Tag Archives: history

The return to freedom

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More than six decades ago, General Douglas MacArthur fulfilled his famous parting words, “I shall return.”

Mac Arthur with the American troops indeed returned to liberate the Philippines from the hands of the Japanese in Lingayen Gulf, Pangasinan on January 9, 1945.

Up to this day, the provincial government of Pangasinan commemorates the day. But since the day fell on a Sunday this year, the celebration was rescheduled to Monday, Jan.10.


Nonetheless, I saw some Pangasinense enjoying the afternoon at the Veterans Memorial Park, which is situated at the back of the Provincial Capitol.

Warcrafts used during the World War II can be found on display in this park. Snippets and snapshots of history were also posted for visitors to see.

The Lingayen Gulf covers 56 kilometers of the coastlines of Pangasinan and La Union. It’s best seen at the viewing deck of the American-inspired architecture of the Provincial Capitol.


Trivia:

-The name Pangasinan came from pang-asinan- which means a place where salt is made.

-The Provincial Capitol of Pangasinan constructed between 1917-1918 is considered to be one of the eight architectural treasures of the Philippines according to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. It was refurbished in 2007.


-The construction of the capitol building back in 1917 costs around Php 400,000, said Judith Cabillo (Youth Development Officer, Provincial Government of Pangasinan)

-Since 1901, Pangasinan has 27 governors. The streets of Pangasinan have been named after them.

Where to stay in Lingayen:


*El Puerto Marina Beach Resort and Spa

-www.elpuertomarina.com

Contact Numbers: 0920 950 6822 /0917 8674128

Other helpful link:

Department of Tourism-

The Japanese Tunnel: Unearthed

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Tunnels always appear to be mysterious with the way they are associated with history. Hence, the Japanese Tunnel made it to my list of places to see in Davao City.

Located at Ma-a Diversion Road, the 250-kilometer long Japanese Tunnel can be a stop-over before going to the famous Philippine Eagle Center in Calinan. That’s what we did.


I was surprised to see a restaurant and a pool beside the tunnel. My previous researches online didn’t mention that the tunnel is now within a resort.

We ate our lunch at the restaurant, which  didn’t offer Japanese food. lol. I was really expecting that they will offer Japanese food since they are promoting the Japanese Tunnel. They serve Filipino cuisine at affordable prices. A group meal of five viands (good for 6 pax) costs us Php 950 or Php 158.50 each. For internet addicts, you will love the resto for their free wifi.

After feeding our appetite, we paid an entrance fee of 50 pesos each (adults). The entrance fee for kids costs Php 20. (Previous researches noted that the fee for the tunnel was Php 10.)

At the entrance, I saw a tarpaulin with a short history of the place. It says that the Japanese Tunnel was excavated by Filipino war prisoners under the Japanese Imperial Army in 1942. The tunnel was a hiding place of the Japanese during World War II.

But it was only in 1960 when the tunnel was discovered. The development of the Ma-a Diversion Road led to its discovery. Ammunitions, bayonets, and paper bills were among those unearthed. The paper bills were displayed at the entrance. Imagine– a five-peso bill during the Japanese period resembled a dollar.

Unlike other tunnels, this one was somehow well-lit. But seeing statues inside the tunnel saddened me. The essence of history was somehow lost by placing replicas. It should have been preserved rather than renovated. For photography purposes, it adds color but it degrades the value of history.

Admittedly, it’s good for photo-ops. But I do hope that the management will improve their services by giving more importance on the place’s history.

Learning History at Corregidor Island

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I’ve known Corregidor through History books. The island has become a witness to the battle cry of Filipinos for independence during World War II.

Today, remnants of history still exist in the island. That’s why it’s a favorite place for educational trips for students. When I was still a student, I didn’t have the chance to visit the place. Hence, I was excited when I received the assignment to cover a new attraction in the island—The Rocket Zipline.

As early as 6:00 am, I arrived at the sales office of Sun Cruises Inc, (beside Harbour Square) at the CCP Complex in Manila. Guests were asked to board a jeepney, which brought us to the port area, a few meters away from the office. We waited for about an hour before we boarded the ship. The ship left the port at its scheduled time (8:00am). Cruising Manila Bay gives you a view of Manila and its nearby city, Cavite.

The tadpole-shaped Corregidor is 48 kilometers west of Manila. Though Corregidor is nearer to the province of Bataan, the island belongs to Cavite City. After an hour, I finally saw the island which I used to read only in books. Amazing!

The Management of SCI which operates the island tour added the Rocket Zipline for for guests who stay overnight.

“We want to add something aside from the usual historical tour,” said Roland Portes, general manager of SCI.

Before we tried their new facility, Joey Cuerpo of Powerup, who set up the facility, gave some safety precautions. He also told us not to worry since the zipline can carry a weight up to 250 pounds.

The members of the basketball team Coca Cola Tigers, who were staying at the island for their team building activities, tried the zipline along with the media group. Even cager Asi Taulava tested the zipline.

Asi Taulava tries the zipline

I decided to capture my slide with the video camera on one hand while the other hand holds the rope. After all, I’ve done it before at the Slide for Life, a higher zipline in Cagayan de Oro. Click here to watch the video.

The Rocket Zipline is 200 meters long and is suspended for just 20 feet from the ground. It’s not as scary as the other ziplines that I tried. The slide is not as fast as you think it would be. It took me 25 seconds to reach the end point.

Though it was not as exciting as the other ziplines, it gives you a breathtaking view of the south beach area of the island. This zipline is recommended for beginners. By starting with a low height zipline, you can unleash your fear and still enjoy the feel-good adrenaline rush.

After zipping up, the media group hopped on the tranvia bus, a train-like-vehicle without the railing, for a tour of the island.

We passed by the huge Batteries (not the small ones used for electronic gadgets :) ). During the war, the American armies used the Battery Way to fire in any direction. According to the tour guide, the battery has the last gun fired before the fall to the Japanese.

The Battery

We then proceeded to the Malinta Tunnel, where many Japanese, Filipinos, and Americans died. For educational trips, they present the 30-minute light and sound show inside the tunnel. For adventure seekers, they offer a tour at Night in the tunnel for a hair-raising experience.

The Malinta Tunnel

If you’re not fond of reading History books, then visit Corregidor, where you will learn history while having fun.