PVAO launches book on Filipino guerillas' victory at Bessang Pass authored by ex-PNAer

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 6): PVAO launches book on Filipino guerillas' victory at Bessang Pass authored by ex-PNAer

A book on World War II victory at Bessang Pass in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur was successfully launched at Fort Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City, Manila on Wednesday. Vicky Antiporda, officer-in-charge of the Philippine Vetarans Affairs Office (PVAO) in Ilocos Sur, announced here that the book was written by veteran journalist Ben Cal, former acting executive editor of the Philippines News Agency. Wanting the Filipino youth to have a sense of national pride and imbibe love of country, PVAO embarked on research and publication of this book entitled "Victory at Bessang Pass". Antiporda said the launching ceremony was attended by former President Fidel V. Ramos, who graced the event as a special guest; Ilocos Sur Vice Governor Deogracias Victor Savellano, who was the guest of honor; and Cervantes town Mayor Benjamin Maggay.

It was noted that Bessang Pass is a strategic gap with an altitude of 5,250 feet above sea level. Located in Barangay Malaya, Cervantes, Ilocos Sur, it serves as a gateway to the Cordillera mountains and the city of Baguio and is the site where the last and most ferocious battle between the Filipino guerrillas and the Japanese forces was fought during the World War II. The book, “Victory at Bessang Pass,” tells about the gallantry of the United States Army Forces in the Philippines – Northern Luzon (USAFIP-NL) guerrillas, who, for over three years, never gave up their dream of retaking the Bessang Pass from the formidable enemy well entrenched in the mountain fortress,” Antiporda revealed.  "Unknown to many, the triumph of our forces at Bessang Pass was the most dramatic victory scored by Filipino guerrillas against the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II that forced Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita, the “Tiger of Malaya,” to surrender later in Kiangan, Ifugao, liberating Northern Luzon from the Japanese invaders and eventually ending Japanese occupation in the Philippines and concluding the war in the Pacific,” PVAO Administrator Ernesto G. Carolina said in a press statement received here.

Carolina, however, said that the victory at Bessang Pass is not being commemorated as a national historic event with the same fervor and intensity as that of April 9 every year - the day when Bataan fell to the hands of the Japanese in 1942. "The defeats in Bataan and Corregidor had been long redeemed by the victory at Bessang Pass, and the many other successful campaigns waged and won by our troops in various parts of the country. We are documenting these for our citizens to know and have something to be proud of,” Carolina added.

The book authored by Cal features 12 brave Filipino guerillas of the 11th, 14th, 15th, 66th and 121st Infantry Regiments of the USAFIP-NL who were among those who fought the non-stop, six-month military campaign. These include retired generals Fortunato U. Abat, Emilio M. Narcise, and Arnulfo D. Bañez; retired officers Gregorio Hufano and Jesus Martinez, lawyer Ricardo Miranda; and veterans Raymundo Gadgad, Belino Alumno, Jose Tadifa, Alejandro Puguon and Ricardo Madayag; and the late Ilocos Norte congressman Simeon M. Valdez.

“Written from the perspective of heroes, who survived the battle, the book aims to make the readers appreciate the real-life experiences and heroic exploits of those who did the supreme sacrifice of defending our nation from its enemy and to share their glorious triumph to their fellow Filipinos as a perpetual source of national pride. It also underscores the triumph of all freedom-loving Filipinos – including the civilians, who never stopped believing in the guerrillas’ cause but rather took the risk to help them in all ways possible. "These bespeak of selflessness, unity and patriotism - the character of our people that prevailed during the darkest days of oppression and adversity,” Cal said in a press statement. Copies of this book are now available for sale at Fully Booked Book Store at Fort Bonifacio, Global City in Taguig City, Metro Manila.

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