PEFTOK KOREAN WAR MUSEUM

The PEFTOK Korean War Memorial Hall and its Museum were inaugurated by President Benigno Simeon Aquino on March 29, 2012. 

 

It stands as a magnificent monument to the Philippines' unselfish defense of the Republic of Korea and Democracy during the bloody Korean War.

 

Some 7,420 officers and men of the Philippine Army served in Korea under the flag of the elite "Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea" or PEFTOK. 

 

These warriors fought in the Korean War from 1950 to 1953 and helped rebuild Korea from 1953 to 1955 after fighting ended in the Korean War.

 

Some 500 Filipinos were killed, wounded or captured in the Korean War. 

 

An extensive account of the Philippines' role in the Korean War is on my blog at www.peftok.blogspot.com.

 

I am proud to have written, laid out and provided the pictures for the history of the Philippines' role in the Korean War printed on all the large floor panels and part of the wall panels at the Museum.

 

My father, the late Juan "Johnny" Villasanta, was a War Correspondent during the Korean War. He wrote news stories about our boys for his newspaper, The Evening News. 

 

He also wrote a book about the Korean War entitled, "Dateline Korea: Stories of the Philippine Battalion," and the lyrics to "The PEFTOK Welcome Song" whose music was composed by Ida Aguinaldo. My father also created the popular radio program, "PI Calling Korea," hosted by the famous celebrity, Rafael "Paeng" Yabut.

 

(Arthur Dominic J. Villasanta, Dec. 20, 2013)