LAST SATURDAY, May 3, 2025, we commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of Davao from the Japanese occupation during World War II.
It was my first time to participate in celebrating this historical event as part of the Davao Historical Society (DHS), which led the commemoration with the Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP) and the VFP Sons and Daughters Association, Inc. (VFP-SDAI).
Our preparations leading to Saturday’s celebration were quite a guerrilla operation, too. We had very little time to prepare because it was only in the third week of April when we realized DHS would be taking over the lead from the city government.
We are grateful for the organizing skills of our DHS Vice-President Oca Casaysay, also the newly-appointed head of the city’s Office for Culture and the Arts (OCA) and former executive director of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), who was able to mobilize our guerrilla troops and civilian volunteers to mount a successful commemoration event.
Without realizing it, we were having a modern-day mini-operation almost similar to the Liberation of Davao on May 3, 1945.
As our DHS Trustee and World War II historian, retired General Nelson Estares, shared, the Liberation of Davao in 1945 was a collective effort among Filipino military troops, reservists, guerrillas, and civilian volunteers with the armed support from the American military. Although the local government continued to function during the war, it was mostly through the efforts of the civilian volunteers that our city’s liberation was secured.
So the collaboration of DHS civilian volunteers with our troops (notably Task Force Davao and the Philippine Navy) and our Filipino veterans, as well as their sons and daughters here in Davao to mount the celebration of the 80th Liberation of Davao this year becomes more meaningful in this context.
Our DHS Chair, Councilor Pilar Cañeda Braga, surprised us with her own liberation story. She shared that her father, Gregorio Villaber Cañeda, was a lawyer for many Japanese entrepreneurs and farmers during the height of the Davao abaca boom. So when World War II broke out, and some Japanese entrepreneurs turned out to be officers of the Japanese Imperial Army, Atty. Cañeda had access to their inner circle. Because of this, he was suspected of being a spy and a Japanese collaborator. But according to Councilor Braga, he was actually spying for the other side, the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE).
She narrated that when the Japanese found out, they rounded up all known members of his family and killed them. During that time, Atty. Cañeda’s wife was pregnant and was about to give birth. The Japanese soldiers had surrounded the house where they fled to in Samal Island while his wife was in labor. As soon as the baby came out, they gagged her mouth to keep her silent so the Japanese troops would not be alerted and wrapped her tightly in a blanket while they made their escape. While they ran from the Japanese troops, Atty. Cañeda’s wife was still bleeding from giving birth and praying so hard for her poor newborn, who was probably suffocating to death. When they were at a safe distance, believing the baby to be dead, they unwrapped the blanket and removed the gag. And they were all startled when the baby girl wailed and cried so loudly. Grateful for the miracle, they named her Maria Pilar, in honor of the Virgin Mary.
Atty. Cañeda served briefly as governor of the undivided Davao province in 194,7 and his wife, Leonora, shares her May 3rd birthday with the Liberation of Davao. Their daughter, Pilar, is one of the longest-serving city councilors of Davao, who authored the city ordinance strengthening the commemoration of the Liberation of Davao.
DHS President Luzviminda Calolot-Ilagan, also a daughter of a war veteran, highlighted the importance of May 3 in the history of our city and our country and why DHS is leading its commemoration.
“We honor the valiant heroism of our Filipino veterans who fought side by side the liberating forces so that we can enjoy the freedom we now posses…the Davao Historical Society drives home the point that by looking back, we acquire a sense of history — to understand the past, appreciate the present, and prepare for the future,” she stressed.
I was actively involved in last Saturday’s commemoration. As secretary of the Board of Trustees of DHS, I prepared all communications (so I guess I played the role of modern-day radio operator during the war). I handled the preparations for the recognition and tokens for the living World War II veterans so it was a deeply moving experience for me to kiss the hand (Filipino tradition of pagmamano) of 102-year old veteran Teofilo “Lolo Pilo” Gamutan and have him beam proudly and give me a big smile when we took a photo together. I also served as program host and experienced the warm appreciation of the veterans we honored as they told me how this year’s celebration was extra special because of the efforts DHS made to include more stakeholders.
We invited representatives from the US and Japan. We included the Free and Accepted Masons of Davao City because the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers of World War II is inside the Masonic Cemetery in Madapo Hills. We asked for support from the Task Force Davao for the honor guards and gun salute during the wreath-laying and from the Philippine Navy band for Taps. Private sector groups such as the Aboitiz Foundation, Anflocor, and Apo ni Rose donated food. Even the tourism sector, through the Department of Tourism and the City Tourism Operations Office, supported the celebration.
Aside from the presence of Lolo Pilo, the oldest living World War II veteran in Davao, I was equally moved by the presence of Deputy Consul General Inoue Junya of Japan. It must take a lot of courage and humility for him to stand before all the Filipino veterans and to offer flowers at the tomb of the Filipino and American soldiers who fought the Japanese Imperial Army during the war. He also humbly listened as Councilor Braga shared her family’s violent experience in the hands of the Japanese.
“I stand here with profound reverence. Facing our shared history squarely and reflecting on the bravery of those who made the ultimate deeds and sacrifices during the war…To Filipino veterans, I extend my sincerest respect to each one of you,” Consul Inoue said before an audience of mostly veterans and their families who were visibly touched.
He continued to assure Davaoeños that in the past 80 years, Japan has “proudly and unwaveringly followed the path of a peace-loving nation” and that it is “determined to never allow the devastation of war to be repeated ever again.” That declaration merited loud applause and cheers from Davao’s veterans.
I have not experienced a world war the same way my mother’s generation has. I do not know how the Davaoeños and the Japanese, who have gone through the horrors and hardships of World War II, overcame that painful memory to become partners for peace now. I only know that it is possible because I see it and experience the benefits of that friendship.
Thanks to DHS, I know more about Davao’s past, and I have become more hopeful about its future. I have faith that it can be better when Davaoeños step up and volunteer to work together to ensure our own liberation.
