Vigan play features World War 2 heroines

HISTORICAL NOTES
Freddie G. Lazaro

VIGAN CITY -- The city government here has produced a stage play drama – zarzuela entitled: Babae ng Digmaan to pay tribute to the two women, who were instrumental for the saving of century – old Spanish houses from possible destruction during the World War 11.

The zarzuela was shown last week at the Vigan Culture and Trade Center as one of the highlights on the city’s celebration of National Women’s month with the presence of Mrs. Emiko Narioka-Lim, the only child of Japanese soldier officer Major Sakae Narioka and Belen Castillo, a native from Vigan.

Vigan City Mayor Eva Marie Singson – Medina said the production and showing of the zarzuela: Babae ng Digmaan was an expression of gratitude from the city government of Vigan to the family of Major Sakae and Belen Narioka.

“Mrs. Emiko Narioka-Lim, the only child of Major and Mrs. Narioka graced the event and joined the people of Vigan in the tribute to her parents, whose love story spared Vigan from the destruction of World War II,” she said.

Mayor Medina expressed her thanks to Mrs. Emiko Narioka – Lim for gracing the showing. “Thank you for gracing the showing of Babae ng Digmaan as we pay tribute to Belen, your mother and all the women of the war who stood on the side of the men in the fight for survival and freedom,” she said.

The lady mayor disclosed that the making of the said stage – play drama took months of research and rehearsals utilizing the local drama artists in the province as actors and actresses.

“Thanks to the cooperation of our resource persons, the perseverance and brilliance of the writer and director Mr. Sonny Cristobal, composer Mr. Ato Del Rosario, our talented performers and technical crew and most of all, the inspiring and noble love stories of Mrs. Belen Castillo Narioka as well as Adela and the women of the war. This event has made our women’s month celebration in Vigan doubly significant,” she said.

“While we have reaped gains in governance and renowned worldwide as a UNESCO world heritage site, we shall forever be grateful to the parents of Emiko whose love for god, family and Vigan has triumphed over adversities saving our city from the destruction of war,” she added.

According to local historian Damaso King, at the height of the war, the American forces were ready to bomb Vigan because of the Japanese presence.

The bombing was aborted and redirected to another place because Fr. Joseph Klecamf, SVD, the parish priest of Vigan, told the American soldiers that there were no more Japanese soldiers in the area.