BAGUIO CITY – The country should also celebrate its victories and not just its defeats or downfalls.
This was emphasized by Mayor Mauricio Domogan as he welcomed 80 members of the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP) during their courtesy call at City Hall last week as part of the group’s three-day educational tour of the Summer Capital.
He said that the country should not only commemorate the Fall of Bataan and Corregidor but should also celebrate its victories like the surrender of Japanese Imperial Commander Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita in World War II to Filipino and American Allied forces.
The NDCP delegation was headed by its president Ret. Rear Admiral Roberto Estioko and composed of students, civilian personnel, and officers. Among the contingent were seven foreign students from Malaysia, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Myanmar.
“As officers, members and students of the NDCP, I’m sure you can help a lot in the country’s development. With teamwork, cooperation of all citizens and led by the government, the Philippines will surely reach greater heights of progress and prosperity,” the Mayor said.
Domogan also pointed out that World War II in Asia started in Baguio when Japanese planes bombed Camp John Hay a day after bombing Pearl Harbor and ended in the City of Pines with Tomoyuki’s surrender in September 3, 1945.
The Mayor fully supports the House Bill filed last year in Congress by Baguio Rep. Mark Go declaring September 3, 1945 as “Victory Day” in the entire country as a national holiday. According to Laurence Adube of the Congressman’s office, the measure is now being tackled in the committee level of Congress.
City environment and parks management officer Cordelia Lacsama and city planning office head Evelyn Cayat also gave brief lectures to the group on the city’s environmental and economic programs, respectively. The NDCP delegation was then presented the Symbolic Key to the City by the Mayor.**gaby keith
