INTRODUCTION
On this day, half a century ago, the Allied forces entered Lingayen gulf and landed on these beaches.

That event, so momentous to us, may not have been as well-chronicled and as well-known to the world as the Allied forces’ Leyte Gulf landings on October 20, 1944, but it roused and electrified Luzon and the Filipino people, for it signaled that a dark chapter in Philippine history was finally — inexorably –coming to a close.
FINALLY, LIBERATION
True, the Leyte Gulf landings marked the beginning of the liberation of the Philippines, but for as long as Luzon and the center of power were essentially in the hands of the occupying forces, liberation appeared only a faint hope, and for much of the people, there seemed little reason to rejoice.

The Lingayen Gulf landings dramatically changed the situation overnight.

As the first wave of allied warriors breached these beaches, it became crystal clear that liberation was at last at hand. The majority of the Filipino people truly had a manifest, tangible cause to rejoice.
THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE LIBERATION FORCE
It is for this reason that the tactical and strategic importance of the Lingayen Gulf landings in the reconquest of the Philippines and the conclusion of the pacific war can never be in doubt. For the amphibious landings here paved the way for the victory of the allied forces in manila and in the whole of Luzon and eventually, in the whole archipelago.

Thus, it is with a profound appreciation of the crucial historical significance of that brave thrust on this place that we commemorate today the 50th anniversary of the Lingayen Gulf landings.

And we gather here — today after two new generations had sprung since — and this generation’s children laugh and play under clear and calm skies — in testimony that we can never ever forget the extraordinary valor and sacrifices of those men and women of the liberation forces fifty years ago.

We gratefully acknowledge that were it not for their heroism, our history certainly shall have taken another course, and we may not have moved on to enjoy the fruits of the freedom that they have secured for us.

In commemorating the Lingayen Gulf landings, we honor our veterans, the resistance movement heroes, our allied comrades, and as well the auxiliaries and support groups and numerous civilians who unceasingly struggled against the yoke of foreign domination.
THE LURE OF LINGAYEN GULF
It seemed inevitable that the allied forces chose to make Lingayen Gulf the gateway to their liberating mission in Luzon, in keeping with its storied attributes.

Lingayen Gulf has a natural deep-water harbor that has sheltered ships since antiquity. It is rich fishing grounds, providing food and a ready source of income to Pangasinenses.

But most significant of all, Lingayen Gulf is like an alluring mermaid whose siren call has lured traders, travelers and invaders to its placid and pristine shores.

Chinese merchants used to land here to trade as early as AD 907, during the Chinese Tang and Sung Dynasties of the 10th century.

Early Filipinos shed blood on the beaches of Lingayen during raids conducted by pirates. The most famous of these pirates was Lin Feng, also known as Limahong.

In 1574, Limahong attacked manila then under the military command of Martin de Goiti, but the strong defense hurriedly put up by the Spanish and Filipino forces at Intramuros caused heavy casualties on the invaders, forcing them to retreat to their boats.

Unable to capture Manila, Limahong then sailed to this place, and eventually built a fort here in Lingayen hoping to start a colony. But he was eventually driven out by Spanish forces who came all the way from Manila.

It was also here in Lingayen where the bulk of the Japanese forces landed on December 22, 1941. From Lingayen, their advance elements entered Manila in January, 1942.

And of course, in poetic justice, it is here fifty years ago today where the Allied forces first made a beachhead in Luzon, giving Lingayen its proudest moment.

Veterans of the landing forces and those who met them here tell us it was a wonderful event, but it took place at great costs.

Between January 2 and January 5, 1945, Japanese aircraft, mostly kamikaze planes, attacked the allied convoys on their way to Lingayen. They took a deadly toll, but almost all the attacking planes were destroyed.

An American historian states that from December 13, 1944 to the Lingayen Gulf landings on January 9, 1945, Japanese planes sank 24 Allied ships and damaged 67 others.

Shipboard casualties from air attacks numbered some 1,230 men killed and about 1,800 wounded. The toll among merchant seamen was listed as 275 killed and 100 wounded.

From Lingayen, motorized and armored units of the liberation forces fanned out to several areas and raced towards manila and northern Luzon and elsewhere in a bid to free allied prisoners in concentration camps.

The rest is, as we say, history.
NOBODY WINS IN A GLOBAL WAR
And history tells us that there are no clear winners in a global war, only losers. We do not recount certain pertinent events during the last world war in order to extol militarism and aggression — which invariably provoke a corresponding deadly response –but to stress this lesson.

Today, quite propitiously, after the cold war, it has become plain that we are entering an era of enduring global peace, which has emerged as an attainable reality. As we near the end of this century, there is solid hope that we have seen the last of the global wars.

Thanks to the brave and heroic deeds of the men and women who struggled here and in other places fifty years ago, we are possessed with confidence that the new century will see lasting peace established on a world-wide scale.

The telltale signs of world peace on the horizon are much in evidence today, as once opposing forces now work together in the spirit of reconciliation, friendship and international cooperation.

And so today, as we commemorate the Lingayen Gulf landings, we leave the past behind us, with former foes in bitter war fifty years ago now united as friends.

While it is always a disaster to fight each other in war, it is a greater folly not to embrace each other in reconciliation and friendship to attain peace for all mankind.
THE DIVIDENDS OF PEACE
Fully aware of the dividends of peace, we have extended the hand of reconciliation to various rebel forces fighting the government.

We have bent over backwards to accommodate all those who desire to follow the path of peace and partake of the prosperity to where it leads. Secure in a backdrop of peace and stability, we can concentrate on consolidating our efforts and resources to bring greater good to our country and our people.

Since the start of my administration in June 1992, one of our main priorities has always been to persuade various rebel groups to help the government in its continuing battle against poverty, selfishness, injustice and apathy.

We must put an end to all the internal conflicts which for far too long have put us behind our neighbors in Asia-Pacific.

Instead of dissipating our human and financial resources in fighting among ourselves, whether in an armed struggle or in narrow partisan politics, we are determined to collect our talents and assets to make our beloved Philippines a newly-industrializing country (NIC) by the year 2000 under a new spirit of solidarity and teamwork.
SIGNS OF PROGRESS
Today, as we start the year 1995, we can see progress sprouting almost everywhere.

We have achieved the economic breakthrough that we have sought for so long, as indicated by a growth rate of 5.5 percent in real terms — Asia’s biggest turnaround story for 1994. The strength and stability of the peso has allowed the country to make a principal payment on its foreign debt for the first time in more than 10 years.

The national government is also expecting to post a budget surplus of about p15 billion this year, largely due to the tax reform measures pursued by the present administration.

Foreign investments have increased, and more are coming in. My state visits in 1994 generated for the country a total of $12.5 billion in trade and investment commitments for 77 projects in various growth areas in the country.

We enter the new year with strong indicators for sustained economic growth. Where before we began each year only to wage battle against crisis after crisis, it is now our enviable fortune to leave crisis behind us — this year to focus on battles against complacency, disunity and inefficiency, lest our strong economic momentum shall falter.
CLOSING
Our celebration today of the 50th anniversary of the Lingayen Gulf landings is all the more meaningful because of the significant strides we have made, and continue to make, in time of peace under a democratic system.

There is no better argument for seeking and maintaining peace than what it makes possible — the chance for us all to work together as Filipinos for our common vision of a much brighter tomorrow for ourselves and our children. For peace, For a better world!

Mabuhay at maraming salamat po.