TODAY, September 3rd, the Philippines celebrates Yamashita Surrender Day.
This working holiday was established back in 2018 by Former President Rodrigo Duterte, as per Republic Act Number 11120.
On this day, Filipinos are expected to honor the country’s history, wherein Japanese General Tomoyuki Yamashita surrendered to the Allied Forces in Camp John Hay 77 years ago.
As per National Today, Yamashita Surrender Day is all about paying respects to all the soldiers who fought for peace and freedom for the Filipino people.
About the holiday
As per the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), World War II in the Philippines started and ended in Baguio City.
It first began when Japan conducted an overt aerial raid over Camp John Jay following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Later on, Japanese Imperial forces then occupied Baguio, with Camp John Hay as their base.
The PVAO notes that, on August 31, 1945, Lieutenant Macario Albaradillo from the Combat Company of the 14th Infantry, which was attached to the US 37th Division, led a Filipino guerilla patrol through Japanese lines and toward Yamashita’s headquarters in Mount Napulawan, Ifugao.
Here started the Battle of Kiangan, with both Filipino and American forces fighting Japan, united through the United States Army Forces in the Philippines. This battle is now commemorated with the Bantayog ng Kiangan or the Kiangan National Shrine in Kiangan, Ifugao.
This, according to the PVAO, marked the capture of Yamashita, the “Tiger of Malaya” and the highest commander of the Japanese Imperial Army, as well as the end of World War II in the country.
Yamashita was captured in Kiangan, Ifugao, and was said to have been brought to Camp Spencer in Luna, La Union. It was then that Yamashita and the rest of his men signaled for the end of World War II, and were then brought to Camp John Hay in Baguio City to formally sign the papers that would officiate their surrender.
Xin Hua Net notes that, following this, Yamashita was tried for and convicted of the war crimes committed by the Japanese troops under his command during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines, which occurred from 1942 up to 1945.
“September 3 is an important day of victory for all of us,” writes Justin Umali of Esquire Magazine.
“Over the course of the war, 57,000 soldiers lost their lives while roughly 500,000 civilians died due to starvation, disease, and crimes against humanity.”
“Victory Day”
Long before Duterte had established this holiday, many in Ifugao had already been celebrating it on September 2, labeling said celebration as “Victory Day.”
Just last year, they marked Victory Day’s 78th commemoration. In Ifugao, it’s marked as a special non-working holiday, wherein it is celebrated with parades, ceremonies, and heartfelt messages from esteemed guests and officials.
As per the Baguio Midland Courier, Governor Jerry Dalipog stated that this victory being celebrated was a show of the ability of Filipinos to overcome any adversity, turning these obstacles into a source of strength and persistence to ensure that they are on top in any given situation.
On this day, many veterans who participated in WWII were honored and given their due diligence, as well.
Not actually a surrender?
In 2019, the PVAO stated that it hoped to correct some erroneous entries on the story of Yamashita’s supposed surrender.
This, according to retired Major General Restituto Aguilar, the chief of the Veterans Memorial and Historical Division of the PVAO, came after an original document from soldiers on the battlefield at the time revealed that Yamashita did not actually surrender, but was instead captured by the United States Armed Forces in the Philippines-Northern Luzon (USAFIP-NL.)
“The forces of Yamashita were really cornered,” he’d said in an interview.
“Magiging slaughter kasi if he will not come out, kung hindi siya lalabas kasi talagang most of the Japanese were already sick and hungry, so kung papasukin talaga ng guerillas, talagang maraming mamamatay sa kanila.”
He added that, out of the 80, 000 Japanese troops who’d retreated to northern Luzon, 50, 000 were killed, mostly by Filipino guerillas. Only 30, 000 surrendered.
Documents regarding WWII had originally been sent to the United States for their recognition, but the PVAO sent a team to the US National Archives and Records Administration to gather more information regarding the country’s history.
The PNA cites the Philippine Information Agency Cordillera, which wrote that Yamashita was surrounded by a hill in Mt. Napulawan, otherwise known as Nabigihan Hill, in Hungduan, Ifugao. Afterward, he was turned over to Americans while going to Kiangan, Ifugao.
As WWII ended on September 2nd, Yamashita was then captured and brought via ferry to the Bagabag airport in Nueva Vizcaya, and was then flown to Baguio on September 3rd to sign the “Instrument of Surrender.”
Back in 2019, the PNA reported that there were less than 4, 000 war veterans still living, with the youngest being 92 years old.
