Nestorio Ceniza, 96, native of Negros Oriental but residing here, urged young men and women to stay away from drugs and instead find time to do good for their homeland.
“To the youth, do not forget to serve your country because it is the only one you have,” the old man said.
At the early age of 19 while still a college freshman, Ceniza joined the 71st Division of the United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) that fought the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II.
“I heeded the call of American President Roosevelt for all able-bodied men to join the military to fight the Japanese,” he said.
From Negros Oriental the unit of Ceniza was sent to Pangasinan and around December 1941, they arrived in Bataan and fought in the towns of Morong and Bagac.
He was armed with a bolt action rifle. He said in jest that he was fortunate not to be wounded because he knew how to hide.
When Bataan fell on April 9, 1942, he did not surrender but escaped so as not to join the Death March like what happened to thousands of Filipino and American soldiers who hiked 160 kilometers from Bataan to the concentration camp in Capas, Tarlac.
But he too did not escape the Capas concentration camp.
While passing through the mountain between Zambales and Pangasinan bound for Northern Luzon, Japanese soldiers captured him and some companions.
Ceniza was incarcerated at the concentration camp from May 24, 1942 to January 20, 1943.
After the war, he continued his military service with the then Philippine Constabulary.
He retired as second lieutenant after 30 years of service. On their monthly pension from the Philippine government of P5,000 plus total disability pension of P1,700, he described it as “too little.”
“Sana madagdagan pa. Kawawa ang mga beterano. Malapit na buhay namin,” Ceniza appealed.
About his financial benefit from the United States, he said he was deprived of it for many years.
He said it was only during the time of President Barrack Obama that he was recognized and given pension.
“Wala akong pension sa Amerika mula 1946,” the old man who is short of hearing said.
Ceniza, however, still has a sharp mind. He recited from memory the poem “Fall of Bataan” written by Captain Salvador Lopez when Bataan fell and broadcast over Voice of Freedom from the Malinta Channel in Corregidor.
