BUTUAN CITY, Nov. 20 -- Surigao City has officially received a painting by a Japanese artist depicting seven Japanese ships departing from Brunei Anchorage and heading toward Surigao Strait during the final days of World War II.

Mayor Pablo Yves Dumlao II and Surigao City Tourism Office head Roselyn Merlin formally accepted the artwork titled "Anchor Out - Nishimura Fleet 26041022" on Nov 19.

Painted by Hiroyuki Sugano, a renowned Japanese pencil artist specializing in nautical subjects, the original artwork was donated as a gesture of remembrance and friendship between Japan and the Philippines.

"It arrived last week, and it took us almost a week to process some important papers before it was released by the Bureau of Customs," Merlin...