61st anniversary of 'Takas sa Talisay': AFP soldiers reenact WWII landing of liberation forces in today's rites

Armed Forces of the Philippines-Central Command troops will hold today a reenactment of the landing of the American and Filipino soldiers on the shores of Talisay City in World War II, as the city celebrates the 61st anniversary of the event.

The city's celebration of the day the liberation forces landed on Talisay shores has been widely known as "Takas sa Talisay" but some sectors have renamed it already as "Liberation of Cebu" because it paved the way for the liberation of the province from the Japanese occupation.

The AFP soldiers, reenacting the landing of the troops of the US 7th Fleet's Task Force Victor II, will come to Talisay shores today in two fleets instead of the usual one fleet during previous reenactments.

The "landing" on Talisay shores will occur on the site of the Liberation Marker where a commemorative ceremony will also be held.

But prior to the reenactment, a Mass will be celebrated at the Santa Teresa Parish in barangay Poblacion.

Another highlight of the event will be the launching of Lagundi Reef as a tourism site and a dive destination.

The Lagundi Reef, a few minutes offshore from the beach, was the site where divers recently found an old cap of an American soldier that also proved that the "Takas" actually happened there, said Talisay City councilor Shirley Belleza, tourism committee chairman. -Liv G. Campo