TACLOBAN
CITY, Oct. 19 -- Leyte province will hold a simple
celebration of the 73rd anniversary of the Leyte Gulf Landings on Friday with
several foreign dignitaries coming to remember the historic event which ended
the Japanese occupation in the country.
Department
of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorezana will not make it to the
celebration but he will be represented by Lt. Gen Oscar Lactao, commander of
the Armed Forces of the Philippines Central Command, according to the
provincial government.
To
deliver solidarity messages are Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines John
Holmes, Australian Embassy to the Philippines Deputy Chief of Mission Mathieson
Kimberley, and US Embassy in Manila Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Klecheski.
From the
Japanese Embassy, joining the commemorative program are Deputy Chief of Mission
and Head of Political Section Minister Takehiro Kano and First Secretary and
Defense Attaché Mr. Kazunobu Akutsu.
Leyte
Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla said several activities had been lined up to
celebrate the country’s liberation from Japanese occupation during the World
War II and recognize the heroism of war veterans.
“We have
to remember the veterans’ bravery, their gallantry, and their love for the
nation. We should learn from them. After these years, we still have many
battles to win such as poverty, criminality and drugs, diseases, teenage
pregnancy and human trafficking,” Petilla said on Thursday.
The
Battle of Leyte Gulf is remembered as the largest naval battle ever fought in
modern history. It was fought in four separate engagements near the islands of
Leyte, Samar and Luzon from October 23 to 26 in 1944.
“This is
one of the biggest events in Leyte province. In our tourism and our trade, we
mainly promote Leyte with the theme of Leyte Gulf Landings, but beyond tourism
what is more important is the message, of what had happened 73 years ago,”
Petilla said.
On Oct.
20, 1944, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, as the head of the largest US fleet of
transport and warships, and accompanied by Commonwealth President Sergio Osmeña
and Gen Carlos P. Romulo, landed at Red Beach of this town to reclaim the
Philippines from the Japanese. (RTA/PNA)
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