed his gratitude to Governor Diclas for supporting the exhibit, emphasizing the timeliness of the Adivay Festival “so that people will learn to appreciate and know their history and learn lessons from it.”
“Sana po maging halimbawa at inspirasyon ang kagitingan at katapangan ng ating mga sundalo,” he added as he challenged the present generation to become heroes at their own personal and professional lives by “walking the extra mile” to help people and preserve peace and democracy.
Dr. Guinaran, president of the VFP SDAI Benguet Chapter, highlighted the need to actively inform the younger generation and other adults who are still skeptical about the history of the veterans “so that love, respect, and patriotism shown by our veterans will be developed once again.” On November 11, 2023 members of the VFP SDAI celebrated Veterans day at the VFP 66th Infantry Compound, Puguis, La Trinidad. Today, there are only five living veterans in the Baguio-Benguet district, one each from Bokod, Kapangan, Mankayan, Sablan, and Tuba.
