SAMAL, Bataan — World War II veterans for years have been crying for an increase in their monthly pension, often voicing it out during the celebration of Araw ng Kagitingan every April 9 in Mount Samat in Pilar, Bataan.
This year, at the 77th year of the observance of the Day of Valor, perhaps cries not of despair but gratitude will be heard in the hallowed mountain from veterans and their kin like 97-year old Onofre Bugay of Samal town.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa Presidente dahil pinagkalooban niya na maging P20,000 ang pension sa halip na P6,700,” the old man said.
Bugay has been receiving P6,700 monthly pension but starting January this year, his pension rose to P20,000.
In Samal which has 14 barangays, he said only six remaining WWII veterans have experienced the increase in pension while surviving spouses receive only P5,000.
As post commander of Samal and vice-commander in District 1, Onofre, however, has a different appeal, this time for surviving spouses.
Luz Bugay, wife of Onofre, said surviving spouses wanted also an increase in their pension.
“Sa mga miting namin, hinihiling ng mga biyuda na ang pension nila maging P20,000 din kasi hindi raw natikman ng mga asawa nilang beterano ito. Sana iparanas daw sa kanila na maging P20,000 na rin dahil matatanda na sila,” she said.
Luz confirmed what her husband said that there are only six remaining WWII veterans in Samal and the rest, about 24 surviving spouses. “Mahihina na, mga ulyanin na,” she said.
Aida Siasat, also of Samal, became a widow when her husband Luis, 92, then District I commander, died on March 7, 2016. As surviving spouse, she gets monthly pension of P5,000.
She said her husband had long been waiting for the increase in pension but was only released this year.
“Hiling namin na kahit magkano lang dagdagan din ang mga biyuda para ang paghihintay ng mga asawa namin maging okay naman. Parang unfair naman na kung kailan sila nawala doon naibigay,” Siasat said.
She said this was the common sentiment of WWII surviving spouses. “Hiling namin sa Pangulo na mabigyan din ng dagdag ang mga biyuda.”
Siasat said the husbands have been telling them that the increase has been approved. “Pero sa totoo lang, maraming naghintay kaya lang nagkamatay na kaya hindi rin umabot,” she said.
She said the surviving spouses badly need the increase for most of them already have maintenance medicines.
