Before my husband and I got married I no interest whatsoever in History and especially about wars battles. Over the years everywhere we went we always seem to add a 'war history monument site visit'. At first it bored me and that really is due to my ignorance. My dear husband made me understand that wars as much as they have horrible consequences they usually derive from politicians not backing down and on occassions come from strange old alliances. With that my curiousity was ignited and began to appreciate how much we could learn from wars whether it is technologically or diplomatically. Anyway when I took my mother to Manila we were asked by the hotel concierge if we had an interest in visiting the American War Memorial. He explained it would be a 2 hour ride there and we had to bring our passports there and security would be stringent. He was not wrong. Although I found the security rather disturbing my mother did not. Remember she was a Palestinian refugee so she is used to all that and it does not phase her. This site is on a hill and when you look down you have the view of Manilla at a distant. It is a huge site with approxiamtely 153 acres. The gates seemed about half a mile away from the main monument consisting of grey masonry walls with names of the soldiers naval personnel who lost their lives in the wars in the Far East. When you first make your way in there is a peaceful and tranquil air about it in comparison to the turmoil and chaos of the situations these victims had to endure whilst alive. Admitedly it is a grave site. On walking by these huge 30 foot walls you see thousands of names engraved into them. Then reality sets in - so many people dead!!! Yes I do know that many die in wars but when you see and hear it on tv I did not feel so close as when I ran my fingers on their names, read the maps of their journeys and what they had to endure. I started to visualise what these people went through. It is strange what places like this make you feel and do. You feel like you are in the 'zone' though not quite. The only way to understand this is to go places like this and you may just feel sadness and anger at the same time all over and thinking why..!? There is also a beauty about this place. We could see a number of gardeners who mowed the grass, pruned the flowered plants. The gardens (which were vast) and full of flowers were manicured well. Despite the sad sight of hundreds of white tomb stones, the whole place had a man made beauty about it which is mersmerising. Please note there were also records and names on the walls of other nationals who sacrificed their lives in these wars e.g. Philipinos, Australians, Kiwis, British, Irish, Scots, Gurkhas, Indians, etc, etc. At least they are mentioned - and quite rightly so. The staff at this place are also equipped to answer all your queries you may have for them and they will even direct you and escort you leading to the exact site in answer to your question/s. One of the best I have to - and I have to 3 such memorial sites other than this place but this is one of the best ones in terms of customer service. Believe me it is very useful.

Very serene and peaceful place. Clean and well-maintained.