The Museo ning Angeles, which is well-preserved and ideally located in front of the Holy Rosary Church and a few steps away from Pamintuan Mansion, was initially built in 1922 as the Municipio del Pueblo, or the Town Hall of Angeles City. Earlier than that, the site was the location of a casa tribunal (courthouse) during the Spanish rule that burned down in 1860. Today, after the town hall was moved to its current location, it now serves as a museum showcasing historical artifacts, artwork, and relics from the city and the province of Pampanga.

Welcoming visitors is a statue of Jose Abad Santos, a San Fernando, Pampanga native who became the fifth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines in 1941. Tragically, his term wouldn’t last long as he was executed by the Japanese during World War II on May 1, 1942.

The non-profit organization Kuliat Foundation manages and operates the two-story museum. Its main objective is to promote a broader understanding of the history, culture, and traditions of the City of Angeles. The ground floor of the building contains several galleries that showcase the city's evolution and its significant role during World War II.

A deeply moving exhibition showcases a collection of poems written by Japanese soldiers, expressing profound remorse for their actions during the war. One was touchingly translated to us by the museum's guide, and I couldn't help but let it tug my heartstrings with its heartfelt message of forgiveness.

Another one penned by a Kamikaze pilot before he sets out on his mission of no return says, "Even if our bodies dissolved in the southern seas and turn into water, it'll still water the newly grown flowers.". After the war, the family of the Kamikaze pilot etched his poetry in a marble stone and presented it to Dr. Romeo Taruc, the sole son of Hukbalahap (the famed Guerilla force during World War II) movement head Luis Taruc, as a gesture of asking forgiveness to the Filipino people.

One artwork that stood out to me is a painting portraying Filipinos compassionately providing food (thus, they were called the "food throwers") to both Filipino and American prisoners of war during the infamous death march during the infamous death march that passed through the province of Pampanga.

The Culinarium, a gallery dedicated to the cuisine of the province of Kapampangan, can be found on the building's upper level, which also provides a panoramic view of the Holy Rosary Church below. Traditional cooking implements and dioramas sit alongside a replica of a pre-war kitchen. Thankfully, they didn’t asked us to try any fried frogs on our visit, but we did get to enjoy a hot cup of sikwate (tsokolate) and a plateful of bibingka.

As a history buff and museum enthusiast, I am thrilled that in this San Fernando heritage neighborhood, one can discover a museum, a historic mansion, and a Spanish-era church in virtually one block, as well as a number of other old houses dating back to the pre-war years. I guess, red-light district no more. Angeles City is shaping up as a culinary and historical destination that one shouldn’t miss in this part of Central Luzon.

The history of World War II was like this wild story that just seeped into the very consciousness of my childhood. Ever since I stumbled upon my late father’s encyclopedia set back in first grade, I've been captivated by the pages that delve into the timeline bridging World War I and World War II.

Naturally, my fascination focused more on the theatre of war that unfolded within our nation's borders, as Japan's invasion took hold. No tales of valor from our brave Filipino soldiers can be told without mentioning the fierce conflict that raged upon the lands of Luzon, commencing in the tunnels of Corregidor, and descending in madness to Bataan, and subsequent skirmishes all over Luzon's terrain, when guerilla fighters emerged and continued the war following the fall of Corregidor and Bataan.

The gallant stand made by Filipino and American soldiers in the Philippines widely delayed the timetable of the Japanese during World War II. After a string of easy conquests in Southeast Asia, the Japanese expected the same to happen in the Philippines that they already looked beyond invading Australia.

Alas for them, their invasion of the Philippines dragged on for months and General Douglas McArthur managed to escape Corregidor via a submarine heading to Australia to establish the Allied defense.

As a result, the Philippines became one of the most important battlegrounds of World War II, leaving behind a wealth of artifacts, personal letters, and anecdotes.

While many of these can be seen in museums across the country, in the municipality of Bamban in the province of Tarlac, one can find a single story establishment that houses a collection of World War II artifacts that rivals or even surpasses that of the country's other dedicated War Museums.

A One-Man Curation of WWII Mementos

As part of the World War II Historical Tour organized by the Department of Tourism — Region III, we visited the Bamban World War II museum when we reached the Tarlac leg of our three-day educational trip that also covered sites in the provinces of Pampanga and Bataan.

Rhonie C. Dela Cruz, who is also the chairman of the Bamban Historical Society, established this museum in 2005. Applying his passion as a historical tour guide accompanying guests many of whom were relatives of American and Japanese war veterans, Rhonnie was able obtain a wide variety of artifacts and relics from his guests.

In a short amount of time, Rhonie's humble abode transformed into a small museum filled with artifacts that evoke the peak WWII events of the years 1941–1945. Inside, visitors can discover a treasure trove of photographs, personal letters, and cherished belongings generously entrusted by family members of fallen war veterans. These artifacts come together to create a vivid and compelling narrative of World War II. There’s also a collection of mesmerizing reels of wartime reportage vividly portraying the fierceness of the Battle of Bataan and those that were fought in the Bamban-Clark area. The Bamban WWII Museum is further enriched by a collection of carefully curated books, maps, articles, and papers sourced from the US National Archives.

When asked what other reason provoked Rhonie to curate such a stunning collection. He told us it was because of his desire to honor the memories of his grandfather, grand uncles and uncles who went to fight during the war, particularly in the pivotal battle of Bamban Hills, where Filipino and American troops delayed Japanese troops' advance to Bataan.

Furthermore, Rhonie Dela Cruz and his fellow members of the Bamban Historical Society are also scouting and surveying a couple of World War II tunnels (including one which he described as "intact Japanese underground Naval headquarters") they soon intend to open to tourists once all surveying methods are completed.

In what was meant to be a mere pit stop, our visit to Bamban World War II Museum stretched into a couple of hours, as we were immediately gripped by the stories spun by Mr. Rhonie Dela Cruz. Even I, with my vast knowledge of our nation's war history, cannot resist the allure of Rhonie's narratives, as they weave their way into my curious ears.

As we leave the museum's grounds, I reflect on how important it is for younger people to learn not only about the atrocities of war but also about the bravery of the Filipinos who served in World War II as part of the "greatest generation." What better way to achieve that than paying a visit to Bamban World War II Museum and hearing Mr. Rhonie Dela Cruz speak about the war.

I really hope that the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) can assist Mr. Rhonie Dela Cruz in preserving his collection by building a museum that meet global standards equipped with a climate- and humidity-controlled features to ensures the longevity of the museum’s collection.

Almost 80 years after the surrender of the Japanese and the end of World War II, we continue to wage battle, this time against misinformation. In the fight against falsehoods and historical revisionism, knowledge is a powerful tool in its own right. We should use all the tools at our disposal, including the Bamban World War II Museum.