Write-up and photos received from Dr. Jenny Batongmalaque:
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May 6, the 65th Anniversary of CorregidorA Memorial for the 65th Anniversary of the Fall of the Philippines in WWII and the siege of Corregidor in 1942 was held at the Fort MacArthur Museum grounds in San Pedro on May 6, also known as the Corregidor of the West. This was the second part of the Trilogy of events with the theme, “Remember Bataan and Corregidor” sponsored by the Filipino Veterans Foundation, the Buhay na Kasaysayan Historical Society and the NAFFAA Region IX, with the cooperation of the Fort MacArthur Museum.
A busload of WWII Veterans, widows and spouses enroute to the Fort MacArthur The Assembly Bugle Call started the program at 10:30 AM. The Honor Guards were members of the Buhay na Kasaysayan Historical Society, led by the Bugler, Teddy Ortega.
Honor Guards have posted the ColorsAfter the National Anthems were sung, Commander Lou Astilla, of the Veterans Center Association in Los Angeles, read the Official Prayer authored by Cavalier Butch Moreto, whose family members died in Bataan and Corregidor, remembering those who offered their lives in Bataan and Corregidor for the sake of freedom and democracy.
The opening remarks were given by Dr. Jenny Batongmalaque, the Executive Director of the Filipino Veterans Foundation who mentioned that this tiny island bastion we call Corregidor, or “the Rock” has become the symbol of the valor of Freedom fighters in all generations including today’s military conflict. There is a younger Veterans group, the 1-503rd Infantry Regiment, from the current Iraqi war who has kept the legacy. They call themselves, “the Rock Battalion.” It was christened “The Rock” after soldiers from the 503rd Battalion who parachuted onto Corregidor Island in 1945 to liberate the Philippines. They even brought a 5,000 lb. rock from Corregidor, which traveled to Iraq, sitting outside their tactical operations center to remind soldiers of the victory.
Narrators of WWII in the Pacific, John Kanaster and Dr. Jenny Batongmalaque The highlight of the program was the complete narrative historical time-line of WWII read by John Kanaster, the Educational Director of the Fort MacArthur Museum, on the official American Military History and Dr. Jenny Batongmalaque, underscored the participation of the Filipino soldiers from the entire context of WWII in the Pacific. This served as a refresher course to the audience predominantly the Filipino WWII Veterans present, who could say undeniably in first person, “I was there. I fought in that war, in that location,” which places them in contentious opposition to the Rescission Act of 1946 that denies his services to this day.
A recorded radio braodcast of Gen. Wainwright’s surrender was played to capture that moment in history during the Fall of Corregidor, on May 6, 1942. The Flag was brought down at half-mast and Taps was played by the Bugler, Teddy Ortega. Everyone stood at attention in a moment of silence.
“General Douglas MacArthur” portrayed by Dennis Leslie. John Kanaster, narrator in the backgroundThe emotional highlight of the narrative was the presence of “General MacArthur” personified by Dennis Leslie, who appeared twice, when he uttered the immortal words of “I Shall Return” broadcast upon arrival in Australia, on March 18, 1942, and when he announced, “People of the Philippines, I have returned” on October 20, 1944, as he waded on the shores of Leyte.
Commodore Ramon Alcaraz, a true Bataan and Corregidor Defender. And Dr. Jenny, NarratorAfter the narrative, Commodore Ramon Alcaraz, who is in his early 90’s was made to make his comments on the History taken from American Military History books, covering 1941 to 1945. He remarked, “I was there in Corregidor when Gen. MacArthur with his party of 28 took one of the 4 American PT boats to leave for Australia from Corregidor on March 11, 1942. He had a flair for drama. He could have used the submarine but instead he chose the PT boat to say that he went through the Japanese lines in a torpedo PT boat. I happened to be assigned in one of the English-made torpedo PT boats that served as escort, from Corregidor.”
Commodore Alcaraz pointed out that “whereas Burma, British Borneo, HongKong, Dutch Indies, Singapore and New Guinea took only a week for Japan to seize these countries, it took Japan 150 days to overcome the Philippines and we cannot deny that the Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor were the reason behind the delay of conquest, despite the shortage of supplies, food and the exposure to disease. When I am asked, why did we do it? I’d say, we did it for Mother America.” He later expounded on it further, “You see, the Thomasites taught us the English language, and democracy, and baseball. We loved the idea of freedom and we fought for it to the death.”
(As a footnote to history, the United States Army Forces in the Far East at the outbreak of WWII in the Philippines, was composed of 70% Filipinos and 30% Americans. From 1936 to1941, the Philippine Commonwealth Army was integrated to the American garrison, under the command of Gen. Douglas MacArthur and Gen. Dwight Eisenhower. They were trained by West Pointer officers and National Guards. At the outbreak of the war, conscripted ROTC and some newly-recruited, ill-prepared civilians made the rest of the 110,000 Filipino troops, together with the 33,000 Philippine Scouts, the]”Old Scouts” of the American garrison. All told, after WWII an official number of Filipino Freedom fighters registered in the records in Missouri numbered 200,000 Filipinos, the bulk of which included the regular USAFFE-USAFIP Guerrillas, the resistance movement during the 3 years of Japanese occupation, and another 35,000 New Philippine Scouts who were inducted after the liberation in the Pacific for the mopping up operations. To this day, these are WWII Veterans who are affected by the Rescission Act of 1946 that negated their services and therefore is the bone of contention in the current bills, H.R. 760 and S.57, now pending in Congress. Only 20,000 are alive today to claim for benefits upon recognition of their services.)
John Kanaster, representing the Fort MacArthur Museum, shared the history of the Museum, named after the father of General Douglas MacArthur. There are two annual events that would be of great interest to the audience, on February 25, is the Air Raid anniversary where this Fort gave a high alert to the community in 1942, when there was the possibility of a foreign attack on American shores. The second and most colorful event is the “Old MacArthur Days,” on July 7 and 8 where re-enactments of battle scenes are being held on the grounds from the time of Cesar to the present day. This year, the premier Bataan and Corregidor battles will be re-enacted by the Buhay na Kasaysayan Historical Society, the third part of the Trilogy of “Remember Bataan and Corregidor.” The public is invited.
The members of the Buhay na Kasaysayan are: the Ortega brothers, Teddy, Ray, Manuel, the sons of Col. Antonio Ortega, a Bataan Defender of the 21st Division, also present in this occasion. Philip Garcia, Nick Delicana, the Mislang brothers, Gil, Rudy and Jun, Joey Gonzalez and Franz Lopez. They are the sons of Filipino WWII Defenders.
The Fort MacArthur Museum is represented by John Kanaster, Lou Lopez, Joe Janicek, Cisco Lacey and Ron Hatanaka, headed by Steven Nelson.
L-R: Dr. Lee Bleiberg, Commodore Alcaraz, Deputy Consul General Hellen Barber, Liling Ines. Behind are Dr. Jenny and John KanasterThe Philippine Consulate General of Los Angeles was represented by Deputy Consul General, Hellen Barber who thanked the Filipino WWII Veterans for their patience and fortitude while awaiting for Congress to fully recognize their services and thereby claim for benefits which is rightfully theirs.
Dr. Lee Bleiberg, representing the Board of Directors of the Filipino Veterans Foundation read the motion of Supervisor Yvonne Burke, that was passed on April 10 by the Board of Supervisors of the County of Los Angeles, endorsing the H.R. 760 and S. 57, for the passage of these two bills in Congress, authored by Congressman Bob Filner and Senator Daniel Inouye. Other Board of Directors present were Dr and Mrs. Manuel Baculi, Dr. Calinica Semense and Mr. & Mrs. Marcy Ines.
The Carson Veterans Choral Group gave a medley rendition of Patriotic songs, ending with “God Bless America.” 
Gil Mislang with the participation of the NAFFAA Region IX officers hosted the luncheon reception, led by Violet Mislang. After the picnic the assembly toured the Fort and Museum. The Fort MacArthur Museum is located at 3701 S. Gaffey Street, San Pedro. Call the Filipino Veterans Foundation: 213-746-9093, for details of the next event, on July 7 and 8 at the Fort MacArthur Museum, starting at 9 AM for the re-enactment of the Battle scenes in Bataan and Corregidor, as the final presentation of the Trilogy of events, with the theme, “Remember Bataan and Corregidor.”
At Half-Mast, A Salute to the Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor
May 6, 2007, Fort MacArthur Museum, San Pedro, CA
On the 65th Anniversary Memorial
That is really a great "Rally round the flag" recruitment poster Ray! Thank you for showing. 
This was months in the preparation and planning to try and recreate it as a prewar PA tent display as possible. We did not have time to built a T poles for the kulambo's and were to set up the banig. 
