MAYOR Alfredo S. Lim yesterday led Manilans in expressing gratitude to and saluting those who perished in the ‘Battle for Manila’ as well as the country’s war veterans who fought hard for the country during World War II.

This, as he and Customs deputy commissioner for intelligence group ret. Gen. Danilo Lim led the wreathlaying ceremonies and program during the 67th commemoration of the Battle for Manila held yesterday at the city hall’s Freedom Triangle.

Attended by diplomats representing at least 20 countries, city officials, students and city employees, the event was also taken by the mayor as an opportunity to call on the youth to study and honor the memory of those who paid with their lives efforts to regain our democracy.

Mayor Lim also called on those present to pray and wish that there will never be another war, stressing that all kinds of differences can be more easily settled through negotiations.

“Let us pray that leaders will think twice before embarking on a wave of violence,” he said.

The mayor led the city in paying tribute to the some 100,000 non-combatant civilians who perished during the month-long ‘Battle for Manila’ in February 1945 and the survivors whom he said helped rebuild a ‘new and vigorous city’.        

In connection with the affair, the mayor led the guests to a photo exhibit which featured in photos the devastation suffered by Manila during the war.

Mayor Lim told the guests that lamentably, at least 100,000 died either during the fighting or as a result of torture or plain massacre that raged on for one long month during the war.

In his speech, Gen. Lim said the event is a grim reminder of the very high price for freedom, as he expressed hope that it will not be necessary ever again in the future.

He said that presently, the administration is fighting a ferocious but different battle against corruption and vowed that those out to obliterate the said fight will not succeed.   Itchie G. Cabayan