COMMEMORATIVE events were held Saturday in the Philippine capital for the Battle of Manila, a turning point in World War II 80 years ago that left around 100,000 civilians dead, with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. leading a memorial service for the casualties of the campaign against Japan’s occupation.
Marcos said during the event at a US military cemetery in the capital that over 1,000 US servicemen were killed in the battle in which US and Filipino forces fought against the Japanese, saying “Many of those who fought for Manila’s freedom were eventually interred in these hallowed grounds”.
“Filipinos paid the highest price for democracy to be preserved and for democracy to flourish,” he said about the battle that lasted from 3 February to 3 March 1945.
Earlier Saturday, another event to remember the battle was held in the historic area of Intramuros in Manila, one of the battle sites. A few survivors of the war attended along with US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson.
“It need not have happened, but it did,” said Lourdes Montinola, 97, who lost her parents and two siblings during the battle.
“And it’s sad that they made people suffer as much as they did,” she said of the savage attacks committed by Japanese soldiers against civilians.
Albert Montilla, 89, whose relatives perished during the intense fighting, said, “We all have to forgive and forget. And I think, the Japanese government should at least apologize.”
— Kyodo
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