Press Release
Photos courtesy of Marie Silva Vallejo

The untold story of the Battle of Ising, a decisive battle in the liberation of Mindanao during WWII, will be shown in an exhibit at the Davao Museum of History and Ethnography at the Davao Insular Village Phase 1, Lanang from March 13 – June 12, 2009.

Entitled “The Battle of Ising”, the exhibition chronicles the seven-day ordeal of the 130^th Infantry Regiment of the 107^th Division of the United States Forces in the Philippines (USFIP) from May 3^rd to the 10^th of 1945 in their valiant bid to prevent the Japanese forces from occupying northern Davao and parts of Agusan called “Free Davao.” The exhibit is a product of a two-year research in local and foreign archives on the Battle of Ising and substantial first-hand accounts from the 22 living Battle of Ising veterans who were interviewed.

The exhibit will also feature the launching of the Battle of Ising catalog written by Ms. Marie Silva Vallejo, which extensively compiles the documents, images, and interviews related to the historic event. Vallejo hopes that the catalog becomes a significant addition to the few existing publications on WWII Mindanao. In the introduction of the catalog, Vallejo also hopes that the “tribute to the 130th Infantry Regiment spark a deep interest to continue the celebration of our forefathers’ deeds and research into Mindanao’s proud past as it did for me. “

Major sponsors of the exhibit are Marco Polo Hotel-Davao, Southern Philippines Foundation for the Arts, Culture & Ecology and Emcor Inc. For inquiries about the exhibit, please call Davao Museum at (082) 233-1734 and look for Chi or Wilma.

Battle of Ising

Foreword
Ricardo Trota Jose, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of History
University of the Philippines

Philippine history is replete with Filipino heroes. This was especially more so during World War II when the Philippines was invaded by Japan. Many – or most – Filipino heroes, however, are unfortunately unknown to the present generation. Some medals and citations were awarded in the years just following World War II, and memorials and monuments were erected. Although memorial ceremonies were – and continue to be – held, the heroes usually remain in the background as other people take center stage. Thus, the really deserving men and women have faded into obscurity, lumped together in vague generalizations and clichés in speeches and books.

Furthermore, most of the histories of World War II in the Philippines have focused on Luzon. The battles fought on Luzon were, of course, important in the war effort, and in the wresting of the Philippines from the Japanese. But there were significant battles fought in the Visayas and Mindanao, battles which may be known in their immediate locality but not in the national consciousness.

Mindanao in particular has not received the attention it deserves. Mindanao was important strategically, and much of it was never occupied by the Japanese. The resistance movement involved Filipinos from all walks of life, from different regional and cultural groups, fighting for the same general principles. And yet so many of them and the battles they fought have not appeared in histories of the Philippines, even specialized ones on World War II.

This book, by Marie Silva Vallejo, is thus a big contribution to making known to the country and the world the heroes of one particular battle, the Battle of Ising. She lifts the participants out of the depths of obscurity and presents them as living individuals. Ms. Vallejo’s father was an important figure in that battle, and this work shows what a dedicated daughter can do to restore the credit and attention her father and his men have long deserved. Her research was exhaustive, bringing in not only the Filipino side of the battle, but the American and Japanese points of view as well. She has unearthed much that is new, and by publishing her findings in book form has now put the battle and its participants in the limelight for all to see. This work extols the gallantry and heroism of the Filipinos in particular, and serves as an important record of Filipino courage, ingenuity and love of country. The appendices are of great importance and provide the reader with much needed relevant information, as well as the names of those who fought in the battle.

Ms. Vallejo and her research team are to be lauded for recording the veterans’ stories and letting them speak. The Battle of Ising is thus brought back to life to symbolize one of the numerous Filipino victories against the Japanese. It should serve as an inspiration to keep the memory of this battle and its heroes alive – and also as an inspiration for other Filipinos to restore to their righteous recognition the other battles and their heroes in other parts of the country. It is works like this which make one truly proud of being a Filipino.

 

 

 

Latest First

Munting Nayon News Magazine