By Honorary Reporter Rae Catherine Roldan from Philippines

Lovic Famuleras during Korean Peace Camp event (Lovic Famuleras)

The Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea (PEFTOK) Veterans Association was established in 1955 and signifies the advancement of Korea-Philippine relations. The Korean government has assisted the association in numerous ways, including extending scholarships to the descendants of PEFTOK veterans.

High school student Xandra Nicolai Vicencio, college student, Lovic Famuleras and Oliver Quintana, director of the Ateneo de Manila University Korean Studies Program, all received the scholarship. They shared in an interview fond memories of their grandfathers who fought in the Korean War and their experiences in studying in Korea.


Remembering their grandfathers

Xandra Nikolai Vicencio's graduation day (Jingjing Nuesca)

Vicencio said that when her grandfather, 2nd Lt. Conrado Noble Nuesca, was assigned to the PEFTOK medical support team, he was lucky that the ceasefire had been declared. He also reconnected with his older brother, who had joined the U.S. Army and whom he hadn't seen in a long time. Vicencio said the two brothers have kept in touch through letters after meeting in Korea.

Famuleras's grandfather, Sgt. Mariano Famuleras, was a prisoner of war captured by North Korea during spring 1951; he also served as the personal assistant of a general who married a Filipina. She recalled stories of him doing odd jobs and that he would cry at the mention of these experiences.

PEFTOK scholarship and other benefits

Oliver Quintana during his graduation at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (Oliver Quintana)

The association informs veterans of applications for scholarships. Both Vicencio and Famuleras said they are also given a financial allowance twice a year. Additionally, their families receive free medical assistance and medicine during medical missions. Famuleras also visited Korea for free in July last year through the Korean Peace Camp, where she met other descendants of Philippine veterans of the Korean War. Recently, the Korean Embassy in Metro Manila provided face masks to each veteran.

Quintana has been a PEFTOK scholar since high school. Through a full scholarship that included tuition, room and board, and a stipend, he earned his master's in international area studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul. He said he was motivated to excel after receiving a scholarship made possible by his grandfather's sacrifice.

Since 2015, Quintana has taught political science. As the head of the Korean studies program at Ateneo, he has organized conferences allowing Korean War veterans to share their stories and experiences. His goals are to document stories of all living veterans, spread awareness of the legacy of PEFTOK soldiers and learn from wartime lessons of the past.

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.