PRESS RELEASE
WDC-10-2022
11 APRIL 2022
WASHINGTON D.C. – In commemoration of the Day of Valor or “Araw ng Kagitingan,” the Sentro Rizal of the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. in partnership with Spyron AV Manila and the United Federation of Fil-Am Educators (UNIFFIED) Maryland Chapter, hosted a special screening of the film entitled “Corregidor: The Road Back” on 05 April 2022 at the Philippine Embassy Chancery Annex.
“As we celebrate Araw ng Kagitingan, may we emulate the same courage that our veterans demonstrated in the past as we live the present and prepare for the future. Let us continually show the world the Filipino bravery and ferocity that made General Douglas MacArthur proclaim, ‘Give me ten thousand Filipinos and I shall conquer the world!’” said Philippine Ambassador Jose Manuel G. Romualdez in his welcoming remarks.
Corregidor: The Road Back is a 52-minute documentary film that focuses on the feat of the Filipino and American soldiers in retaking Corregidor 77 years ago. This film reminds us of our roots and history, and the bravery, heroism and patriotism of our veterans.
Director Miguel “Lucky” Guillermo said that “it is with great pleasure that we share (Corregidor: The Road Back) to everyone for the purpose of reaching out to the youth telling the world of our forefather’s courage and valor when needed the most, and most of all paying tribute to all men and women who fought for our freedom.” Director Guillermo is the Managing Director of Spyron AV Manila and a well-known art director and cinematographer. He is the art director for the film Zuma (1985) and producer of the film Honor: The Legacy of Jose Abad Santos, among other works.
This event was also graced by Philippine Senator Francis Tolentino who highlighted the significance of commemorating the Day of Valor, “It is a common trend of humankind to join together to fight for what is right… The lessons of history will show that people come together when there is a just cause, and that is what Corregidor is, valor is a just cause.”
Mr. Sonny Busa of the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FILVETREP) shared his thoughts on the film: “Corregidor was part of America at that time. When you talk about the American battlefield, (Corregidor) is an American battlefield and also a Filipino battlefield. So you can talk about Gettysburg, you can talk about the Battle of Forge, you can talk about Pearl Harbor, you can talk about Midway. But if you don’t include Corregidor in that litany of battlefields, then you really don’t get it. Because to understand the true meaning of sacrifice and to understand what really had been endured before, we have to understand what the 31st infantry went through and what all the civilian Filipinos went through on that little island.”
The event was also attended by US Naval Commander Jessica McNulty and Mr. Ferdinand de Ocampo – the son of Mr. Emmanuel de Ocampo whose life story is featured in the book “Unsurrendered 2: Valor.”
As we celebrate Araw ng Kagitingan in the Philippines, the same is observed in the United States of America as the two countries pay tribute to the heroism of both Filipino and American soldiers as they fought side by side for our country’s freedom.
The Embassy also received a donation consisting of a complimentary copy of the commemorative Araw ng Kagitingan magazine, and the book and DVD of “Valor: The Legacy of Col. Emmanuel De Ocampo.”###
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