Museum for WWII artifacts mulled at Bessang Pass

By Freddie G. Lazaro

Thursday 12th of July 2012

VIGAN CITY, July 12 (PIA) -- A local official has proposed the construction of a museum at the site of the “Battle of Bessang Pass” in Barangay Malaya, Cervantes, Ilocos Sur to serve as repository of all World War II (WWII) artifacts recovered from the place for conservation.

Ilocos Sur’s Vice Gov. Deogracias Victor B. Savellano aired his proposal noting the absence of a building to store recovered relics or antique WWII equipment and war materials from the historical site.

Currently, a shrine of the “Battle of Bessang Pass” and several business stalls of private individual are seen at the site.

The vice governor said the establishment of museum at Bessang Pass is one way of paying tribute to the WWII veterans, who fought a fierce battle against the Japanese Imperial Army, and to preserve the memories of WWII and promote the place as tourism site.

He also expressed the willingness of the provincial government in forging of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between and among the local government unit (LGU) of Cervantes, the Philippine Veteran’s Affairs Office (PVAO) and other concerned agencies for the provision of budget for the building of the museum.

Maria Juanita Fajardo Rivera, head of the strategic communication office of the PVAO, welcomed the proposal saying that it is high time to establish a museum in the site for the protection of the recovered WWII relics from the place.

“The creation of museum at the site is one way of propagating the patriotic legacies of our forefathers who fought to gain victory at the “Battle of Bessang Pass” during WWII and to keep alive their “veteranisms,” she said.

She appreciated the proposal of the provincial government of Ilocos Sur as this was in line with the provisions of RA 7696 encouraging the LGUs to make any initiative in giving out services and benefits for the welfare of the veterans.

Last June 14, 2012, about 300 WWII veterans and their dependents celebrated the 67th anniversary of the victory of Bessang Pass in Baluarte, Vigan City. During the recognition ceremony, WWII veteran Pvt. Emiliano Leal, aged 101 from Barangay Cabaroan, Tagudin, Ilocos Sur, was awarded the oldest surviving veteran of the Battle of Bessang Pass by PVAO Administrator Lt. Gen. Ernesto Carolina.

Based on historical records, Bessang Pass serves as a gateway to the Cordillera Mountains and Baguio City.

During WWII, Bessang Pass was the last stronghold of the Japanese imperial forces under Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita known as the “Tiger of Malaya” and conqueror of Singapore.

It was part of the triangular defense of General Yamashita in the north, namely the Balete Pass, Villaverde Trail and Bessang Pass, guarding the Ifugao-Benguet-Vizcaya borders.

It fell on the hands of the United States Armed Forces in the Philippines Northern Luzon (USAFP-NL) on June 14, 1945 paving the way to the entrapment of Yamashita’s forces in the Cordillera until the general’s surrender in September 1945.

The USAFP-NL was composed of five infantry regiments and a field artillery battalion of 20,000 officers who were all Filipino soldiers and guerillas except for five American officers. The latter included Col. Russell Volckman, its commanding officer. The troops bore the brunt of the fighting, sustaining over 2,000 casualties, including 600 men killed.(ANL/FGL-PIA 1 Ilocos Sur)