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U.S. Embassy sponsors special screening of movie on famous 1945 Cabanatuan raid

U.S. Ambassador Francis Ricciardone greets the producer of The Great Raid, Marty Katz, and wife Campbell at the theater lobby in Makati prior to the special screening on February 7, 2005. A Miramax film, The Great Raid tells the story of the successful rescue by U.S. and Filipino troops of 500 American prisoners held in a Japanese POW camp near Cabanatuan City in 1945.


U.S. Ambassador Francis Ricciardone greets the producer of The Great Raid, Marty Katz, and wife Campbell at the theater lobby in Makati prior to the special screening on February 7, 2005. A Miramax film, The Great Raid tells the story of the successful rescue by U.S. and Filipino troops of 500 American prisoners held in a Japanese POW camp near Cabanatuan City in 1945. With the assistance of Miramax and Ayala cinemas, the U.S. Embassy arranged for a special screening of the film in Manila well ahead of the movie’s world premier in August, as the U.S. Government’s contribution to the Philippine celebration of the anniversary of the famous Cabanatuan raid. “We had to look for this movie in the context of celebrating the 60 th anniversary here,” Ambassador Ricciardone said in his remarks on the night of the movie’s special screening.

 

Philippine industry leader Don Jaime Zobel de Ayala (right) meets Marty and Campbell Katz.

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo (left) listens to Hampton Sides, author of Ghost Soldiers, a prize-winning book on the 1945 Cabanatuan raid. In his remarks, Ambassador Ricciardone thanked Don Jaime for helping the Embassy arrange the special screening and for providing the venue. And “were it not for author Sides,” the Ambassador said, “I think, the story of The Great Raid wouldn’t have been known.”

(Above:) Philippine industry leader Don Jaime Zobel de Ayala (right) meets Marty and Campbell Katz. (Left photo:) Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo (left) listens to Hampton Sides, author of Ghost Soldiers, a prize-winning book on the 1945 Cabanatuan raid. In his remarks, Ambassador Ricciardone thanked Don Jaime for helping the Embassy arrange the special screening and for providing the venue. And “were it not for author Sides,” the Ambassador said, “I think, the story of The Great Raid wouldn’t have been known.”

 

 

Philippine movie star Cesar Montano, who plays the lead role in the Filipino cast of the movie, author Hampton Sides, and The Great Raid producer Marty Katz discuss the movie with the Manila media.
Filipina actress Natalie Mendoza plays a major role in the multimillion-dollar movie

(Above:) Philippine movie star Cesar Montano, who plays the lead role in the Filipino cast of the movie, author Hampton Sides, and The Great Raid producer Marty Katz discuss the movie with the Manila media. (Left:) Filipina actress Natalie Mendoza plays a major role in the multimillion-dollar movie

 

 

Montano and wife Sunshine with Embassy Cultural Affairs Officer Bruce Armstrong

 Montano with U.S. Embassy Assistant Cultural Affairs Officer Rebekha Dramé
Montano with Embassy Assistant Information Officer Ruth Urry; Montano

(Counterclockwise from above:) Montano with U.S. Embassy Assistant Cultural Affairs Officer Rebekha Dramé; Montano and wife Sunshine with Embassy Cultural Affairs Officer Bruce Armstrong; Montano with Embassy Assistant Information Officer Ruth Urry; Montano, Mr. and Mrs. Katz and Sides with Ms. Drame and U.S. Embassy staff members.

Montano, Mr. and Mrs. Katz and Sides with Ms. Drame and U.S. Embassy staff members.



 

Former President Fidel Ramos meets Natalie Mendoza
Montano poses for a picture with Bea Zobel

(Clockwise from above:) Former President Fidel Ramos meets Natalie Mendoza; Montano poses for a picture with Bea Zobel; and an honored guest at the special screening – Mr. Eugenio Jongo, World War II veteran and member of the Filipino troops that helped American soldiers in the 1945 Cabanatuan military operation immortalized in The Great Raid.

Mr. Eugenio Jongo, World War II veteran and member of the Filipino troops that helped American soldiers in the 1945 Cabanatuan military operation immortalized in The Great Raid.


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