Arts & Culture of Zamboanga City

by contributing writer & local artist: Icelle G. Borja

(In light of the recent Philippine Independence celebration held in Zamboanga City by the country's President Arroyo, at the coliseum grounds of barrio Tetuan, we would like to present a previous IcelleARTicle on the liberation of Zamboanga City in World War II as a reflection on the city's own place in history.)

IcelleARTicles: Mirror Of Our Past - The Liberation of Zamboanga

Fifty eight years ago this March 10, 2003, we reminisce a fateful day in Zamboanga's history, when the city was "liberated" by the American Forces together with our Filipino soldiers and the local guerillas.

March 10, 1995 - We witnessed the reenactment of that historical event in a tableau of Sea bees, amphibious landing, jets circling the bright Zamboanga sky, amidst gunshots and artillery shelling, as the Marines make the final beachhead in the Sinunuc area.

The re-enactment was witnessed by many locals and Americans and distinguished personalities who came far and wide to participate and witness the victory of the event. It was a momentous nostalgic feeling when the American Forces finally made a touchdown to liberate Zamboanga City from the bondage of the Japanese Imperial Army. To the collective mind and experience of that day, it was indeed the "Landing of the Eagle."

In their all-out operation to liberate the city from the Japanese, the U.S. forces under Major General Jens A. Doe, landed at the Zamboanga beach on March 10, 1945, completing the operation on the 12th of the same month. The Americans named the landing area "Yellow Beach,” as code name for the operation. An American GI named Del Valle was the lone casualty.  The liberation of Zamboanga, successfully carried out in 70 hours by the American Forces, turned out to be a mopping up operation because of the wonderful collaboration between the invading forces and those of the underground movement – our local guerillas.

Fourteen warships passed Basilan Strait at around five o'clock in the afternoon, and disappeared in the East. The civilians ate their supper early and prepared for the­ eventuality, as they believed that the Americans Forces would attack that night.  Desperate, the Japanese burned the houses where they stored their supplies, especially those in barrio Tetuan and the city proper.

Early in the morning of March 10 1945, the American warships appeared again and were within firing range. At eight o'clock in the morning, the light cruisers and destroyers under the command of Rear Admiral F. R. Royal began shelling the area from Baliwasan to Sinunuc, while mine sweepers cleared the approaches.  Later, waves of bombers rained bombs over the landing field and other military installations. While the bombers where at it, the 41^st Division went ashore and made a beachhead at Calarian (Golf Course area) on the spot called "Yellow Beach".

Little enemy resistance was encountered by the American Forces, and the landing field was secured in no time.

The city was then liberated, and the weary war people met the Americans with cheers, tears, and embraces. As this touching scene went on, people ransacked the storehouses left unburned by the Japanese.

The American Troops pursued and engaged the retreating Japanese forces in the mountains of Capisan, and fighting flared in Capisan and Cabatangan.

Japanese baby tanks were seen fleeing for better shelter across the mountains to Capisan. The American Forces left the city in May, 1946.  (part 2)