Jazmin Bonifacio TACLOBAN CITY — As the Philippines prepares to mark the 81st anniversary of the historic Leyte Landing on October 20, a voice from the past rings out with a fervent and urgent warning to the present generation.
Bernardita Valenzuela, a 96-year-old survivor and eyewitness to the liberation, told Vanguard in an interview yesterday, October 19, “We must not take our freedom for granted because anytime we can lose it.’
Known fondly in Tacloban as Mommy Bering, she delivered this appeal on October 19, 2025, rooted in powerful memories of wartime suffering and the enormous price paid for democracy.
Witness to History
Mommy Bering was 15 years old and attending high school (third year) in Tacloban during the critical moment of liberation in 1944. She is the daughter of Leyte’s first dentist, who originally practiced in Carigara before Tacloban became the capital.
Bering is a contemporary of former first lady Imelda Marcos; both are 96 years old, with Bering being two months younger (born September 3, compared to Mrs. Marcos’s July 2 birthday). After General Douglas MacArthur made his famous return, Mommy Bering was part of a group of young women, including Imelda Marcos, who interacted with the General while he stayed at the Price Mansion in Tacloban for about a month.
During this period, she also encountered famous composer Irving Berlin. Mommy Bering recalls that after Berlin heard Imelda Marcos sing “God Bless the Philippines,” the composer was inspired to write a new song titled “Heaven Help the Philippines”.
The True Cost of Liberty
Mommy Bering argues that today’s youth fail to grasp the gravity of this liberty because they “do not really realize” the veterans’ sacrifice, often due to teachers not informing them about the Leyte Landing. Her warning is directly supported by her memories of life under occupation, contrasting the strict Japanese rule with the democratic atmosphere established under the Americans. While she noted that some Japanese were kind, she singled out the Koreans, who served as soldiers under Japan, as the “cruel invader.’
She detailed the profound personal suffering inflicted by the enemy, recounting the horrific experience of her brother, Felicismo Benedicto. Her brother was captured for the simple act of listening to an American broadcast.
His torture included being placed in a “bartolina”—a small, narrow, and low enclosure—for 30 days, where he could neither stand up nor lie down properly, with food being scarce during this ordeal.
Mommy Bering stressed that this suffering is “really something that should never be forgotten.”
Freedom is Not License
Drawing directly from the trauma of losing freedom, Mommy Bering delivered her most important message: the younger generation must understand the true meaning of being free.
Her philosophy is clear: “Freedom does not mean license.’ She insists that freedom is not a license to talk whenever one likes, regardless of how wrong the speech may be, emphasizing that “There is a limit to freedom also.’ Instead, she challenges the current generation to focus on exercising the “freedom to do what is right.”
Mommy Bering also underscored the essential role of civic engagement in upholding democracy:
According to her, in a democracy, politics is essential. “It is only through politics, electing leaders, that citizens can participate in government; otherwise, it is a dictatorship.”
Beyond political liberty, she champions a return to fundamental societal values, stating that children must know what is right. She voiced strong support for incorporating Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC) back into the educational system.
Believing this is necessary because many youth today are “bastos” (rude or ill-mannered) and do not know “how to respect elders or how to behave in public, what to say when and where.”
Mommy Bering continues to be actively involved in her community, currently serving as the policy consultant of Mayor Alfred Romualdez in the local government. She is also active with the Senior Citizen Association of Tacloban, hosting monthly events such as ballroom dancing.
Delivered 81 years after MacArthur’s historic return, Mommy Bering’s message serves as a solemn reminder that the greatest honor to the immense sacrifices made on the beaches of Leyte is the active, responsible use of the gift of freedom. (Jazmin Bonifacio, October 19, 2025)
