Lee Shin Kun and Benny Ricafort show their MOA after signing it on Monday at D’ Heights Resort and Casino. Photo by Ashley Manabat
CLARK FREEPORT – The Donggwang Clark Corp. (DCC) has partnered with the Kapampangan Development Foundation, Inc. (KDFI) for its corporate social responsibility (CSR) by helping Filipino veterans of the Korean war and their descendants.
DCC chairman Lee Shin Kun and KDFI president Benny Ricafort signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) at D’ Heights Resort and Casino here on Monday for their partnership and to seal their commitment.
Lending his bright presence in the brief ceremony was Major Maximo Young, a 97-year old Filipino veteran of three wars – World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
Historical records showed that when the Korean War broke out on June 25, 1950, Young volunteered to join the Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea (Peftok) to fight Chinese and North Korean communist forces who invaded South Korea.
As a tank commander of the 10th Battalion Combat Team (BCT) of Peftok Young and his troops fought 4,000 Chinese and North Korean troops in a two-day close-quarter fighting in what is now known as the Great Battle at Yultong, stopping the enemy from entering South Korea.
It was at Yultong that Young and his troops showed the Filipino gallantry in combat against all odds.
For his heroic action, Young was awarded the “Taegeuk Medal,” the highest military award of South Korea given to a soldier for bravery in combat.
A South Korean national at the ceremony thanked Young saying: “If it weren’t for you, we would probably be under North Korea today.”
Also present to witness the brief ceremony were DCC president Lee Seong Gi, Gen. Restituto Aguilar, chief of the Veterans Memorial and Historical Division of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office; descendants of Captain Conrado Yap – Philippine Veterans Affairs, Inc., Isabelita Yap Aganon; and 43rd Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Jessie Dellosa.
DCC executive Ernesto Gorospe said the MOA is an initiative of chairman Lee “to express the everlasting gratitude of the Korean people for the heroism and bravery of Filipino soldiers in the Korean War.”
An initial funding of P1 million was provided for the medical and educational assistance of the veterans and their descendants.
Gorospe said KDFI has been selected as a partner because the foundation has already existing programs on cataract operations, prosthetic equipment, harelip medical procedures and training programs on livelihood.
He added that DCC will provide funding assistance to these programs over a 12-month period.
