Binigyang pagkilala ni Speaker Martin Romualdez ang mga kababaihan at kalalakihan na naging bahagi pagkamit ng kasarinlan ng bansa kasabay ng paggunita sa ika-80 taong anibersaryo ng “Leyte Landings” na pinangunahan ni US General Douglas McArthur noong Oktubre 1944.
Sa kaniyang talumpati sa harap ng foreign delegates, mga beterano at opisyal ng pamahalaang lokal at nasyunal, sinabi ng lider ng Kamara na hindi man kasing tanyag ang kanilang mga pangalan gaya ni General Douglas MacArthur, ay kapuri-puri ang kanilang sakripisyo.
Binigyang diin din ng House Leader at Leyte 1st district representative ang kahalagahan ng pagsusulong ng kapayapaan upang hindi na maulit pa digmaan.
“The Leyte Landing was a turning point in World War II here in the Asian region, and as we gather here today to honor the brave men and women whose names may not be as famous as General Douglas MacArthur, but nonetheless made personal sacrifices so that we can be here today in freedom. As we celebrate bravery, let us also celebrate the progress we have made in forging peace so that what happened then will not happen again,” aniya.
Pinasalamatan din niya ang pakikiisa ng mga bansang Austalia, Japan at United States sa payapang resolusyon ng mga alitan.
“We commend the solidarity of the nations of Australia, Japan, the United States, in our shared aspirations for a secure and peaceful region. Your presence today is a testament of how far we have come in terms of promoting and protecting our respective national interests, no longer through the destructive causes of arms and violence, but through peaceful and diplomatic efforts which is more sustainable,” dagdag niya.
Hinimok din niya ang bawat isa na ipagpatuloy ang pagtutulungan upang magpatuloy ang pag unlad ng bawat bansa at mapatatag ang diplomatic at economic relations.| ulat ni Kathleen Forbes
