“ONLY those who are not afraid to die for freedom are fit in a democracy for which a price was dearly paid.”

These are the words inscribed on a monument unveiled by the Philippine Army in honor for the Hunters- Reserve Officers Training Corps guerillas on the 78th anniversary of recapturing then Fort McKinley, now Fort Bonifacio, from Japanese Imperial forces.

The bronze sculpture that sits on an 18-meter granite pedestal shows riflemen from the Philippine Military Academy and ROTC cadets who bravely fought and defended the country.

It also features the original logo of the Hunters-ROTC Guerrillas who came from the cadet corps of the PMA and reserve officers from various schools including the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila, La Salle College, Far Eastern University, Jose Rizal College, Mapua Institute of Technology, Letran College, Philippine School of Arts and Trade and San Beda College.

The Hunters-ROTC guerrillas were recognized for their bravery during the Battle of Nichols Airfield and Fort McKinley in February 1945.