23 October 2021, Seoul - The Philippine Embassy with the Office of the Defense and Armed Forces Attache (ODAFA) held a commemorative wreath-laying on the occasion of the 71st Anniversary of the Philippine Expeditionary Force to South Korea (PEFTOK) at the Korean War Memorial in Yongsan-gu, Seoul on 22 October 2021.

Philippine Defense Undersecretary Cardozo M. Luna graced the occasion as Guest of Honor and joined Philippine Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega, War Memorial of Korea President Lee, Sang Chul, UN Korea War Allies Association, Inc. (UNKWA) Chairperson Mr. Dugun Kim, and Defense Attache Col. Enriqueto Deocadez, Jr. at the ceremony.

In her welcome remarks, Ambassador Dizon-De Vega emphasized that the high-level of engagement enjoyed by the Philippines and Korea remains anchored on the shared sacrifices of Filipinos and Koreans during the Korean War and our mutual abiding commitment to the attainment of peace and development.

For his part, Undersecretary Luna moved the guests with his poignant sharing of the experiences of his late father, a PEFTOK veteran, who was wounded during the Korean War. As the Undersecretary was born after the Korean War, he noted that he may be alive today had his father not survived the war. Undersecretary Luna headed the Philippine Delegation to the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (ADEX), one of the largest aerospace and defense technology exhibits and meetings platform in the world.

The ceremony was likewise attended by representatives of Philippine government attached services in Korea and personnel of the Philippine Embassy, Pastor Abel Raby of Word International Ministries who lead the invocation, and Ms. Erlinda Mae Young, daughter of Maj. Maximo Young, one of only two Filipinos, the other being former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos, awarded the prestigious "Taegeuk Medal" (Medal of Valor), South Korea's highest military award for bravery in combat.

After the ceremony, Korean War Memorial President Lee showed the Philippine Delegation the passage of honor listing the names of all the international forces killed during the Korean War.

The Philippines through the PEFTOK sent five Battalion Combat Teams from 1950-1955 with a total number of 7,420 personnel for the Korean War efforts. END