Impromptu Speech by Ambassador Bill Tweddell
Cultural Evening
Palo, Leyte
19 October 2015
• Honourable Leopoldo Dominico Petilla, Governor, Province of Leyte,
• Honourable Carlo Loreto, Vice Governor, Province of Leyte
• Honourable Remedios Petilla, Mayor of the Municipality of Palo,
• Lieutenant General (Ret) Ernesto Carolina, AFP Administrator, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office
• Fellow members of the Diplomatic and Attaché Corps
• Officers and personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,
• Veterans, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen
MAGANDANG GABI PO SA INYONG LAHAT!
MAUPAY NGA GAB-I HA IYO NGATANAN!
Good evening and thank you for the opportunity to partake in this wonderful Cultural Evening event for the Veterans of the Liberation.
This is my fourth opportunity to partake of your generous hospitality and I thank the Palo community for this annual event to honour your nation’s heroes and veterans.
It’s always great to be back in Palo!
Earlier this year, on 25 April, Australia celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Landing at Gallipoli in Turkey by the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps during World War One. This was the first time that Australia, as a new Federation, had fought alongside New Zealand and the men became known as ANZACs.
The storming of the beach under fire and the scaling of the steep hills became a defining moment for our nation that otherwise lacked the dramatic storming of a bastille or a hard fought–for declaration of independence.
Our soldiers at Gallipoli became the carriers of the Anzac virtues of courage, endurance, ingenuity, self-sacrifice and, above all, mateship. The very same virtues upon which Australian Service Personnel, under duress or adversity, have judged themselves against ever since.
Perhaps it is only those Veterans here, who witnessed first-hand the devastation preceding the Leyte Landings by the constant barrages of naval gunfire, who could comprehend the challenges faced by the Anzacs and the significance of courage, endurance, ingenuity, self-sacrifice and mateship.
I look forward to tomorrow’s 71stth Anniversary, to once again honour those who gave so much to ensure a brighter future for all of us.
MABUHAY ANG VETERANS!
MABUHAY ANG PILIPINAS!
MARAMING MARAMING SALAMAT PO!
DAMO NGA SALAMAT HA IYO NGATANAN!