‘In this atmosphere, Filipinos, without hesitation, invite their sibling nations in ASEAN and their friends in APEC to emblazon this United Nations victory over Oriental-Hitlerism…’

LEYTE in the Philippines in Southeast Asia-Western Pacific was a strategic moment during World War II.

Political moment when Leyte was liberated: “General MacArthur and I have returned together to accomplish a common objective: to restore to our people peace and prosperity, freedom and happiness… In my capacity as the head of the Philippine Commonwealth, I will as promptly and effectively as possible direct the restoration of the democratic functions of government in the administration of the nation, the provinces and the municipalities. But I did not come back to the Philippines merely to see the re-establishment of the constitutional government which existed here before Pearl Harbor… For the American Government did not only recognize the Commonwealth Government as the lawful government of the Filipino people but also gave it the consideration accorded to governments of countries possessing the attributes of absolute sovereignty. This more advanced government is the one which I have brought back to you.” [Message of President Osmeña to the Filipino people upon his arrival on Philippine shores with the American forces of liberation, October 20, 1944]

Tactical moment of liberation from the enemy point of view: “What impressed us was the fact that the Americans landed with only that relatively small amount of shelling… At Leyte, a majority of the guns emplaced on the beach were destroyed, but defiladed and cave positions remained intact and the losses among the defending troops were surprisingly small. A considerable number of our troops became scattered, but still put up a fair amount of resistance after the Americans landed.” [Japanese Army Major-General Yoshiharu Tomochika, Davao Concentration Camp, 02 October 1945]

A tactical moment of triumph from the American point of view: “Company ‘I’ advanced with little opposition, but Company ‘K’ ran into an enemy defensive position of five pillboxes along the swampy streambed–about 75 yards from the beach. The company promptly attacked those positions with rifles, BAR’S and hand grenades. Led by the company commander, Lieutenant Stoneburner who personally destroyed one pillbox with hand grenades, the company knocked out these fortifications…By 1215 the 34th Infantry’s beach area was clear of Japs. Thirty-three dead Japs had been counted in the 3rd Battalion’s zone.” [Leyte historical report of the 24th Infantry Division landing team, 20 October 1944 — 25 December 1944, Philippine liberation campaign]

Liberation of Palo: “Early in the morning of 21 October, the 2d Battalion, 19th Infantry, moved west through enemy machine gun and rifle fire and bypassed the enemy defensive position that had held it up the previous day. At 1155 the battalion reached the junction of the beach road and Highway 1…At the road junction, the battalion dispersed with machine gun fire a column of about 35 Japanese moving south on Highway 1. Artillery fire was then laid on a grove of trees, west of the road, to which the enemy had fled…At 1500 they entered Palo without further opposition.” [M. Hamlin Cannon. Chapter IX: “Northern Leyte Valley: Part One.” Leyte: The Return to the Philippines. Washington, D.C.: Department of the Army, 1954]

Liberation of Tacloban: “In front of the Capitol of the province, General MacArthur read the proclamation declaring null and void all laws promulgated by the Japanese and the puppet republic, and replacing those of the Commonwealth. His proclamation was followed by a speech by President Osmeña. At 2 p.m.” [Diary of Basilio J. Valdes, October 23, 1944 — Monday]

To commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the Leyte Operations, celebrate the victorious history of the Filipino, surface invaluable knowledge from the regions (particularly Eastern Visayas), and salute the local World War IIs heroes, the Leyte-Samar Heritage Society, Inc. held a one-day “Pagbukwat han aton mga Kaagi” (“unearthing our histories”) conference. Speakers included Prof. Bernard Karganilla (Hunters-ROTC Historical Society, Inc. Corporate Secretary), Mina Watanabe (Women’s Active Museum, Tokyo), Walter R. Borneman (author, “The Admirals: Nimitz, Halsey, Leahy, and King – The 5-star Admirals Who Won the War at Sea”), plus Lakan Uhay Alegre and Jobert Narte (Leyte-Samar Heritage Society, Inc. Member-Nominees), among others.

Relevance in the 21st century: “On October 20, we commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the Leyte Landings. It is a date whose significance is largely unknown outside the Philippines. For those who recognize it, historians and military professionals, October 20 marks the beginning of the Philippine Liberation Campaign. For Filipinos, however, the date holds a more special significance. Filipinos know the context wherein October 20 took place, and that the Liberation Campaign might never have happened.  America chose to help her European friends first, losing thousands of tons of shipping to German U-boats in Atlantic convoys to Russia and Britain, and yet no such effort was made for Bataan or Corregidor. Filipinos know of the US Navy’s Formosa Proposal to bypass the Philippines altogether in 1944.

It was only because one man fulfilled his promise to return that a nation’s suffering was cut short. A foreigner, later criticized and ridiculed in his own country, upheld a most Filipino virtue — loyalty, katapatan. Eighty years hence, we have to look at October 20, 1944 as a symbol of a bygone era, a bright flash that may never happen again. In 2024, the Philippines once again faces a threat from overseas. There are the usual pledges of support from friends, but the words are not borne by their actions. These friends fled Afghanistan, even after sacrificing so much blood for their youth. In the face of the greatest threat to European peace since 1939, these friends supported Ukraine half-heartedly. Under threat of invasion, the Taiwanese are told that they have to pay to get protection. Only when Israel is threatened, do these friends put their ships in harm’s way. Filipinos would do well to prepare ourselves, for when the fight comes, we are on our own.” [Solomon W. Spyke, MD]

In this atmosphere, Filipinos, without hesitation, invite their sibling nations in ASEAN and their friends in APEC to emblazon this United Nations’ victory over Oriental-Hitlerism and ponder its application in the Southeast Asian Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality and the free and open Indo-Pacific.

‘Who shall cosplay Sharon Carter, Everett Ross, Dinah Madani, or Valentina Allegra de Fontaine at the next Cosplay Mania?’

AND of course, the countless hours that we have spent binge-watching our favorite Korean dramas and listening to K-pop. These highlight how the Filipinos love Koreans and your culture.” [https://pco.gov.ph/presidential-speech/speech-by-president-ferdinand-r-marcos-jr-at-the-philippines-korea-business-forum/]

No wonder then that at least one guy (Kendrick M. Samson of UP Manila) cosplayed Song Joong-Ki from “Descendants of the Sun” at the Cosplay Mania held at the SMX Convention Center last 4-6 October 2024. Cosplay is not just anime.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. also told the Philippines-Korea Business Forum: “Similarly, with over one million Koreans coming to visit the Philippines’ tourist attractions last year, I can see that many Koreans also love everything that is Filipino.”

Filipino culture, unfortunately, was not prominent at the Cosplay Mania 2024, although Filipinas like C.J.G. Soriano dressed as Donya Karay, a character from Kenkoy Komiks, representing a piece of forgotten Filipino pop culture. The BSPT freshman chose this character because of her connection to early 20th-century Philippine society, where she symbolized the wealthy elite: “While many attendees were focused on anime and Western characters, I felt it was important to introduce something uniquely Filipino to the event.” Her classmates (Kristianna Garcia, Redgina Zaidel M. Presas, Danielle Tan) opted to channel Aiah, Maloi, and Sheena of the Filipino pop phenomenon BINI. Another freshman from the same university cosplayed Choi Namra (최남라), the female deuteragonist of the South Korean Drama “All of Us Are Dead” Season 1: “Cosplayers temporarily step outside their usual roles to adopt alternate personas, challenging norms and exploring different aspects of themselves. The event reflects how subcultures form, creating a sense of community and belonging through shared interests.” [Pia Alessa Villareal] In that K-drama, one of the actresses playing a Korean coed (Noreen Joyce Guerra) was actually a student of my Masters of Management program in UP Manila.

Cosplay sensations from Italy (Taryn) and Vietnam (Byoru), among others, joined the “Ascending Revelries into the Skies” with Tailah Elysse Ronquillo (Kenkoy’s wife, Rosing), Julianne Ryce Uy (investment banker Patrick Bateman, American Psycho 2000), Cassandra Nicole Asuncion (Pacifica Elise Northwest, Gravity Falls), Rhain Eduardo (Detective Rosalita “Rosa” Diaz, Brooklyn Nine-Nine), Shandee Mae Buce (Margo Gru, Despicable Me), and hundreds of other attendees.

The best “cosplayers” in the world, however, are the professional spies. Recently, the US CIA launched a new drive to recruit informants in China, Iran and North Korea (adding to what it says has been a successful effort to enlist Russians) and posted instructions in Mandarin, Farsi and Korean on Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, LinkedIn, X, and the Dark Web on how to contact it securely. [Jonathan Landay, Reuters, October 3, 2024; https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/world/922404/us-spy-agency-cia-expands-online-recruitment-to-china-iran-north-korea/story/]

Wait! There’s more: The US government indicted Sue Mi Terry (who had previously served as an employee of the CIA and a senior official on the White House National Security Council) for having worked as an agent of the South Korean government. “In return, the South Korean intelligence officers allegedly provided Terry with Bottega Veneta and Louis Vuitton handbags, a Dolce & Gabbana coat, dinners at Michelin-starred restaurants, and more than $37,000 in ‘covert’ funding for a public policy program on Korean affairs that she ran.”

[https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/24816201/terryindp1_merged.pdf]

[https://www.reuters.com/world/us/ex-white-house-official-indicted-acting-south-korea-agent-2024-07-16/]

1. “About 80 percent of all economic espionage prosecutions brought by the US Department of Justice allege conduct that would benefit the Chinese state, and there is at least some nexus to China in around 60 percent of all trade secret theft cases.” [https://www.justice.gov/archives/nsd/information-about-department-justice-s-china-initiative-and-compilation-china-related]

2. The US government (via the FBI) indicted Linda Sun (also known as “Wen Sun,” “Ling Da Sun,” and “Linda Hu”) for having acted as an undisclosed agent of the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Communist Party of China. [https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/25085215/linda-sun-and-chris-hu-indictment.pdf] [https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/former-top-hochul-aide-linda-sun-arrested-by-fbi/5758592/]

3. And the Bamban mayor? She Zhijiang: Discarded Chinese spy or criminal mastermind? 101 East Documentary, Al Jazeera English, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ls8Y-2HmvHI [Tolentino — Senate must observe rules on admissibility in ‘Chinese spy’ claim vs Guo, http://legacy.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2024/0930_tolentino2.asp]

4. “In the case of Southeast Asia, the biggest threats come from Jemaah Islamiyah, the al Qa’ida offshoot whose leader, a man known as Hambali, has claimed responsibility for the Bali bombings and is an old pal of 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (known in Agency parlance as ‘KSM’). That link to KSM shoots Jemaah Islamiyah to the top of U.S. concerns, for reasons even more deeply rooted than the destruction of the World Trade Center. KSM’s nephew, Ramzi Yousef, is currently cooling his heels at ADX Florence–America’s most secure prison–for executing the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. He was caught after fleeing to the Philippines, but not before planning a subsequent attack in which eleven airliners would simultaneously be hijacked, with one plowing into a skyscraper in Manila, killing the pope during his visit from Rome, and another crashing into our very own headquarters building here in Langley, Virginia. The plot was foiled after Yousef’s apartment caught fire and emergency workers discovered his plans, but the possibility of using commercial airliners as missiles had been lodged in his uncle KSM’s brain.” [Amaryllis Fox. Life undercover: coming of age in the CIA. NY: Alfred A. Knopf, 2019, pp. 66-67]

5. “Our first conference was in Southeast Asia, where we had helped our local partners disrupt a growing Hezbollah menace. We were also concerned by AQ’s links to affiliates in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. AQ operative Khalid Sheikh Mohammed had sponsored attacks in Manila.” [Henry A. Crumpton., The Art of Intelligence: Lessons from a Life in the CIA’s Clandestine Service, p. 139]

Who shall cosplay Sharon Carter, Everett Ross, Dinah Madani, or Valentina Allegra de Fontaine at the next Cosplay Mania?

‘General Miguel Malvar was one of the most recognized leaders of the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine-American War…’

CELEBRATE Malvar Day (27 September 2024) by saluting the launch of Manila’s first guided missile corvette, the BRP Miguel Malvar (FF-06) – derived from Hyundai Heavy Industries’ HDC-3100 concept and to be fitted with 3D active electronically scanned array radar, 16 vertical launch system cells in the forward section, a 76-mm naval gun in the primary position, a close-in weapon system turret in the aft section, and up to eight anti-ship missile launchers amidships. [https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/sea/hyundai-launches-first-118-m-corvette-on-order-for-philippine-navy]

The BRP Miguel Malvar should symbolize Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.’s “desire to instill the Korean value of ‘Indomitable Spirit’ or ‘bulguleui jeongsin’ within the Armed Forces of the Philippines.” [“PH’s 1st missile corvette launched in S. Korea,” https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1227388]

General Miguel Malvar was one of the most recognized leaders of the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine-American War (born on 27 September 1865) and whose 159th birth anniversary was marked in the Municipality of Malvar, Province of Batangas. [Proclamation No. 661, August 08, 2024] This historical touch-stone came in the wake of the 45th National Reservist Week (“Linggo ng Laang-Kawal Pilipino”), a celebration capped with capability demonstrations last September 14 in Camp Aguinaldo, pursuant to Proclamation No. 627 of August 11, 1995.

Thus, we hail the Malvar-ites and the Reservists and we share anecdotes on General Miguel Carpio Malvar garnered from my interviews with Paula Malvar Comcom and Expedito Malvar Leviste:

1. The General was devoted to Saint Francis of Assisi, had no vices, and cared for roosters bred for cockfights, but never indulged in cockfighting.

2. The Hero introduced a fruit (later called “Malvar orange”) but the 1911 Taal eruption destroyed the species of this plant.

3. The Republican loved nature, went to mass but never submitted himself for confession, and diligently recited the Angelus.

4. The Revolutionary was friendly with Macario Sakay, admired Artemio Ricarte (“magaling din sabi ng Tatay, hindi sumuko”), and had contacts with Teodoro Kalaw, among others. [07 March 1997, Isabel Malvar Villegas residence, Santo Tomas, Batangas]

Research for my book (Miguel Malvar and the Philippine Revolution: A Biography. With Doroteo Abaya; edited and with an introduction by Edberto Malvar Villegas. Miguel Malvar (MM) Productions, c. 1998) had also yielded the following: “While yet a boy he was already a useful hand to his father in cutting grass and raising chickens. He knew his breed so well that when a cock happened to be stolen, according to tradition, he spotted it a week after it was taken by recognizing its crowing in the house of the thief!” [Manuel, E. Arsenio, Dictionary of Philippine Bibliography, Vol. 1. Quezon City: Filipiniana Publications, 1955, pp. 268-274]

1. “When news of the ‘Cry of Balintawak’ reached Santo Tomas in August 1896, Malvar, leading a small force of patriots, assaulted and captured the Spanish garrison in Talisay, Batangas. In retaliation, the Spanish authorities arrested his father and threw him in jail. With his friends and relatives, he rescued his father on January 10, 1897 after a bloody hand-to-hand combat with his Spanish captors.” [Gregorio F. Zaide. Great Filipinos In History: An Epic of Filipino Greatness in War and Peace. Manila: Verde Book Store, 1970, pp. 305-310]

2. “Generals appointed by Bonifacio in May 1895 at the society’s headquarters at the corner of Magdalena and Trozo Streets were summoned to the meeting posthaste. Mariano Llanera and Manuel Tinio of Nueva Ecija; Canuto Villanueva, Pio Valenzuela and Maestrong Sebio of Bulacan; Santiago Villanueva, Genaro Galvez of Cavite; Aurelio Tolentino of Morong (now the province of Rizal); Valentin Diaz of Zambales; Vicente Fernandez of Laguna; Miguel Malvar of Batangas, and in the City of Manila were Emilio Jacinto and Guillermo Masangkay who were at that time with Bonifacio, represented the eight provinces that answered the nation’s clarion to arms.” [Arturo Ma. Misa, “Living Revolutionary Recalls Freedom ‘Cry’,” The Saturday Mirror Weekend, August 24, 1957]

Snappy salute to the brave and bold Batangueno: “After the capture of Emilio Aguinaldo and the surrender of other Filipino generals, Miguel Malvar assumed full command of the revolutionary forces. General Malvar’s valor, resilience and patriotism serve as inspiration to our fellow Filipinos. As a matter of policy, the BSP commemorates significant events and heroic Filipinos in our country’s history through the minting of coins, medals or overprints on our banknotes.” [https://www.facebook.com/BangkoSentralngPilipinas/photos/bsp-issues-new-limited-edition-miguel-malvar-commemorative-cointhe-bangko-sentra/984305638299932/?locale=tl_PH]

1. Known for being among the last to surrender at the end of the Philippine-American War, Miguel Malvar is remembered in this documentary by his descendants and historians – Miguel Malvar: Sa Dulo ng Digmaan (Miguel Malvar: At the End of War), NHCP Official, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWUnqM8PtjE

2. Miguel Malvar infographics – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1PR3L6upbA

One more lesson from our hero: food security = national sovereignty. “The political officials of towns, zones and provinces, will take steps to see that an abundance of rice, corn, sweet potatoes, eggplants, tomatoes, beans and other agricultural products are planted, in the first case for the good of all, but more particularly for the national defense; punishing all vagabonds and those who disobey these instructions.” [“General Orders And Instructions Issued By General Miguel Malvar Upon Assuming Command Of Southern Luzon,” Published by the Hong Kong Junta, April 28, 1901]

‘Thus, to be great, one must work with the Agency? Where do I sign up?’

WOW! Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr. worked with the American spy agency (according to his own son): “I will recount to you an experience that I had recently when I was in the United States and I was hosted by the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, the CIA. At ang request ko sa kanila: ‘Can I see some of the records about my father when he was working with the OSS?’ The OSS was a predecessor of the CIA. And they allowed me. They took me to the records room and they started to show me many of the records, the reports that were given during the war that are still secret. And I mean he was greater than even we realized. The things that he did, the things that – the sacrifices that he made for the Philippines. And I asked CIA, ‘Maaari ba pakopya ko, iuwi ko?’ ‘Sorry, it is still classified.’ And that was the depth of his service to the country. After the war, after liberation, he then entered into politics. He became the second district representative of Ilocos Norte and he served for about 10 years before becoming senator and ultimately president.” [https://pco.gov.ph/presidential-speech/speech-by-president-ferdinand-r-marcos-jr-at-the-wreath-laying-ceremony-marcos-day-celebration/]

Thus, to be great, one must work with the Agency? Where do I sign up? Be that as it may, as Filipinos wind down their National Peace Consciousness Month, an international network found it fit to release this missive: “The UN International Day of Peace, observed annually on September 21st, serves as a vital reminder of our shared responsibility to work towards a world free from violence and conflict. Despite the profound significance of this day, we continue to witness troubling realities: many nations, communities, and individuals remain embroiled in conflicts that cause immense suffering and destabilize societies. Recent statements from the United Nations emphasize the urgency of addressing these crises:

1. ‘The resurgence of violent conflict in recent years has caused immense human suffering, at enormous social and economic cost.’

2. ‘Violent conflicts today are complex and increasingly protracted, involving more non-state groups and regional and international actors. It is estimated that by 2030, around half of the world’s poor will be living in conditions affected by conflict and violence.’

“Domestic crises in countries like Cameroon, Haiti, and Sudan, as well as international conflicts, such as those between Israel and Palestine or Russia and Ukraine, dominate headlines daily. In Asia, we must not overlook the ongoing challenges in North Korea, where nuclear tensions and human rights abuses continue to threaten both regional and global security. Similarly, Myanmar is grappling with a deepening political and humanitarian crisis following the military coup, leading to widespread violence and displacement. Meanwhile, ASEAN countries are making concerted efforts to address these issues and promote regional peace, but they face increasing challenges such as territorial disputes, political instability, and economic inequality. These ongoing crises serve as stark reminders that despite global efforts, we have yet to break the cycles of violence and conflict that continue to affect various regions.

“However, it is also crucial to recognize that certain global forces have made peace even more elusive. The rise of neoliberal economic policies, the influence of the military-industrial complex, and the interlocking interests of these forces have deepened global inequalities and made the world more fragile. The pursuit of profit and power often takes precedence over humanity, compassion, and tolerance. War clouds seem to loom over many parts of the world, fueled by greed that poisons the human soul, diverting focus from the values that bind us together.

“On this 40th anniversary of the International Day of Peace, we must reaffirm our commitment to the pursuit of peace, not only by ending violent conflicts but by addressing the underlying causes that fuel them. True peace transcends the mere absence of war. It involves the promotion of justice, equality, and the fulfillment of fundamental human rights. It is a Peace rooted in understanding, empathy, and reconciliation, ensuring that every person can live with dignity and security.

“In this struggle for lasting peace, the work of non-governmental organizations and civil society groups is indispensable. These organizations labor tirelessly to mediate, rebuild, and foster resilience in communities devastated by conflict. Their efforts are crucial in reducing the frequency and intensity of violent clashes. Additionally, peace education, both through formal and informal mechanisms, plays a crucial role in fostering a culture of peace. We must make peace education more accessible to younger generations worldwide, as it is key to building a world that is not only peaceful but also rich in diversity, understanding, and beauty. By educating individuals about the values of empathy, tolerance, and non-violence, states and NGOs contribute to the long-term foundation for global peace.

“As we reflect on this important occasion, let us recommit ourselves to the prevention of conflict, the promotion of dialogue, and the creation of a lasting peace. The road to peace is challenging, but our actions today will determine whether future generations can live free from fear, violence, and oppression.” [Global Thursday Forum, Statement on the UN International Day of Peace, September 21, 2024]

We also note US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken’s statement Commemorating the International Day of Democracy: “In 2024, a historic number of elections are taking place, giving a record number of people around the world the chance to make their voices heard. Ensuring all citizens can participate in those elections strengthens democracies and ensures they are better able to find innovative solutions to the challenges we face.”

Finally, we include for the record the recent report of the passing of the infamous Red Guard Song Binbin (Song Yaowu) whose role in the beating (with a wooden stick) of a deputy principal (Bian Zhongyun) to death in August 1966 heralded Mao’s Cultural Revolution. [“Ex-Red Guard Offers Fresh Cultural Revolution Apology,” https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-CJB-20331]