Phl, US, Japan vow unity for peace and progress
Cite unified relief efforts in post-Yolanda
PALO, LEYTE — Super typhoon Yolanda’s devastation of Eastern Visayas and the subsequent unified relief efforts from many countries, including the United States and Japan— protagonists during World War II—became the rallying point for the commitment to cement peace and unity among nations.
The Philippines, as represented by Governor Dominic Petilla of Leyte—host of this year’s 72nd Leyte Gulf Landing anniversary yesterday—has vowed, together with the US and Japan, among other countries, to be united in peace with one another.
The event, held at the MacArthur Landing Memorial National Park in Palo, Leyte, marked the year when US General Douglas MacArthur returned to the Philippines to free the country from its Japanese invaders. This year’s anniversary theme was “Leyte Gulf Landing: A World-Historic Turn to Peace and Progress.”
Officials of Leyte and the dignitaries from the US, Japan and Australia paid tribute to the soldiers who fought and died during the Leyte Gulf landing on October 20, 1944, which eventually liberated the Philippines from Japanese rule.
Governor Petilla, in his speech during the celebration, told the crowd and the attending officials from other countries: “Now that we are in a period of peace, we are in peace with all the nations, including Japan (a member of the Axis Forces against the US of the Allied Forces).”
The Leyte Landing celebration, said the governor, was also an opportunity “to recognize the goodwill we now extend to those who were once our enemies.” He said, “Yolanda saw countries (of the Allied and Axis Forces), all characters in a great war, united as friends now in their desire to help the Filipino people.”
Petilla lauded the international community for the sincere and big supports to the Leyteños during the Yolanda tragedy on November 8, 2013 that claimed more than 7,000 lives, and billions worth of damage to infrastructure, business and agriculture.
The governor said that, whatever the national government or President Rodrigo Duterte will take—in terms of amity with the US, its people and government—the US will remain a friend to the people of Leyte and their government.
“All countries are considered friends, especially with all the aid they extended to Eastern Visayas and the Philippines during calamities,” said Petilla.
Colonel Kevin Wolfla, attache of the US Army of the US Embassy in Manila, in his message said that what McArthur did for the Philippines during WWII will continue in ways of supporting and rebuilding the country, despite Duterte’s earlier statement that ties between US and the Philippines will be cut off.
Lieutenant General Raul del Rosario, commander of the AFP’s Central Command, paid tribute to the Filipino veterans who bravely fought against the Japanese rule. He also called for public’s support on Duterte’s priority program on the war on drugs to cleanse the society of the menace that have been destroying the lives of the people or the young generation.
Captain Brad White, defense attache fo the Embassy of Australia in the Philippines, reassured the Filipinos of his country’s rebuilding efforts. “Through these friendships, we saw, just last year, vessels bearing the proud names of those that had fought at Leyte Gulf, once more journeying to the Philippines,” he said.
Minister Atsushi Ueno, deputy chief of mission and consul of the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, for his part reiterated his country’s apology for the atrocities of the Japanese soldiers, while extending his eternal condolences to the Filipinos who died during WWII. “We must not repeat this war again because of great devastation,” he told the crowd during the ceremonies.
Ueno added that his country is now hoping for stronger ties between the Philippines and Japan and for it to continue growing, especially with the forthcoming state visit of Duterte there next week.
Palo town Mayor Matin Petilla, mother of the governor, in her opening remarks called on the people to continue to “work together to support the effort of community in engaging productive activities” and “accept the challenge of today to continue the liberation from poverty, the liberation from being unproductive and liberation from allowing others to keep us in despair.”
Meanwhile, it was observed that the number of Filipino war veterans—eldest of whom was aged 94 years old—who attended the annual event, had dwindled, as many of them are now either sick or had passed away.