What Happened to the Japanese Soldiers When the Americans Landed in Leyte in 20 October 1944: The History of the Defeated

October 28th, 2005

In a war,it is always the victorious who writes History. And in that same war, the truth is always its first casualty.

I found an essay by Eduardo T. Makabenta Jr. entitled When the General Returned: Tacloban, 20 October 1944, published in BUDYONG vol. XIII, no. 5. Carigara 400 Inc. 15 Oct. 2005. p. 4 .This was written in the 1960s as Makabenta noted.

What is interesting in this essay is that it gives us a glimpse of how did the American soldiers treated the Japanese Prisoners of War.

We never read things like this in our history books.

It says: During the next two days, as the soldiers mopped up, searching for hidden Japanese soldiers, no prisoners were taken…. Three Americans had cornered a Japanese in a foxhole. As we watched, the Japanese threw out his rifle, then with upraised hands, he slowly came up. One of the Americans gave his Garand to my friend Eddie. “Here, kid, he’s yours,” he said. Eddie took the G.I.’s rifle, knelt and aimed, but he couldn’t bring himself to squeeze the trigger. Finally, he gave back the gun to the American who, without much ado, shot the kneeling Japanese.

It only suggests one thing: the victorious had written their history, it’s time for us to tell the history of the defeated. That is, if we want the whole truth.

How much do we know about Bangkaw Revolt? Sumuroy Revolt?

Tinabas ko hin duha

October 24th, 2005

ni Hwang Chin-i

Tinabas ko hin duha
an higlawig nga kagab-ihon
hinin Nobyembre. Tinipig an
kada lingit ha ilarom hinin banig;
pinahamotan han bukad nga sampaguita.

Kay ha iya pag-abot, akon igagawas
ini nga mga pinit nga mga gab-i;
pulga-pulgada nga bibitaron
basi humilawig inin kagab-ihon.

-Hinubad ni Voltaire Q. Oyzon

Pagtuha

October 14th, 2005

Kan Clang-clang

Biko an pika-espisyal nga hinimo han Diyos.

Kumuha hiya hin:

                1 kagantang nga pilit nga tinuon na

                5 kabuok nga lubi para tuno ngan lunok

                1 kapada hin kalamay

                usa ka kudli nga anis

                pipira nga linahob nga dahon hin saging

Isinun-od an tuno ha karaha

nga sinagolan hin us’ kakudli nga anis

ha naglalalahinggab nga sug-angan.

An kanan duha ka buok nga tuno,

pinalunok.

An kanan tulo ka buok nga tuno,

pinakaladkad.

Ibinutang an usa kapada nga kalamay.

Inukay-ukay

tubtob nga magmasapotok..

Itinunod an pilit

ngan ihinalo hin maupay ha latik.

Magutiay,

kinuhitan an mga dahon hin saging nga linahob

nga sugad hin palad an kahiglapad–

ngan binudboran hin lunok

han kinabuhi.

Magutiay la,

kay an pinakaespisyal nga tinuha

han Makagarahom dinhi ha kalibutan–

in’ angay la tilawan.

An tukag

October 9th, 2005

kanamit

kun in’ nakakapang-it

langag-langag

hin naghihindukag.