By Dennis Gorecho “Never forget” is an expression and political slogan used to urge others to remember events surrounding a national tragedy. It was first used in relation to the damages brought by World War II which started as a sincere symbol of shared trauma. The documentary film “Children of the War” by Mike Alcazaren …
Flowers for Lolas
Remembering the horrors of World War II through PPO music
By Dennis Gorecho I spent Valentine’s Day watching a concert of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) not directly about traditional love but one that imparts narratives of love of country, solemn heroism and resiliency. Through the universal language of music, “PPO Concert V: Hope at the Metropolitan Theater” commemorated the shared past of Poland and the …
Filipina comfort woman Lola Estelita dies at age 94 without receiving justice
By Dennis Gorecho The number of last surviving Filipino “comfort women” dwindled further with the death of 94-year-old Lola Estelita Dy on November 24, 2024 after suffering cardiac arrest. Like other Filipina comfort women, Lola Estelita died still fighting without receiving justice. “Maraming salamat sa buhay mo, Lola Estelita,” Kapuso actress Sanya Lopez wrote in …
‘Pulang Araw’: Voice of Filipina comfort women’s call for justice
By Dennis Gorecho When it comes to remembering our country’s history of struggle, most people’s memories seem to be selective, and rather short, including World War II. The stories of Filipina comfort women became viral due to the airing of the locally produced television drama series “Pulang Araw” by GMA Entertainment, which is also streamed …
Filipina comfort women say ‘no’ to war
By Dennis Gorecho “We will continue to renounce war because we do not want the next generation to experience what we went through.” Filipina comfort woman Lola Estelita Dy celebrated her 94th birthday in a press conference that coincided with the anniversary of the removal of the “Lola” statue along Baywalk, Roxas Boulevard in Manila last April 27, 2018. Lola Estelita …
Remembering the 1945 Rape of Manila
By Dennis Gorecho “The non-combatant victims of that tragic battle will remain forever in the hearts and minds of the Filipino people.” This is part of the inscription penned by Nick Joaquin, National Artist for Literature, on the “Memorare Manila 1945 Monument” that can be found in Plaza de Sta. Isabel at the corner of General Luna and Anda Streets, Intramuros, Manila, …