Judith seeks acceptance of replica boat used by Gen. MacArthur

Councilor James K. Judith II on Monday proposed that the City Council authorize City Mayor Rolando A. Uy to accept the donation of the PT Boat 41 Scale Model for display at the MacArthur Memorial in Barangay Macabalan.

In his special report during the session presided over by Vice Mayor Jocelyn B. Rodriguez, the councilor said there is a need to correct the boat replica used by General Douglas MacArthur displayed in the marker as this is historically inaccurate.

This after a group of civic-spirited citizens led mostly by sons and daughters of World War II (WWII) veterans undertook a project to upgrade the MacArthur Memorial monument in Barangay Macabalan.

They noted that the PT Boat 109 displayed in the marker was not actually the one used by the general when he travelled from Corregidor Island to Macabalan.

In history, PT Boat 41 was the flagship boat used by the American General and escorted by three other boats namely PT Boats No. 32, 34, and 35, Judith clarified.

To rectify the situation, the group undertook a crowd-funding activity and commissioned Desi Reyes, a miniature and scale model designer, and builder, to create the exact replica of the said boat.

According to the councilor, Reyes based his creation on the drawings made by Albert Parker Ross II, an imminent historian of WWII. He also made some consultations with Doc. Ricardo Jose, a famous historian from the University of the Philippines.

Judith suggested leaving it to the City Mayor to resolve the concerns and reservations of the Historical Commission relative to the display of the two replica models, PT 109 and PT 41.

He said the donors have only requested the city to receive and accept the precise and exact replica boat.

“Lisod man sad na mag basta-basta na lang ta’g butang diha ug i-display nato na ang atong katuyoan para man masayod ang katawhan sa kasaysayan sa atong dakbayan unya dili diay historically accurate. We are not makers of history, we are made by history,” Judith further manifested.

The matter was referred to the committee on tourism chaired by Councilor Jay R. Pascual for appropriate action.