Rhonie Dela Cruz

RHONIE C. DELA CRUZ, an historian, is the Chairman of the Bamban Historical Society (an active organization in the preservation and promotion of history and heritage in Bamban, Tarlac) with particular interest in the military history and the Aetas. He is also the curator and owner the Bamban WWII Museum, the institution has been recognized as an important WWII educational site and a center for public history.

He is a recognized Historian by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), being a lecturer and guest speaker on national and international conferences on WWII History from 2017 to 2020. His research journals in WWII were published by the NHCP on its Journal of the Philippine Local History and Heritage. He is also a prominent speaker on various historical events with subjects mostly on WWII History and Museum.

Mr. Dela Cruz advocacy, passion and interest in WWII is in fact based on his family lineage, as he is a descendant of WWII veterans. Further, he had also written on the history of the Aetas on the Mag-Antsi and Aberling Tribes of Bamban and Capas, Tarlac; the former formed part of the Claim Book of the Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) Application.

As an historian, he is the key person in the pursuit of finding remains of the war dead left in the battlefields of the Bamban through the Operation Fireflies, and in exploring and opening of Japanese war tunnels with the Project Discovery War Tunnels. At present, he is also engaged in the production of various historical documentaries related to Bamban-Clark area in the social media, as You Tube vlogger, through the Investigating History Series.

UNVEILING THE FIRST NATIONAL HISTORICAL MARKER FOR BAMBAN

With Director Carminda Arecalo of the National history Commission of the Philippines and former commissioner Dr. Lino L. Dizon and representatives from the Bamban LGU, the first official national historical marker of Bamban was unveiled. This historic town, became the Capital of the Philippine Republic in 1899 as well as the headquarters of General Emilio …

UNVEILING THE FIRST NATIONAL HISTORICAL MARKER FOR BAMBAN Read More »

BAMBAN:  BAYANG MARANGAL AT MAKASAYSAYAN

Unveiling the National Historical Marker as General Aguinaldo’s HQ and Capital 1899 BAMBAN: BAYANG MARANGAL AT MAKASAYSAYANUnveiling the National Historical Marker as General Aguinaldo’s HQ and Capital 1899 On July 4, 2024, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines NHCP, with delegates from the Bamban LGU, Bamban Historical Society/Bamban WWII Museum and witnessed by various …

BAMBAN:  BAYANG MARANGAL AT MAKASAYSAYAN Read More »

JAPANESE TYPE 10 120-mm DUAL-PURPOSE NAVAL GUN AT CLARK FIELD クラーク飛行場にある日本海軍 10 式 120 mm 砲

INVESTIGATING HISTORY: JAPANESE TYPE 10 120-mm DUAL-PURPOSE NAVAL GUN AT CLARK FIELD クラーク飛行場にある日本海軍 10 式 120 mm 砲 The last of the Japanese Type 10 at Clark Field can be found near the area of the former 1961st Communications Group, emplaced on both side of the road. Many of these Type 10s were scattered around …

JAPANESE TYPE 10 120-mm DUAL-PURPOSE NAVAL GUN AT CLARK FIELD クラーク飛行場にある日本海軍 10 式 120 mm 砲 Read More »

INVESTIGATING HISTORY: 36th U.S. INFANTRY (VOLUNTEERS), THE FIRST AMERICAN UNIT TO ENTER THE GROUNDS OF FORT STOTSENBURG AREA DURING PHILIPPINE-AMERICAN WAR 1899

I took these photos at the Parade Ground of the old Stotsenburg. Historical markers are established by the NHCP, and the 13th Air Force to highlight the events of the founding of the American camp that used to be an Ayta settlement and the original pillars. Fort Stotsenburg however, the name was actually in used …

INVESTIGATING HISTORY: 36th U.S. INFANTRY (VOLUNTEERS), THE FIRST AMERICAN UNIT TO ENTER THE GROUNDS OF FORT STOTSENBURG AREA DURING PHILIPPINE-AMERICAN WAR 1899 Read More »

Imperial Japanese Army Type 95 NCO Shin Gunto Katana Sword at Bamban WWII Museum

WAR RELICS COLLECTION “Imperial Japanese Army Type 95 NCO Shin Gunto Katana Sword found inside war tunnel of Asahiyama, Bamban Hills” A recent acquisition from a farmer in Bamban Hills, where they found this Type 95 NCO Katana inside a tunnel originally in the 1990’s. The available markings on the Fuchi metal cup indicates the …

Imperial Japanese Army Type 95 NCO Shin Gunto Katana Sword at Bamban WWII Museum Read More »

SEARCH FOR THE LOST TUNNEL OF ADMIRAL SUGIMOTO IN BAMBAN HILLS – バンバンで杉本提督のトンネルを探す

Join our Bamban WWII Museum / Bamban Historical Society Field Investigating Team in searching for the lost tunnel headquarters of Rear Admiral Ushie Sugimoto, who was left in Bamban Hills when Admiral Onishi Takijiro moved to Taiwan in January 10, 1945 with a strength of 20,000 Japanese navy personnel. By the end of the war, …

SEARCH FOR THE LOST TUNNEL OF ADMIRAL SUGIMOTO IN BAMBAN HILLS – バンバンで杉本提督のトンネルを探す Read More »

196th INFANTRY BRIGADE AT BAMBAN WWII MUSEUM

Museum Visitors:SUPPORT BATTALION196th Infantry Brigade Fort Shafter, Hawaii Our sincere appreciation for the visit of the officers and men of the 196th Infantry Brigade, U. S. Army based in Hawaii. A special museum tour has been presented to the 196th. Also, a special challenge coin was “presented for excellence “, with the emblem or insignia …

196th INFANTRY BRIGADE AT BAMBAN WWII MUSEUM Read More »

PHILIPPINE ARMY NCO OFFICERS AT BAMBAN WWII MUSEUM

Sergeant Major Course Class 13-2024 and Drill Master Class Course Class 58-2024 from the NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS SCHOOL, TRADOC Philippine Army went on our WWII Battlefield Tours. From the Bamban WWII Museum where they were given comprehensive historical tours on the history of WWII in Bamban, the delegates were taken to the former battlefields where one …

PHILIPPINE ARMY NCO OFFICERS AT BAMBAN WWII MUSEUM Read More »

INVESTIGATING HISTORY: THE BAMBAN RAILROAD STATION DURING THE PHILIPPINE-AMERICAN WAR 1899-1902

125th ANNIVERSARY OF THE PHILIPPINE-AMERICAN WAR B-DAY: BAMBAN DAY JUNE 5-6, 1899 INVESTIGATING HISTORY: THE BAMBAN RAILROAD STATION 1899-1902 In early 2000, I received an email from America, of then old lady who was a direct descendant of American soldier who fought during the Philippine-American War and stationed at Bamban. The American soldier was Joseph …

INVESTIGATING HISTORY: THE BAMBAN RAILROAD STATION DURING THE PHILIPPINE-AMERICAN WAR 1899-1902 Read More »

BAMBAN AS GENERAL AGUINALDO’s CAPITAL DURING THE PHILIPPINE-AMERICAN WAR 1899

Investigating History:BAMBAN AS GENERAL AGUINALDO’s CAPITAL DURING THE PHILIPPINE-AMERICAN WAR 1899 So much has been said, on the news and on most social media platforms nowadays on what is happening in Bamban. Truth and justice shall prevail over the land of my ancestors and soon, Bamban will regain its role, pride and honor in the …

BAMBAN AS GENERAL AGUINALDO’s CAPITAL DURING THE PHILIPPINE-AMERICAN WAR 1899 Read More »