WWII VETS. Some of the surviving World War II veterans (in wheelchairs) in Tacloban City are honored by the local government in this Oct. 20, 2017 photo. The city government here has lined up several activities for the 75th Leyte Gulf Landings commemoration on October 20. (Photo courtesy of Tacloban City government)
TACLOBAN CITY -- The city government here has lined up several activities for the commemoration of the 75th Leyte Gulf Landings on October 20.
City tourism officer Bardot Atillo said the local government on Wednesday began holding activities for the Leyte Gulf Landings that will run until October 19.
The city-led 75th Leyte Landings commemoration activities kicked off with an exhibit of local products at Rizal Park and the giving of basic services to the city's residents.
There will also be a nightly cultural presentation by different schools in the city at the Rizal Park.
“An exhibit will open at the Price Mansion where we asked the Department of Education to encourage their students to visit the place where they can see some memorabilia and the room (that) was used by General Douglas McArthur when he stayed in the city,” Atillo said in an interview Tuesday.
The Price Mansion located along Justice Romualdez Avenue was the official residence and headquarters of General MacArthur when he arrived in Tacloban during Liberation Period.
When a Japanese bomb penetrated the roof of Gen. MacArthur’s room on Oct. 20, 1944, the hole caused by the bombed was preserved and can still be seen today.
Walter Scott Price, an American army engineer who was sent by the US government to the country during the First World War, built the mansion in 1910. Today, the property is owned by the Romualdez family.
“On October 19, we will recognize our living World War II veterans from Tacloban. They will be given financial and gift packs while the veterans who recently died will receive burial assistance,” Atillo said.
The oldest living war veteran from the city is Paciencia Kempis, 102, who served as a nurse during the war while the youngest is Pablito Candela, 90, a guerrilla fighter.
Other surviving war veterans are Xerxes Abadiano, 99; Jose Acedillo, 98; Eduardo Bermudo, 95; Aquila Closa, 91; Terersa Malpas, 91; Ramon Modina, 91; Margarito Olguera, 94; Epistemia Rama, 92; Maxima Satorre, 98; and Remegia Tomol, 97.
Recognition of the veterans will start with a ceremony at 5 a.m., which will be followed by a parade around the city starting at the Price Mansion.
After the parade, a program for the veterans will be held at the mansion with Mayor Alfred Romualdez, Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, and Tingog Party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez gracing the occasion.
Expected to grace the tribute program at the Price Mansion on Veterans Day, October 19, are United States Ambassador Sung Kim, Ambassador Koji Haneda of Japan, Ambassador Jorge Moragas of Spain, and Ambassador Steven Robinsons AO of Australia.
October 19 has been declared as the Tacloban City World War II Veterans Day through City Ordinance 2007-9-65. Under the ordinance, the family of a deceased World War II veteran is entitled to burial assistance of PHP10,000 from the city government.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1083328
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