Palawan prepares for celebration of 70th Philippine independence from Japanese occupation

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 12): Palawan prepares for celebration of 70th Philippine independence from Japanese occupation

Preparation for the commemoration of the 70th Palawan Liberation Task Force from the Japanese occupation during the Second World War is now underway in Palawan with the holding recently of the Skills Enhancement on Official and Diplomatic Protocol and VVIP Courtesies seminar-workshop headed by the Palawan Heritage Center.

A statement released by the Provincial Information Office (PIO) sent Wednesday said the seminar-workshop aims to prepare lead city and provincial governments, and national government agencies here that shall be in charge of the celebration slated on April 21-23.

The PIO said the 40 attendees of the activity on March 3-4 first received lectures on VVIP Courtesies and Diplomatic Practices and Protocol from Revimarc de Mesa, consultant on protocol and VVIP Courtesies, who is also a former protocol officer in Malacañang.

Around 40 selected students of the Palawan State University (PSU), Holy Trinity University (HTU), and Palawan Technological College and Institute (PTCI), who will help usher the guests, were also lectured by de Mesa on Standards of VVIP Ushering.

Other attendees were from the Palawan Provincial Tourism Council (PTC), Travel & Tour Operators Association (TTOA), tour guides, members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the city and province, Philippine National Police, and deans of universities here that have tourism courses.

Expected guests in April in this city are former Philippine president Fidel Ramos, U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg, the ambassador of Australia, and several cabinet members of the Aquino administration.

Aside from them, over 200 Filipino and American war veterans are also expected to attend the commemoration dubbed “A Salute to Valor: Palawan-70 Years of Freedom,” which will also honor them for gallantry and bravery during WWII.

The grand event will begin with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Plaza Cuartel, a former Japanese garrison situated along the Puerto Princesa City Bay, and will be followed by the unveiling of the design of a memorial marker that will be headed by the Palawan Liberation Task Force (PLTF).

Debbie Tan, president of the Palawan Tourism Council (PTC), said during a media presentation in February that honoring the WWII Filipino-American war veterans, as well as their surviving families, is going to be a first in the province in celebration of 2015 as the 70th anniversary of its liberation from the Japanese.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=743784