• THERESA MAE DULMAN
The Bacolod City government observed the 84th Day of Valor with a commemorative ceremony held at the Bacolod City Government Center Grounds yesterday, marked by a poignant encounter between the city’s history and its future.
This year’s theme, ‘Valor of Heroes, Legacy to Generations,’ focused on honoring veterans while connecting their historical sacrifices to the modern-day resilience of citizens.
Among those who were honored is 73-year-old Retired 2nd Lieutenant Remegio Opao, who provided a direct link to the sacrifices being honored.
Opao, who served in the Philippine Army from 1971 until his retirement in 2006, stood among the honored guests as a living record of decades of conflict in regions including Marawi, Jolo, Tawi-Tawi, and Cotabato.
Mayor Greg Gasataya, Brigadier General Ted Dumosmog, and the Boy Scouts of the Philippines led a ceremonial wreath-laying to honor veterans and symbolize the passing of their heroic legacy to the next generation.
After a Boy Scout presented a flower to Opao, the veteran broke into tears as he recalled surviving three ambushes and sustaining multiple gunshot wounds, including a severe leg injury from an encounter in Marawi.
“I became emotional when the boy gave me the flower because I remembered everything we went through, and the pain is still felt. My father was a soldier and I saw his sacrifices in the service. On my part, I also have many gunshot wounds on my body, which is why my tears fell when the child gave me that flower. I could not stop it, I felt my tears fall and I felt it in my heart,” he said.
Gasataya addressed the gathering by connecting the historical bravery of veterans to the modern resilience of Bacolodnons facing economic challenges, such as the current fuel crisis.
He emphasized that the spirit of heroism is visible in the daily persistence of the transport sector, students, and workers.*
