VILLABA, LEYTE — Honoring lives lost and reaffirming a collective commitment to unity, local leaders, residents, and visitors gathered at Barangay Buga-Buga on Monday, October 19, 2026, for the annual observance of Peace Memorial Day.
The solemn ceremony took place at the Mount Buga-Buga Peace Memorial Shrine, a historical landmark nestled among the limestone cliffs of northwestern Leyte.
Honoring Valor And Promoting Reconciliation
The commemorative program featured a solemn wreath-laying ceremony, floral offerings, and a moment of silence at the shrine marker. Community members and local officials paid tribute to the Filipino, American, and Japanese soldiers, as well as civilians, who perished during World War II.
During the final months of the Leyte Campaign in 1944–1945, Mount Buga-Buga (formerly known as Mt. Canquipot) served as the last strategic stronghold of Imperial Japanese forces in northwestern Leyte led by General Sosaku Suzuki. Heavy crossfire across its dense forests, caves, and limestone ridges transformed the mountain into one of the island's most grueling battlegrounds.
Decades after the war, the Municipality of Villaba has transformed the former conflict zone into a sanctuary for peace, healing, and cross-cultural reconciliation.
Inspiring Future Generations Of Peace Advocates
Town officials emphasized that the annual Peace Memorial Day serves as a reminder that peace is a hard-won legacy that must be preserved and passed on to succeeding generations.
Organizers expressed hope that the solemn gathering would strengthen community solidarity, deepen appreciation for regional history, and inspire every Villabanhon to serve as an active advocate of understanding, harmony, and non-violence.
