A cooperative effort between the 33rd and 37th Divisions of the Sixth U.S. Army and the Cordilleran guerrillas of the 66th Infantry, USAFIP-NL, the Liberation of Benguet was an Allied campaign to recapture Baguio from the Japanese. Having been retaken as early as March 7, 1945, Kapangan was the location of the 66th Infantry’s headquarters in Benguet. The presence of the USAFIP-NL headquarters proved to be pivotal as it paved the way for the transmission of the intelligence reports on Japanese operations and presence in Cordillera. With this, the liberation of Benguet towns came easily, one after another, in the succeeding months.On April 25, the 66th Infantry, USAFIP-NL and 37th U.S. Division finally entered the city of Baguio after an intense skirmish against the Japanese enemies who established their defense line at Irisan Bridge that connects Baguio to Sablan, a town which was liberated on April 10, 1945. As the city’s high grounds such as the Mirador and Observatory Hills were initially used by the Japanese to fire upon advancing Allied troops, mopping up operations were immediately conducted to clear the city of possible enemy presence.
With the Filipino guerillas’ swift clearing out of the town of La Trinidad, the 37th Division of the U.S. Army successfully captured the town without enemy opposition on April 29, 1945. The 37th Division liberated Bokod on July 17, 1945 with the main goal of capturing the Daklan Airstrip located in the town. Just two days after, the liberation of the town of Kabayan followed after the successful retaking from enemy control on July 19. On the following day, Mankayan was liberated after an intense battle between the 66th Infantry and the Tora Division of the Japanese army—leading to the capture of the Japanese garrison on July 20. The final engagement of the 66th Infantry was the Battle of Bad-ayan Hill in Buguias. The liberation of Benguet was formally declared on August 15, 1945 when Japan’s Emperor Hirohito formally surrendered and ordered the Imperial Japanese Army for a ceasefire.
SEPTEMBER 9, 1945 VICTORY DAY IN NEGROS ISLAND
SEPTEMBER 3, 1945 END OF WORLD WAR II IN BAGUIO
SEPTEMBER 2, 1945 SURRENDER OF GENERAL YAMASHITA AT KIANGAN, IFUGAO
AUGUST 15, 1945 LIBERATION OF BENGUET
AUGUST 4, 1945 LIBERATION OF ATOK, BENGUET
JULY 26, 1945 LIBERATION OF NATONIN, MOUNTAIN PROVINCE
JULY 20, 1945 LIBERATION OF MANKAYAN, BENGUET
JULY 19, 1945 LIBERATION OF KABAYAN, BENGUET
JULY 17, 1945 LIBERATION OF BOKOD, BENGUET
JUNE 27, 1945 LIBERATION OF APARRI, CAGAYAN
JUNE 25, 1945 LIBERATION OF TUGUEGARAO CAGAYAN
JUNE 19, 1945 LIBERATION OF ILAGAN, ISABELA
JUNE 14, 1945 BATTLE OF BESSANG PASS
MAY 20, 1945 LIBERATION OF MALAYBALAY, BUKIDNON
MAY 17, 1945 LIBERATION OF KIBUNGAN & TUBLAY, BENGUET
MAY 17, 1945 BATTLE OF IPO DAM
MAY 14, 1945 BATTLE OF MALEPUNYO
MAY 13, 1945 BATTLE OF BALETE PASS
MAY 3, 1945 BATTLE OF ISING
MAY 3, 1945 LIBERATION OF DAVAO CITY
APRIL 28, 1945 LIBERATION OF DIGOS, DAVAO CITY
APRIL 27, 1945 LIBERATION OF BAGUIO CITY
APRIL 26, 1945 LIBERATION OF TUBA, BENGUET
APRIL 26, 1945 LIBERATION OF DUMAGUETE CITY
APRIL 22, 1945 A SALUTE TO VALOR – PALAWAN LIBERATION
APRIL 20, 1945 LIBERATION OF DUMAGUETE CITY
APRIL 20, 1945 LIBERATION OF PIKIT
APRIL 18, 1945 LANDING IN COTABATO
APRIL 17, 1945 LIBERATION OF PARANG, MAGUINDANAO
APRIL 10, 1945 LIBERATION OF SABLAN, BENGUET
APRIL 9, 1945 LANDING IN JOLO ISLAND
APRIL 1, 1945 LIBERATION OF BURGOS, LA UNION
APRIL 1, 1945 LANDING IN LEGASPI
MARCH 29, 1945 LIBERATION OF LIPA CITY
MARCH 29, 1945 LANDING IN NEGROS ISLAND
MARCH 26, 1945 LANDING IN TALISAY, CEBU
MARCH 19, 1945 BATTLE OF BACSIL RIDGE
MARCH 19, 1945 LIBERATION OF BAUANG, LA UNION
MARCH 18, 1945 LIBERATION OF PANAY, ROMBLON, AND GUIMARAS
MARCH 17, 2004 ILOILO VETERANS MEMORIAL DAY
MARCH 10, 1945 LIBERATION OF ZAMBOANGA