Reminiscing Philippines' Liberation through Leyte’s memorial park

PALO, Leyte, Oct. 18 (PNA) -- It’s been 72 years since American General Douglas MacArthur made the historic landing at Red Beach, Palo, Leyte on October 20, 1944, but the war memorial continues to recapture the liberation of the Philippines from the Japanese occupation.

The park was previously named MacArthur Park and later Imelda Park in reference to President Ferdinand Marcos’ wife who is from Leyte province.

Renamed MacArthur Landing Memorial and National Park where annual Leyte Landing celebrations have been held, th e war memorial sits on a 6.8-hectare lot overlooking the famous Leyte Gulf. It was declared a protected area and a national park on July 12, 1977 through Letters of Instruction by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos.

The National Historical Commission declared it as a memorial on the 50th commemoration of the Leyte Landing in 1994. The golden commemoration led by President Fidel V. Ramos was the most attended by head of nations of allied forces as well as people from all walks of life who numbered close to 10,000.

The historic landing was immortalized in a double-life-size statues in a man-made pool of MacArthur and his entourage.

It was a photo captured by Gaetano Faillace, a personal photographer of MacArthur, that was the basis for the creation of the statues.

Together with MacArthur was Brigadier General Carlos O. Romulo, who later became the first and only Filipino to head the United Nations as Secretary General, President in-exile Sergio Osmeña, Lt. General Richard Sutherland, Major General Courtney Whitney, Sergeant Francisco Salverson and CBS Radio correspondent William J. Dunn.

Sculptor Anastacio Caedo designed the statues.

The statue of General Romulo was damaged in the aftermath of typhoon Yolanda three years ago. The statue was immediately restored after the typhoon.

Trees of different varieties like narra, mahogany, talisay were planted within the park. Flowering plants santan flowers and birds of paradise variety dominate the park.

People from all walks of life visit the park on weekends where they hold picnics and have their photos taken with the iconic statues. It's one of the favorite weekend destinations of people in Palo and nearby towns.

The park is also a favorite site for debutante, prenuptial and wedding photo shoots.

Within the park are the Eternal Flame and the Rock Garden of Peace. The garden has stones indigenous to the countries of allied forces with messages of peace inscribed.

No less than Czech President Vaclav Havel visited on April 6, 1995 the memorial garden for wreath-laying and unveiling of Czech rock. On his visit, he announced that the Leyte Gulf is the most beautiful gulf he has ever seen.

On Oct. 20, 2016, thousands will attend the 72nd commemoration of the Leyte Landing.

Near the Park is the Oriental Hotel Leyte which will re-open during the commemoration after the devastation wrought by typhoon Yolanda. The hotel will help maintain the Park.

Just across the park is the government center with state agencies holding office. Within the government center is another tourist attraction, the Araw Memorial Park created by the Koreans after their impressive humanitarian response to the typhoon. It is a park created in memory of Filipino soldiers who fought during the Korean War. (PNA)
LAP/SQM/VICKY C. ARNAIZ/EGR