Erap: Battle of Manila ‘a gift of freedom’

MANILA, Philippines - Former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada led the observance yesterday of the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Manila.

Those who fought in the battle “bequeathed to our nation especially our children, the gift of freedom, signed and delivered in their blood,” he said in a speech before the ambassadors and representatives of the United States, Australia, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.

Filipinos and Americans fought the Japanese Army from Feb. 3 to March 3, 1945. The month-long battle was considered the first and fiercest urban fighting in the Pacific during World War II.

Estrada thanked the US government and the American soldiers “who came to our aid and fought side by side with Filipino soldiers and guerillas not only in the battle of Manila but in the other battles in our country.”

He said that he was also a survivor of World War II.

“I was seven years old at that time. I can still remember the fighting and the sound of bombings, which I thought then was an extension of the fireworks celebration of the New Year,” Estrada said.

Estrada said the celebration of the 70th year anniversary of the Battle of Manila is one way of honoring the courage of those who fought during World War II.

He said many accounts stated that Manila was the most devastated city in the world, next to Warsaw in Poland, in the aftermath of World War II.

“We likewise honor here the many innocent civilians who lost their lives, who lost their loved ones, who lost their homes and livelihood. But those who survived like us never lost their spirit to rebuild their lives,” Estrada said.