PVAI calls on Korean veterans, kin to fill up forms for benefits

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

 

TAGUIG CITY – The PEFTOK Veterans Association, Inc. (PVAI, Inc) calls on veterans and kin of Filipino soldiers who fought in the 1950-1953 Korean War to fill up  a personal record as part of the files for their benefits.

PEFTOK stands for Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea.

PVAI President Paterno Villoria said the records could be used to authenticate the claims for benefits the veterans and their great grandchildren can get from the South Korean Government.

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The beneficiaries, according to PVAI, can avail of the scholarship programs for young members of their family; to join the “Revisit Korea” missions and programs  for the veterans and their next of kin; to avail with other programs that will soon be given to the veterans courtesy of the Korean government  through its Korean Embassy in Manila; and to perpetuate the memory and the legacy of the principles, ideals and heroic deeds of the Filipino veterans of the Korean War.

The Korean Government became more active these days in partnering with PEFTOK in many major activities. It constructed a PEFTOK Memorial Hall in Taguig that houses a museum, library, multi-purpose hall, and the Office of the Secretariat. The world class Memorial Hall and Museum were inaugurated in 2012.

The veteran or his relative can request a copy of the form by writing to PEFTOK Veterans Association, Inc. at Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City or call telephone number (632) 911-2570.

Meanwhile, the South Korean government will be giving educational scholarship to the grand children and great grandchildren of Filipinos who served in the Korean War.

South Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Kim Jae Shin not only announced it during the 43^rd PVAI Annual Convention at the Memorial Hall in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City last September 7, 2017 but oversaw the distribution of scholarship awards and stipends to PEFTOK descendants who were in high school and elementary.