United States Ambassador to Manila MaryKay Carlson looked back at the friendship forged between Manila and Washington when they stood as allies and emerged victorious after the World War 2.
PH-US friendship forged by WW2 alliance, victory—envoy
Published Sep 4, 2025 04:30 pm
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, NHCP Chairperson Regalado Trota Jose Jr., and Philippine Veterans Affairs Office Undersecretary Reynaldo Mapagu at the presentation of colors by Philippine Military Academy and United States service members in Baguio City on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (Photo from the US Embassy in Manila)
Leading the ceremony commemorating the 80th Victory Day with Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong at the US Ambassador’s Residence in Camp John Hay, the envoy honored the shared sacrifices of Filipino and American soldiers during the war.
The officials—together with Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr.—celebrated the “enduring ties” between the two countries there.
“The liberation of the Philippines during World War II was a triumph of the extraordinary bravery of Allied forces and the indomitable spirit of the Filipino people. From resistance movements that defied occupation to countless sacrifices made, their legacy is the freedom we cherish today,” Carlson said in her remarks on Wednesday, Sept. 3.
“This shared struggle forged a special relationship between our two nations, rooted in mutual respect, trust, and an unwavering commitment to the safety and prosperity of future generations of Filipinos and Americans,” she added.
For Magalong, the surrender marked not only the end of World War 2 in the Philippines “but also the triumph of courage, strength in spirit, and hope over tyranny and despair.”
“For us in Baguio, this is more than just an event written in textbooks—it is part of our city’s living memory, a legacy carved into our very identity,” the local chief executive said.
“As we remember that day and its significance to the world, we also honor the extraordinary sacrifices of the men and women—Filipino, American, and other allies—who fought courageously to restore peace and freedom,” he added.
Victory Day celebrates the end of World War 2 in the Philippines.
Since then, the Philippines and the United States have stood “shoulder-to-shoulder in battle” and “have grown ever closer as friends, partners, and allies.”
Teodoro, for his part, called for a “deep reflection.”
“If we do not learn from the lessons of the past, and think as much as we want that the world is a static place, if we do not have resolve, purpose, and unity in action in all facets of public and private life, even with individual behavior and discipline, then we have no business honoring those who have shed their blood,” he said.
National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) Chairperson Regalado Trota Jose Jr., Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) Undersecretary Reynaldo Mapagu, and 300 other guests—veterans, members of the diplomatic corps, the media, and private and public sector partners—also attended the event.
Carlson also took the opportunity to announce the launch of a virtual tour of the historic US Ambassador’s Residence. It can be accessed through the OBO VR app in the Apple Store or through https://hullfilm360.com/projects/state/baguio/web/360tour/index.html.
The initiative aims to preserve the two countries’ shared heritage and to invite future generations to reflect on the past and build a better future, the envoy said.