INVESTIGATING HISTORY: THE TOYO MENKA COTTON COMPANY LIMITED IN BAMBAN, 1942-1944
In one of my research about our BHS Program “Voices of History Project”, I had encounter with WWII survivors who told about the cotton farms and production in Bamban and nearby Capas, Tarlac during the Occupation Period. Apung Saling Dacanay and Apung Simang Caguiat, as well as Apung Rosing J. Santos all told about their job in planting cotton in the wide expanse of former sugar cane fields of Sitio Bilu, grounds of the former Bamban Sugar Central as well as the areas near the Bamban Airfields east of the town and some agricultural lands in nearby Capas and Mabalacat.
You can hear them saying the word “toyo menka!”. Even my mom, the late Brigida Syds Dela Cruz wold tell us stories of the cotton planting during the Occupation when we were young. The word is famous to old timers and veterans of Bamban.
The photo, one of the many photographs taken by famous combat potographer Carl Mydans of Life Magazine in 1945, was taken south of Tarlac. Probably he accompanied the 40th Division and then the 37th during the drive towards Clark Field in the south from Lingayen that he took many photos in O’Donnell, Bamban, Camp Del Pilar in Dau and Clark Field. These photos are now available on line, even in social media.
I asked the assistance of my friend, a Japanese author and historian (he published 10 books already); Mr. Naoki Koudachi, to do the translation of the post near the main highway that Carl Mydans took on his way to Bamban and Clark area. Here is the translation of Mr. Koudachi:
“Toyo-Menka Co., Ltd. Bamban direct management farm. Toyo-Menka means Oriental cotton.”
Another translation was made by a Japanese acquaintance, Mrs. Hamako Hirasaka and even wrote a direct translation. With the translations of author Naoki Koudachi and Mrs. Hirasaka, which actually both agreed on the same meaning, that confirm that the photo was taken in Bamban in the area administered by the Toyo Menka Company Limited for cotton production.
The post literally means Oriental Cotton Company. It was actually a company set up by the Japanese during Occupation period in Bamban and nearby towns for the manufacturing of cotton that they use in the production of war items with cotton as base material. There was a field office at the former Bamban Sugar Central (Central Luzon Milling Company at the time) but the main office was in Capas, Tarlac and the company officials were actually part of the Japanese military administration. The cotton production flourished in 1943 and early 1944 and used local labors including women. Many of the young ladies then worked at the Toyo Menka cotton.
As the aerial bombardments of Japanese facilities started in September 21, 1944 and intensified as the year closed in December, and also with the active operations of the local USAFFE guerrillas in Bamban and Capas, Toyo Menka was not able to make substantial production of cotton and later stopped its
operation.
But the recollection of the old timers and elders in Bamban remains in their collective memory of the word TOYO MENKA. With the passing time, only few surviving Filipino elders can share historical narrative of that bygone era.
Rhonie Dela Cruz
Bamban Museum of History
Bamban Historical Society
Photo 1: Toyo-Menka signpost in Bamban by Carl Mydans, circa 1945.
Photo 2: Translation written by Mrs. Hamako Hirasaka courtesy of Romel Dela Cruz of Yokosuka, Japan.
Photo 3: Apung Simang Caguiat of Bamban worked with Toyo-Menka during wartime.
Photo 4: Apung Saling Dacanay also worked with the cotton company near Bamban. Rhonie Dela Cruz photo.
Photo 5: Aerial view of Bamban at the back of poblacion that was used as cotton farm during wartime era. Rhonie Dela Cruz photo.
US National Archives NARA photo courtesy of Dave Metherell.
