Manila American Cemetery and Memorial

I frequent the city of Fort Bonifacio as it is a refreshing alternative to Makati and Ortigas.Indeed one of the bright areas of development in the Metro where you can find a variety of pubs, fine dining and shops. Whatever it is that you are looking for, you can find it here. And the planned city is not even halfway on it's master plan yet. The Fort is something that keeps us optimistic about the future. And it's not just modernity that you can find here, just beside those high rising condos and offices is a historic site known as Manila American Cemetery and Memorial.

I Went there on two separate occasions last July, first with my friend Alex and second with some members of Young Photographers Philippines (YOPHO). On both cases, it was unfortunately gloomy so I was a bit disappointed.

I am not sure weather to feel cheerful seeing those buildings in the background. 

what's with the pose in the middle of those crosses?

Despite the clouds looming on the horizon, you still see lots of people , both locals and foreigners gracing it's grass and taking pictures. We even saw people doing jump shots in the middle of those crosses, much to the  shock of my friends from yopho. Of all places!!!lol

By the way, the American War Memorial covers152 acres (0.62 km2) or 615,000 square metres in the Southern edge of the business district.To get here, you can take the bus near MRT-Ayala station. Any line will do. Just notify the driver to drop you to the nearest bus stop where you can hike for a few yards. The guards are very accommodating. They are not very strict. They just ask you to sign your name in the logbook, leave an id and remind you of the simple rules inside. Cameras are allowed, even tripod so that's really cool.

There is a total of 17,206 graves in the site making it the largest cemetery in the Pacific for U.S. personnel killed during World War II. It also holds war dead from the Philippines and other allied nations.Many of the personnel whose remains are interred or represented were killed in New Guinea, or during the Battle of the Philippines (1941-42) or the Allied recapture of the islands.

 At the center is the war memorial. In here, you can see on the walls the way the war progressed and how the Allied forces were able to regain one by one the colonies occupied by Japan. Engraved on the marble piers  are the names of 36,282 of the Missing who gave their lives in the service of America and who rest in unknown graves. many of them are Filipinos.

There is also a shrine where you can solemnly say your prayers. A guest book allows visitors to write their name, country of origin and  message. I was moved by one the comments there from an American tourist saying something like----""you didn't even know us but you fought for us, thank you for the gift of freedom""

 

I  feel proud that many Filipinos fought and died side by side with our American friends. It is for me a reassurance that our forefathers also shed blood so as we could feel deserving of the liberty we are enjoying now. I have always been pro-American for I am for democracy and Christianity. I am still glad that despite the many wrong decisions it has made, America is still the sole superpower in the world and not the likes of China, Russia or Iran. I can't imagine the world under the watch of any of these countries......

taken on the steps of the memorial. --thanks Mel for the photo.

The cemetery is open daily to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. except December 25 and January 1. If you live in the Metro or nearby areas, I hope you make and effort to visit this place.


""A nation which makes the final sacrifice for life and freedom does not get beaten. ""

               ----Kemal Atatuk