Leyte to mark simple celebration of PHL Liberation

Gen. Douglas MacArthur wades ashore during initial landings at Leyte, Philippine Islands. (Photo by U.S. Army Signal Corps officer Gaetano Faillace, Public Domain)

TACLOBAN CITY — 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.