WW2 vets’ accounts pushed in DepEd, Ched curriculum

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – Accounts on the courage, gallantry and sacrifices of the Filipino Veterans during the World War II which resulted to General Tomoyuki Yamashita’s surrender in Kiangan, Ifugao and on Baguio City’s role in this significant piece of history should be included in the curriculum of all schools,

The city government made this request to the Commission on Higher Education-Cordillera Administrative Region (CHED-CAR) and the Department of Education-Cordillera Administrative Region (DepEd-CAR) in Resolution No. 286-18.

“The City of Baguio recognized the courage, gallantry, and sacrifices of the Filipino Veterans during World War II by declaring 3 September as Victory Day in the City of Baguio as embodied by Resolution Numbered 229, Series of 2016 [Institutionalizing the Celebration of the Signing of the Instrument of Surrender by General Tomoyuki Yamashita at Camp John Hay Baguio City on September 3 of Every Year and to be Known as the Victory Day in the City of Baguio],” the resolution noted. 

The aldermen said that the role of the city during World War II has been relegated as just a side story even though it played a significant role as the surrender papers that ended the conflict were signed at the American High Commissioner’s residence in Camp John Hay, Baguio City on September 3, 1945.

The city believes that schools can contribute to propagating said piece of history among students.

“The rich history of our Filipino veterans during the war and the role of the City of Baguio, where officially, is said to be the place where the war began and ended should be included in the curriculum /syllabi/subjects of schools as these information will not only give new meaning to our youth of our Veterans’ sacrifices but will also be a tribute to our living heroes and their fallen comrades as well as Baguio’s strategic importance during the war,” the resolution said.

In the resolution, the body recounted the following historical facts:

“The Philippine Commonwealth Army was created by Philippine Commonwealth Act Number 1[National Defense Act] approved on 21 December 1935.  The threat of war with Japan imminent, on 26 July 1941, a new command in the Far East was created, known as the United States Army Forces Far East (USAFFE).  On the same date, United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt, issued Presidential Order (6 Fed. Reg. 3825) which called the Philippine Commonwealth Army into the service of the Armed Forces of the United States; 

“More than 250,000 Filipino soldiers responded to President Roosevelt’s call-to-arms and fought alongside American soldiers against the invading imperial Japanese forces in the Philippines from 1941 to 1945;

“The courage, gallantry, and sacrifices of the Filipino veterans during World War II resulted to General Tomoyuki Yamashita’s surrender in Kiangan, Ifugao and later the signing of the Instrument of Surrender of the Japanese and the Japanese-controlled Armed Forces in the Philippine Islands to the Commanding General of the United States Army Forces of the Western Pacific.”