Two historic structures

DESPITE a heavy downpour early yesterday morning, the sun came out during the unveiling of a marker installed by the National Historical Institute at the entrance of the US Embassy chancery building on Roxas Boulevard. A small group of old-timers, like Fr. James Reuter, S.J. and Ms Jessie Lichauco, came to witness the simple commemoration that brought back memories of the now-historic site in the best and worst of times. Surely, old-timers knew the place when it was still the US High Commissioner's residence, a time when the now famous bayside promenade was still known as Dewey Boulevard.

This simple white building -- too severe for the baroque tastes of some people-in its beautiful setting on land reclaimed from Manila Bay has been witness to a lot of history. Most Filipinos are familiar with an adjacent building that contains other offices, including that of the dreaded Visa Section that should be called the "Room of Sighs" because it is there, whether a visa is issued or not, that you hear different types of sighs from despair to rejoicing. The chancery or main building is the historic structure whose long story is summarized in an NHI marker that reads:

"This building opened in 1940 to house the offices and residence of the US High Commissioner in the Philippines Francis B. Sayre. During World War II, Japanese Imperial Forces occupied this building until the establishment of the Japanese-sponsored Republic of the Philippines on October 14, 1943 when it became the Japanese Embassy in the Philippines. The US Army's 12th Cavalry liberated the compound on February 20, 1945 following intense fighting during the Battle for Manila. After the war, the still intact ballroom served as the courthouse for the World War II War Crimes Trials of Japanese in the Philippines. Following the United States recognition of Philippine Independence on July 4, 1946 the building became the chancery of the Embassy of the United States of America."

Unlike the previous US chargé d'affaires, Joseph Mussomeli, whom our Vice President, I think, purposely refers to as "Mr. Mussolini," the present chargé Daryl Johnson is, to use a Filipino-Spanish term, simpatico or "muy amable" [very amiable]. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been quite visible in cultural affairs and museums, leading some people to remark that they have seen more of them in one month than they did of former US Ambassador Francis Ricciardone in the three years he was posted in Manila. Nevertheless, we have to give credit to Ricciardone and former Public Affairs Counselor Ron Post whose interest in RP-US history led to the installation of these markers on embassy buildings in Manila and Baguio.

The US ambassador's residence in Camp John Hay may not be as well known as the chancery in Manila, but it has a lot of history (and ghosts?) behind it. The marker installed by the National Historical Institute there, as part of the commemoration of the end of World War II in the Philippines, reads:

"This building was completed in 1940 to serve as the summer residence of the US High Commissioner of the Philippines. During World War II, Japanese military and political leaders occupied the residence from December 28, 1941, until April 27, 1945, when Allied Forces and Filipino guerrillas liberated the city of Baguio, forcing the Japanese to withdraw into the surrounding mountains. On September 2, 1945, as the Japanese surrendered to Allied Forces in Tokyo, Commander of the Japanese Army in the Philippines General Tomoyuki Yamashita emerged from hiding in Kiangan to surrender and was brought to Baguio. In this building on September 3, 1945, at 1210 hours, General Yamashita and Vice Admiral Denhici Okochi, Commander of the Japanese Navy in the Philippines, formally surrendered to United States' Forces represented by Major General Edmond H. Leavey, Deputy Commander of the United States Army Forces, Western Pacific. They signed the Instrument for Surrender, which completed the surrender of all Japanese Forces in the Philippines and officially ended the war here. Since 1946, the US Embassy has used the residence for meetings, receptions and staff retreats."

Now the residence is a very comfortable and relaxed place with a fabulous view of the mountains. There are two paintings by National Artist Fernando Amorsolo that adorn the house: a portrait of Gen. Douglas "I shall return" MacArthur and a large historical painting depicting the surrender of Yamashita. Struck by the surroundings or perhaps pressured by a deadline, a rather imaginative (and inaccurate) columnist for another paper wrote that the solid narra buffet table in the residence dining room was where the historic surrender was signed. Actually, they joined two ping-pong tables together and covered this with a wide tablecloth for the surrender. (Where are these historic relics today? If placed on auction today these ping-pong tables could probably garner a sum equivalent to the fabled Yamashita treasure.) The United States means different things to different Filipinos in different times. By marking these two structures, we would like to think that Filipinos are slowly knowing and, hopefully, coming to terms with our shared history as we come up to the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of Philippine-American Friendship on July 4 next year.

Comments are welcome at aocampo@ateneo.edu