Monday, January 31, 2005

Pico de Loro

View from Pico de Loro's summit

This is one of the reasons why mountaineers love to climb.


Last weekend, we climbed Pico de Loro in Ternate Cavite. My goal is to climb to this rock formation.

That's me! Reaching my goal!

Friday, January 21, 2005

Battleship Cove



This is Battleship Cove in Fall River, Massachusetts. Its the world's largest historic naval ship exhibit. Here you will see the USS Massachusetts battleship, Lionfish submarine and couple of destroyers and PT boats.

Aboard USS Massachusetts

I've been here twice, first was on April 2001(I only have a 35mm camera) then the last time was on April 2004 (this time I have my DSC-P8 digicam, eto lang po kaya kong bilhin).

Torpedo room of USS Lionfish Submarine

Here, I found out that at least five(if im not mistaken) US navy ships (PT boats and destroyer) were destroyed in different places in the Philippines during WWII. But not by the Japanese, they were sunk by typhoons or tropical storms.

Tuesday, January 18, 2005

Portland Headlight





Portland Headlight

Looks familiar? If you are collecting calendars or posters with great scenic views all over the world, chances are, you've seen this picture (from different angle though). First time I saw this was in a calendar from my boss' table. You can visit this in Fort Adams in Cape Elizabeth Portland, Maine, USA. That's why when I was in Massachusetts, I took the chance to see it and be here.

Here's a closer look of the light house and from another angle.



Monday, January 17, 2005

Mt. Marami


Mt. Marami


Nitong nagdaang weekend, napadpad ang aming grupo sa Mt. Marami. Ang lugar na ito ay isa sa mga bagong puntahan ng mga 'pinoy mountaineers. Bagamat tila hindi pa sanay ang mga locals dito ay sadyang napakabait nila at matulungin.

Sandamakmak na trail ang inyong madadaanan at malaki ang chance na maligaw ang mga baguhan dito lalo na at walang kasamang guide. Tulad na lang namin, kung ilang beses kaming napalayo dahil nga sa dami ng pwedeng daanan. Buti na lamang at nariyan ang mga locals na pwedeng mapagtanungan.

Paano kami nakapunta rito ng walang guide? Sa tulong ng isang IT na lumabas sa MMS yahoo group (e-mail). Lakas luob na lang namin sinundan ang mga description duon. Tulad namin, may 2 grupo rin ang gumamit ng IT na 'yon na nakasabay namin. Isa lang po ang di namin nakita na nakasulat sa IT, yung campsite na pwede ang 20 tents. Tatlong group kami na naghanap pero walang makakita kung saan.



Ganun pa man ay sadyang maganda ang lugar. Sana nga lang ay mapangalagaan hindi lang ng mga locals kundi maging ng mga bibisita rito.

Wednesday, January 12, 2005

Bridge of Flower

Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, USA
Click this link to see some of its flowers, sorry if the pictures are not that good. Picture 33-46.

Monday, January 10, 2005

Building of the Future?

Ray and Maria Stata Center, MIT

We were amazed when we saw this new building in MIT campus last May, 2003.

Could this be the office building of the future? This unique center can be found in MIT campus in Massachusetts, USA. A total of $300M was spent for this 65, 700 sq.m research and study facilities which is dedicated to Ray Stata, Analog Devices' founder and president.


Saturday, January 08, 2005

DEATH MARCH SAGA

For those who doesn't know what happened during the infamous "Death March" after the fall of Bataan on April 9, 1942.

(You can see this inside the cross atop Mt. Samat)

DEATH MARCH SAGA

the 9th of april was the gloomiest day for the usaffe forces in bataan. it marked the surrender to the japanese imperial army by gen. edward p. king of all filipino and american fighting men and women who valiantly defended the bataan peninsula for four harrowing months. it also marked the beginning of a more than 100 kilometers trek from the southernmost part of the peninsula to san fernando pampanga leaving a trail of the most inhuman treatment accorded patriotic soldiers who offered their lives in defense of country and freedom. this tragic event later on to earn its epithet in hisory as the infamous "Death March".

following the surrender, most of the military units converged at mariveles and from there, because they were promised that they will be set free upon reaching san fernando, pampanga, started to move on their own northward passing thru balanga. it was here that the japanese gathered the prisoners into larger groups and began the non-stop march to san fernando. two japanese guards were at the head of the column, two at the middle and two others at the end to make sure that no one can escape. while april was the hottest month of the year there was no provision for drinking water and to compound the sufferings the marchers were not allowed to break rank to quench their thirst from the murky waters of the canals nearby. those who broke ranks were whipped or beaten with riffle butts, while those who could not keep with the pace of the forced marched were left behind to die or given merciful death with a shotgun. throughout the four day continous march, food which consisted of a ball of rice was provided twice, one at orani, bataan and the next at lubao, pampanga.

upon reaching san fernando, the prisoners thinking that they will be sent home to their love ones were frustrated that their travails have not ended. they were loaded on freight wagons (bagon) packed like sardines to destination unknown. after three hours ride they realized they were being unloaded at the rail station of capas, tarlac. again, the death march was to continue. they were forced to walk an additional 13 kilometers to a concentration camp. here the battered and tattered prisoners were to face another battle against unseen enemies which were more deadly than that of bataan: malaria, dysentery, diarrhea, pneumonia, malnutrition, and loneliness. inside this new battlefield the weakened prisoners who walked from mariveles were to find their rest at last. the place will be remembered in living memory as the hellhole of Camp O'Donnell.

four months before the attack at pearl harbor by the japanese imperial navy, camp o'donnell was chosen by the staff gen. douglas mcarthur as the training ground of the usaffe 71st division for recruits from the island of negros. the accommodation was only good for 10,000 personnel which was the strength of an army division. but these constructions were partially finished because was came sooner that expected. into this camp the incoming prisoners of war numbering no less than 45,000 were concentrated. living quarters were inadequate thus most of the men slept on bare ground, sanitary facilities were non-existing and there was total absence of water for drinking. water needed to cook rice was fetched from a nearby creek. as result of this inhuman living condition the death rate rose from 20 a day to a staggering 350 to 400 daily after two months. the dead were buried in big holes which served as common graves. total absence of medical facilities and medicine rendered the filipino medical doctora completely helpless to cure the sick nor the dying. it was only through the intervention of the philippine occupation government that the surviving prisoners were gradually released leaving behind 25,000 of their helpless comrades in arms to die in the hallowed grounds of Camp O'Donnell.


Friday, January 07, 2005

Battle of Bataan

This picture was taken just recently in Mt. Samat Shrine/Dambana ng Kagitingan/Shrine of Valor.

Here, I've learned a little more about what took place in this area during WWII. Hope you find some time to read this.

What I wrote here can be found inside the colonade in the shrine and inside the cross atop Mt. Samat.


Battle of Bataan
on december 7, 1941, pearl harbor was attacked by contingents of the japanese naval air arm. (it was december 8 in the philippines, west of the international dateline). two hours prior to the attack on pearl harbor, a japanese unit assault party composed of an air force unit of 490 men landed on the island of bataan in batanes province for the purpose of securing an airbase.

the japanese had secured the beachheads in lingayen gulf, the west coast of tayabas province and legazpi. the 14th japanese imperial army under the command of lieutenant general masaharu homma now started a gigantic pincer attack. the fate of luzon was sealed.

fighting valiantly, the usaffe led by general douglas mcarthur was thrown back by the implacable advance of the japanese. retreat to bataan became inevitable. on this peninsula the defending force, following war plan orange 3, regrouped for a last stand against the invaders.

plan orange 3 was a closely guarded secret, the details of which were known only to a few top american military leaders in the philippines. in the event that their position on the mainland of luzon became untenable, all of its defending forces would be withdrawn to bataan where a "lastditch stand" would be staged to contain the japanese and gain time for the united states to bring reinforcements to the philippines. bataan was to be defended to the "last extremity".

the first defensive line in bataan was the hermosa-dinalupihan line where on january 6, 1942 the 71st division, the american 31st infantry regiment and the 26th cavalry regiment fought off the pursuing japanese.

the main battle postion of the usaffe, the abucay-mauban line, was attacked along its eastern flank on january 9 but the japanese forces were repulsed by the 57th regimental combat team, reinforced by the 21st infantry of the 21st division.

on january 14, the japanese attacked the boundary of the 41st and 51 divisions. the 43rd infantry, holding the left flank of the 41st division, fought stubbornly and the japanese reeled back. the 51st infantry, holding the right flank of the 51st division, withdrew, creating a gap through which japanese advanced to the salian river, but they were discovered by a patrol of the 21st division were rushed to the salian river valley and after a savage battle succeeded in throwing back the japanese.

on january 15, the morong sector, defended by the 1st regular division, came under heavy bombardment. but the line held.

a few days later, the japanese penetrated through a huge gap in the silangnan-natib area and established a road block on the mauban ridge, thus cutting off the 1st regular division from the area. elements of the 71st and the 2nd pc regiment repeatedly attacked the road blocked but failed to dislodge the opposition.

although the II corps sector had prevented a similar envelopment in the salian river battle, the I corps position was now untenable. the abucay-morong line was abandoned on january 24. the orion-bagac line was established two days later.

meanwhile, in a bold action to trap the I corps, the japanese mounted landing operations on the west coast of bataan while fighting was still in progress at the abucay-morong line. the three ferocious engagements along the west coast of bataan, which became known as "the battle of the points" lasted from january 23 to february 13. these were in the lapiay-longoskawayan points area; quinauan-aglaloma points area; and in anyasan-silaim points. of the 2,000 japanese troops committed to these battles only 34 wounded soldiers returned to their lines.

on january 27, japanese troops were discovered in the rear of the orion-bagac line, the tuol river valley behind the 11th regular division and the goco-cotar river valley behind the 1st regular division. the series of fights to eliminate as the battle of the pockets, fought january 27 to february 17.

after the battle of the points, pockets and trail 2, which were brilliant triumphs of the usaffe, the opposition forces withdrew to regroup and wait reinforcements.

meanwhile, on march 12, macarthur left corregidor for australia where he began the build-up of the southwest pacific force. general wainwright took over the command of the united states forces in the philippines (USFIP). the usfip absorbed the ground and air forces, and all the US navy units left in the philippines.

the japanese high command reinforced homma's 14th imperial japanese army and toward the end of march, they struck. on april 1, homma opened up with his artillery, concentrating the fire against the position in front of mt. samat. the japanese air force also began saturation bombing of the rear positions of the usfip. then on good friday, april 3, the japanese moved in, striking hardest at the junction of the 21st and 41st divisions. mt. samat became an inferno. the forest was set on fire, men were buried alive in their foxholes and every inch of ground was covered by japanese fire.

on april 4, the japanese infantry attacked the 23rd infantry. crashing through the line along trail 4, they swerved towards the east and struck the flank of the 22nd infantry. by nighttime, the japanese penetrated 1,000 yards behind the main battle position of the 23rd. by april 6 mount samat was surrounded. but the 21st division still held the slope of the mountain.

late on the night of april 8, general edward p. king, in command of the luzon force, decided that the situation was hopeless and the only way out of the predicaments was for him to surrender bataan.

on april 9, 1942, they surrendered and the infamous "death march" took place.