By Honorary Reporter Maria Lynette J. Callanta from Philippines

Photos= Demetrio Tabili

Demetrio Tabili
Demetrio Tabili served in the Korean War with the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea's (PEFTOK) 19th Battalion Combat Team. In my online interview with him and his granddaughter, he was more than happy to share his experiences in the Korean War.

One incident that he called memorable was when a newspaper covered his shooting of enemy aircraft. He said the best lesson he got from surviving the war was that "war brings no good to any nation but destruction and loss of lives," adding that the conflict made him realize that protecting life is most important.

Tabili said that during the war, he was often afraid of not returning home alive. When drafted into PEFTOK, he said his initial fear turned into an overwhelming sense of opportunity for a great experience as a soldier. He said that if given a chance to meet his younger self, he would commend himself for his bravery and courage.

In concluding the interview, Tabili had the following message for youths: "You must show your love for your country and be brave to defend her. What's more important is that each nation must unite and negotiate to prevent war."

chaey0726@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.