WW2's Battle of Ising importance to the young cited

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte, June 9 (PIA) War veteran Torcuato Cirpo cited the dominance of American authors who wrote and gave the highlights of the conquest of the American soldiers in the Second World War in the Philippines, consequently brushing aside the efforts of the Filipinos guerrillas like the Battle of Ising.

He said there was no Filipino scribes then who would write about the Filipino experience of the war.

Speaking at the Biztalk at Big 8 Hotel, Cirpo recalled the Battle of Ising located in Carmen, Davao del Norte was a turning point in the Second War in Mindanao in May 3, 1945, when the Japanese forces were held at bay by the Filipino guerrillas as they attempted to run towards Agusan in Northern Mindanao as the American forces were closing in Davao Region from Parang in the Empire Province of Cotabato.

“The spirit of gallantry and patriotism was very much alive among us, Filipino soldiers, despite being  undernourished, living only through root crops and cooked banana,” he said.

Cirpo recalled there were no American soldiers around when they engaged the Japanese forces.

He joined the war at 18 to avenge the death of his father who was killed by the Japanese soldiers.

Cirpo is now 89 years old.

Armando Medina, head of the research team on the Battle of Ising stressed that much must be learned by the youth from the historical event.

He said patriotism must be taught in schools for the young to realize the importance of the love of country.

“We must respect the reasons of history,” Medina said.
Marlene Alastra, president of the Tagum City Tourism Council cited the ongoing effort to write the history of Tagum City.
She said the effort now is to listen to the anecdotes of the people who are still alive but have experienced the war and Davao del Norte as it is now.

Local leaders highlighted the discussion on the Battle of Ising as the country commemorates the Independence Day on June 12.   (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)