VZCZCXRO6344
OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHML #2425/01 3020902
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 280902Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2182
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 002425 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PLEASE PASS TO PEACE CORPS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KISL KPAO EAID RP
SUBJECT: DCM REAFFIRMS U.S.-PHILIPPINE TIES AT ANNIVERSARY OF WWII 
LEYTE GULF LANDING 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY.  During an October 20 visit to the provincial 
capital city of Tacloban, Leyte Province, in the Eastern Visayas, 
the Deputy Chief of Mission recognized past U.S.-Philippine 
partnerships and sacrifices as the foundation for present 
cooperation and projects.  The DCM and Naval Attache led the U.S. 
delegation to the annual commemorative program which this year 
marked the 64th Anniversary of the World War II Leyte Gulf Landings 
that led to the Philippines' liberation.  During the program, the 
DCM stressed the importance of remembering this significant 
historical moment and offered a message of peace for the future. 
Local officials and diplomatic representatives, as well as two local 
Peace Corps Volunteers, participated in the commemorative program 
and luncheon. The DCM also visited the regional Coca-Cola bottling 
plant, a model of solid American business principles and corporate 
social responsibility.  During two live radio interviews and a taped 
television interview, the DCM further promoted USG development 
efforts in environment, education, and health. END SUMMARY. 
 
-------------------------------- 
WE NEED TO REMEMBER THE LANDINGS 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) Hundreds of local residents filled the areas around the 
MacArthur Landing Memorial National Park, gathered to commemorate 
General MacArthur's return to the Philippines and its subsequent 
liberation.  To start the program, the Philippine military raised 
the flags of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and the U.S., 
while representatives from those countries, alongside local 
officials, including Leyte Governor Jericho Petilla, laid wreaths at 
the shrine of General MacArthur.  In his remarks, the DCM stressed a 
message of peace and emphasized the importance of remembering the 
sacrifices made on October 20, 1944.  Guest of Honor Senator Manuel 
¶A. Roxas engaged with the crowd, encouraging Filipinos to be 
inspired by the Leyte Landing heroes, so that Filipinos "...can live 
lives free from want, hardship, and hunger, and are free to pursue 
our best destinies in the Philippines." 
 
¶3. (U) A local high school thespian club presented a play about the 
liberation and the commemorative program concluded with a military 
parade, meant to recreate the victory parade of the Allied Forces. 
The parade was dedicated to the decreasing number of living 
veterans, and their spouses and children, in the hope of rekindling 
fond memories of the liberation day.  According to local politician 
Carlo Loreto, it was "extremely moving that both U.S. embassy and 
U.S. military representatives attended the Leyte Landing event 
because, in recent years, the people of Leyte think others may have 
forgotten the significance of the day."  He and many other Leytenos 
shared how moved they were by the USG presence. 
 
¶4. (U) The DCM, Naval Attache and U.S. delegation also attended the 
commemorative luncheon held at the historic CAP Building, General 
MacArthur's former headquarters. The luncheon, which included a 
cultural dance program by a local troupe, ended with a tour of the 
MacArthur museum. 
 
----------------------- 
HAVE A COKE AND A SMILE 
----------------------- 
 
¶5. (U) Immediately following the lunch, the DCM visited the Tacloban 
Coca-Cola Bottling Plant with Coca-Cola Visayas Region Operations 
Manager and Tacloban Plant Operations Manager.  This plant, the 
oldest in the region, is the first of its kind to adopt a new waste 
water treatment technology program, combining efficient 
microbiological treatment with a biologically activated waste water 
treatment system.  The plant has two bottling lines, both operating 
on two shifts, and is a leading regional producer with daily 
production of 28,240 cases, and up to 35,300 cases in the 
November-December peak season.  The DCM conveyed the embassy's 
support of Coca-Cola's corporate social responsibility programs, 
including Coca-Cola's Little Red Schoolhouse construction program 
and their donation of bottled water for victims affected by Typhoon 
Frank in July. 
 
------------------------------- 
TALKING TO THE EASTERN VISAYAS 
------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (U) During the DCM's radio and TV interviews, he connected 
personally with listeners as he shared his father's experiences of 
fighting in the Pacific during World War II.  He also expressed 
support for Philippine war veterans and emphasized the positive 
impact of U.S.-sponsored environmental and humanitarian projects in 
the region, such as waste water treatment, proper sanitation 
awareness, composting programs, Peace Corps coastal resource 
management projects, and U.S. military assistance to mudslide 
victims in February 2006.  The media and Leyte's public were 
delighted with the U.S. delegation visit and plan to continue their 
tradition of remembering the past and building close relations with 
 
MANILA 00002425  002 OF 002 
 
 
the U.S. 
 
KENNEY