Mayor Beng Climaco will lead activities commemorating the 77th Araw ng Kagitingan Tuesday, April 9 at the Freedom Memorial Shrine in Rizal Street.
Jointly organized by the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, City Government of Zamboanga and the City Veterans District, the commemoration will kick off at 7am with the flag raising ceremony at the Rizal Park fronting City Hall.
The mayor will be assisted during the flag raising ceremony by officials from the Western Mindanao Command, Naval Forces Western Mindanao, Tactical Operations Command, Philippine Air Force, Philippine National Police, Coast Guard District, and Veterans Federation of the Philippines.
The flag ceremony will be followed by the wreath laying and commemorative program at the Freedom Fighters Memorial Shrine.
During the program, Wesmincom Commanding General LTGen. Arnel de la Vega will give the inspirational message.
Araw ng Kagitingan commemorates the heroism of Filipinos and American soldiers when the Japanese occupied the Philippines during World War II. Major General Edward P. King, of the United States Army, was forced to surrender more than 76,000 Filipinos, Chinese and American soldiers to the Japanese at dawn on April 9, 1942, according to historical records. (Sheila Covarrubias)