ORMOC CITY – Leyteños through its provincial government commemorated the 81st anniversary of the Leyte Gulf landings at McArthur Landing Memorial National Park in Candahug, Palo, Leyte, on October 20, 2025, honoring the valor and sacrifices made by soldiers and veterans who fought and lost their lives 81 years ago for the country’s freedom.
The commemoration bannered the theme, “Freedom’s Price: Honoring the Past, Protecting the Future,” highlighting the historic return of Allied Forces led by General Douglas MacArthur to liberate the Philippines from Japanese occupation during World War II.
Leyte Governor Jericho “Icot” Petilla emphasized the importance of preserving freedom, stating that it was earned through sacrifice and commitment, and that every Filipino must safeguard it for future generations. He also expressed hope that this year’s anniversary will serve as both a reminder and a renewal of the commitment to maintain the province and the nation strong, unified, and free in light of the sacrifices made by World War II veterans 81 years ago.
Petilla urged local government officials to support the national government in preventing future war and corruption, highlighting alleged flood control anomalies as a different kind of war. He also called for the punishment of those responsible for the alleged anomalies in flood control projects as part of honoring the sacrifices of World War II veterans. “We, Leyteños, will never get tired of commemorating this date if only to remind us that we should never have another great war,” said Gov. Petilla.
“In the case of the flood control scam, we pray that sanctions will be put in place; otherwise, it will happen again, and just like any war, it should never happen again,” he added.
The governor also expressed disappointment that all 81 governors, 1,500 municipalities and city mayors, and 90,000 barangays in the country have a budget of PHP1 trillion in 2025. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) receives nearly the same sum each year.
Despite the challenges, Petilla urged everyone to continue building a province and a nation that our heroes would be proud of, one that values peace, progress, and the dignity of every Filipino.
The commemoration was also graced by Marc Innes-Brown, Embassy of Australia’s ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary, and Minister Ono Sho, Embassy of Japan’s deputy chief of mission, who both gave their respective solidarity messages.
The Philippines’ independence from Japanese rule began with the Battle of Leyte Gulf, which is regarded as the biggest naval engagement in history. After leaving Corregidor in 1942, General Douglas MacArthur, President Sergio Osmeña, and General Carlos Romulo made their first return to Philippine territory on October 20, 1944. After MacArthur traveled to Australia to rally support from the Allied forces in the fight to free the Philippines from Japanese domination, the battle marked the realization of his well-known declaration, “I shall return.” By By Gwen Maurillo (EV Mail OCTOBER 20-26, 2025 issue)
