Batac
Occupied by the Japanese in December
1941, the mayor Catalino Acosta organized a guerilla unit with 60
members initially by early February, 1942. Japanese fled the town
by mid-February 1945 after pressure from guerillas and attacks on
their positions.
The
Marcos Museum & Mausoleum
Home province of Ferdinand
Marcos,
the post-war president of the the Philippines. The
museum includes a wall dedicated to Marcos'
wartime
service in the Philippine Army,
and as a soldier in the defense of Bataan and with American
Forces after liberation. His body is on display in the mausoleum across
from the museum. Marcos was born in nearby Bario 2 San Agustin, Sarrat.
The Ricarte
National Shrine
General
Artemio Ricarte was born in Batac, Ilocos Norte. The shrine consists
of a memorial park, library and museum located to the north
of Batac municipal town hall. The memorial plaque reads in part: " Captured
by the Americans in 1900, Ricarte was banished to Guam in 1901. Refusing
to take the oath of allegiance to the United States Government, he lived
abroad, returning to the Philippines from Japan during World War II.
Died in Barrio Nagparaon, Kalinga Mt. Province."
Memorial Park
A
memorial park was completed in 1993, and
cost
4 million
Pesos to build.
The memorial features a statue
and two
field guns on display.
Library and Museum
The adjacent museum and library were
opened in 1997, and cost 7 million Pesos. pre-war Filipino Freedom
fighter, first
chief
of staff
of the Armed Forces
of the Philippines in 1897, and during the American occupation refused
to vow any oath of allegiance to the Unites States after the Spanish
American war. He was exiled to Guam, Hong Kong, Shanghai and finally
Japan in 1915. A controversial figure in WWII figure, Ricarte
lived in
Yokahama, Japan from 1930 until December 21, 1941 when
he was flown back to the Philippines, via Aparri
Airfield by the Japanese. During the war years, he toured the
provinces and promoted cooperation with Japanese occupiers. He fled
with Japanese forces into the Serria Madre mountains after the successful
American liberation
of Luzon,
and
died
on July 31, 1945 in the mountains with Yamashita's troops. A small
museum has photographs and relics
from
his
life,
including
several WWII era American and Japanese guns. It does not
allow any photography inside.
Batac Gabaldon School
The Gabaldon schools across the Philippines were built
by the Americans to educate Filipinos. During WWII, the school was occupied
by Japanese troops. Guerillas raided the Japanese stationed
at the school on
January
16,
1945.
Today, the
same building
remains standing. The school's fence is made of Marston Matting, probably
salvaged from the Laoag (Gabu) Airport.
Central
Elementary School
Guerillas raid
and burn the central elementary school on the January 17, 1945, and
Catholic Convent on the 19th. Today, the central elementary school has
been rebuilt, and is named "Mariano
Marcos Memorial Elementary School"
Paoay
Church of San Agustin (Church of Paoay)
This impressive church was built from
1704 - 1793. Its tower was used as an observation post by Katipuneros
during the revolution, and guerrillas during the Japanese occupation.
Aircraft Wreck
Lucy Guillermo adds:
"A plane wreck, possibly a P-38 somewhere in the area of Paoay. Two fishermen I talked with attest that strewn metals are embedded on the corals and sand. He would always see the wreckage when they go fishing in the corals about 50-60' deep."
Dingras
One of the centers of guerrillas activities
in Ilocos Norte. Japanese left the town as early
as December 1944. Home of Josefa Llanes Escoda, pioneer of Philippine
Girl Scout movement, who was executed by the Japanese in Manila.
Bangui
SS Stingray Landing
On August
27, 1944 the USS Stingray SS-186 landed 15 Filipinos, trained in Brisbane and
were lead by Lt. Jose Valera. They also landed 15 tons of cargo
(weapons and supplies) at Caunayan Bay, Pagudpud.
Lucy Guillermo adds:
" The anchor and chain of the USS Stingray which was left behind by the sub when they aborted their unloading of shipment to the guerrillas. Said relic will be part of the Marker we're going to construct this year."
Japanese Ship Sunk by air attack, is mentioned in
at least one reference.
Salomague
Lat 17° 46' 60N Long 120° 25' 0E Located on the western coast of Luzon.
American Missions Against Salomague
January 19, 1945
(FEAF)
A-20s attack shipping at Salomague
Other towns in Ilocos Norte burned by
the Japanese:
Badoc, Bangui, Piddig
