‘“… This day holds personal significance as my father was among those who answered the call to serve.’”
JOSE P. Magno Jr. was a young Filipino army officer when he was sent to Indo-China. Why?
Because Major General Nguyen Kanh (Chair of the Military Revolutionary Council of South Vietnam) requested assistance from Philippine President Diosdado Macapagal in July of 1964. Because Macapagal told the world: “In the context of the cold war, the Philippines had firmly aligned itself against Communism.” [Second State of the Nation Address, 28 January 1963] And again: “Not only have we maintained peace and tranquility among ourselves but we have also been fortunate to be saved from the international turmoil that has beset our immediate neighbors like Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, Korea, Free China and India. We attribute this to our policy of firm opposition to international communism, aggression, subversion and infiltration in our country and to our security alliance with the United States and other free nations.” [Fourth State of the Nation Address, 25 January 1965] Because the Philippine Congress authorized the President of the Philippines to Extend Economic and Technical Assistance to South Vietnam, which was then “resisting communist aggression and subversion; WHEREAS, the territory of South Vietnam is one of those areas designated under the protocol to the Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty; WHEREAS, other members of the Southeast Asia Organization are voluntarily extending assistance to South Vietnam in various forms; and WHEREAS, the Philippines is committed to the cause of democracy and freedom.” [https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocsfriendly/2/7406]
Republic Act No. 4162 was “implemented through the dispatch to Vietnam of a group of 34 physicians, surgeons, nurses, psychologists, and rural development workers from the armed forces. Four such groups in turn served with dedication during the period 1964-1966. In addition, and as a part of the Free World Assistance Program, 16 Philippine Army officers arrived in Vietnam on 16 August 1964 to assist in the III Corps advisory effort in psychological warfare and civil affairs. They were to act in co-ordination with the U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. Initially the officers were assigned in pairs to the three civil affairs platoons and three psychological warfare companies in the provinces of Binh Duong, Gia Dinh, and Long An, respectively. Of the remaining four, one functioned as the officer in charge, while one each worked with the Psychological Warfare Directorate, the III Corps Psychological Operation Center, and the 1st Psychological Warfare Battalion.” [Lieutenant General Stanley Robert Larsen and Brigadier General James Lawton Collins, Jr. Chapter III: “The Philippines.” Allied Participation in Vietnam. Washington, D.C.: Department Of The Army, 1985]
Since Republic Act No. 4162 was passed on 21 July 1964, Lt. Gen. Roy M. Galido (66th Commanding General of the Philippine Army) led the Vietnam War Veterans Memorial Day Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City last 21 July 2024: “As we pay tribute to their immense sacrifice during their service in a foreign land, the importance of brotherhood without borders, shared goals and global commitment to peace become more inspiring. Indeed the service of those of who were involved in this conflict are timeless symbol of unity and hope and quest for peace that we would always long for.” [https://www.army.mil.ph/home/index.php/press-releases-archive-2/2429-army-honors-vietnam-war-veterans-in-wreath-laying-ceremony]
The CG PA further: “This day holds personal significance as my father was among those who answered the call to serve. He, like his colleagues, left the comfort of home and the embrace of family to stand in solidarity with the Vietnamese people during a time of great need.”
Joining Lt. Gen. Galido was Colonel Edward R. Evans (U.S. Senior Defense Attaché to the Philippines and Chief, Joint United States Military Assistance Group-Philippines) who shared: “The impact of the Philippine Civic Action Group in the war was profound and far-reaching. They delivered essential medical care to those in need, undertook extensive civic action projects, rebuilt roads, constructed public works, and enhanced the quality of life for the Vietnamese people.”
Indeed, the participation of Jose P. Magno Jr. and his comrades in the Philippine Contingent (and later the PhilCAGV) is already part of history: “Finally there were the Filipinos. The Philippines first became involved in the Vietnamese scene through Ed Lansdale, who had served there before going to South Vietnam. He arranged Filipino guards for Ngo Dinh Diem and later some trainers; he was also involved in Operation Brotherhood, essentially a foreign civic action and psychological warfare program. When the ‘More Flags’ initiative began, the Philippines offered more. In late 1964 Washington and Manila began talks on Filipino combat engineer units. Politics delayed action until after the November 1965 election, which brought Ferdinand Marcos to power. Renegotiation slowed deployment of the Philippines Civic Action Group of three engineer battalions, which reached Vietnam in September 1966. The Filipino force of slightly over 2,000 served through 1968, when it was reduced to less than 1,600, and in 1969 to just a token force.” [John Prados.Vietnam: the history of an unwinnable war, 1945—1975. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, pp. 210-211]
Be that as it may, retired Brigadier-General Francisco M. Paredes (Chairman, Association of Vietnam Veterans of the Philippines) in his Welcome Remarks at the 60th anniversary of Republic Act No. 4162 identified the two wars that they have been fighting: combat in Vietnam when they were young men and the ongoing struggle of memory against forgetting as seniors and elders. Hence, the choice of the PhilConV+PhilCagV pylon as the venue for the Vietnam War Veterans Memorial Day Wreath-Laying Ceremony.
But the Libingan ng mga Bayani is not a tourist spot. And the Vietnam War Period is a small blip in Araling Panlipunan, HeKaSi, AsianCiv, World History and other K-12 subjects. Can the veterans reach the youth, especially Generations Z and Alpha? No Vietnam War historical reenactors were spotted at the recent Anime and Cosplay Expo (ACX) 2024 organized by CosplayPH. Filipinos have encountered the subject of the Vietnam War in local movies like “Pogi Dozen” c. 1967 and musicals like Miss Saigon. A 21st-century version of the “winning hearts and minds” campaign is prescribed.
“To build and not to destroy, to bring the Vietnamese people happiness and not sorrow, to develop goodwill and not hatred.”
