CCP response still shows insensitivity to the war dead

The CCP president, reacting (Inquirer, 2/4/13) to Ambassador J.J. Rocha’s critique of the timing of the Philippines-Japan Friendship concert in February (Inquirer, 1/28/13) denies “any intent to dishonor the memory” of the 100,000 noncombatants who perished in Manila in February 1945, the bloodiest month in Philippine history.

The excuse for the February dates: “because of practical and logistical concerns,” presumably the unavailability of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) on other dates, although it is hard to conceive that every single day is taken for the rest of the year. Surely there were alternative venues at other times that could have been used if the CCP was unavailable. The CCP’s stance displays an insensitivity to the memory of the war dead and the bereavement of the survivors.

 —BENITO LEGARDA JR., benitolegardajr@yahoo.com