153. KIANGAN SHRINE OF VALOR

KIANGAN SHRINE OF VALOR

Dr. Troy Alexander G. Miano, LPT

19 April 2022

A historical marker signed by Kiangan Mayor Julian T. Dulawan, Ifugao Governor Gualberto B. Lumauig and Tourism Secretary Jose D. Aspiras dated April 19, 1973 reads: “UPON DIRECTION OF FERDINAND E. MARCOS THIS SHRINE WAS ERECTED BY THE PHILIPPINE TOURISM AUTHORITY WITH THE COOPERATION OF THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OF IFUGAO AND THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OF KIANGAN, TO REMIND OUR PEOPLE AND FOREIGN VISITORS THAT ON THIS HISTORIC SPOT WAS ENACTED THE CLIMAX OF THE FILIPINO NATION'S GLORIOUS RESISTANCE AGAINST A FOREIGN INVADER DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR.

HERE GENERAL TOMOYUKI YAMASHITA COMMANDING GENERAL OF THE 14TH AREA OF THE JAPANESE IMPERIAL ARMY AND HIS STAFF SURRENDERED TO REPRESENTATIVES OF JOINT PHILIPPINE-AMERICAN FORCE IN 1945, WHICH EVENT SIGNIFIED THE FINAL LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES FROM JAPANESE OCCUPATION.” The 66th Infantry Regiment that captured General Yamashita consisted of Igorot fighters. This marker is a year older than I am and is now almost half a century old.

It was a Maundy Thursday, April 14, when my wife and I decided to bring the kids to a historical and tourism site in the Cordilleras like what my parents did when my siblings and I were young. Our destination was to select a Catholic Church in Sagada, a tourist destination town in the Mountain Province, where we could accomplish our Holy Week rituals. But before we reach this municipality known for its hanging coffins, we have to pass by Nueva Vizcaya and Ifugao provinces. I decided to have a short trip to historic Kiangan town for my kids to have a glimpse of the past especially the infamous Second World War. This was also an opportune time to commemorate, though ten days late, the “Araw ng Kagitingan” pursuant to Executive Order No. 203, series of 1987. This year’s observance theme is “Kagitingan ng mga Beterano, Inspirasyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino”. Furthermore, Presidential Proclamation No. 466 series of 1989, declares April 5-11, every year as Philippine Veterans Week.

We arrived at the Kiangan National Shrine, others would call it Yamashita Shrine, in Sitio Linda by 10 in the morning. The shrine built by the Philippine Tourism Authority in 1974, the year of my birth, is made of concrete and steel and its form drew inspiration from native Ifugao houses. It commemorates the surrender of the top commander of Japanese Imperial Army (JIA) in the Philippines, General Tomoyuki Yamashita (1885-1946), to the Allied forces that consisted primarily of Filipino and American soldiers that led to the end of the Japanese occupation of the archipelago during World War II.

On July 9, 1975, President Ferdinand Marcos issued Proclamation No. 1460 declaring the area as a military shrine under the administration of the Military Memorial Division of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), an agency under the Department of National Defense. The PVAO took over the operations and administration of the shrine on October 16, 1975. Furthermore, the site has been declared as a national landmark by the National Historical Commission pursuant to the provisions of Presidential Decree 260.

A second marker reads: PHILIPPINE VETERANS AFFAIRS OFFICE. THIS MARKER IS DEDICATED TO THE FILIPINO AND AMERICAN FIGHTING MEN IN WORLD WAR II WHO FOUGHT SIDE BY SIDE SO VALIANTLY SO OUR PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO BE FREE.

HERE IN KIANGAN, IFUGAO ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2000, AMERICAN WAR VETERANS FROM THE U.S. ARMY’S 6TH INFANTRY DIVISION PARTICIPATED IN THE 55TH VICTORY DAY CELEBRATION COMMEMORATING THE SURRENDER OF GENERAL TOMOYUKI YAMASHITA AND THE COMPLETE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES FROM THE JAPANESE OCCUPATION.

AT THE SHRINE OF VALOR, THE U.S. VETERANS LAID A WREATH AT THE TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER, RELEASED PEACE DOVES AND FREEDOM BALLOONS IN RITES LED BY IFUGAO GOVERNOR ILDEFONSO DULINAYAN, KIANGAN MAYOR TEDDY BAGUILAT, JR., CONGRESSMAN EDUARDO PILAPIL, PHILIPPINE VETERANS AFFAIRS OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR HECTOR VILLACORTA, REPRESENTED BY PVAO MILITARY SHRINES SERVICE CHIEF TERESITA CUEVAS AND VETERANS FEDERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES NATIONAL PRESIDENT COL. EMMANUEL DE OCAMPO, REPRESENTED BY VFP DISTRICT COMMANDER VICTOR CODAMON.

THESE VETERANS OF THE 6TH INFANTRY “RED STAR” DIVISION WHO MADE A SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY TO KIANGAN AND OTHER BATTLE-FIELDS IN LUZON ARE: HARRY L. HURST, LONGVIEW, WASHINGTON; CHARLES E. ALBORN, ORANGE, TEXAS; LEN WARMINGTON, REDDING, CALIFORNIA; ANTHONY G. SACCO, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA; RICHARD STANGE, LONGVIEW, WASHINGTON; DAVID J. MANALANG, MANDALUYONG CITY.

Less than a kilometer away is the Kiangan Central School in the Poblacion, the actual surrender site of the General Yamashita, the “Tiger of the Malaya”. My wife, Jasmin, and two kids, Jason Alexander and Jasmine Alexandra descended our vehicle and walked to the site and posed for memento snapshots. The marker installed by the National Historical Institute (NHI) in 1995 reads: ON THIS SITE, GENERAL TOMOYUKI YAMASHITA TOGETHER WITH HIS STAFF SURRENDERED TO THE ELEMENTS OF THE U.S 6TH ARMY IN THE MORNING OF SEPTEMBER 2, 1945. THE FINAL SURRENDER CEREMONY TOOK PLACE THE FOLLOWING DAY AT THE HIGH COMMISIONER’S RESIDENCE CAMP JOHN HAY, BAGUIO CITY.

Touring and guiding the young generation to historical spots would give them a good foundation and would ignite their love for country. The Kiangan monument, ranks among the other military memorials in honor of the Filipino soldier, should be preserved for posterity. Verified stories should be handed down to the next to preserve the facts and not to resort to fake news like what is now happening in social media. The Japanese Occupation of the Philippines is one of the dark years of our country and the events and its outcome should be taught extensively in schools for us to appreciate and value our freedom and democracy. The Kiangan Shrine of Valor is a fitting testimonial to the indomitable Filipino spirit.