Dumaguete City celebrates 71st WWII’s Liberation Day

CEBU, Philippines - Tuesday’s celebration of the 71st Liberation Day of Dumaguete City from Japanese occupation in 1944 was marked with simple but fitting ceremonies at the Silliman University gymnasium, despite the low attendance of veterans who were part of the guerilla unit that fought during World War II.

Dean Earl Jude Cleofe, of the SU’s College of Education, narrated a summary of the liberation battle done in two fronts, one coming from the south and the other from the north, eventually converging at the center to retake Dumaguete from the Japanese. This was based on the story of a veteran, identified as Juan Dominado.

Cleofe also read the diary of a certain Kiyogi Yamada, a low ranking official of then Japanese army, who narrated that they were very young when the airport of Dumaguete was bombed by the Americans who, with the help of the Filipino guerillas, were able to pushed the Japanese army to the mountains at Sagbang in Valencia town, where the Japanese shrine is now located.

The Yamada diary also bared a sad narration of persons involved in raping the women, as the perpetrators were not Japanese but Filipinos themselves.

During the ceremonies, messages of hope and encouragement were delivered by Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria, 2nd district Representative George Arnaiz and Governor Roel Degamo.

Sagarbarria told the veterans they can make a lot of difference in the elections next month, and that their decision would be crucial for the country to grow and be a better place to live. He added the veterans are heroes, who are always welcome to the City Hall whenever they need help.

Degamo paid tribute to the valiant veterans, who fought during World War II, and that the province is forever grateful for their bravery and heroism, for the country.

The governor said Liberation Day should also be a day of unity, as he urged all Negrenses to work as one and support the provincial government in its pursuit for a peaceful and progressive Negros Oriental.

Arnaiz, for his part, urged the public to continue the fight for freedom, and against all forms of criminality, illegal drugs, and corruption in government.

Others present during the celebration were SU president Ben Malayang III; Colonel Bruno Festejo; VFP district vice commander, Dumaguete Post No. 4; lawyer Joel Llosa, president of the VFP-SDAI Dumaguete City Post; and Major Gen. Alfredo Cayton Jr, chief of veterans affairs management division, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO). —(FREEMAN)