Manila American Cemetery & Memorial

This visit to the memorial place for the US Armed forces was highly recommended by my wife's Pinoy associate. I found it a very meaningful place as it was another eye-opener. I prefer to learn and observe their culture & rich history instead of exploring the full lengths of their shopping malls. Most of my friends do not share the same interests as mine, so it's their loss.

1. Our tour guide drove us to the Manila American Cemetery 

on the hilly part of Fort Bonifacio which was a short distance 

from our hotel in Makati. 

2. We had to pass the famous McKinley Road which is like Beverly Hills

and you could see the palatial 42 Room Mansion belonging to the Sultan Of Brunei.

The ruler must have loved Makati as much as I do.

So please do not think of Manila as polluted slums & jeepneys only.

You can see more branded stuffs and flashy Ferraris than Malaysia. 

This is affluent Makati I am talking about.

 3. This huge cemetery spreads over 152 acres of the most prominent plateau
of Manila. This burial place is the largest administered

 by the American Battle Monuments Commission and is fully guarded
by multi tiers of security. There are 17, 206 graves in this whole place
which is the largest number of any US War cemeteries in the world.

4. Every strand of grass was air flown from Maryland, USA while all 

the tombs are white marbles from Italy. Here they have professionals

to water and mow the lawn everyday. You cannot help feeling so touched

by the utmost care and respects the US Government have pledged to always 

commemorate the war soldiers who were killed at war.
They have 24 Cemeteries and 25 memorials, monuments
and markers in 15 countries today.

5. Here is the full view of the Memorial Place from the front. 

All the high rise condos are the most affluent homes of the Makati residents. 

 6. The Wall Of Missing are built equally on both sides.
There are 36,286 engraved tablets of those Missing in action
who gave their lives in the service of their country.

7. This is the Chapel building where visiting guests and

dignitaries would place the floral wreaths and sign the condolence

books inside.

 8. Inside the Chapel is the Altar where the natural sunlight
shines inside. A tall graceful lady in flowing white scatters flowers to
the ground. The whole wall's illustration was made from the coloured
mosaic pieces. We both signed our feelings in the book.

9. Inside the end of the panels of many walls, there are 25 well

illustrated maps to show & explain how the wars took place.

It is so much easier to understand from graphics than having to read

from piles of history books. They have 4 rooms of these maps as many

wars had taken place which I wasn't even aware of. 

10. I was so impressed with the skills of the craftsmen who used
coloured bits of mosaic pieces to illustrate the giant maps!!

Those who have visited Europe would know what this mosaic art is. 

They will last till eternity.

11. We spent a long time looking at the maps. I learnt something 

that the worst wars that killed most of the US soldiers took place in 

New Guinea or the Battle Of The Philippines.

12. There are carved Seals of all the American states on the floor.

I chose to share this piece as I have lived there once

with good memories.

13. A senior gentleman came forward to place fresh flowers for

his comrade or family who was missing during the war. 

14. He wept sadly and turned away to look at the greens.

I made a guess that he must be in his 70s and could be born just

before the WWII in 1941. 

He could be the filial son who missed his father.
Perhaps he never met his father too.

15. My heart also wept to know that so many brave American soldiers

have died in the war, fighting all over the Pacific & Asia.

In China, I have visited many mausoleums & memorials too

where many fierce wars and battles had taken place over thousands

of years ago! Humans are still fighting & killing horrendously.

16. Some humans are more scary than wild beasts and could never learn

from the War Histories. They are still fighting senselessly until this day
making millions of families homeless and children being orphaned
or even beheaded. What a sad world we live in.

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I am not sure if my Manila Postings have intoxicated my readers.
Just to share that I have narrowed them to these few more.

1. Glorietta & Greenbelt Shopping Hub
2. Hard Rock Cafe Makati
3. The Slums Of Manila


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