On August 29, Miriam College hosted a moving forum titled “Hibakusha Memories: A Call to End Nuclear Weapons” at the Henry Sy Sr. Innovation Center. The event featured two Hibakushas, survivors of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Mr. Hakariya and Mr. Oba, who traveled from Japan to share their personal testimonies with Filipino students, educators, and peace advocates.
Both speakers recalled that it was an ordinary morning in Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. Mr. Hakariya, then a schoolboy, had planned to meet his best friend at the river but was told by his mother to stay home and do his homework. Mr. Oba, also a young child, was on his family’s farm with his loved ones. At exactly 11:02 a.m., their lives were forever changed when a blinding flash of light tore through the sky.
In the aftermath, shattered glass covered their surroundings. Many survivors, desperately thirsty, rushed to the river to drink, only to die instantly from contamination. With no food or water available, families had to walk long distances to neighboring towns in search of sustenance. Train stations and common areas became makeshift centers where people gathered to help one another amid unimaginable suffering that continued for months.
Despite these painful memories, both Hibakushas emphasized that they do not harbor hatred toward America. “We do not hate America, we hate war,” they declared. Their call was clear and urgent: to ensure that Nagasaki remains the last city in history to endure the horrors of an atomic bomb.
Reactors Mr. AJ Garchitorena, a teacher, and Ms. Kelsey Hadjirul, an HEU student, expressed deep empathy, highlighting the importance of solidarity in the global call for nuclear disarmament. The forum also became a learning space for students from Claret School’s Peace Weavers, OB Montessori faculty, Miriam College Alviera, and Miriam College Quezon City, who voiced compassion and commitment to peace.
The event was further enriched by the presence of Japanese peace advocates who shared in the mission of remembrance and solidarity. Adding to its significance, Japanese journalists covered the forum, ensuring that the Hibakushas’ message would resonate beyond the walls of Miriam College and reach a wider international audience.
The gathering ended with a resounding message: remembrance must fuel action, peace must prevail over war, and Nagasaki must remain the last place on earth to ever endure the devastation of an atomic bomb.
Write Up by: Dr. Gail R. Galang (CPE Associate Director)
Photo credits: Ms. Darla Valera (Pax Christi Miriam College Volunteer)
