Let us REMEMBER: The fall of Manila (lecture this Thursday)

In August 2005, wrote about my thoughts on the fall of Manila in WWII, which I first heard about on the Intramuros Walking tour of Carlos Celdran. This tidbit of history took me by surprise, and made that sad event a little more palpable to me… more real or immediate, with its physical remnants very much alive today, what with destruction still a mainstay in Manila…

Been taking a history course on the Philippines since September, with mostly expat ladies as my classmates. Originally, I signed up for the course because I was drawn to its multi-cultural approach in making sense of something that I should know by heart by now. But over the past four months, realized that despite excellent teachers in high school and college, and despite a seeming above-average interest in Philippine culture, I still don’t remember much about my collective history with Pinoys. And I still can’t make sense of our present state as a people in relation to our past.

Shame indeed, and so rigorous effort must me made to REMEMBER.

Admittedly, I know the least about “modern Philippine history”, which, for me, is anything after the Spanish era: the American period, Japanese Period, plus the post-war presidencies all the way to Marcos– these are muddled times for me… complicated and messy, or perhaps the exact opposite–uneventful, untrue, un-Filipino in a sense…in short, uninteresting (to me, at least).

Even my own insights two years ago have been forgotten: the need to find the personal connection to make history come alive, to resuscitate that sense of belonging with the people who suffered through those years…

I don’t take it lightly, then, that I ended up with the topic, “Sufferings and Reparations post-WWII” for my class report. There’s much to re-examine, reread, relive… this talk on Manila in 1945 this Thursday may be a good place to start:

The Battle of Manila, Myth and Fact
By Peter Parsons

February 7, Thursday
6:00 pm
Ortigas Foundation Library,
2/F Ortigas Building, Ortigas Avenue corner Meralco Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City

ADMISSION IS FREE.

The Ortigas Foundation Library cordially invites you to the OFL February lecture:

The talk will be based on Mr. Parson’s video documentary Manila 1945: The Forgotten Atrocities. It will focus on the atrocities committed by the Japanese in Manila during the battle which took place in February of 1945. Between one hundred and two hundred thousand Filipino civilians were killed at that time. The researcher on this topic has to walk through the landmines and booby traps of both fact and fiction.

A few excerpts from the video which has recently won an award for documentaries at the Myrtle Beach International Film Festival will be shown during the talk.

The Ortigas Foundation Library is using this opportunity to recognize the 63rd anniversary of the Battle of Manila. Copies of the video Manila 1945: The Forgotten Atrocities will be available for purchase.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Peter Parsons is one of the sons of Cmdr. Chick Parsons, who worked for General Douglas Mac Arthur during World War II as his liaison with the Philippine resistance.

For more information, please call 631.1231 local 222 or email maticat@ortigas.com.ph