Ambassador ENDO Attends the 80th Leyte Gulf Landings Anniversary Commemoration

Ambassador ENDO visited the Province of Leyte from 19 to 20 October to attend the 80th Leyte Gulf Landings Anniversary Commemoration.

On October 20, Ambassador ENDO attended and delivered a speech at the 80th Leyte Gulf Landings Anniversary Commemoration organized by the Governor of Leyte at the MacArthur Landing Memorial National Park in Palo City, Leyte. The Speaker of the House of Representatives Martin Romualdez Jr., Secretary of National Defense Gilbert Teodoro Jr., Governor of Leyte Carlos Jericho Petilla, Australian Ambassador HK Yu, other Philippine Government officials, and US Army officials were also in attendance.

In his speech at the ceremony, Ambassador ENDO expressed his sincerest respect to Filipino veterans whose unwavering dedication and service played a crucial role in the peace, prosperity, stability and dignity of the Philippines. He also said that Japan is determined to never allow the devastation of war to be repeated ever again for the sake of the present and future generations, and that Japan and the Philippines are united in building a world founded on peace. 

Furthermore, he also stated that both countries have built a special friendship through economic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, as symbolized by the San Juanico Bridge. Ambassador Endo remarked that Japan-Philippine cooperation is deepening in various fields including security, as seen in the Second Japan-Philippines Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting “2+2” and the signing of the Japan-Philippines RAA in July. He assured that Japan and the Philippines, together with other like-minded countries, will continue to work together as united partners in upholding the international order based on the rule of law and in promoting peace and prosperity in the region.
 
On October 19, Ambassador ENDO paid a courtesy call on Governor of Leyte Carlos Jericho Petilla and exchanged views on the potential for Japan-Philippines cooperation in Leyte Province.

Ambassador ENDO also visited the San Juanico Bridge connecting Leyte and Samar islands, which was built in 1973 as part of the Philippines-Japan Friendship Road Project.