Philippines
Metro Manila
Muntinlupa LGU launches history book, commemorates 81st Liberation Day
Muntinlupa LGU launches history book, commemorates 81st Liberation Day
The Muntinlupa City government launched a book about World War II and commemorated the city's 81st Liberation Day anniversary.
On Feb. 2, Mayor Ruffy Biazon led the launching of the book “Embers of the Past: The Legacy of Muntinlupa and The Bonds of War and Peace,” authored by Ricardo Jose.
The book traces Muntinlupa’s history during World War II and the people who fought for freedom.
“It tells the stories of the brave Muntinlupeños who fought for the freedom of our fellow men during World War II. As we savor that independence, it is important that we understand the events that led to the Muntinlupa that we are now,” said Biazon.
The 147-page book also delves on the establishment of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), Muntinlupa under Japanese occupation and after the war.
The creation of the book was spearheaded by the city government through the Muntinlupa Tourism, Culture and the Arts Department.
On Feb. 4, Biazon, Muntinlupa Rep. Jaime Fresnedi and veterans held a ceremony to commemorate the 81st Liberation Day anniversary of Muntinlupa from Japanese occupation during World War II.
Muntinlupa was liberated by Filipino guerrillas and the Allied Forces from Japanese occupation on Feb. 4, 1945.
Republic Act 9378 declared “the fourth day of February of every year as a special working holiday in the City of Muntinlupa to be known as ‘Araw ng Kalayaan ng Muntinlupa.’"
The ceremony was held at the Liwasan ng mga Bayani in Barangay Alabang. Also attending the ceremony were Barangay Alabang Chairman Tintin Abas, Boy Scouts of the Philippines, representatives from the Philippine National Police, Philippine Air Force, Bureau of Corrections, Philippine Veterans Bank, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, and the Veterans Federation of the Philippines Sons and Daughters Association Inc.
According to the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) website, on Feb. 4, 1945, “more than one thousand prisoners of war (POW) were also freed from the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa which was utilized by the Japanese Kempeitai as a POW Camp, hospital, and transit center for POWs being transferred to other locations.”
“The Hunters ROTC 47th Division Kanduli Unit of Muntinlupa received a message from the General Headquarters that American units were arriving soon. They were ordered to guard the area and ring around the Japanese within their jurisdiction. Captain 12 Pares (Baldomero Viñalon) ordered his men to split up and proceed to Muntinlupa to take care of the remaining Japanese in the area. In this operation, his guerilla unit killed about 45 Japanese. By the time when the 11th Airborne arrived in Muntinlupa, everything was already under control,” it added.
It stated, “After the fall of Bataan in 1942, the prisoners of Corregidor were taken to Manila on May 24, 1942. The Americans were brought to Paranaque and the Filipinos at Manila Harbor. They were forced to march to Old Bilibid Prison. While the 1st Cavalry Division made its drive to Manila, the 37th Division’s 148th Infantry Regiment was also making its way to Manila on the Cavalry’s right flank. During their push into the city on 5 February 1945, they came across the Old Bilibid Prison and liberated a few hundred USAFFE veterans and the internees that had been moved from Camp Holmes, Baguio just a few months before.”
