‘…we are now presented with a range of attitudes toward the Philippines’ place in he global confrontation
against Hitlerism, from the Superpower conducting Decoration Day ceremonies to petty thieves disrespecting a local memorial to guerrilla heroism.’
WE witnessed the Ambassador of the United States of America leading the commemoration of Memorial Day last 25 May 2025 at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial McKinley Road, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City: “Eight decades ago, Americans and Filipinos fought side-by-side across this country in a campaign to liberate the Philippines, restore freedom, and push back tyranny.” That campaign included the Liberation of Bohol: “Final reduction of the enemy stragglers was left to the Filipino guerrillas, assisted by a detachment of 50 Americans.” [https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/RptsMacA/I/RptsI-11.html]
“When complete control by the United States military forces was believed fully established in Bohol and there were no more vestiges of enemy occupation, Major General William H. Arnold formally declared the island province of Bohol as liberated and its civil government formally turned over to the authority and jurisdiction of the Commonwealth Government of the Philippines on May 25, 1945. Thus, ended the control of the Philippine Civil Affairs Unit of the United States Army in Bohol and began the re-established Commonwealth Government…The horrible nightmare of the Japanese occupation in Bohol was ended.” [https://www.facebook.com/BoholProvincialLibrary/posts/onthisday-may-25-1945-bohol-province-was-formally-declared-liberated-from-the-ja/5870651002974970/]
The American Memorial Day of 2025 coincided with the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of Bohol. In Mainland USA, the Commander-in-Chief had proclaimed: “Memorial Day is a sacred day of remembrance, reverence, and gratitude for the brave patriots who have laid down their lives in service to our great Nation…America’s Gold Star Families — whose sons, daughters, wives, and husbands are among the honored — endure unfathomable heartache…The lives lost in war serve as a solemn reminder of why we must pursue peace through strength.”
[https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/05/prayer-for-peace-memorial-day-2025/]
This Chief Executive had also proclaimed Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week last 12 May 2025 (“A nation in chaos ceases to be a citadel of liberty. Tragically, the previous administration allowed lawlessness to permeate our country, making it harder for our law enforcement officers to do their jobs. Their reckless, soft-on-crime policies emboldened criminals and thugs; wreaked havoc on the sanctity of our homes, businesses, and public spaces; instilled fear; and jeopardized public trust…That is why I have asked the Congress to codify my Executive Order mandating the death penalty for the murder of a police officer — sending an unequivocal message that barbaric acts of violence and blatant disregard for the lives of our Nation’s heroes will not be tolerated.”) as well as Armed Forces Day (“As Commander in Chief, my highest responsibility is to ensure our all-volunteer military, 2.1 million-strong, is the world’s most lethal fighting force.”) last 16 May 2025.
[https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/05/peace-officers-memorial-day-and-police-week-2025/]
[https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/05/armed-forces-day-2025/]
We heard H.E. MaryKay L. Carlson (who was joined by Philippine Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro at Fort Bonifacio) when she said: “In the darkest hours of the Second World War, Americans and Filipinos fought together – from Bataan to Leyte, from the jungles of Luzon to the heart of Manila. They endured unimaginable hardships…Together, they liberated. Together, they gave hope by defeating tyranny.” Thence, for the week proceeding, some 4,000 Filipino and American marines are engaged in the weeklong “Kamandag” (“Kaagapay ng mga Mandirigma mula sa Dagat”) military exercise (command-control training, live-fire drills, special operations) as the two nations respond to security challenges in the Indo-Pacific. [https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1250821]
Challenges include human trafficking, IUU (illegal, unreported, unregulated) fishing, marine plastic pollution, illicit ship-to-ship transfers and other violations of international sanctions, smuggling, and, of course, Han chauvinism.
[https://malaya.com.ph/news/national-news/chinese-ship-fires-water-cannon-sideswipes-ph-vessel/]
Thus, we have the Philippine Commander-In-Chief, “underscore the urgent need to accelerate the adoption of a legally binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea to safeguard maritime rights, promote stability, and prevent miscalculations at sea…The Philippines reaffirms its commitment to the full implementation of the ASEAN Declaration to Prevent and Combat Trafficking in Persons Caused by the Abuse of Technology…(and) the Philippines will continue to advocate for scientific and evidence-based, investment-led, and transformative solutions to the climate crisis.” [Intervention of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for the 46th Asean Summit (Plenary), 26 May 2025]
While we monitor the security challenges in the Indo-Pacific, we take the occasion of National Heritage Month to congratulate the government of Muntinlupa for hosting a one-day research conference on heritage in the Philippines at the Museo ng Muntinlupa’s Theater. We also commend the city for its Liwasan ng mga Bayani monument dedicated to Muntinlupeño Guerillas and other unsung heroes who fought for the liberation of Muntinlupa from the occupation of the Japanese imperial army. [https://muntinlupacity.gov.ph/tourism/liwasan-ng-mga-bayani/] And we hope that the local executives will punish and re-educate the five suspects who stole the brass marker honoring the guerrillas who fought during World War II.
With that last news bit, we are now presented with a range of attitudes toward the Philippines’ place in the global confrontation against Hitlerism, from the Superpower conducting Decoration Day ceremonies to petty thieves disrespecting a local memorial to guerrilla heroism. All these while deadly conflicts (Russia-Ukraine, Israel-Palestine, India-Pakistan, among others) remain unresolved.
