The Balantang Memorial Cemetery in Iloilo City, Philippines is a national shrine that commemorates the battle between Japanese forces and Filipino guerilla resistance fighters led by Colonel Macario Peralta Jr. during World War II. It was the site of the bloodiest battle from February 6-20, 1945 as the guerillas resisted the Japanese occupation of Panay island. The cemetery was declared a national shrine in 1994 and contains memorials like a pylon and wall bearing the names of over 2,000 fighters who died resisting the Japanese.
The Balantang Memorial Cemetery in Iloilo City, Philippines is a national shrine that commemorates the battle between Japanese forces and Filipino guerilla resistance fighters led by Colonel Macario Peralta Jr. during World War II. It was the site of the bloodiest battle from February 6-20, 1945 as the guerillas resisted the Japanese occupation of Panay island. The cemetery was declared a national shrine in 1994 and contains memorials like a pylon and wall bearing the names of over 2,000 fighters who died resisting the Japanese.
The Balantang Memorial Cemetery in Iloilo City, Philippines is a national shrine that commemorates the battle between Japanese forces and Filipino guerilla resistance fighters led by Colonel Macario Peralta Jr. during World War II. It was the site of the bloodiest battle from February 6-20, 1945 as the guerillas resisted the Japanese occupation of Panay island. The cemetery was declared a national shrine in 1994 and contains memorials like a pylon and wall bearing the names of over 2,000 fighters who died resisting the Japanese.
The Balantang Memorial Cemetery in Iloilo City, Philippines is a national shrine that commemorates the battle between Japanese forces and Filipino guerilla resistance fighters led by Colonel Macario Peralta Jr. during World War II. It was the site of the bloodiest battle from February 6-20, 1945 as the guerillas resisted the Japanese occupation of Panay island. The cemetery was declared a national shrine in 1994 and contains memorials like a pylon and wall bearing the names of over 2,000 fighters who died resisting the Japanese.
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Balantang Memorial Cemetery National Shrine
I. Background Balantang Memorial Cemetery is a national shrine located at Balantang, Jaro, Iloilo City. This is the only military cemetery established outside Metro Manila. Colonel Macario Peralta Jr., Infantry (PA) is the founder and overall commander of the Sixth Military District Philippine Army, Military Guerilla Command otherwise known as the “Free Panay Guerilla Forces”. Their resistance liberated the island of Panay from the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. The battle took place on this site, which is considered as the bloodiest battle of the guerilla forces. Their encounter started on February 6 1945 up to the liberation of Iloilo City on March 20 1945. (But the liberation of Panay is being commemorated on March 18: see Proclamation No. 430 of 1989) This site was declared as a National Shrine on July 13 1994 by virtue of Proclamation No. 425 by former President Fidel V. Ramos.
II. Historical Narrative
The 61st Infantry Division, Philippine Army, USAFFE was part of the Visayan- Mindanao Force defense plan under the command Colonel Albert Christie, later promoted to Brigadier. The goal was to defend the Philippine territory by an organized defense with all available troops, equipment, and resources. This mobilization is to divide into small groups and initiate guerilla warfare when our troops can no longer able to carry on an organize resistance. However, this Division was still under mobilization when the invasion begun. This invasion was the Division’s sampling of the war. Iloilo City was bombed by enemy planes on December 16 1941. After the fall of Bataan on April 9 1942, the Japanese Imperial Force started to employ more forces to Visayas-Mindanao region and occupied Panay. The resistance that they encountered was on Mt. Diladila, Iloilo under Captain Chaves which inflicted an undetermined casualty on the part of the enemy. This incursion, however forced Col. Christie to leave the lowlands and establish headquarters in Mount Baloy, inland. After the fall of Bataan and the USFIP on May 06 1942, USFIP Commander General Wainwright was made to call all forces of the USFIP who were still resisting in different parts of the country to surrender. On May 19 1942, Lieutenant Colonel Allan Thayer, Major General Sharp’s Headquarters, visited Mt. Baloy to deliver the message to Col. Christie to surrender. Gen. Christie deliberated this matter for two days, struggling the desire to surrender or continue fight against the Japanese and his duty to obey. At the same time, his decision will put to risk the lives of all Filipino-American troops who surrendered. On May 21 1942, he gathered his staff officers in conference where he revealed his intention to surrender. His decision was met with the surprise indignation of Nicanor T. Velarde of intelligence (G2),, Macario Peralta, Jr. of operations (G3), and William F. Gemperle of logistics (G4). They stoutly declared their disapproval to Gen. Christie, and proposed their resolve not to surrender. He was moved by their courage and unshakable faith and turned P 100 000 in Philippine National Bank war notes from their division funds to Peralta. The 61st Division, with Gen. Christie surrendered to the Japanese at Misi, Labmunao, Iloilo. Others did not conform to this decision and went into separate ways. Some of them went back to their families, and others hid to mountains with their unsurrendered arms, planning to overthrow the Japanese rule in no time. During the end of May, Peralta, together with Leopoldo Reluna (Commander, Engr. Bn. And ExO, Provisional Regt.) and Julian Chavez (Commander, 1st Bn, 63rd Inf. Reg. of the Battle of Diladila frame), formulated a plan for resuming an armed resistance. On June, the plan was finalized and Peralta enlisted the help of Capt. Francisco Offemaria and his “Freedom Fighters” at Bo. Daanbanua, Lambunao to be the nucleus of the planned resistance effort. As the senior officer, Peralta assumed command of the Free Panay Guerilla Force. He called for the first officers’ conference on June 18. They decided they need to stay lie-low for the mean time. They slowly began activities against armed bandits who had taken advantage of the civilian disorderliness brought about by the Japanese. This military reorganization was simultaneous to the reorganization of the civil government of Iloilo by Governor Tomas Confesor. From his secret post at Bucari, Leon, Confesor revived the Provincial Guards as the Emergency Provincial Guards. It was an armed organization set up to maintain peace and order among civilians and to rid the area of Filipino spies and fifth columnists. By the end of 1944, the position of the Japanese occupation forces on Panay was untenable. Col. Peralta decided to assault the enemy on February 1945. Our main defense line was deployed at Balantang, Jaro, Iloilo City, near the cemetery. The enemy assaulted them on February 9, 1945 from six in the morning to eleven. This intense battle caused unmanageable casualties on the guerilla’s side. The company commander Capt. Ananias Descalante was killed in action when he was about to call for retirement. Meanwhile, 3rd Lt. Juan Salcedo, three enlisted men of L Company, Sgt. Isaias Fabrigar, Pfc. Uldarico Hifabra and Pvt. Antonio Floro were bayoneted to death by the Japanese. The 66th Combat Company was worst hit by the enemy attack to the point that they were wiped out. Twenty one enlisted men of this combat company were killed in action. Platoon sergeants and squad leaders were also killed including unarmed medical staff.
III. Features of Balantang National Shrine
Its features include the 64 feet MD Pylon which stands at the center of the shrine bearing the National Historical Commission Marker dedicated to the freedom fighters of Panay; the Wall of Memories unveiled in 2008, which bears the name of 2,421 freedom fighters who perished during the Pacific War. While the Balantang National Shrine Museum displays WWII vintage firearms, submachine guns and 81 mortars are displayed; photographs and situation maps depicting historical events are likewise exhibited. IV. Implementation Proclamation No. 425, s. 1994 Signed on July 13, 1994 MALACAÑANG Manila
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
PROCLAMATION NO. 425
RESERVING FOR NATIONAL SHRINE PURPOSES TO BE KNOWN AS
“BALANTANG MEMORIAL CEMETERY NATIONAL SHRINE” A CERTAIN PARCEL OF LAND OF THE PUBLIC DOMAIN SITUATED IN THE DISTRICT OF JARO, CITY OF ILOILO, ISLAND OF PANAY
Upon recommendation of the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources and by
virtue of the powers vested in me by law, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Philippines, do hereby withdraw from sale or settlement and reserve for national shrine purposes to be known as the “Balantang Memorial Cemetery National Shrine” under the administration of the Military Shrine Service, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, Department of National Defense, subject to private rights, if any there be, and to the result of a final survey, a certain parcel of land situated in the District of Jaro, City of Iloilo, Island of Panay, more particularly described as follows:
A PARCEL OF LAND (Lot 4483 port.) Cadastral Survey of Iloilo, situated in the District of Jaro, City of Iloilo, Island of Panay.
Bounded on the southeast, along line 1-2 by the National Road; on the southwest, along line 2-3 by Lot 4483 port.; on the northwest, along line 3-4 by Lot 4483 port.; and on the northeast, along line 4-1 by Lot 4483 port.; all of Iloilo Cadastre.
Beginning at the point marked “1” on plan being N. 26-43′ E., 770.32 m. from BBM No. 69, Iloilo Cad. thence
S. 33-14′ W., 68.08 m. to point 2;
N. 56-25′ W., 86.77 m. to point 3; N. 33-53′ E., 67.55 m. to point 4; S. 56-46′ E., 85.99 m. to point 1;
point of beginning. Containing an area of FIVE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED
TWENTY FOUR (5,824) SQUARE METERS, more or less.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.
Done in the City of Manila, this 13th day of July in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and ninety four. (Sgd.) FIDEL V. RAMOS
Proclamation No. 430, s. 1989
Signed on July 21, 1989 MALACAÑANG MANILA
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
PROCLAMATION NO. 430
DECLARING THE EIGHTEENTH DAY OF MARCH OF EVERY YEAR AS
VICTORY DAY IN THE ISLANDS OF PANAY AND ROMBLON, INCLUDING THE CITIES OF ILOILO AND ROXAS
WHEREAS, the Free Panay Guerilla Forest, 6th Military District, composed of the officers and men of the 61st Division Philippine Army (USAFFE), who preferred continuing the fight to surrendering after the fall of Bataan, together with those of other units of the United States Army Forces in the Far East and the civilian volunteers from all walks of life — lawyers, doctors, engineers, nurses, teachers, fishermen, farmers and students — who joined the underground resistance movement — harassed, sabotaged and decimated the Japanese Imperial Armed Forces in the islands of Panay and Romblon throughout World War II in the name of country, freedom and democracy;
WHEREAS, March 18, 1945, is of great historical and sentimental significance to
both the veterans of the 6th Military District and the people of Panay and Romblon because it was the day when the Free Panay Guerilla Forces launched the final assault on the Japanese Occupation Forces coinciding with the landing of the American Liberation Forces at the Tigbauan beach as prearranged between Col. Macario Peralta, Jr., founder and overall commander of the Free Panay Guerilla Forces and Lt. General Robert L. Eichelberger, Commanding General of the 8th United States Army;
WHEREAS, Panay and Romblon annually observe Victory Day on March 18 to
commemorate the liberation of the islands and the sacrifices and valor of the Free Panay Guerilla Forces;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, CORAZON C. AQUINO, President of the Philippines, by
virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby declare the 18th day of March of every year as Victory Day in the islands of Panay and Romblon, including the cities of Iloilo and Roxas, which shall be observed therein as a non-working special day.
DONE in the City of Manila, this 21st day of July, in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Nine.
(Sgd.) CORAZON C. AQUINO
By the President: (Sgd.) CATALINO MACARAIG Executive Secretary V. References https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1994/07/13/proclamation-no-425-s-1994/
Manikan, Gamaliel L., Guerilla Warfare on Panay Island in the Philippines,
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