Post by Registrar on Jan 26, 2020 8:15:07 GMT 8
For some months now, the Corregidor Foundation Inc has been planning an anniversary ceremony to be held on Corregidor this forthcoming 16 February 2020. It was to be the 75th anniversary of the jump on Corregidor.
In reliance upon these plans, a number of us have arranged to be on Corregidor for the 16th February. This has included Dick Adams, the last of the actual participants alive and able to travel to Corregidor. Our airline tickets have been purchased and paid for. Hotel reservations have been made.
Today, I received through Dick Adams, the news that Corregidor Foundation Inc have advised him as follows:
Dear Sir/Madam:
Greetings from the Corregidor Foundation, Inc.!
We would like to inform you that the Corregidor’s “D” Day event originally scheduled on 16th February 2020 will now become a bigger celebration on the 2nd of March 2020 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Corregidor Flag Raising in the island.
The bigger celebration is being undertaken in collaboration with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), the lead agency in charge of the country’s commemorative events including the liberation of Corregidor Island. Initial program of activities prepared by CFI will remain the same.
With these developments, we hope you will still consider pushing through with your plan to visit Corregidor Island and to be with us during the above occasion.
Thank you.
Corregidor Foundation Inc.
Greetings from the Corregidor Foundation, Inc.!
We would like to inform you that the Corregidor’s “D” Day event originally scheduled on 16th February 2020 will now become a bigger celebration on the 2nd of March 2020 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Corregidor Flag Raising in the island.
The bigger celebration is being undertaken in collaboration with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), the lead agency in charge of the country’s commemorative events including the liberation of Corregidor Island. Initial program of activities prepared by CFI will remain the same.
With these developments, we hope you will still consider pushing through with your plan to visit Corregidor Island and to be with us during the above occasion.
Thank you.
Corregidor Foundation Inc.
Richard Adams has responded as follows:
Hello All.
This is very disappointing news.
Alyson and I were looking forward to participating in the events CFI had originally planned for February 14-16 on Corregidor. We made our plane reservations and hotel in Manila based on preliminary information provided to us by Jerry Rollin. To change those reservations now, only 17 days prior to our departure, is very expensive with change fees and higher fares, not to mention the challenges Alyson would have in order to change her vacation time off from work and childcare arrangements for her son. At this late date, I don't see us altering our plans in order to participate on March 2nd.
Jerry, you sent us a "D-Day Proposed Program" back in October (copy attached). CFI's email today said, "Initial program of activities prepared by CFI will remain the same." Can you please tell us what the actual events will be on February 14-16? Please respond promptly. Thank you.
Dick Adams
This is very disappointing news.
Alyson and I were looking forward to participating in the events CFI had originally planned for February 14-16 on Corregidor. We made our plane reservations and hotel in Manila based on preliminary information provided to us by Jerry Rollin. To change those reservations now, only 17 days prior to our departure, is very expensive with change fees and higher fares, not to mention the challenges Alyson would have in order to change her vacation time off from work and childcare arrangements for her son. At this late date, I don't see us altering our plans in order to participate on March 2nd.
Jerry, you sent us a "D-Day Proposed Program" back in October (copy attached). CFI's email today said, "Initial program of activities prepared by CFI will remain the same." Can you please tell us what the actual events will be on February 14-16? Please respond promptly. Thank you.
Dick Adams
As those who may know me are aware, I am not one to STFU. I have replied to Dick, with copies to all the usual suspects, as follows:
Dick,
Very disappointing is hardly what I would call it, but it is a good start. A complete and total betrayal, more like. Who are these people who think they can change a date, and think that things will remain entirely the same? I bet whoever decided this is hiding in a committee, to deflect the criticism which needs to be directed squarely at them. I venture they are not the people who have booked airline tickets across the world several months ago, and made complex arrangements to fit things in. Some tickets cannot be changed. Some minds will not be changed. Whoever these so-called planners are, they are not the people who understand the true nature of what the ceremony on the 16th February was, is or should be.
They didn't even have the decency or courtesy to advise me directly. Cowardice!
Whatever it is these so called planners have in mind for their new date, they can have it for themselves. I started my little group celebrations almost twenty years ago on the 16th February, and our group has kept it going as a tribute to the men who jumped that day in 1945. It was not a tribute to the MacArthur flag raising, which is another dynamic entirely. The ceremony was for the invasion day, to evoke and renew my admiration for those men who jumped and fought the day. I was the origin of the celebration on the 16th, and that is what I am doing. I have long said that I would continue to do it even if there was no big ceremony, and that is what I intend to do. Even if there is just a handful of us there on the 16th, then I want to see the flag fly. Can I trust Corregidor Foundation to commit at least to that?
I will pack my 48 star flag unless otherwise positively advised.
Paul Whitman
Founder, Corregidor Historic Society.
PS - Christmas Day 2020 will now be celebrated on 31 December 2020, a date which our Christmas Day Commemoration Committee, meeting in camera, considers as better reflects the Yuletide spirit, and which is more convenient to our desires and purposes. The celebrations formerly held on 31 December will be moved to Chinese New Year.
Very disappointing is hardly what I would call it, but it is a good start. A complete and total betrayal, more like. Who are these people who think they can change a date, and think that things will remain entirely the same? I bet whoever decided this is hiding in a committee, to deflect the criticism which needs to be directed squarely at them. I venture they are not the people who have booked airline tickets across the world several months ago, and made complex arrangements to fit things in. Some tickets cannot be changed. Some minds will not be changed. Whoever these so-called planners are, they are not the people who understand the true nature of what the ceremony on the 16th February was, is or should be.
They didn't even have the decency or courtesy to advise me directly. Cowardice!
Whatever it is these so called planners have in mind for their new date, they can have it for themselves. I started my little group celebrations almost twenty years ago on the 16th February, and our group has kept it going as a tribute to the men who jumped that day in 1945. It was not a tribute to the MacArthur flag raising, which is another dynamic entirely. The ceremony was for the invasion day, to evoke and renew my admiration for those men who jumped and fought the day. I was the origin of the celebration on the 16th, and that is what I am doing. I have long said that I would continue to do it even if there was no big ceremony, and that is what I intend to do. Even if there is just a handful of us there on the 16th, then I want to see the flag fly. Can I trust Corregidor Foundation to commit at least to that?
I will pack my 48 star flag unless otherwise positively advised.
Paul Whitman
Founder, Corregidor Historic Society.
PS - Christmas Day 2020 will now be celebrated on 31 December 2020, a date which our Christmas Day Commemoration Committee, meeting in camera, considers as better reflects the Yuletide spirit, and which is more convenient to our desires and purposes. The celebrations formerly held on 31 December will be moved to Chinese New Year.