67: I HAVE RETURNED

He did returned and fulfilled a promise!

Gen. Douglas MacArthur, our adopted HERO proved us that he has his words during their back off in 1941 as he went to Australia to regain forces. although enormous days had passed, critical plans and ideas were formed in them as he with his troops were able to enter Philippines with President Osmeña on October 20, 1944.

Today, the people of Eastern Visayas were celebrating the 67th Leyte Gulf Landings and were honoring the Veterans as the main event of the celebration who were able to help the American troops in paving their way to enter the country despite the grandeur and strong forces of the Japanese soldiers.

Annually, an event is set to reminisce the days during World War II and it's a must that the President of the Republic is needed to a attend the ceremony, giving speech, cheering a clap, giving honors to the veterans, thanking the organizers, giving off idealisms and opinions too..

Do we really have to hail Doug with his being with us in times we were attacked by the Japanese? Or Pres. Serge as he defended the state against the INVADING TROOPS? of Mr. Romulo as he escorted the two?

HERO.. MacArthur could have been a Hero for us, as he fulfilled a promise of returning back to our Land and help us with the Liberation. The Leyte Landing is the mere proof of his HEROISM, the HOPE that the Waray waray people were able to inject in their hearts and the possibility to dream for tomorrow. But he ain't only the person who provided joy to the craving-for-freedom citizens but the whole troops he brought.. naming LEYTE'S GULF as the BIGGEST NAVAL BATTLE in the WHOLE WORLD during WORLD WAR II [literally Doug isn't the only armed forces who holds a gun, a mortar or a bomb maybe =) ].

The 67 years of MacArthur and his team's bravery isn't supposed to be neglected. The SHRINE in Red Beach, Palo, Leyte is not a ONCE-A-YEAR Park or a TEMPORARY statue.. The shrine has never improved and when evening comes in regular days, it seems not a historical place; dim, sad, neglected and recyclable stage. A place noted with several crimes is not the picture of a place that once PROVIDED us with HOPE and LIBERATION.

Take a look on the picture's inverted-water reflected capture, the mossy reflection provided a sad effect, dramatic in nature and a FORGOTTEN event. an event that less than the whole WARAY WARAY population knows all about, an event that others may say.. "yes it is a famous landmark... uhmm uhmm.." and could not say anything anymore. Sadly, those who really witnessed the event were even not on the one eight of the total waray waray who may have witnessed the 67th or the 68th and so on celebration of it.. What if TIME will took all those who knew everything about the LEYTE LANDINGS? and TIME also will bury the significance of it.. will TIME also come to us and tell us, "Remove all those standing brass soldiers! whoever they are!"

The significance of Leyte Landings aren't seen in the photos taken with the most advance lenses or filming such, or even a ONCE-A-YEAR speech done by the head of the state... It is indeed a mirror of a 67-year BRAVERY and FULFILLMENT. a place where when you see it, as if you went back of time and seeing MacArthur landed on our Soil... A place rich with memories of the past, our LOLOS and LOLAS who once waved to the American troops.. A Place where we will always say, WE SHALL RETURN.

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acknowledgement:

photo:

BORIS