A few years ago, there was an FB post in a group page that talked about a piano American composer Irving Berlin used when he visited Tacloban in 1945. ManilaBulletin
Irving Berlin arrived in Leyte in February 1945 to entertain American soldiers with his ‘This Is the Army’ show. It was the final leg of the world tour for his troupe. ‘In a span of 10 days in Leyte,’ according to a news report, ‘the company gave 36 performances before a total of 77,000 GIs.’
I was so happy to see this post since, growing up, I heard the story of my dad’s older sister meeting Berlin. In the comment section of that FB group, I relayed the story of how one morning in Tacloban, Leyte, during General Douglas McArthur’s morning walk, he heard a voice singing. He found that the voice was coming from my lolo’s house, located just across the general’s residence on Gran Capitan Street in Tacloban.
The story of my aunt meeting Berlin did not end with the introduction. My aunt was requested to sing a song for the American musician. She sang a song taught to her by her teacher, with lines like “God Bless the Philippines / Land that I love / Stand beside her and guide her / Through the night with the light from above.”Hearing this, Berlin corrected my aunt. He was certain that my aunt had the lyrics wrong. After all, it was he who composed the song, whose title was “God Bless America.
VICTORS Gen Douglas McArthur addresses American soldiers on the steps of the Provincial Capitol Building in Tacloban, Leyte after winning the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944
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