Emperor Akihito of Japan led the wreath laying ceremony at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City on Wednesday paying respect to the soldiers who perished during World War II.
Japanese Emperor Akihito, together with Empress Michiko, arrived at the Libingan Ng mga Bayani at around 3:20 p.m. and pproceeded with the wreath laying rites at the Tomb of the Unknown Hero.
The visiting Japanese emperor and empress were welcomed by Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Eduardo Ano. They were also given a 21-gun salute.
The Libingan ng mga Bayani was formerly known as the Republic Memorial Cemetery established by the Philippine government in 1947 as a tribute to the gallant Filipino soldiers who fought and died in World War II.
In 1954, then Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay rededicated the cemetery and renamed it as the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
In 1967 then President Ferdinand Marcos reserved 142 hectares from the Fort Bonifacio Military Reserve (formerly known as Fort McKinley) in consideration for the Libingan ng mga Bayani to serve not only as a cemetery for military personnel but also as a national shrine for fallen heroes.
Aside from military men, the Libingan ng mga Bayani is also open as final resting place for former Philippine presidents, Filipino veterans, notable government statesmen, dignitaries and national artists.
As of 2009, there are 44,027 military personnel buried at the memorial cemetery, of which 32,268 were men who lost their lives in Capas, Tarlac.
Also interred in the cemetery are two former Philippine presidents, Carlos P. Garcia and Diosdado Macapagal.
At the center of the cemetery is the Tomb of the Unknown Hero and radiating from the center are the different plots reserved for different branches of military operations. PND (as) |