"I Shall Return", a photo from Leyte, Eastern Visayas

Photographer's Note

This is the MacArthur Landing Memorial Park in Palo, Leyte, Philippines. This is a memorial to the landing of General Douglas MacArthur and his men at Red Beach. The memorial was erected as a tribute of the fulfilment of his promise that he will return to the Philippines after Japanese occupation during World War II. These are larger-than life bronze statues standing in a man-made pool in the shore of the Red Beach, the exact spot where Gen. MacArthur landed.

Behind the statues is the Leyte Gulf, of which the powerful wind and the storm surge brought by typhoon Haiyan toppled one of the statues when Central Visayas Region was hit by this destructive typhoon on November 8, 2013.

Adding this photo in my gallery is like reminiscing how beautiful the province was before the typhoon.

Miguel82, SnapRJW, Romano46, worldcitizen, krzychu30, thebest, delpeoples, No_One has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

SnapRJW (31631) 2013-11-22 3:57

Hello Mics - This is an impressive memorial, looking at it I get the distinct impression of MacArthur and his men striding up the beach in a powerful and 'we're in charge here' kind of way. An interesting post and sad to think of the destruction caused by the typhoon and the lives lost. Warm regarda Rosemary

pajaran (117063) 2013-11-22 5:20

Pozdrav.
Interesantan tekst o spomeniku sa datim podacima ...
Dobar trenutak snimka i kontrast, elep boje.
Dobar rad, lepo pokazano mesto sa spomenikom i velikom vodom.
Sve najbolje za vikend, srecno.
Paja.

Greetings.
An interesting article about the monument to the given data ...
A good time recording and contrast, beautiful colors.
Good work, nice place shown with the monument and high water.
All the best for the weekend, good luck.
Paja.

Notis (18) 2013-11-22 7:27

Hadn't seen this monument before, so thanks for sharing the photo and the story. Might have liked the photo more if you could have avoided putting the plaques in the frame completely or included them from the ground up.

Romano46 (18472) 2013-11-22 10:14

Ciao Mics,
mi auguro che la statua abbattuta dal tifone venga rimessa in piedi appena possibile perchè, al di là del valore simbolico del monumento, esso è particolarmente interessante e di grande effetto.
Mi piace molto anche il modo con cui l'hai ripreso perchè la presenza della piscina e poco percepibile e i soldati sembrano marciare verso la terra come se stessero sbarcando in questo momento.
Hai fatto la fotografia con una bella luce che mette in particolare risalto le statue contro lo sfondo del mare, il tutto accompagnato da nitidezza e contrasto di buon livello.
Complimenti. Una foto non solo interessante ma anche molto bella.
Ciao e buon fine settimana.
Romano

worldcitizen (16226) 2013-11-22 15:12

Hello Mics,
This is an interesting memorial, and it is very life-like. Two of the men are carrying items, such as binoculars, and two are wearing sunglasses. Having the sculptures standing in the water has a nice effect. It's just so sad to think about all of suffering in this region of your country. I wish only the best for the people of the Philippines...

krzychu30 (15512) 2013-11-24 4:16

Hello Mics,
interesting and quite intriguing Memorial and really magnificent capture of it!
The light and the way the golden statues are shining is just marvelous.
I think we can even not imagine how tragic the last typhoon was for your country.All we can do now is to have hope the international community will not let Philippines in this difficult time.

Wish You all the best
Krzysztof

Miguel82 (47110) 2013-11-25 2:54

This is a beautiful memorial dear Michelle,
you explain well and give interesting details about it in the photo comment, nice colors and high definition, take care and have a good start of week

thebest (4276) 2013-11-25 18:22

Hi Mics,

What an impressive monument so life like - full of movement & detail love the way the sculptor included the binoculars & sun glasses - Excellent!!!

Kind regards,
Dawn.

delpeoples (60342) 2013-12-09 21:15

Dear Michelle

A beautiful and very poetic way to remember the way this beautiful region was. I am still so sad to think of the death and destruction that has been wreaked on your country and have you all in my thoughts. The photo is excellent quality, sharp, well-saturated and minimalistic. Excellent addition to your Gallery and to TE.

Warmest wishes, I hope you are ok
Lisa

No_One (4) 2014-01-12 2:38

Hi Mics,
I agree wïth Rosemary, the body language of the statues is very confident as they march up the bach, and with the light falling on thir bronze surface I've this, you have really breathed
life into the monument. I never knew this sculpture. so am pleased to learn of it, it's a wonderful work.
Thanks for sharing your image and knowledge.
Best wishes from Ireland.
Noel

jmdias (116477) 2014-08-05 2:45

mics

very nice sculptures. I liked their shapes and colors and the meaning too. the view of the sea ahead created a beautiful visual effect. I would try to avoid the placards in front the sculptures if possible, anyway they shows more details of the place.

hugs

jorge