If you're a fan of history or a history freak. This is the perfect place to treat your World War II nostalgia.
Located just 3 Km from Dumaguete City, Valencia is known to its scenic environmental nature and historical value.
Surrounding this very place are ridges and mountains including the famous Mt. Talinis and the Japanese shrine.
Behind these ridges are the haunting past of the fierce battle once took place almost 7 decades ago.
In 1945, World War 2 is coming to its deteriorating conclusion. Drawing their final defenses, the Japanese withdrawn to the outskirts of Mt. Talinis and took their final stand setting up caves, tunnels, underground complexes against the advancing US soldiers and Filipino guerillas.
Japanese Soldiers Withdrawing
However, after almost 3 years of fierce fighting, the combined Fil-Am forces have finally captured the mountain and manage to exterminate the remaining Japanese elements hiding in foxholes, caves and tunnels. The battle was considered as the Bloodiest and costly battle in Negros Island history were approximately 2,000 Imperial Japanese soldiers and 500 Fil-Am troops have lost their lives.
After the war, former guerilla and freedom fighter Portfolio Cata-al who also fought together with the Americans has been digging these mountains and collecting whatever artifacts he could extract out of these soils.
following his footsteps, his son Felix is now the one who continued in digging these ridges for artifacts and war memorabilia.
Felix from the left sharing to a tourist
A Japanese Machine Gun
A Japanese Arisaka Rifle
A Japanese Aircraft Machine Gun
A Japanese Radio Transmitter used to communicate field men for air and artillery assistance.
U.S Marines Bazooka
On the other hand, its such an overwhelming feeling for a history freak like me seeing these priceless treasures knowing in just short distance from where I live, I am able to visit this small but remarkable place from time to time.
This is the actual site where the Elements of Japanese and the combined forces of American and Filipino troops had battled.
Me, holding a replica of a Japanese Imperial Army officer's sword
Hence, he displays his found artifacts in his home in Valencia, where a lot of tourist, war journalists and some famous Magazines like the national geographic and history who had visited them from time to time.
The fact still remains that no matter how old and rusty these artifacts are, the brave men who lost their lives and fought for our freedom always be remembered and will never get rusty and old.
These were the brave men who fought in the Battle of valencia
A heartfelt Gratitude to these countless individuals and my fellow steemians who have been part of my journey as I explore this fast growing community.
Special credits and thanks to the following:
