THE 150th FOUNDATION OF TARLAC PROVINCE In the pursuit of preserving the Heritage Sites of Bamban, including the historical places, we are embarking on another Investigating History Series of YouTube Documentaries dedicated for our province’ 150th Foundation. The coverage of our new and upcoming documentaries will highlight the significance in our province’ History and her role in our Nation’s fight for struggle.
Episode 14: BAMBAN CHURCH WWII HISTORICAL JOURNEY A tangible heritage that should be preserved and protected, for the building was a mute witness to our struggle for our freedom and independence, aside from its historical site important in the evolution of evangelical works in our town from 1710 to present.
During the Philippine-American War, the Bamban Parish Church became part of the facilities of our Philippine Army and the revolutionary forces from the Makabulos Brigade, to the San Miguel, where a substantial troops were mobilized in the town in anticipation of the General Arthur MacArthur’s 2nd Division advance from Angeles from June to early November 1899. General Arthur MacArthur of the 2nd Brigade made the premises of the church his field headquarters on November 11-12, 1899.
During WWII, in the battle for the capture of Bamban town proper defended by a battalion of the Japanese Takayama Detachment, a substantial force was posted at the church. The American liberating forces, led by the 3rd Bn, 160th Infantry 40th Division entered the town on the morning of January 23, 1945 and engaged the Japanese battalion defending the town proper, augmented by tanks, howitzer tanks, artillery, anti-tank guns, and tank destroyers. The Takayama survivors retreated into the massive tunnel defense of the Bamban Hills behind the poblacion.
The scenes of the fighting at the town center and especially the Bamban Church were captured in combat video and presented into a WWII Historical Journey in the present time with the use of drone videos taken. Narratives of the events are also presented to give the audience a look and feel of the WWII History at the church. Indeed, the entrance to the Tarlac Province, the Bamban, had some of History’s important role in our Nation’s struggle and we are proud being Tarlakeno and Bambanense.
