Research Center of Iloilo: The History Of Iloilo Chapter 12 - The World At War II

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

Liberation and the Incumbency of Mayor Canonero

Mayor Simeon Canonero
Vice Mayor Anacleto Amparo

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Introduction

               The Second World War ended by the signing of the Japanese surrender document aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. The whole country lay prostrate with practically all buildings down to the ground. Thousands of people were homeless and the Alimodiananons were no exception.

               There was destruction of farms, work animals, machinery, buildings, roads, bridges and more important is the loss of thousands of lives. There was no production during the first months of the liberation. The problems that confronted the government were a challenge to the statesmanship of President Sergio Osmena (pronounced as Osmenya) and to the courage and spirit of cooperation among the people. Alimodian was a no man’s land when the country was liberated. Houses were burned and demolished. When the people returned to town after peace was proclaimed, they have to live in makeshifts of bamboo and nipa just to have shelter over their heads.

                The American government had its share of the damages brought about by the war. The people were paid by the American government in the form of reparations. In addition to this payment, guerilla notes issued during the war were redeemed.

                 In order to make the government responsive to the needs of the people, the local government was reorganized in March 1945, Mayor Felix Altura, who was the mayor before the war and during the war years, came back to office until the military government appointed Simeon Cañonero ( pronounced as Canyonero) as mayor on May 15, 1946. His vice mayor was Anacleto Amparo and the councilors were Gelacio Allones, Wenceslao Anino, Teodosia Amarra, Pablo Albeza and Clara Alegrado.

                  Mayor Canonero is the municipal mayor who has served the town the longest, two years as appointed by the military authorities and three terms of four years each as elected by the people. His good deeds and accomplishments endeared him to the people who remember him as one of the best administrators the town ever had.

Death Casualties (Alimodiananons) During World War II

“They died so others may live”

Note:


Name of Officer
Rank
Date of Death
Place of Death

Philippine Army

Killed in Action (KIA):

Officers:
1. Alvior, Jose G. - Major, Inf. 3 March 1944, Sitio Balwa, Alimodian, Iloilo
2. Rosario, Marcelo del - 1st Lt. ,Inf. 17 April 1944, Mandurriao, Iloilo City
3. Amuan, Esperidion - 3rd Lt., Inf. 14 March 1945, Pipi Hill, Tigbauan, Iloilo


Enlisted Men:
1. Alcarioto, Clemente - Pvt. Inf. 29 June 1944, Dumo-ong Hill, Janiuay, Iloilo
2. Alcudia, Felix - Pvt. Inf. 17 August 1943, Alimodian, Iloilo
3. Alegrado, Baldomero - S/Sgt. Inf. 4 March 1943, Cabatuan, Iloilo
4. Alingalan, Manuel - Pvt. Inf. 27 June 1944, Cabatuan, Iloilo
5. Allonar, Emilio - Pfc. Inf. 23 March 1945, Alimodian, Iloilo
6. Amodia, Filemon - Pv. CWS, 3 June 1943, Passi, Iloilo
7. Andam, Pedro - Pvt. Inf., 28 June 1944, Janiuay, Iloilo
8. Anglacer, Miguel - Pvt. Inf., 20 April 1944, Alimodian, Iloilo
9. Cordero, Bernardino - Pvt. MC, 1943, Alimodian, Iloilo
10. Esconde, Leopoldo - Pfc. FA, 15 May 1945, Liwit, Tangkalan, Bukidnon


Captured by the Enemy and Killed:

Officer:
1. Salarda, Cornelio - 3rd Lt. Inf., 9 June 1944, Barbaza, Antique

Enlisted Men:
1. Alminaza, Vicente - Pfc. Inf., 21 October 1943, Cabatuan, Iloilo
2. Almira, Angel - Pfc. Inf., 1 March 1943, Alimodian, Iloilo
3. Alvior, Benjamin V. - M/Sgt., Inf., 17 February 1943, Bo. Natividad, Iloilo
4. Amoto, Federico - Pvt., Inf., 1942, Mindanao
5. Rodriguez, Antero - Pvt., Inf. 25 November 1942, Alimodian, Iloilo



U.S. Navy & Philippine Scouts, U.S. Army

1. Calderon, David, USN - POW, 21 September 1942, Camp Odonnel, Capas, Tarlac
2. Tolentino, Enrique, PS - KIA, 1942, Bataan
3. Tolentino, Filemon, PS - POW, 20 May 1942, Camp Odonnel, Capas, Tarlac



Legend:

KIA – Killed in Action

POW – Prisoner of War

Heroic Death of Lt. Marcelo Del Rosario

Lt. Marcelo del Rosario
            Lt. Marcelo del Rosario was considered the most outstanding and courageous combat officer in Iloilo during the guerilla years. He was the commanding officer of “A” Company, who was responsible for inflicting the most PC (Philippine Constabulary all Filipino Prisoners of War) casualties in Mandurriao and Jaro. They were able to kill 14 enemies and capture some in the attack of February 10, 1944.

           Lt. del Rosario conferred with Lt. Barrios, Commanding Officer of the 5th Iloilo PC Company, of their friendly mission three days before that fateful day of April 17, 1944.
          Then on that day, Lt. del Rosario accompanied by his men, were met with friendly greeting. But as they were entering the threshold of the garrison, the PC’s rushed to their defensive position.
          Lt. Gotico saw a rifle leveled toward Lt. del Rosario just a few inches from his chest. In seconds he fell. His men fired at the enemies killing some and wounding others.
          Lt. del Rosario who was a fearless fighter, was a victim of treachery by his countrymen. The PC’s and the Japanese wrecked their hatred on him by parading his dead body in Iloilo City as their trophy.
         Lt. del Rosario is the husband of Tiya Nena del Rosario and the grandfather of three Jo sisters of this town.

Alimodian’s Share of the War

         Another officer who died in the hands of the enemy was Lt. Cornelio Salarda, assistant regimental adjutant of the 65th Infantry Regiment stationed in Barbaza, Antique. He was with his senior officer Capt. Gil Mijares. The enemy was able to capture a lot of valuable and telltale records and documents that the S1 Section had custody of. It was reported that the barbarous enemy tortured them horribly and brutally to extract precious information from them. But they steadfastly refused to cooperate even as they bore the inhumane tortures inflicted upon them stoically and heroically. They pleaded that they be treated as prisoners of war, but the savage Japanese practically mangled the bodies of their captives to death, with bayonets and slashes of their samurai swords.
         Lt. Esperidion Amuan of Barangay Sulong, Alimodian died of mortal wounds inflicted by the enemies while participating in the attack of Mojin and Pipi in Tigbauan, Iloilo on March 13, 1945. While courageously leading his men, scrambling up against a strongly defended enemy emplacement, he was killed by a direct hit of the enemy’s knee mortar shell.
        Two days later, after a TE DEUM mass officiated by a ranking Roman priest evacuee at Major Manikan’s battalion CP, he was buried with military honors at the Tigbauan just five days after he was killed in action.
        Alimodian was popular during the war years because it was the center of evacuation of civilians from the city. It was in Barangay Balabago that the first ambush led by Col. Peralta, overall commander of the Panay Guerilla, took place on May 7, 1942. It was in Barangay Dalid where Col. Julian Chavez, 63rd Regimental Commander, established his Command Post preparatory to the landing of the American Forces in Tigbauan.
        It was also in Alimodian where the 63rd Regimental Hospital, headed by then Capt. Alejandro Nery Cruz, MD, was established. It was housed in the old central school building, now the site of the Alimodian Water District and Kilusang Bayan for Credit and the Municipal Library.
        It was in Alimodian also where the first US navy pilot, Ensign William G. Shackleford was safely brought after he forced landed in Barrio Bangkal, Tigbauan, Iloilo due to engine trouble. It was during the air raid of Iloilo City on September 13, 14 and 24, 1944 when he made the forced landing.
        Luckily, he was saved by the guerilleros and civilians and they were able to dismantle the six .50 caliber machine guns and hundreds of ammunitions before the arrival of the Japanese soldiers. The plane was burned by Ensign Shackleford by firing a tracer bullet.
        Ensign Shackleford was brought by Lt. Marcelo Tolentino to their command post in San Inocencio Street. Guerilleros and civilians welcomed and treated him as a hero. That incident boosted the morale of the people as it was a proof that aid was already coming to the Philippines.
        He autographed some emergency notes, handed to him by those who were present. In turn he distributed chewing gums and candies. He was treated with sumptuous food by the Segovia sisters, Luisa, Carolina and Maria, evacuees from the city.
        A contingent of the American forces arrived in Alimodian on March 19, 1945, a day after their landing in Tigbauan, Iloilo. They were met by Capt. Alejandro Nery Cruz and brought to the Command Post of Col. Julian Chavez.
        It was in the mountains of Alimodian where the Japanese soldiers retreated when the American Forces landed on March 18, 1945.

The Death of Major Jose G. Alvior

Major Jose G. Alvior          On March 3, 1944, while he was on the way to accomplish a mission, he met face to face some Japanese soldiers, at Balwa Creek. He killed instantly two of them hitting them at the forehead. Major Alvior was a sharpshooter even before the outbreak of the war and a member of the Iloilo Rifle Association. Unluckily, he was shot by a Japanese sniper who positioned himself at the bank of the creek. Alvior was identified by the Japanese as a ranking Filipino officer and they even saluted their victim before they returned to the garrison located at the old municipal building. The barbarous enemy looted his dead body of all papers, money, jewelry and other valuables. Major Alvior was eulogized by Lt. Col. Leopoldo Relunia, second in command in the Panay Guerilla. In announcing the heroic death of Major Alvior to the units, Lt. Col. Relunia said.

         “Brave Major Alvior, the Almighty claimed your life early. Your heroic and valorous death will however not pass in vain, your memory will forever linger. We will continue waging the fight for the noble cause for which you heroically gave your life. Your brave act will always be a mirror for us to carry on the fight to VICTORY – your death will be avenged.”

         Major Alvior, after having been left by the Japanese on the spot where he was killed, was secretly recovered by guerrillas headed by Lt. Marcelo del Rosario who later met his tragic death in Mandurriao also in the hands of the Japanese, and loyal civilians late in the evening and was buried near the fence inside the municipal cemetery which he also helped construct years before the war. After the war, his remains were transferred to the mausoleum located near the cemetery chapel.

Taban Massacre

Decapitation of both civilians and soldiers are usual punishments of Japanese imperial forces in the isand with which the town of Alimodian has been a witness to in Brgy. Taban.



One of the usual decapitation of civilians in the remote places in the Philippines


If not using the samurais and bayonets, Japanese can use flagellations to torture their captives to extract some information.
         

It was a fine, clear morning. Farmers went to the market with some grains, chickens, eggs and other products. People of both sexes, young and old, crowded the market place. Buying and selling were brisk.

         All of a sudden the Japanese appeared. As usual, the first impulse of the people was to escape, but it was too late for most of the people to get out. They were surrounded. Working on the preconceived plan to get all able-bodied men in the crowd, the Japanese seized them and tied their hands and feet. About 50 men were captured after the rest succeeded in eluding the Japanese. Almost all of those left in the scene were women.
         Lining up the captured 50 men who were securely tied up, bayonets and saber were soon put into action. One by one, the captives were made to stand against the trunk of a coconut tree. One by one, they were subjected to bayonet thrusts and later beheaded with sabers. The massacre is over, the dead heads of the victims were left scattered all around to be taken care of by the dogs, after the murderers had gone away.
        The tragic incident happened in the early morning of August 17, 1943.
        One hero worth mentioning is Major Jose G. Alvior, one time mayor of our town and one of the planners in the organization of the Panay Free Forces together with Col. Macario Peralta, Col. Leopoldo Relunia and Col. Julian Chavez somewhere in the mountains of Lambunao. Major Alvior at the time of his death was Division Quartermaster. He met his tragic death in Sitio Balwa, just a few meters away from the present site of the Aimodian National Comprehensive High School.

Military Officers join the Panay Free Movement

Japanese flag


Col. Macario Peralta
         

When the general surrender of the USAFFE (United States Armed Forces in the Far East) was issued at the end of May 1942, many Filipino soldiers escaped to their homes rather than be Japanese prisoners of war. A few days later, an order was received from Maj. Rafael Almacen to round up these soldiers and convince them to join the Panay Free Forces being organized at the time on the mountains of Lambunao by Col. Macario Peralta, Jr., Lt. Col. Leopoldo Relunia, Maj. Jose Alvior, Lt. Col. Julian Chavez and other responsible officers of the disbanded USAFFE. If the soldiers refused to join the resistance forces, the firearms would be confiscated.


         First Lt. Marcelo Tolentino, who was designated town officer, organized the Alimodian Unit in June 1942. This was a sub-unit of the 1st Iloilo Sector, composed of the southern towns of Iloilo. Maj. Rafael Almacen was designated sector commander by Col. Peralta.

         The primary mission of the Alimodian Unit was to recover firearms and ammunitions and secure food supplies from the people of the mountains. The recovery was made possible with the cooperation of the municipal officials like Mayor Felix Altura and Chief of Police Vicente Sabijon. Ample supply of food stuffs was recovered and distributed to the different guerilla units operating in Alimodian and the nearby towns of Maasin, Cabatuan and San Miguel.

        Another mission of the unit was the maintenance of peace and order and curbing of banditry which was very prevalent in the face of the miserable conditions. Many residents and some evacuees went on a looting spree to get hold of whatever they could, be it food, clothing or money. Most of the victims were Chinese evacuees who chose to remain in the poblacion. To teach the would-be petty thieves a lesson, the Alimodian Unit soldiers set an example by shooting a few looters and burying them a few feet below the ground.

        When the Panay Free Forces was organized to form companies, battalions and regiments, the Alimodian Unit was made the nucleus of the famous “A” Company, 1st Batallion, 63rd Infantry Regiment. Only two platoons of the Alimodian Unit were accommodated in the “A” Company as the rest were allotted to San Miguel Unit under Capt. Paulino Salmon, who became municipal mayor of San Miguel after the war. The Alimodian Unit then was composed of approximately 200 men, mostly USAFFE men with some civilians volunteers . The remaining men were given new assignments.

         The Alimodian officers who joined the “A” Company were Lt. Marcelo del Rosario and Lt. Pablo Alegro. Lt. del Rosario’s heroic death in Mandurriao, Iloilo City on February 10, 1944 was documented in Col. G.L. Manikan’s book “Guerilla Warfare on Panay Island in the Philippines” along with those of Major Jose Alvior, Lt. Cornelio Salarda and Lt. Esperidion Amuan.

         About the same time as the organization of the “A” Company, a local puppet government was established in Alimodian, with Anacleto Amparo at the helm. The resistance forces got along well with puppet government because some of the officials of the puppet government were also connected with the resistance forces. There was little problem in the procurement of food supplies, mainly because of the clandestine cooperation of many unsung heroes like the teachers and government employees assigned in food production and distribution.

         The Alimodian Unit had its baptism of fire when a Japanese plane bombed its Command on San Modesto Street, now Algallar Street. During the air raid, Dr. Juan Sollosa, director of the Philippine Tuberculosis Society in Iloilo City, Pvt. Isaias Peniano and Paulino Almira, a civilian, were killed. The others who were injured were Sgt. Teodorico Angostura and Pvt. Felomino Queder.

         During the early days of the guerilla, Sitio Taban, now a barangay, was the center of the activities of the guerilleros, Japanese spies and civilians. After the Japanese had landed in Iloilo, the Alimodian Public Market was transferred to Sitio Taban. There was a cockpit and people from the neighboring towns, as well as Japanese agents, mingled with one another in this sitio every market day. It was also in Sitio Taban where a short wave radio receiver was available. It was owned by a certain Vic, whose family name cannot be recalled now. He was a Tagalog evacuee to the place, having been caught by the war in Iloilo City. He volunteered to join the army but not the Alimodian Unit. Later, he was commissioned officer, for he was a radio technician. He was, however, discovered to be a Japanese spy having radio contact with the enemy; therefore, he was liquidated by the army.

          The radio was kept in a small cottage where news was intercepted from the Voice of America in San Francisco, USA. Lt. Cornelio Salarda took note of the news by shorthand, mimeographed and distributed to the people because he was the propaganda officer. During that time no news was available except those distributed by the Japanese.

          The guerilleros gained strength and conducted ambushes against the Japanese anywhere whenever there was an opportunity. The Japanese retaliated and committed atrocities not only against the guerilleros but also the civilians. Those atrocities were demonstrated in Sitio Taban where no less than 50 civilians were beheaded and left to be eaten by the dogs. My next blog will be the account of the massacre, as recounted by Lt. Godofredo N. Grageda.

The Japanese Occupation

The Japanese soldiers advances on Philippines soil with their flag

The Japanese troops in the Philippines

Japanese soldiers relaxes



Introduction


         The Second World War started when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, an American military installation in Hawaii on December 8, 1941. The Philippines also received a sizeable portion of Japan’s misdirected fury because of the presence of back up bases in the country.

        At the outbreak of World War II, Alimodian was designated an evacuation center for civilians from Iloilo City. There was an influx of city residents into the town. Many of them were Chinese businessmen who had to close their business establishments because of the lethal danger of an impending Japanese attack. With the sudden swelling of the population, the local residents enjoyed a temporary business boom, selling their agricultural produce to the new arrivals.

        The first Japanese attack of the city occurred on December 18, 1941. Many soldiers and civilians were killed during the preliminary aggression.

        To avoid similar tragedies in the future, it was prearranged that should the enemy forces land in Iloilo City, church bells would be rung to warn the people so that they would have enough time to flee to the outskirts of the Poblacion before the slit-eyed aggressors could infiltrate the town.

        The Japanese troops landed in Oton on April 16, 1942 and reached the city proper two days later. Most of the residents in the Poblacion packed up their necessities and took them to their hideouts in the barrios. A few more optimistic souls, most of them Chinese businessmen, who frowned on the thought of more austere life in the remote hills preferred to stay in the poblacion (town capital). However, sooner or later, they became helpless victims of looting, so that most had to follow the first batch of evacuees to the barrios.

        Although food supply was relatively abundant on the hillsides, if people were only willing enough to scout for anything edible, there was an acute shortage of clothing. To remedy the situation, The Philippine Army Quartermasters depot was opened to the people so they could secure whatever supply they could salvage. The Quartermasters depot, located at the old central school at the side of the plaza, (where today stands the building housing the Alimodian Water District Administration and the Kilusang Bayan for Credit offices), was the place where army uniforms were cut and sewed for distribution to the different units in Panay. In a few hours, the whole depot was emptied of maong, khaki, de hilo (threads) and other kinds of clothing materials. For some lucky beneficiaries, the clothing they got lasted them through the bleak years of the war.

        The Japanese forces passed Alimodian on April 19, 1942 via Maasin aboard their trucks and bicycles. They left the town without any incident because no combat forces were stationed in the area as they concentrated in the mountains, like those in Cabacanan, even before the Japanese landing.

        Only the intelligence operatives of the G-2 section and other units were in the Poblacion to monitor covertly the enemy movements. Among the operatives were Sgt. Marcelo Tolentino, Conrado Norada, a former Iloilo governor, and Sgt. Alfredo Galon.

        Because intelligence reports gathered by the Military had it that the evacuees at the convent of Fr. Mariano Perez, then the parish priest at the time, had Japanese sympathizers, Sgt. Galon was planted at the convent as a houseboy. The information he gathered was relayed to Maj. Rafael Almacen, chief of the Intelligence Section G-2 operative during the war years, and it was only decades after that this activities were revealed.

Alimodian Municipal Mayor - Felix G. Altura

Felix Altura, Alimodian Town Mayor, 1940-1945

Felix G. Altura
(1890 - ?); Mayor 1941-1945

Felix G. Altura was the Alcalde Municipal of Alimodian before and during the war. It was his greatest ambition in life to serve his beloved town so that he overcame all odds and won the coveted post in his third try.

Alcalde Altura was born on May 15, 1890 in this town to Paulino Altura and Isidra Garay. He completed his elementary education in Alimodian Elementary School and his secondary education in the Iloilo High School.

Later he pursued his musical studies in Chicago Conservatory of Music.
Coming from the music-minded family, Alcalde Altura has loved music all his life. He has toured some cities in the United States and Hongkong giving concerts.

Alcalde Altura is married to Felicidad Jimenea with whom he had eight children, four girls and four boys.


His Political Career

Alcalde Altura first threw his hat in the political arena when he launched his candidacy for the top local post against Jose Alvior. Unluckily, he lost. In his second bid for the same post, he lost to Atty. Cipriano Cabaluna, Sr. Then in 1940 he launched his candidacy for the third time against Simeon Canonero and came out victorious. His vice mayor was Anacleto Amparo and his councilors were Wenceslao Anino, Gelacio Allones, Salvador Aligaen, David Tolentino, Ignacio Amparado and Clara Alegrado.

Altura took his oath of office on January 1, 1941. He had only almost a year of incumbency since the Japanese bombed the Pearl Harbor on December 8, 1941. He then became the town head during the Resisntance Movement that had its headquarters in the mountains of Panay with Governor Tomas Confesor.
Alcalde Altura is life member for continued service to the Craft Masonic Fraternity under the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Philippines.

This grand old man who turned 95 years old last May 15, 1985, still loves to play beautiful and melodious pieces on his violin. It is music that prolongs his life? Many think so.