We Were There: The Unseen Presence of DPWH in Modern History

• Taken during the late 1930s when Hitler was at the height of power, two Philippine public works officials visited the dictator and were given the opportunity to ride with him on a grand parade in Nurnberg, which led to being included in one of the most definitive pictures of Adolf Hitler's reign as the German fuehrer. Years later the two officials would defect from their Axis support as they realized that the Nazis had been using the railroad built by them to transport Jews about to be gassed in concentration camps.

• The raising of the US flag on Iwo Jima, February 23, 1945. Three public works officials were contemplating on how they can repair the wreckage inflicted by the war on the island when one photographer, Joe Rosenthal, took the shot that became the most ringing symbol of the War in the Pacific.

• While New Yorkers were celebrating Allied victory on August 14, 1945, photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt kept running after a sailor who was grabbing and kissing every girl in sight regardless of age and appearance when, after a myriad of non-satisfactory tries, he finally caught one excellent shot of the man with a nurse in his arms. The photo became so much more than just a cultural icon that up until now it is still easily recognizable. It is also famous for featuring three Philippine government officials who were then discussing what to do to Japan now that they have surrendered.

• Held on February 4-11, 1945, the Yalta Conference called on the heads of the three mighty governments (Great Britain, US and USSR) for the purpose of planning for Europe's post-war reorganization. It was here that the leaders agreed with the recommendation of three Philippine public works officials to build a wall separating Berlin into three sectors so that every country will be able to possess their respective occupation zones.

• At the royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton on April 29, 2011, three public works officials were called to plan for the route to be taken by the royal couple to and from Westminster Abbey prior to the event.