Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Ilocos Road Trip Part 3


Last August 8, 2006, Philippine Veterans Bank formally opened its travelling WWII exhibit entitled "The War Of Our Fathers…A Tribute to the Filipino Freedom Fighter," at the Ilocos Norte National High School in Laoag City last in time for the birth centennary of WWII hero & former Ilocos Governor Roque B. Ablan Sr. The travelling World War II exhibit has been going around the country in time for key WWII events. It has photographs, maps, artifacts & memorabilia and will be open for the people of Laoag City & Ilocos Norte until August 26, 2006.

In the photo are (L-R): Former First Lady Imelda R. Marcos, Congressman Roque Ablan Jr. 1st District Ilocos Norte, Mr. Agustin A. Leano, a WWII Veteran from Laoag City, AFP Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon, former Senator Heherson Alvarez, PVB SVP Vic Garcia, UNESCO National Commission Sec. Gen. Preciosa Soliven (the wife of Max Soliven) and yours truly is in the gray polo beginning to work out a sweat.


We're planning to bring the exhibit to SM Baguio - I hope they'll give us a good deal ;-) - on September 1, 2006. September 1 is Baguio City's Charter Day, and September 3 was the date Gen. Yamashita officially signed the surrender documents in 1945, signifying the end of WWII in the country.

WWII saw over 1 million Filipinos dead, some of whom were prominent nationalists, artists & composers. Many were ordinary people who responded to the call of patriotism, and are in my book, heroes all. WWII was a sort of rude awakening for most Pinoys at the time.

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