PH marks 74th anniversary of Leyte Gulf Landings
ALO, Leyte – The 74th Leyte Gulf Landings anniversary was commemorated and celebrated on Saturday with World War II veterans, provincial officials and sons and daughters of members of the Allied Forces in attendance at the MacArthur Landing Memorial here.
Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico L. Petilla, Vice Governor Carlo P. Loreto and Palo, Leyte Mayor Remedios L. Petilla led the commemorative program which was started with a sunrise service at the tomb of unknown Filipino soldiers at the junction of BIR in Pawing, Palo and ended at the MacArthur Memorial Landing.
President Duterte was the guest of honor and speaker but was represented by Undersecretary Ernesto G. Carolina, administrator of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office.
Solidarity messages were delivered by Justice Manuel R. Pamaran, president of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines, Her Excellency Amanda Gorely, Ambassador of Canada to the Philippines, Minister Takehiro Kano of the Japanese Embassy, and Major David Bauman, US Marine of the US Embassy in the Philippines.
Mayor Petilla invited the guests and visitors and World War II veterans to the 75th celebration next year while Governor Petilla explained that the war today is on drugs, graft and corruption and poverty.
Undersecretary Carolina announced the increase of the monthly pension of World War II veterans from
to monthly. Carolina said the increase is expected to be realized this month as President Duterte is set to sign the law of the pensioner's increase.
Yesterday’s festivities and activities recalled the arrival of the Allied Forces on the shores of White Beach in Palo, Leyte in October 20,1944 which signals the liberation of Leyte from the hands of the Japanese forces and restored the Philippine government with the Leyte Provincial Capitol in Tacloban City as the seat of the national government of President Sergio Osmeña.