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Days of Fear: The Japanese Occupation in Baao
P.
B. Robosa from "Baao Vignettes"
Last
December 14, 2007, sixty six years had passed since the conquerors from the
Japanese Empire disturbed the cheery and peaceful life of the people of Baao.
The bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 spearheaded the Japanese
juggernaut in the Pacific and on December 12, five days later, they reached
close to home in Legaspi. In the early morning of December 14, the Baaoeños
awoke to the sound of the Japanese advance forces slamming their way through
the Bicol region. On December 18 and 19 along the national highway, the town
saw a continuous flow of Japanese armaments and personnel going towards the direction
of Naga, heralding almost four years of occupation.
Initial
reaction was slight as Filipino-American forces chose to avoid engagement and
instead moved northwards to regroup. Government employees prepared to abandon
their posts and readied themselves and their families for as yet uncertain
future, some of them raiding whatever was left of the town coffers. The local
government disbanded or resigned in anticipation of a possible brutal
take-over. For a while, the town was almost deserted as initial fear grew into
panic and most of the residents moved into the outskirts of the town. The fear
of the Japanese later subsided as Japanese propaganda and good public relations
began to take its effect and most of the towns people needed return to the
”poblacion” to buy and sell needed foodstuff and commodities. In a few months,
a semblance of a local government was reorganized and in Baao, the respected
Tomas Guevara was persuaded to take the difficult job of steering Baao through
the subsequently difficult years. History proved that the choice was a godsend
because Mayor Guevara proved to be a match for the dangerous situation that was
thrown to his lap. His mettle in dealing with the arrogant and unpredictable
Japanese was responsible for saving unnamed but valuable Baaoeño lives.
When
the Japanese promises proved false and the war resulted in the eventual
downturn in the economy, the Baaoeños had to fortify themselves to years of
scarcity, uncertainty and depravation. The fortunate few who retreated to the
mountains could live off the land but still food was scarce because the men who
tilled and planted were either scared to work, were being held in Japanese
prisons or were forced under the employ of the Japanese. An adventurous lot had
joined roaming guerilla bands to harass the Japanese, while a few took
advantage of the situation and simply resorted to banditry and extortion. For
everybody, food and money was scarce, thus danger could come from anywhere,
from the shameless bandits impersonating guerillas to the abusive and
undisciplined Japanese soldiers. Thus, a life in town was safer and was endured
by some in order to protect their property while living under the menace the
enemy. The scarcity of manufactured goods lead some enterprising citizens to
try their hands at making such necessities as soap or oil and going into trades
like weaving and wine making.
In
the end, Japanese brutality brought up its worst as the war turned disastrously
for them. Although the Japanese were always swift in meting punishment to
guerillas or anyone suspected of having ties with the underground as
demonstrated by the execution of Baao’s Chief of Police Eusebio Dato, who,
early in the occupation, was found aiding the guerillas, the anticipation of
sure defeat and annihilation began to dull their reason. As American planes
started to bring damage to their positions and causing casualties among their
ranks, maddened and crazed Japanese burned more than 70 people including women
and children inside houses in Agdangan on October 17, 1944 in what will be one
of the war’s documented cold-blooded atrocities by the Japanese against
Filipino civilians. At these point, further Japanese crimes in the form of
summary arrests and kidnappings was the order of the day and not a few
prominent Baaoeños and Chinese residents became victims of this reign of
terror, causing most of the people to avoid the town altogether. Japanese
retreat was followed by American planes harassing them and not a few of this
American bullets and bombs found their mark not on the enemy where they were
intended, but on the local civilians. However, relief was felt among the people
that the long awaited end to the war was near. The war ended in Baao officially
on April 15, 1945 when American advanced scouts reached Baao. Though the town
was half deserted, the news of the arrival of the Americans was greeted with
jubilation.
We
are fortunate that this period of our History was recorded so close after it
happened by one of those who experienced the war and modern readers will be
delighted to read the following account. Although some dates disagree now with
statements given by persons who had first-hand experiences or were closer to
the event than the writer who recorded this dates, may I reprint the following
without alterations from the Baao Fiesta Souvenir Program of 1946.
Local
Chronology of Events
By
Pablo B. Esplana, Bureau of Education (1946)
1941
December
12-at 2:00 A.M. Japanese forces landed at San Miguel, Caramoan. Camarines Sur
and simultaneously at Legaspi. Albay. This is probably the first Japanese to
land on the Philippines.
December 14-at 5:38 A.M. A division of Japanese forces passed in Baao with
complete war armaments.
December 18 to 19 A continuous flow of Japanese cavalry units passed Baao. The
Bicol Region is completely overrun.
December 25 - Japanese forces landed at Atimonan, Tayabas.
1942
April
10 - Municipality of Baao raided by guerilla forces. The Treasury Department
said to be ransacked
April 19 - The Municipality of Iriga was raided by Guerilla forces, some
Japanese were killed and the Japanese position in Alatco burned.
May 1 - Naga was raided by guerilla forces under Capts. Flor Miranda and
Gordinker. Naga fell in the hands of the guerilla. Governor Villafuerte and M.
Crescini fled to Tinambac. Naga commercial district burned.
May 9 - A unit of about 16 Japanese trucks re-enter Naga from Legaspi in the
afternoon same unit was harassed by a guerilla unit at Waras River. The fight
lasted for about one hour. Many Japanese soldiers were killed including one
officer. About sixteen Filipinos were either killed or wounded. Houses on both
sides of the road from Waras to San Nicolas. Iriga, were burned by the
Japanese.
May 12 - Camarines Sur recaptured by Japanese forces. Provincial and Municipal
Governments formally organized, with Capt. Tuneyosi as Director of Japanese
Military Administration.
July 17 - Local Guerilla detachment under Lieutenant Wenceslao and Lieut.
Estrada captured at Salvacion, Baao.
Nov. 30 - Baao chief of Police Mr. Eusebio Dato executed by the Japanese
soldiers, at the Suspension Bridge Naga, Camarines Sur.
1943
In
first month of this year, a bandit terror disguised as guerilla under Capt.
Amado Bueta and Lt. Juan Bueta terrorized the mountains of Baao, believed to
have killed at least 21 innocent civilians. In last months of same year, a
guerilla unit under Sgt. llagan was routed by P.C. in Himaao Public School
llagan was killed.
1944
May
29 - Work on Japanese Military preparations begun. Laborers were taken from
every Municipality in Rinconada.
June 20-Mabatobato Japanese position attacked by guerilla unit of unidentified
group. Some Japanese were killed.
October 17 - Agdangan was burned with around 100 civilians, mostly women,
children and old people were burned, Barrio Lieuts, from San Isidro. and
Agdangan Neighborhood President were killed.
October 21 - Fifty U.S. planes raid Mabatobato, Anayan, Pili and San Jose. Pili
around 500 Japanese soldiers killed.
Nov. 20. The Cari of Rufino Bayrante. in San Francisco. Baao. raided by Japanese
forces from Iriga in an effort to trap Dioscoro Asetre alias (Big Boy). Two
unidentified persons, male and female. were killed.
December 30 U.S. bombers raid Naga railway and machine-gunned Iriga. Naga
station was completely destroyed.
1945
Jan.
13 - a column of about 600 Japanese soldiers on way to the north from the south
was met by 4 U.S. raiders at Baao, About 50 of the soldiers were killed. Two
Civilians, one a Chinese (Cha) was killed
Jan. 15 - Four U.S. planes raided Iriga, Baao Pili and Naga, Fifteen civilians
were killed or wounded in Baao at Maglapid's residence on the road leading from
Baao to Nabua.
Jan. 16 - A bigger
squadron of U.S. raiders attacked Iriga. Baao, Pili, and Naga. Eight bombs were
dropped at the Baao Railway. One civilian (Isidoro Bulalacao) was killed and
two were wounded
Jan. 17 -Jap soldiers kidnapped Mr. Juan Badilla and Chinese Diogna, Pana.
Arnado and Valeriana Bravo, a Filipina.
Jan. 20 - Japanese soldiers kidnap Dr. Dominador Barreta, Santiago Barretta. J.
Barono. S Amilano, P. Blando, M. Botor, Mericia Badiola and her sick husband,
with R. Martirez.
Feb. 22 - Japanese soldier kidnapped Martin Badiola, P. Silvestre, C. Bustilia,
T. Bersa, A. Bulalacao, N Laut.
March 13 - Sunday as usual for several Sundays Japanese market car came to
barter farm products with textiles and others. This day around 50 Japanese
solders went with the market car and raided San Vicente killing C Bulalacao.
Two others, Tomas Biseno and Fabian Bacsain, were killed in the afternoon, in Del
Rosario.
March 25 - Blue Eagle Guerilla harassed Japanese forces at Agdangan, Report
made by Commander Juan Guevara states 49 Japanese soldiers killed One B1ue
Eagle soldier was wounded.
April1 Last appearance of Japanese market car in Baao, American forces landed
at Legaspi, Albay.
April 7 - Japanese soldier abandon Iriga. Pawili Bridge blasted by Japanese.
April 9 - Camarines Sur guerilla harassed Japanese in Naga.
April 12 - Iriga was subjected to a heavy machinegun raid. The Japanese
evacuated it earlier, some civilians were killed.
April ??? - Naga was subjected to a heavy raid, Bombs and machine guns were
used. Naga Educational area was destroyed. Many Japanese soldiers were burned.
April 15 - American Advance scouts (suicide forces) reach Baao. Civilians
jubilant.
April 22 - Baao Municipal Building was burned midnight of this day.
April 29 - Main body of U.S. forces reach Baao. May 5 - PCAU organized the
local Municipal Government in Baao. Vice Mayor Francisco Barretto was appointed
Acting Mayor and schools were opened.
Sept. 30 - 158th infantry 2nd battalion, under Col. Sandlin leave for another
destination probably Japan.