June 19

We picked up our breakfast sandwiches we ordered the night before, one tuna and one ham and cheese.  Both had been previously grilled but cooler at this point.  The tuna wasn’t tuna salad but a slice of grilled or fried tuna! It was good! The ham was good too!

Our guide Cherry and the hotel shuttle took us to the airport and we checked in seamlessly.  We arrived early as you just never know.  So we had time to sit a spell.  There are only 4 gates of which none had our flight listed.  When the time finally came, a gentleman was walking around with the sign for the flight.  :)  We got into a line, switched lines as the plane had two entry doors and we were in the rear door line, walked across the tarmac, and climbed the steps to enter.   The flight was uneventful and short, 45 minutes early even!  

We exited and a gentleman approached us and asked if we were the Verkamps. We asked how he knew to approach us and he looked around and said we were the only Caucasians in the airport.  :).  We knew then we’d get along just fine!!

The day was full of great information.  We explained our purpose for this trip and he had an “Ahhh” moment.  He was so very knowledgeable about everything WW II related, and the entire area related, literally everything and anything.   He also spoke and understood English exceptionally well, and was comfortable with us, as we were with him, from the beginning.  

We continued by road to Bataan, which took about 3 hours, passing by Layac Junction in Dinalupihan before proceeding to Bataan.  In honor of the men and women who fought and died in Layac during the war, a monument was erected at the center of the barangay, known as Layac Junction. The monument was built by the 38th Infantry Division, Army of the United States. The monument also marks the liberation of Dinalupihan from the Japanese on January 19, 1945.

We drove to Pilar Bataan where the historic Shrine of Valor was erected at the Summit of Mt. Samat. The monument was built to honor the gallantry of the Filipinos who fought during World War II. This monument is a 302 foot tall cross, 90 feet wide.  We took the elevator to the junction of the cross and could look over the entire area. Its war museum houses a wide array of collections from paintings of the Philippine Heroes to armaments used by the Filipino, American, and Japanese forces during the battle, as well as a wonderfully detailed relief map of the area and battles. 

We had lunch at a local restaurant called Max’s.  In 1945, after World War II, Maximo Gimenez, a Stanford-educated teacher, befriended American troops stationed at Quezon City, Philippines. A few of the soldiers would come to his house for a drink or two. Eventually they insisted that they pay for their meals. It was then that Maximo decided to open a cafe that served chicken, steak and drinks. We had fried chicken! It was tasty! We also discovered the name of our dessert with the cereal, jello, fruit, etc:  halo-halo.  This one was okay but last night’s was much better. 

We proceed to Balanga where the actual surrender happened. The site is located behind a still very much in use elementary school that was still in session.  We could hear instruction as we walked by.  The monument is a life-size replica of the men around a table depicting the surrender.  The ladies at the museum showed us the artifacts housed there and put their hands over their chests in understanding when we told them our reason for being there. 

We continued on to the Battle of Toul Pocket (Bagac, Bataan) where heavy fighting took place in this area resulting from enemy infiltration to the rear prior to the deployment of troops on Pilar-Bagac line on the last week of January 1942. The enemy was pocketed and the ensuing engagement became known as the Battle of Toul Pockets.  It is hard to even remotely explain all that we learned this day.  Carlos really knows his history! 

We stopped at a fruit stand and had a coconut that was the best so far!! We could definitely get used to fresh coconuts!!

We concluded the day at Las Casa Filipinas de Acuzar. This heritage park/resort is a collection of Spanish Colonial buildings and stone houses planned to resemble a settlement reminiscent of the period. These houses were carefully transplanted from different parts of the Philippines and rehabilitated to their former splendor. It is resort area with things to do for everyone! We checked in and checked out our room—NICE!! We walked along the beach and stepped into the South China Sea, had an authentic Filipino dinner, changed into our swim suits and swam in the pool that was overlooking the local river AND the South China Sea! Wow! The gentleman that owns all this is a contractor and has moved and/or recreated 60 historic from throughout the Philippines to this one site.  Most buildings were, at their time in history, homes for the wealthy.  Some are now games rooms, dining areas, hotels, museums, etc.  There were swings to swing upon, kayaking or boating or jet skiing, and a zillion other things to do. If it wouldn’t be such a long plane ride, it would be a great extended family vacation destination.