Keeping a promise

FUN WITH MAPS – ISSUE 2021-203 DAILY FEATURE:

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (October 20, 2021) – In Issue 2021-203 of Steve Kovacs Fun with Maps, we recall the words of a famous U.S. Military General.

“I Will Return”

And he did.  General MacArthur fulfilled his pledge when US forces reoccupied the Philippines in 1944 on this day.  Japan controlled the strategically located island nation starting in 1942 during World War II.

The Philippines have been hosting humans for about 700,000 years.  Many new conquerors came since then from Asia, from Polynesia, and then from Europe.  The Spanish came in the 16th century and held on most of the time until ceding the island nation to the US because of their defeat in the Spanish-American Wars in 1898.  

The Philippines gained independence from US control on July 4, 1946.

It is a wonderful nation – full of superb natural wonders and friendly people. 

This map of the Philippines from 1899 shows the position of US and Spanish ships in the inset of Manila Bay during the Spanish American Wars.  It was created by Crowell & Kirkpatrick Publishing Company of Springfield, Ohio.

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps.

Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Steve Kovacs: Antique Maps & Fun Facts here on Loveland Beacon.