PILAR, Bataan — The Mt. Samat Flagship Tourism Enterprise Zone (FTEZ) and the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office in coordination with OGV Lights and Sounds held a one-hour show Sunday evening in the giant War Memorial Cross at the Mt. Samat Shrine in this historic town to pay tribute to frontliners in the war against the coronavirus disease.
Carissa Bautista, Mt. Samat FTEZ information officer, said the event “Salute of Lights for Frontliners: We Light as One, We Heal as One” was an initiative of the lights and sound industry of the country to call for solidarity amid the human crisis the whole world is facing.”
Lights and sounds owners nationwide simultaneously illuminated the sky from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. OGV Lights and Sounds held the event at the 92-meter high cross to make it more visible in Bataan and the frontliners.
“With the Salute of Lights, we give thanks to our present day heroes – those who are risking their lives to fight against this dreaded disease with utmost courage and valor that match our forefathers,” Mt. Samat FTEZ administrator Francis Theodore Initorio said.
“As we salute them, we must ensure that their efforts and sacrifices will not be in vain by doing our part – slowing down the spread of the infection; flattening the curve,” the administrator added.
Bautista said PVAO fully supported the event. “Just as how our forebears fought together during the darkest moments in our history, may we also unite as a nation as we all battle the threats posed by the pandemic today,” she quoted PVAO administrator USec Ernesto Carolina as saying.
Gov. Albert Garcia said the light show was aimed at convincing every Filipino to cooperate more with one another in solving the crisis, an unseen enemy, haunting the world and to show appreciation for frontliners.
He called on every one to help the frontliners and not to discriminate against them.
The governor said that the giant cross in Mt. Samat was built not only as a symbol of heroism of World War II veterans 78 years ago but also as a symbol of God’s love in times of crisis.
“While the veterans fought identified enemies and known situations during World War II, we now face a different war that we cannot see. Covid–19 is causing destruction not only in the Philippines but in the whole world,” Garcia said.
He said that during the war, Filipino soldiers although outnumbered and ill-equipped, were able to fiercely fight back because communities assisted and supported them with food and hid them from the enemies.
“Ganoon din ang dapat nating gawin ngayon sa ating mga bagong bayani na mga duktor, narses at iba pang health workers, men in uniform, government officials, service crew at iba pang nagbubuwis ng buhay upang mapagaan ang napakabigat na pasaning ito na dulot ng Covid,” the governor said.
He spelled out what the provincial government has been doing in the war against the virus like the procurement of rapid test kits, confirmatory test kits, personal protective equipment, ventilators and medical supplies for frontliners.
Isolation and quarantine facilities are being established while two hotels served as temporary home of health workers with free food and transportation accommodations.
Distribution of food packs and decontamination continued, Garcia said.
He said that while Filipino soldiers and guerillas during the war delayed the timetable of advancing Japanese troops, the people today should share in weakening the spread of Covid–19.
The governor said licking the virus will mean a second Araw ng Kagitingan.
“Hangga’t maaari manatili tayo sa bahay at kung kailangang lumabas magkaroon ng social distancing na apat na dipa ang pag-itan at ugaliing laging maghugas ng kamay,” Garcia said.
