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OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHML #3709/01 3231004
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O 191004Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8914
INFO RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 003709 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
PLEASE PASS TO USDVA, ABMC 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PREL RP
SUBJECT:  PHILIPPINE FOREIGN SECRETARY HONORS U.S. VETERANS 
 
 
¶1.  Summary:  The November 11 Veterans Day ceremony at the Manila 
American Cemetery and Memorial vividly demonstrated the strength of 
the partnership and ties between the Philippines and the United 
States.  The Manila offices of the American Battle Monuments 
Commission and the Department of Veterans Affairs coordinated an 
inclusive ceremony highlighting the people-to-people and 
nation-to-nation connections with the Philippines through veterans 
and military service.  The Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs 
spoke poignantly about these connections and jointly laid a wreath 
in honor of all veterans.  A heart rendering closing included a 
Philippine Armed Forces 21 gun salute, echo taps by the Philippine 
Armed Forces Band, and retirement of the colors by an Honor Guard of 
Filipino and U.S. Marines.  The Ambassador hosted an open-air 
reception for the well-attended event where veterans from all 
generations mixed with senior Philippine military, government and 
elected officials, citizens from the American community in Manila, 
civic organizations, and media.  The entire event received 
extensive, positive coverage on national TV.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  The Ambassador paid tribute to the great line of U.S. veterans 
connected through generations of Americans and Filipinos.  Joining 
the Ambassador as special guests were veterans of all eras 
demonstrating the unbroken line of Americans and Filipinos fighting 
in defense of freedom and democracy.  Paying tribute to the 
"greatest generation," the Ambassador recognized Colonel Rafael 
Estrada who fought valiantly in World War II, survived the Bataan 
Death March, and endured as a Prisoner of War by the Japanese. 
Representing the youngest generation of veterans was U.S. Army 
Specialist Jiankelly Sibug, a Filipino-American who only recently 
immigrated to the United States and at 24 years old proudly wore the 
Purple Heart he received as a result of a roadside ambush where his 
roommate and two others perished in Iraq.  In her introduction of 
Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alberto Romulo, the 
Ambassador praised his leadership and that of the Philippine 
Government in the quest for peace and international security to 
include a strong stand on Burma during his recent visit to the 
United Nations.  She recognized the Secretary's personal commitment 
to the true partnership between the United States and the 
Philippines. 
 
¶3.  Secretary Romulo stated he felt honored to speak on such a 
hallowed ground on this momentous day. In paying tribute to the 
veterans he was resolute in his reaffirmation of "our shared and 
unyielding fidelity to the cause of peace and freedom," and he 
eloquently voiced the sense of partnership in all things to include 
"the battle to win the hearts and minds of peoples against the 
threats of terrorism, extremism and poverty."  As the senior 
representative of the Philippine government, his words were moving 
and his sense of debt to all veterans was steadfast.  The complete 
text of his speech is at paragraph 5. 
 
¶4.  Media coverage of the event was extensive and highly favorable. 
The reports, both print and electronic, underscored the partnership 
values echoed by U.S. and Filipino leaders.  An excellent article 
highlighted the exceptionally mature comments of the honored 
veterans and their shared sense of sacrifice for our common 
determination to protect freedoms. 
 
¶5. Text of Secretary Romulo's Veterans Day speech: 
 
Begin Text: 
"Your Excellency Ambassador Kristie Kenney; Excellencies, the 
members of the Diplomatic Corps; Our beloved Veterans and their 
families; 
 
We are drawn together today in honor and remembrance.  We honor and 
remember those who paid the ultimate price that we can live in a 
free and peaceful world.  We likewise remember - and reaffirm - our 
shared and unyielding fidelity to the cause of peace and freedom. 
 
11/11/1918:  A COMMITMENT TO PEACE 
 
In 1918, nearly nine decades ago, the world rejoiced at the end of 
the Great War.  On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month 
that year, the guns at last turned silent.  Four years of bitter 
fighting had blighted much of Europe.  The toll exacted was heavy: 
10 million killed and an estimated 20 million wounded.  This triumph 
fanned hopes for a millennium of peace and prosperity. 
 
Armistice Day - which later on became Veterans Day - recalled the 
heroism and gallantry of Allied soldiers who fought against 
aggression and pursued their nation's share commitment to peace. 
 
WORLD WAR II:  BRINGING TOGETHER NATIONS AND PEOPLES FOR PEACE 
 
Yet the bright flames of hope soon flickered when, 20 years later, 
another war engulfed the world, truly global in scope and far more 
devastating and destructive.  In the ensuing battles, enduring 
friendships were forged in foxholes, as peace became a guiding 
beacon for all.  Nations fought side-by-side against aggressors, 
making comrades - and brothers - of soldiers from both sides of the 
 
MANILA 00003709  002 OF 002 
 
 
Pacific and the Atlantic. 
 
In the din of bursting cannons and exploding bombs, the quest for 
peace never dimmed in the hearts and spirit of mankind. 
 
THE PHILIPPINES AND US:  A PARTNERSHIP STRENGTHENED BY ADVERSITY 
 
Nowhere was this more evident than in the Pacific Theater, where 
Americans, Filipinos, Australians, New Zealanders and their allies, 
fought gallantly to stave off the aggressors.  Even then, Corregidor 
and Bataan stood as symbols of the bravery, courage and heroism of 
our men and women in uniform. 
 
When the end finally came in the Bataan peninsula, these stirring 
words of the Voice of Freedom reverberated throughout the world:  " 
Men fighting under the banner of an unshakeable faith are made of 
something more than flesh but they are not made of impervious steel. 
 The flesh must yield at last, endurance melts away and the end of 
the battle must come.  Bataan has fallen, but the spirit that made 
stand - a beacon to all liberty-loving peoples of the world - cannot 
fall." 
 
More than five decades later, the Philippines, United States and 
their allies remain true partners in the battle to win the hearts 
and minds of peoples against the threats of terrorism, extremism and 
poverty. 
 
REMEMBERING THE FALLEN, HONORING THE LIVING 
 
Many of those who have fallen in the Philippine campaign and in the 
Southwest Pacific lie here at the American Cemetery.  On these 
hallowed grounds has risen this monument as a symbol of freedom and 
heroism.  Indeed Veterans Day resonates with meaning not only for 
Filipinos and Americans but for all freedom loving peoples of the 
world.  Our veterans - both American and Filipinos and their allies 
- are living reminders of how far we all have journeyed to enjoy our 
freedoms today. 
 
Let us not forget that the 18,000 Filipino veterans and their 
compatriots in the United States - who are now in the twilight of 
their lives - sacrificed themselves so that our generation can live 
to see the sun rise in a more peaceful and free world.  It is our 
duty to honor these veterans by ensuring that we will never again go 
to war. 
 
Our responsibility is to ensure that the guns of war remain forever 
silent.  And we can only learn and live those lessons of war when we 
remember. 
 
In the words of Senator Daniel Inouye - himself a veteran of the 
Second World War, a Congressional Medal of Honor awardee and a true 
friend of the Filipinos - "Let us embrace our sons and daughters 
with full pride and the restful assurance that the story of the 
veterans' journey will live on for generations to come." 
 
Thank you and good morning!" 
END TEXT. 
 
Kenney