U.S. Ambassador’s Residence in Baguio City Opens its Doors to “Virtual Tourists”

Manila, September 5, 2012 -- The U.S. Embassy in Manila is pleased to share with you a short video featuring the historic U.S. Ambassador’s Residence in Baguio City which was recently included in the U.S. Secretary of State’s Register of Culturally Significant Property.

Manila historian and cultural activist Carlos Celdran leads viewers on a virtual tour through the nooks and crannies of this historical house, including the famed “Yamashita Room.”  This seven-minute video can be viewed by visiting the U.S. Embassy Manila’s official Youtube site.

The video underscores the important contribution of the U.S. Ambassador’s Residence to Philippine-American relations from time it was built for the U.S. High Commissioner during the Commonwealth period, to the Japanese occupation and surrender of General Tomoyuki Yamashita in 1945, and more recently, as a solid witness to the unwavering friendship between Americans and Filipinos.

The launch of this video coincides with a visit to Baguio City by Ambassador Harry K. Thomas Jr. during which he will honor the memory of those who died fighting for freedom in World War II in a wreath-laying ceremony on September 5 at the Veterans Park Memorial on Harrison Road.

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