Pinoy-Hapon United Foundation (PHUF), a non-profit organization, Honorary Chairman Takeshi Asanuma
The beautiful old city of “Vigan,” about 400 kilometers north of Manila, is the capital of the province of Ilocos Sur and also the birthplace of “President Quirino” (1890–1956; memorial monuments stand in Tokyo’s Hibiya Park and in Muntinlupa City), who is well known in our country as well. On the northwestern coast of Luzon, it was founded in the Spanish colonial era (16th century) by Malays of Chinese descent as a relay trading city between Manila and the continent, was developed as a Spanish colony, and was a town that prospered through commerce. Today its population has grown, and it has developed into a representative city of northwestern Luzon.
The old district of “Vigan” is a rare historic city that suffered no direct damage in the last “war,” and in 1999 the “old city” was inscribed as a UNESCO “World Cultural Heritage” site.
On both sides of the cobblestoned old town, houses from the time of its construction are preserved as a shopping street, and it bustles with many tourists. The buildings are said to be of a distinctive construction influenced by southern China (Yunnan and Guangdong provinces) and South America (probably around Mexico).
It is said that the reason the “old district of Vigan” was spared entirely the effects and damage of that fierce “Japan–U.S. war” was the deep love of two Japanese Army officers for this place and their trust in the residents. The local government has formally acknowledged this, and it is reportedly recorded in an “official document” as “proof” of “Philippine–Japanese mutual understanding.”
In 1942 this place, too, was occupied by the “Japanese Army,” and two officers took command, but they made “stability of civilian life” the first priority of the “occupation administration,” and there was reportedly almost no “friction” with the residents.
The commander was “Captain Takahashi Tojiro of the Military Police,” and his adjutant was “First Lieutenant Nakaoka Sakae (also written Naruoka Sakae) of the Army.”
The two exchanged information with “officials and the church,” carried out the occupation administration, and built good relations with the residents.
”The two Japanese Army officers” each married a local woman and blended into the community. “Captain Takahashi” in particular had a baby girl and lived peacefully, but the war situation tilted against “our country,” and on January 9, 1945, a mechanized unit of the “U.S. Army” landed at “Lingayen” (south of Vigan) on the northwestern coast of Luzon, and the sound of gunfire reached “Vigan” as well.
An order was issued: “Withdraw from 〈Vigan〉 and join up with friendly forces.”
”Captain Takahashi” asked a “German priest” who was close to his wife, Adela, to protect the two families. Through a friend of the bishop (one of a small number of Americans who had taken refuge there when the Japanese Army occupied Manila in 1942), he also asked that this message be conveyed to the “U.S. Army”: “We, the Japanese Army, will withdraw from this place, but we will destroy nothing and take nothing away. We ask that this beautiful town not be attacked.” Then he withdrew.
No record of the subsequent whereabouts of the two officers and the Japanese unit remains anywhere, but since fierce fighting continued between “Yamashita’s forces” and the “U.S. Army” in the area south of Vigan, they were probably killed in action somewhere on the west coast. “Vigan” was not attacked.
The “U.S. Army” advanced into the town peacefully, the historic streetscape was not destroyed, and it is still protected today by the government as “cultural heritage.”
”Mrs. Adela Takahashi” seems to have come from within the province. After the Japanese Army withdrew she returned to her hometown and apparently remarried, but residents saw her visiting “Vigan” around 1960 with her grown daughter.
”This story” was made into a film in 2008 (titled “Iliw,” directed by Bona Fajardo) and became widely known among the people, but unfortunately I have not had the chance to see it.
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