Manila, The Philippines

During the night we sailed through the Sulu Sea toward the island of Luzon and Manila, Philippines, arriving before dawn. Manila sits on the eastern shore of Manila Bay and on the western side of Luzon, and is the capital of the Philippines. Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese exploring for Spain, came across the Philippines by accident looking for the Spice Islands. He was killed by the locals, thus ending his round-the-world voyage.

When we awoke and looked out, we saw that we had docked in Manila and that the USS Blue Ridge was docked next to us. It was comforting to see the Navy ship and a bit of home. Later in the day when we returned from our tour, we discovered that the Blue Ridge had sailed and the USS Antietam had taken its place.

With binoculars, we watched with interest as the crew gathered on the back deck of the Antietam for some type of ceremony. An officer addressed the crew and presented something to several of the sailors. Since there was lots of saluting and clapping, we gathered that it was a ceremony to promote some of the sailors and/or award honors. We also watched the crew load supplies on the ship and refuel. The Antietam is a Ticonderoga class cruiser homeported in Japan. The ensign flying at the rear of the ship was at half-mast, probably because of Nancy Reagan’s death, which we recently heard about on the news. At the end of their ceremony, the sailors turned to the Queen Elizabeth, shouted a greeting, and waved to us on the ship. I hope some of them could see me frantically waving back.

USS Antietam and Crew

We took a tour of Old Manila. Our young tour guide told us that the local museum had a collection of Imelda Marcos’s massive shoe collection. Apparently, she is now a congresswoman in the Philippine government. Some people seem to never fade away.

Our first stop was in Rizal Park where statues there honored Dr. Jose Rizal, the hero of the Philippines. Dr. Rizal, who apparently was considered a genius, had considerable knowledge of science and medicine and spoke 22 languages. He promoted nationalism in the Philippines but denied fomenting rebellion, which the Spanish executed him for. A shrine and statues showing aspects of his life and his execution by firing squad are in the park.

Shrine in Rizal Park

Statues Depicting Rizal’s Execution

 

Our next stop was at the heart of the old Spanish city, Intramuros, and within it, Fort Santiago, which is a stone fortress with mote, built by the Spanish. The fort was also used by the Japanese to imprison American and Filipino POWs during WWII. The description of what the Japanese did to the prisoners at the fort is just too painful to write about.

Fort Santiago

Our last stop was at the country’s oldest structure, the San Augustin Church and Monastery. Built in 1571, it is a massive structure, and the monastery is now used to display ecclesiastical paintings and artifacts. The ceilings in the huge church were quite interesting. They are tromp l’oeil paintings made to look like ornate woodwork and paintings. Apparently, two Italians were bought to the Philippines to create the artwork.

San Augustin Church (notice the tromp l’oeil ceilings)

Returning to the ship, we saw crewmembers visiting with their families on the pier. Earlier, we saw Ronald, our dining room waiter, wheel a bicycle off the ship that he bought in England for his children. His family was waiting for him on the pier.

Just before we sailed, two high school bands enthusiastically played on the pier, and young children danced to the music. It was a very nice send-off.

School Bands

We also saw sailors from the Antietam racing down the gangway in civilian clothes as they headed out for a night on the town. It reminded me of the time my uncle’s Navy ship pulled into Manila and he got to visit with my father who was stationed in the Philippines. A short but happy reunion.

On a more somber note: Earlier we passed the Manila Hotel, which at one time had been General Douglas MacArthur’s headquarters during WWII. When he left the Philippines he may have vowed to return, but he left my father and thousands of US soldiers there to be captured by the Japanese.

This visit to the Philippines was in loving memory of my father, Corporal Louis B. Marchetti, US Army, who arrived in the Philippines a very young soldier, was captured by the Japanese, endured the Bataan Death March, and was a POW in Japan for 3.5 years, where he was used as slave labor in the Japanese steel mills.

He never spoke to our family of his experiences except to say how much he admired the Filipino people, who at great risk to themselves and their families smuggled food to the starving soldiers.

So I leave the Philippines with heartfelt appreciation for what the Filipinos did for my father and for the other prisoners. They are a remarkable people who have endured a lot, and I am thankful that I was able to visit their country.