tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297549309133124511.post7155946636093738667..comments2024-02-22T09:23:37.603+01:00Comments on Lars Gyllenhaal: WWII Ended In 1974Lars Gyllenhaalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17851097994709218280noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5297549309133124511.post-18095914162725012872012-03-21T02:53:26.090+01:002012-03-21T02:53:26.090+01:00Philippines is composed of 7,100 island. Yes, 7,10...Philippines is composed of 7,100 island. Yes, 7,100 island and could be more during low tides. A lot of these small islands are still uninhibited and some are still undeveloped. If you’re holdouts on these islands, it’s easy to hide here or be lost in the jungle. And you won’t have any problem with regards to foods since fruit trees are such in abundance and there’s still some wild animals to sustain you. So, I wasn’t surprised that Hiroo Onoda was able to survive after all those years. I believe there’s more “Hiroo Onoda” out there before but maybe they settled down with the local aborigines and passed away quietly. Others could have gone too due to old age and disease. <br /><br />This was a big news back then and it put the small island in the international spotlight. Now, Lubang is one of the tourist spot in the Philippines and they even offer an activity known as “ Onada Trail” which you could experience and see where Hiroo Onada used to hide and hunt. It’s a 3 hrs walk inside the jungle.<br /><br /> I wasn’t surprised too when kin of those killed by Onada were demanding compensation. A lot of those older Filipinos especially those who had a first-hand experience of the brutal Japanese occupation here in the Philippines are still angry and unforgiving. The great grandfather of my distant cousin was even killed by these Japanese soldiers. He was herded and killed in a warehouse together with other men who were not guerrillas. I believe that they may have some good and kind Japanese soldiers too as what I have read from some accounts of those who survived. But in my personal conversations to those who had experienced with these soldiers, it’s a different matter.<br /><br />With the advent of electronic toys and gadgets made in Japan, the Filipino younger generations tend to forget now what had happened. Thought it is best to forgive the past, we must not forget it especially for the memories of those who perished. Japan despite its brutal past here is now a great friend of the Philippines. So I hope what happened in the past will never again happen here or around the world again...Eric Gnoreply@blogger.com