Talisay marks "Landing" anniversary

CEBU, Philippines - Public officials in yesterday’s commemoration of the 67th American-Filipino soldiers Landing anniversary at the shores of barangay Poblacion, Talisay City, urged the public to forget the pain brought about by the war, and instead raise the dignity of friendship with other nations.

“We should forget the pain brought by that war. Japan used to be our enemy but now the Japanese people are our friends. We shall raise that dignity of friendship, the dignity of love for the future,” said Mayor Socrates Fernandez in his speech during the celebration of the 67th American-Filipino forces Landing anniversary.

For her part, Governor Gwen Garcia said the pain and the anguish of that “terrible war” should be remembered.

“Alang sa Dakbayan sa Talisay, dili nato hikalimtan ang mga sayup sa kagahapon. Hinumduman ta kini haron dili na usab kini sublion,” she said in her speech.

“But more than the same, we also pay homage to the heroism of those who bravely fought for us, for our freedom,” she said, adding that from hatred, enmity and conflict, the people should rise from it, and make the present a “springboard” to a “much better future.”

First district Rep Eduardo Gullas, former Talisay City mayor, also asked the public to always remember the war veterans.

Because of them, the whole Talisay and the rest of the country was liberated from the Japanese.

The celebration started with a parade in barangay Poblacion and was followed by a Holy Mass celebrated right at the Landing Shrine.

The landing, which happened 67 years ago, was portrayed at the beach of Poblacion by students of the Talisay City College and the members of the Central Command.

Complete with gunshots and ground-rocking explosions, the Poblacion beach became a battleground-like scene, with soldiers playing dead everywhere, and smoke bellowing from the burnt huts. The reenactment was capped by a shower of flowers that came down from an Armed Forces of the Philippines helicopter, the signal that the joint forces of the American and Filipino soldiers had won the battle.

According to history, 410 Americans were killed in that battle, 1,700 were wounded, and about 8,000 were classified as “non-battle casualties.”

Most of these casualties reportedly succumbed to an outbreak of hepatitis.

The Japanese lost 5,500 men. The actual casualties of the Filipino guerillas and civilians were never determined, however.