23 November 2015 – The Alvarado Project, in partnership with Friends of the San Francisco Public Library and the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, commemorated the 71st anniversary of Leyte Landing at the Hiram Johnson State Building last October 20.
On 22 October 2013, The Alvarado Project and the Consulate General held an event to celebrate then State Senator Leland Yee’s sponsorship of Senate Concurrent Resolution 20, Chapter 87. The bill recognizes October 20 as Leyte Landing Commemoration Day. This year’s event celebrates the third anniversary of Senate Concurrent Resolution 20, which underscores the significance of the landing of American forces on Red Beach in Palo, Leyte.
The American Coalition of Filipino veterans estimates that there are about 4,000 Filipino war veterans in the United States, most of whom are in their late 80s and early 90s. Consul General Henry S. Bensurto, Jr. stressed the importance of commemorating the anniversary of the Leyte Gulf Landing to “honor our beloved veterans who put their lives on the line for the cause of freedom and democracy. We remember their service, courage, sacrifice, bravery, selflessness, their struggles, their victories and their legacy to the Filipino and American people and to the rest of the world.”
The Resolution also ensures that future generations of Filipinos and Americans will be reminded of the valor, courage and bravery that Filipino and American soldiers exhibited during World War II, an important milestone that cemented Philippine-American relations, an alliance which continues to endure to this day.
The San Francisco Unified School District's ROTC, led by Major Ray Partore of Balboa High School, were on color guard duty and laid a wreath in commemoration of soldiers who died in action during World War II. Filipino-American US Navy Colonel Marion Matundan spoke at the event, stating how Filipinos have made their mark in America for being hard-working and for showing care not just for family, but also for colleagues. Finally, Ms. Janet Alvarado, whose father was also a war veteran, and whose mother hailed from Leyte, thanked the attendees for honoring the memories of the soldiers and civilians who suffered in Leyte during the War.
The San Diego Hall of the Hiram Johnson Building showcased photographs taken by Mr. Ricardo Alvarado, Janet Alvarado’s father, who was himself a war veteran, for an exhibit entitled “Compositions A Filipino American Experience” that depict the life of Filipino Americans in the 1950s-1960s. END