Good day my hive friends!
Let me take you on a tour at Subic Bay's world war ll memorial.
I was driving earlier running some errands and passed by the seaside area. In front of the Alava wharf and just across Bldg. 229, the office of the chairman of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.
See that big flag across the building? Just a quick trivia, That is the biggest national flag of my country, The Philippines.
Hoisted permanently inside Subic Bay Freeport Zone last November 14, 2017.
Today, was a day filled with reverence and beauty as I had the privilege of passing by the Subic Bay Memoriam, a sacred place where the brave POWs who endured unimaginable hardships aboard the hell ships during World War II are honored and remembered.
The history of Subic Bay reflects many centuries of war and turbulence.
The bay has strategic significance as a protected deep water harbour. In turn, that has caused it to become a focus of maritime conflict for hundreds of years. Subic Bay has been occupied by Spanish, Japanese and American military forces it played a pivotal role in both Spanish-American war and World War 2.
As I approached the Hell Ship memorial, the skies above were painted with the most serene shade of blue, a fitting backdrop for the solemnity of the occasion. The air was filled with a sense of quiet contemplation, as I pay my respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom, my freedom.
This statue represents the Inang Laya Monument - Mother Country " The hands that freed the country"
Let the image of INANG LAYA – MOTHER COUNTRY now unbound and standing proudly be the embodiment of the generation of Filipinos who kept the flames of freedom ablaze during the bleakest moments in history from the Philippine Revolution of 1896 this ended in the centuries of colonial to the People Power Movement in 1986,(source,: google)
These are the hands of the twelve senators who voted for the ousting of the Americans here in Subic Bay.
This is what is written on the inscription just below the Inang Kaya monument.
Let the Dozen Hands pay tribute to the Magnificent Twelve Senators of the Republic of the Philippines who on September 16, 1991, stood up and declared “NO” to the RP US Military Bases Treaty, thus finally ending more than four centuries of foreign military presence in the country.
Against this backdrop of peace and tranquility, I couldn't help but feel a profound sense of gratitude for the courage and resilience of those who came before us. Their sacrifice serves as a reminder of the price of freedom and the importance of never forgetting the lessons of the past.
Amidst the hushed whispers and reverent silence, I took a moment to capture the beauty of the surroundings with a few snaps, knowing that these memories would serve as a testament to the enduring legacy of our heroes.
In the evening, the street is lit with beautiful and colorful lights. I snapped these a few months ago when we came here to smell the fresh sea breeze while enjoying the evening with my hubby and our son. We often come here at night. This is our go to place if we want to unwind bringing some food with us because you can sit by the ledge beside the ocean, do some chit chat.
The harbor looks so beautiful at night. You can also see the opposite side of Subic, The Subic International airport.
This is the Hell Ship memorial at night. The writings are more visible than earlier today. It was very sunny, it's hard to read the inscriptions.
Also the statue of the Inang Kaya and the Children of the Sun Returning.
As I left the memorial area, my heart was filled with a deep sense of appreciation for the opportunity to pay homage to those who gave their all for the sake of future generations. Today was indeed a beautiful day, filled with reminders of the power of courage, sacrifice, and remembrance. 🙏🌹