Chapter 12
The World at War II
The world turned brutish and chaotic
* highlighted in violet is the approximate timeline or date
In every corner of the world, it was a nightmarish scene. Tanks pulverized buildings, planes are dropping bombs. When the Germans invaded Poland, Britain and France declared war on Germany two days later, Japan invades China, Italy invades Ethiopia, Germany invades Denmark and Norway, France and Luxembourg.
By 1942, Japan invades the Philippines and proceeded to Iloilo. Governor Confesor retreated and he was replaced by Fermin Caram. The events that followed turns out to be the most ugliest in the history of Iloilo turning the lives of many Ilonggos into terror and uncertainty. The people were divided for those who want peace they subject themselves to the Japanese, for others who are valiant enough remains steadfast and resisted the conquerors. It cost so much damage .
Iloilo on World War II
American planes bombed the Japanese garrison in Fort San Pedro. It was heavily damaged. The Jaro plaza was used as an alternative detention area of the Japanese batallions during World War II.
Several places were torn down. Iloilo city is the second most heavily damaged among the Philippine cities during the Second World War. It incurred a lot of expenses for Iloilo and most beautiful mansions were partially or totally destroyed.
Invasion begun in Iloilo
Panay Island was the first objective. Lt. Gen. Robert L. Eichelberger, the Eighth Army commander appointed the 40th Infantry Division a California National Guard formation and veterans of the recent fighting in Luzon under Maj. Gen. Rapp Brush with the 503rd Airborne Regimental Combat Team in reserve.
Tanks and infantry gained entry in Tigbauan, Iloilo (photo taken by a plane from USS Cleveland (CL-55) March 18, 1945.(40th Inf Div photo)
Operation Victor 1 - Assault
On 18 March 1945 within two weeks of aerial bombardment on the Japanese positions, the 40th Infantry Division spearheaded by the 185th Infantry Regiment landed unopposed at Parara beach, Tigbauan town, several miles south of Iloilo City where a 23,000 strong guerrilla force had secured most of Panay under Col. Macario Peralta.
Gen. Robert L. Eichelberger said "Filipino guerrillas stood stiff, resplendent in starched khaki uniforms and ornaments and decked in battle gear".
Lt. Charles Stewart said "An interesting incident occurred during the Panay invasion. The landing was several miles from Ioilo City and I flew up to the city on reconnaissance. After circling the city a few times I noticed a group of people had come down to the beach, waving at us. They had printed in large letters in the sand, "Japs are gone." I radioed that good news back to the (U.S.S.) Cleveland. I imagine the troops walking up the road toward Iloilo City still took precautions."
Japanese mass suicides in Tigbauan, Maasin, Iloilo in 1945
On March 20, 1945, the Eighth Army of The 40th Division after seizing control of Luzon under the command of Major General Rapp Brush waged a military assault and through Rear Adm. Arthur D. Struble, commander of the Panay attack group called Victor 1 Operation. Wounded and ailing patients of a Japanese hospital numbering 300 were left behind and accepted their fate. Forty elderly men, women and children killed themselves after singing a farewell song “Umi Yukaba” (If I Go to Sea) within the vicinity of Sitio Suyac, which is now the location of Barangay Tigbauan, Maasin, Iloilo. Six Japanese orphaned children who miraculously survived and were adopted by local residents. In 1980 with the help of the Nikkei Jin Association, Lt Kumai placed a signage that marked the suicide site in Maasin.
Americans learned that Ilonggos had controlled towns
Except Iloilo City which is very important to the Americans because it has Philippine second largest shipping to America.
Americans and Ilonggo troops heads to Molo
American and Ilongos positioned the tanks and artillery and headed to Iloilo City.
Tanks aimed the Japanese in Iloilo City
The regiment proceeded to seize the airfield at Santa Barbara and at nearby Mandurriao district. The Japanese batallions were holed up in Iloilo City, and the 40th Division easily swept these Japanese outposts in two days. On March 8, 1945, mopping up operations by the guerrillas and 2nd battalion of the 160th Infantry Regimen continued and at war's end some 1,500 Japanese troops surrendered. (Photo below)
A first glimpse of the Liberation of Ilonggos
Soldiers marched through the streets of Iloilo. Woman, children were delighted to see the American soldiers Colonel Macario Peralta was given honor.
After 10 days of invasion, American totally defeated Japanese troops. Gen. Eichelberger presents the distinguished cross to Colonel Macario Peralta. Balantang Memorial Cemetery National Shrine in Barangay Quintin Salas, Jaro, Iloilo City, a veterans cemetery and the burial place of the guerrilla leader Col. Macario Peralta. The cemetery is the only military cemetery established outside Metro Manila.
Liberation of Iloilo, Panay, Guimaras and Romblon
Iloilo gained liberation from the Japanese Occupation through the support of the American soldiers which totally defeated the Japanese imperial troops. The Americans joined the Panay Guerrilla Forces. General Rapp Brush, commander of 40th division gave speech at the Sunburst Park (which has no name at that time) in Iloilo City. (US Army 40th Division photograph)
United Nation was created to avoid international conflict
To attain world peace, stop wars between countries, and to provide a platform for dialogue promoting and facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, civil rights, civil liberties, political freedoms, democracy, and the achievement of lasting world peace, United Nation was created.
1944- First High School in Iloilo
Cabatuan Regional High School
In December 1944 under acting Iloilo governor Patricio V. Confesor, a branch of the Iloilo High School was opened in Cabatuan and was the the first high school in the entire province of Iloilo. The school offered a refresher course in secondary education. The first graduation was held in June 1945 with Enrique Binayas and Ana Sumagaysay as valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively. The first administrator was Jose Gonzales.
1948 Earthquake that swept Iloilo Spanish-Era Churches
Iloilo which has not totally recovered from the World War II economic trouble due to reconstruction, a natural calamity brought damages to some building in the city and province. The earthquake happened on January 25, 1948 at 1:46 AM. Its felt motion lasted from an estimate of one to three minutes and this was followed by a
series of felt quakes till 5:52 AM (Manila Times, January 26, 1948). Gutenberg and Richter located the epicenter at 10.5 N Lat; 122.0 E Long and its magnitude to be 8.2. This location plots in the boundary between the Antique towns of Anini-y and Dao (now called Tobias Fornier)
Severely Damage Churches
From the gathered accounts, five of the churches which collapsed or were so severely damaged that they were eventually demolished had been identified. These were the churches in Igbaras, San Miguel and Maasin. According to newspaper accounts (Manila Times, January 27, 1948), the church and convent of the town of Igbaras collapsed. The Jaro archives described the damage as "total collapse". The church of Maasin was demolished that presently found in its former place is a school. A new church structure was built beside the former location. Meanwhile, falling debris from the collapsing church in San Miguel fell and killed a policeman doing his rounds when the earthquake struck (Manila Times, January 26, 1948).
More Destruction of Churches
The walls and altar, roofs and belfry of the Molo church were shattered to pieces (Manila Times, January 26, 1948). Damage cost in Guimbal was estimated to be at P35,000 (Manila Times, January 27, 1948). The churches of Pavia and Tubungan were badly damaged (Manila Times, January 26, 2010). The UNESCO-heritage church of Miagao was severely damaged by the earthquake (Jaro archives, 1948). The newly-constructed municipal building said to have been a complete wreck and damage cost was estimated to be P30,000 (Manila Times, January 27, 1948). The Spanish-era bridge called Taytay Boni bridge in Miagao survived the earthquake. The earthquake severely damaged the church and convent of the town of Santa Barbara. The roofs and ceiling collapsed, the communion rails were damaged while a portion of the altar and facade collapsed too. Large cracks were observed in the church. The temporary belfry also collapsed. Damage estimate for the Tigbauan church was P50,000 (Manila Times, January 27, 1948). Intensity 8 was assigned in these places.
Much part of the province of Iloilo lies in soft ground and one of the possible reasons why the earthquake was called "Caycay" was due to the seeming chicken scratches on the ground caused of the numerous fissures especially in the low-lying part of the province. Fissures were observed along the roads from the town of Pototan to Dingle and along the Santa Barbara railroad tracks. Ground disruptions described as "little canyons", possibly the sandblows, were observed in Pototan, Cabatuan, Dingle, Passi and Calinog (Manila Times, January 26, 1948). A new small brook appeared after huge cracks appeared (Manila Times, January 26, 1948) in the Tiring landing field current site of the new Iloilo Airport in Cabatuan. At the San Pedro Fort in Iloilo City, large fissures measuring 4 m wide and 10 meters long opened such that sea water was visible. Estimated damage is about P10,000 (Manila Times, January 27, 1948). Fissures were noted in the streets of Oton (Manila Times, January 27, 1948)
Oton Church had crumbled
In the town of Oton, the most biggest and beautiful church which was not destroyed during the war was severely damaged that it had to be demolished. The earthquake also destroyed the tower leaving only two bells and stone stumps (Gallende 1990). A boy was buried in the rubble. Intensity 9 was assigned in these places. Generally speaking, bridges, communication lines, public and private buildings all sustained heavy damages (Manila Times, January 26, 1948).
Leon Church collapsed
In Leon, the old Central School and the back portion of the church collapsed.
Several Bell towers were collapsed in Iloilo
The belltowers of the churches of the towns of Alimodian (photo), Cabatuan, Duenas, Dumangas, Guimbal, Lambunao, San Joaquin (Figure 1) and in Jaro and Arevalo districts in Iloilo City collapsed (Jaro archives, 1948; Maza, 1987 citing Fr. Juan Fernandez).
The bell tower in Jaro district in Iloilo collapsed trapping four church workers. Fissures were observed in the streets that caused traffic disruption. For the rest of the city, 21 died and 43 were injured while total church damages was estimated at P 200,000 although total damages in the city reached P 1,000,000 (Manila Times, January 26, 1948). The Coronet tower in Arevalo District also collapsed (Manila Times, January 26, 1948).
Cabatuan Church Belltowers collapse from earthquake
Igbaras Church
1950 - Birth of Iloilo Provincial Hospital
An emergency hospital facility in 1946 located in Lapaz, Iloilo City at the Doane Woody Bldg. In 1950, on a lot donated by benevolent Mandurriaonons, the hospital was transferred to its present location in Q. Abeto St. Mandurriao, Iloilo City and was inaugurated as Iloilo Provincial Hospital on May 12, 1950. On June 1974 the health facility was upgraded into a 200-bed capacity, with 164 personnel. A year after in 1975 it became a 300-bed capacity hospital, Regional Training & Teaching hospital with 247 personnel.
Iloilo Provincial Hospital was converted into Western Visayas Medical Center through BP 640 in 1982. And two years after in 1984 it was upgraded into a 400-bed capacity through BP 820. After a couple of years, the 25-bed capacity Pototan Mental Health Unit was attached to WVMC making WVMC a 425-bed capacity Medical Center. On February 25, 1992 Republic Act 7198 was approved. This was an “ An Act increasing the bed capacity of the WVMC and Appropriating Funds therefor.
1955 - First Election in City of Iloilo
After 1935 constitution, the title municipal and city president was changed into municipal and city mayors. Iloilo City mayors were appointed by the President of the Philippines with the consent of the Commission on Appointments of the Congress of Philippines.
First Election leads to the construction of Freedom Grandstand
Around 1953-1955, as an Assemblyman, Rodolfo Ganzon authored the Republic Act 1209 or AN ACT MAKING ELECTIVE THE POSITIONS OF MAYOR, VICE-MAYOR AND COUNCILORS IN THE CITY OF ILOILO, it amended the Republic Act 365 or AN ACT TO AMEND ARTICLE II AND SECTION 14 OF COMMONWEALTH ACT NUMBERED 158 , AS AMENDED, ENTITLED "AN ACT ESTABLISHING A FORM OF GOVERNMENT FOR THE CITY OF ILOILO and Commonwealth Act number 158 of 1936 otherwise known as Iloilo City charter which stipulates Mayors are appointed. This time Mayors are to be elected by the citizenry. Election was held in 1955 , Rodolfo T. Ganzon won due to his blatant charisma , brilliant orator and closeness to Timawa or common folks. Ganzon built a modest grandstand within Sunburst Park, renamed "Freedom Park" fronting the Aduana --as a concrete memorial to the the new found political freedom of City residents. He governed Iloilo City up to 1959. He became Senator in 1963-1969.
Rodolfo was Valedictorian in Elementary and High School ., Summa Cum Laude in College of Law. He was third in the bar examinations the same year with an average of 91.10%.. He won 6 times in a row until 1972 on year of Martial Law.
Jaro-Liko and Jaro Derecho Jeep-Route
During the war of 1945 between America and Japan to facilitate mass transport of Filipino and American soldiers, America had manufactured an improvised automobile called Jeep with several model. (Photo above is Bantam BRC 40 Jeep in Tigbauan, Iloilo). Iloilo soon turned this military vehicle into a public utility vehicle competing with the Panay Autobus and Railway Transportation. Jaro Derecho will start at CPU and revolved in San Pedro while Jaro liko will start in Brgy Quintin Salas and revolved in San Pedro.
Iloilo Iconic School turned into College
In 1965, the Iloilo Normal School was converted to West Visayas State College (RA 4189) commenced the offering of the bachelor’s degree in education for both elementary and secondary teaching.
First Television arrives in Iloilo
TV was imported from USA arrives in Philippines. First TV Station called ABS were showed in Iloilo in 1953. In 1958, two Ilonggo people who founded the CBN and then acquired the pioneer TV Station ABS and became ABS-CBN. Manila begun to manufacture TV's. That time it cost less than automobile. Several units were brought to Iloilo City. In 1969 Ilonggos witnessed the live television coverage of the Apollo 11 historic landing. John en Marcha sitcom starring Dolphy, Nida Blanca and Maricel Soriano among the pioneering shows.
Iloilo Marketing Center becames LIBCAP
LIBCAP Marketing Corporation (LMC) is the first subsidiary corporation of the LIBCAP GROUP. It was formerly known as Iloilo Marketing Center founded as early as 1976 which sells industrial tools to sugar centrals.
Due to downfall of sugar industry, the company diversified its product lines and along with the tradition of providing efficient service and quality products to the public and to further capitalize in its experience in marketing, the company expanded its product line in 2002 to include consumer products.
Recently, LMC set off for the distribution of medical supplies. Nowadays LMC carries brand names of imported goods, and exclusively distributes these in the Philippines. Within a short period, we have covered almost all areas in the southern part of the Philippines
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