.: BHS Bamban Museum of History; Where Local History Comes Alive!

Saturday, September 27, 2008

BHS Bamban Museum of History; Where Local History Comes Alive!

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THE BAMBAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY’S MUSEUM OF HISTORY

Bamban Historical Society was founded by Rhonie C. Dela Cruz on June 19, 1999. Collections of photographs and images related to Bamban and the surrounding areas were obtained including rare books and artifacts. In September 24, 2004, renovations were initiated for the conversion of this rest house into a museum to accommodate the collections. The first member volunteers assisted in setting up the museum were; Romel Dela Cruz, Alex Lagrimas, Jones Amancio, Luisito Caguiat, Rey Ariston, Ramon Auditor, Rufino Dela Cruz and William Asprec.

On January 23, 2005, the museum was officially dedicated in conjunction with the commemoration of the Battle of Bamban Hills organized by the Society. Col. Rafael Estrada (Founder of the Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, Inc. - DBC), along with the family of the late Melencio Figueroa (26^th CAV), local officials and guests from various institutions and veteran organizations led the ribbon-cutting ceremony. On October 2006, Marshall Skiff from New York (38^th DIVISION, US ARMY), a veteran of the Battle of Bamban Hills during WWII, along with his wife Joan and daughter Debbie, accompanied by Aurellio Dimla (New Philippine Scout) made a sentimental visit in the museum.

In December 2005, the first phase of museum renovation was conducted. Continuous research and exploration related to the culture and history of Bamban and a special exhibit on WWII is a priority task in keeping the museum open to the public. In 2007, Jon Skelly (director of US Department of Veterans Affairs, US Embassy Manila), along with delegations from the Battling Bastards of Bataan, FAME, and MEMORARE visited the museum. In September 2008, the second phase of museum renovation was conducted with the support of Skiff family, the JCI Bamban Kayabe and the Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor Inc. On October 2008, the museum was re-opened after the improvements made. Various visitors from the United States (mostly balikbayans, families of veterans, tourists from nearby Angeles City), Japan, and Korea including families of veterans, students, researchers, and the local population and the surrounding places come to the museum as frequent visitors. This place is dedicated to the memory of Filipinos, Americans, Japanese, and Koreans who are part of the history of Bamban.

WHAT YOU WILL SEE AT THE MUSEUM

Fossil Artifacts

The history of Bamban and its people is as old as the story of the Aetas who used to live in the lowlands, as against their present place in the uplands of Bamban. They occupy what is now the town center before the coming of the Spaniards. They witnessed the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo some five hundred years ago. Fossil artifacts found at the cliff of Mt. Lagare in Monikayo (a sitio of San Vicente) are in display showing leaves and tree branches as sealed in volcanic clay at the top of the hill, showing how destructive the previous eruption in 1300’s as compared to the 1991 eruption. Several Aetas connected with the BHS do the exploration of their domain in search of fossil artifacts and are donated at the museum, a worthy endeavor for the original tribes of Bamban in preserving their identity.

Timeline in History

Local history in the Philippines is as vague, incomplete, and very little materials available. It is no exception with Bamban. However, BHS through its chairman, Rhonie C. Dela Cruz, in the span of ten years, continue to conduct research here and abroad, gathering research materials, old photos, and climbing mountains n search of artifacts to picture a more vivid representation of local history and culture. With this, a Timeline in History of Bamban covering 1700 (pre-Spanish or Aeta kingdom) Spanish, the Revolution of 1896, and the Filipino-American War of 1899. Lack of detailed materials for the American Period, or the so-called Peace Time precludes the historian for the timeline of this epoch, until such historical information is sufficient.

The history of WWII in Bamban is as vivid as with the photos etched in the long tarpaulin covering the timeline; from the start of the war where the veterans of Bamban fought in the Defense of Luzon to the Japanese Occupation, the guerilla resistance movement of Squadron 101, Squadron 30 (Aetas), and the Bamban Battalion of Bruce Guerilla until the liberation in January of 1945 and the subsequent vicious Battle of Bamban Hills.

Joan Skiff Memorial Hall

Named after the wife of an American veteran of Bamban campaign during WWII, Joan made the first foreigner who visited the museum in October 2005, the date when it was officially opened to the public. It houses the Timeline in History, WWII exhibits, artifacts, rare photos dating back in 1902, and the collection of Marshall Skiff consisting rare photos and WWII items taken from the hills of Bamban. In the future, the Museum Library will be housed in this hall which is rare and hard-to-find research materials for Bamban.

Macario Dela Cruz Memorial Hall

Housed the main photo exhibit of the history of Bamban with special subject on WWII (including Japanese kamikaze and Kembu Group), the WWII veterans of Bamban, Battle of Bamban River Line (Filipino-American War) and the Pinatubo era. The hall is named after the grandfather of founding chair of Bamban Historical Society who used to be in the Company A, 1^st Battalion (Bamban), Bruce Guerilla and was the oldest guerilla member at the age of 55 during the time.

Melencio Figueroa (26^th Cavalry, Philippine Scouts)

A memorial bust is erected inside the premise of the museum for this veteran-hero of Bamban who fought from Lingayen to Bataan and Corregidor at the tender age of eighteen. Beside the bust lies the Bruce Guerilla Memorial Tower and the Philippine Scouts and Philippine Army (USAFFE) Memorial Tower dedicated to the former Commonwealth Army soldiers from Bamban who participated and sacrificed in the great battles of WWII as defenders of liberty and freedom.

WWII Memorials and Exhibits

The museum is actually more dedicated in the history of WWII in Bamban and the surrounding areas like Stotsenburg-Clark, Mabalacat, Tarlac, Angeles. And it covers a wider historical perspective on the side of the Filipinos, the Aetas, the Americans, the Japanese, and the Koreans. The following are memorials that are established at the museum;

40th Infantry Division Memorial Marker (Liberation of Bamban/Battle of Bamban Hills)
43rd Infantry Division Memorial Marker (Battle of Bamban Hills)
38th Infantry Division Memorial Marker (Battle of Bamban Hills)
2nd Lt. James H. Hart/Staff Sgt. Eugene Zhingeim (194th Tank Bn, Squadron 101) Memorial
Bruce Guerilla Memorial - Luzon Guerilla Force (Adellaida Villareyes)
Philippine Scouts Memorial
Philippine Army Memorial
Korean WWII Peace Memorial
Japanese WWII Peace Memorial (under construction)

The Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, Inc. (DBC) Exhibit

BHS is affiliated with the DBC and a special section is allocated for the DBC Exhibit (DBC was founded by Col. Rafael Estrada in 1950) showing the history of the soldiers of those who fought in Bataan and Corregidor, the Death March, and the Camp O’Donnell POW camp. Several of the USAFFE veterans from Bamban are members of DBC. The exhibit also presents the organizational structure with all the photo images.

Museum Documentary Film Hall

A modest native nipa hut is located inside the museum serve as the Documentary Film Hall. The facility has TV and DVD equipment to play combat documentary films and other video collections pertaining to WWII. Some of the collections available are: Liberation of Bamban – January 23, 1945, Bamban and Clark Area Airfields of WWII, Japanese Kamikaze Operation in WWII (Bamban, Clark, Angeles, etc.), Japanese Propaganda Film showing actual footage of the Battle of Bataan, Corregidor, and the Death March.

The museum is open from 08:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m., Monday to Sunday There is no entrance fee or ticket fee being collected but visitors are welcome to contribute any assistance in the museum. For viewing documentary film, schedule of group visit, please contact:

The Chairman

Bamban Historical Society

Bamban, Tarlac

Cell Phone No. +63-908-9150686

Email: Rhonie_bamban1945@yahoo.com

Bamban Museum of History Timeline

*First Opened and dedicated on October 28, 2005 duirng the visit of the family of Marshall Skiff (formerly of the 38th Division, US Army who fought in the Battle of Bamban Hills 1945).
*First Volunteers in construction and development of the museum on September to October 2005:
Rhonie C. Dela Cruz
Leonor Dela Cruz
Romel Dela Cruz
Alex Lagrimas
Bill Asprec
Ramon Auditor
Luisito Caguiat
Jones Amancio
*January 23, 2006; official dedication of the BHS Museum of History during the commemoration of the Liberation of Bamban & the Battle of Bamban Hills.
*February 2006; International School - Manila volunteers visited the museum and conducted cleaning and repair.
*October-December 2006; First renovation of the museum.
*April 2007; Marshall Skiff and Family contributed in the first major phase of renovation of the museum.
*May 2007; Director Jon Skelly of the US Department of Veterans Affairs along with representative of the American Chamber of Commerce visited the museum.
*May-September 2007; Extensive renovation of the museum conducted.
*September 16, 2008; Official re-opening of the museum after the renovation. Dedicated numerous WWII memorials & turn-over of WWII medals of Melencio Figueroa of the 26th Cavalry Philippine Scout.

Staff & Crew

Rhonie C. Dela Cruz; Overall In-Charge
Romel Dela Cruz; Field Research, Japanese Study
Iylin Brewer; Administration, Support
Lenor Dela Cruz; Logistics & Supply
Billy Asprec; Logistics & Supply
Lady Sibal; Aeta Study
Luisito Caguiat; Repairs
Alex Narciso; Security, Repairs, Museum Guide
Noli Dizon: Maintenance & Repairs
Joy Sibal; Field Investigation
Eugene Pineda; Research & Publication
Jose Mancio; Field Research & Site Investigation

Consultant/Adviser: Joel Mallari (Juan D. Nepomuceno Center for Kapampangan Study, Holy Angel University)

Facility & Exhibit

Name of Site; Camp Nicasio Cauguiran
Exhibits: History of Bamban/WWII Exhibit
Filipino-American War Exhibit
Mt. Pinatubo/Lahar Exhibit
Macario Dela Cruz Hall
40th Infantry Division Memorial (Liberation of Bamban)
43rd Infantry Division Memorial (Battle of Bamban Hills)
38th Infantry Division (Battle of Bamban Hills)
2nd Lt. James H. Hart/Staff Sgt. Eugene Zhingeim (194th Tank Bn, Squadron 101 -Luzon Guerilla Force) Memorial
Bruce Guerilla Memorial (Adellaida Villareyes)
Philippine Scouts Memorial
Philippine Army Memorial
Korean WWII Peace Memorial
Japanese WWII Peace Memorial (under construction)
WWII Exhibit at Joan Skiff Memorial Hall
WWII Documentary Combat Films

Acknowledgement

BHS/JCI Bamban Kayabe would like to thank the following persons and entities for their support in the establishment and operation of museum:

*Joshua Ayumi Dela Cruz
*Romel Dela Cruz
*Marshall, Joan, and the Skiff Family of New York
*Col. Rafael Estrada (Ret) of the Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor
*Family of Melencio Figueroa (26th Cavalry P.S.)
*Family of Domingo Dela Cruz (New Philippine Scout)
*Professor Rico T. Jose of UP-Diliman
*Professor Lino L. Dizon of T.S.U -Tarlac
*Joel Mallari, Kapampangan Center, Holy Angel University
*Karon Thomas (Daughter of Guy Cumbo of 40th Div.)

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Saturday, September 27, 2008