Palo – FAQ.ph

It’s the 70th Anniversary of the Leyte Gulf Landing! So I decided to visit Macarthur Landing Memorial National Park to take some photos and share them to everyone, especially to the Leyteños who are already missing the place. As one of the residents of Leyte, I had many great memories here. We used to spend time in this park with my barkadas in college to play around, chitchat, and enjoy some picnic.

Perhaps many people are wondering how the park already looked like after almost a year since super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) struck Leyte and central Visayas on November 8, 2013. So if you want to take a look at the park now, here are several photos I took this afternoon to give you some feeling of being in one of the most historical and personally sentimental parks in the world.

The sign of MacArthur Park

A better tourism industry means more passengers and income for our pedicab drivers.

The Philippine Flag in MacArthur Park. We’re already getting near the famous monuments.

Balloon vendors are here in MacArthur Park.

A flower to honor the bravery of our soldiers.

A decree proclaiming MacArthur Park as a national historical site.

Many people want to take pictures with the monuments of MacArthur and other men.

Monuments immortalize personalities.

Here’s an important trivia for us.

They are tall. And they are the real celebrities.

A closer look at the monuments of General Douglas MacArthur with President Sergio Osmeña, Brigadier General Carlos P. Romulo and other soldiers.

The rear view

Are these the footprints of General Douglas MacArthur?

A new memorial stone erected in MacArthur Park to honor the bravery of the Australian soldiers who helped in the liberation of the Philippines during World War 2 and the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

The names of the brave Australian soldiers who sacrificed their lives during World War 2 to liberate the Philippines are transcribed in this commemorative stone or marker.

The memorial stone of the Australian soldiers with the monuments of General Douglas MacArthur and the allied forces.

There’s a Jet Ski race happening here.

I’m glad to see many people here. Beautiful trees, aren’t they?

There’s a lot of people swimming at the Red Beach.

Just like us, when we were still in college. Oh I miss my college barkadas now.

The sun’s rays are scorching.

The people and the trees, they are survivors.

A sign of recovery. We are rising.

The green green grasses and plants are already here.

These words are transcribed in this monument. “This commemorative rock garden is a monument of peace. It is dedicated to peoples of all nations who share and cherish the same ideals of freedom and democracy. Rock tablets from peace-loving countries are found in this garden, each one carrying a message of solidarity, friendship and goodwill.”