The World War II spanned for nearly four years and the clash between the Allied and Axis powers killed millions of people and destroyed billions worth of property. Several Japanese soldiers of the Shobu group assigned in Luzon led by Japanese Imperial Army General Tomoyuki Yamashita, also known as the “Tiger of Malaya”, refused the order of Japanese Emperor Hirohito to surrender and insisted to continue waging war. The Japanese Shobu group continued to fight against the combined forces of the US 6th, 32nd and 37th supported by different guerrilla groups primarily coming from the United States Armed Forces in the Philippines – Northern Luzon (USAFIP-NL). With the combined Filipino and American forces advancing towards the Japanese Forces, General Yamashita tried to rebuild his army but was forced to retreat from Manila to the mountains of Ifugao and Cordillera.
General Yamashita and his remaining forces were pressured by the unrelenting onslaught of the combined United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) and the Philippine guerrilla movement in Kiangan’s forested and once-entrenched Nabuilaguian Hill. Following almost a month of bombardment, General Yamashita and his troops were eventually cornered and captured by the operatives from the “A” Company, 11th Infantry, USAFIP-NL in Kiangan, Ifugao. The USAFIP-NL which captured General Yamashita consisted of Igorot fighters.
On 02 September 1945, the World War II ended when General Yamashita was captured. The captured general and his soldiers were then airlifted to Baguio City the next day where he formally signed the surrender documents before American Forces in Camp John Hay on September 3, 1945. The fall of General Yamashita is commemorated every 2nd of September as “Victory Day”, marking the liberation of the Philippines from the oppressive Japanese rule.
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