Palawan Special Battalion WW-II Memorial Museum

Palawan Special Battalion WW-II Memorial Museum World War II Memorial Museum This is located at Rizal Avenue Extension, Bgy. Bancao-Bancao, Puerto Princesa City. Mendoza, Jr. Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary.

The Palawan Special Battalion WW-II Memorial Museum was inaugurated on December 5, 2011 and was officially open to the public on the day of Pearl Harbor bombing December 7. This museum is privately operated by VADM Higinio “Buddy” C. VADM Higinio C. Mendoza is a second child of Dr. Higinio A. Mendoza, Sr. the declared World War II Hero of Palawan. VADM Mendoza started his hobby of collecting World

War II memorabilia last 2007 and placed collection in one room of his house and seen only by closed friends. In the next few years of continues collection, he were able accumulate more and more World War II relics from other countries like US, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Europe, Hong Kong and other countries where he visited. Other relics were donations from friends, veterans and families of WW-II. VADM Mendoza’s number one inspiration on this endeavor is his father and the Palawan Fighting One Thousand Guerilla of WW-II who served under his father's command. His ambition is to honor the unsung Bolo Battalion Palawan Guerillas of WW-II and USAFFE members who sacrificed their lives in defense of our freedom by displaying their names and pictures on the wall. The idea of opening this museum to the Public was conceptualized by the family and friends who also contributed World War II relics and literature. VADM Mendoza was 6-10 years old during the Japanese occupation in Puerto Princesa, everything that happened during the Japanese cruelty to the Filipinos were fresh in his mind. In spite of the pain that the Mendoza Family and other Palaweño suffered during the Japanese occupation still they want to share the experiences for us to appreciate the sacrificed done by our forefathers for the freedom we are enjoying today through the Palawan Special Battalion WW-II Memorial Museum. Aside from giving honor to our forefathers for their sacrificed during the World War-II, this museum is also for the young generation of Palawan. As the author of the museum said “This museum is not mine, this is ours….the families of the Guerilla Veterans of Palawan, and those people who continue to inspires me by giving their most important remembrance of WW-II”. This museum is not intended for business purpose but rather to bring forward the honor of the fighting men that gallantly served our country during the WW-II. The museum has five galleries which profiles the major countries participated during the WW-II: the United States, Japan, Germany, British and Russia. Each room displays World War II Memorabilia like soldier’s uniform, armaments, weapons, bayonets, flags, aircraft carrier & bomber plane models and other significant relics of World War-II. There are collections of World War-II books at the mini-library; for visitors who want to stay longer they will enjoy the wide collection of WW-II music while reading and coffee offered by the small snack bar. Displays at the wall in the reception area are numbers of old pictures of Puerto Princesa and significant people involved in the WW-II specially the survivors of the most horrible Massacred done by the Japanese to the American POW of WW-II with their stories told to VADM Mendoza after their sentimental journey back to Palawan. The visitors can enjoy the picture taking at the MacArthur Jeep of 1941-1945 model while handling a .30 caliber machine gun on the jeep and wearing a United States soldier’s uniform and helmet. After the museum tour, the visitors can purchase souvenir t-shirt and cold drinks. The museum has also Wifi connection for visitors who want access the internet, they can use the museum desktop at a minimum cost or their own laptop for free Wifi connection. The Museum charge a minimum entrance fee of P 50.00 per person while free for children below 10 years old to maintain it's operation. Regular museum guide is available to assist visitors and provide necessary information, open everyday from 8:00am-5:00pm.

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28/05/2026

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🇵🇭 𝓡𝓐𝓘𝓢𝓔 𝓨𝓞𝓤𝓡 𝓕𝓛𝓐𝓖❗ 🇵🇭

Starting today, we celebrate the National Flag Days by displaying our National Flag in our homes, schools, and offices in celebration of our nation’s independence.

Ceremonies will be held throughout the country, especially in the following sites:
📌 Dambana ng Pambansang Watawat, Alapan, Imus City, Cavite (with City Government of Imus)
📌 Rizal Park Luneta, Ermita, Manila (with National Parks Development Committee and Salute To A Clean Flag Movement)
📌 NHCP Museo nina Marcela Mariño at Felipe Agoncillo, Taal, Batangas (with Municipality of TAAL)
📌 Samonte Park, Cavite City, Cavite (in the afternoon, with City Government of Cavite)

May 28 was selected as the start of the National Flag Days as it is the anniversary of the Battle of Alapan. Filipino revolutionary forces under the overall command of General Emilio Aguinaldo, who returned from exile on 18 May 1898, defeated a large Spanish force at the field of Alapan, Imus, Cavite. In celebration of the victory, Aguinaldo unfurled and showed to the Filipino people for the first time the new National Flag made by Marcela Mariño de Agoncillo in Hong Kong at the Teatro Caviteño in Cavite City.

The new flag, which featured the red and blue fields with a white triangle superimposed by a sun with eight rays and three stars, would become the Flag of the Philippine nation and is the basis for our present-day standard.

➡️ Download and use our official posters:
bit.ly/Kalayaan2026posters

➡️ Learn how to properly display our National Flag:
bit.ly/FlagAndHeraldicCode2018





Thank You for your visit - a Documentary on WW2 is being filmed by Director Fang Li and TeamLi Yanpei, Lei Yu, ZINKE/FLO...
24/05/2026

Thank You for your visit - a Documentary on WW2 is being filmed by Director Fang Li and Team
Li Yanpei, Lei Yu, ZINKE/FLORIAN JOACHIM ERNST, KERN/JAN MICIAEL
Crowley/Kelley Thomen , Paul de los santos. Mabuhay !!🇵🇭🇵🇭

18/05/2026

84 YEARS AGO TODAY — Tuluyang nasakop ng mga hapon ang Puerto Princesa noong World War II

Tuluyang nasakop ng puwersang Hapones ang Puerto Princesa noong May 18, 1942, ilang araw matapos bumagsak ang Corregidor sa kasagsagan ng World War II.

Pero bago pa man tuluyang mapasakamay ng mga Hapones ang kabisera ng Palawan, nakaranas na ito ng matitinding pambobomba kabilang ang air raid noong unang araw ng January 1942.

Hindi man nila direktang inokupa ang buong Palawan, mabilis namang nagtayo ang mga Hapones ng mga strategic garrison, paliparan, at himpilang pandagat sa mahahalagang lugar gaya ng Puerto Princesa, Iwahig, at Coron.

Ginawang sentro ng administrasyon ng mga Hapones ang Puerto Princesa kung saan itinayo rin nila ang isang military airfield gamit ang sapilitang paggawa ng mga bihag na sundalong Amerikano.

Dito rin itinayo ang Camp 10-A o Palawan Barracks — isang labor camp para sa mga prisoner of war o POWs na kalaunang naging lugar ng isa sa pinakamadugong trahedya sa kasaysayan ng digmaan sa Pilipinas.

Ngayon, ang dating lokasyon ng Camp 10-A ay kilala bilang Plaza Cuartel, isang makasaysayang pook sa Puerto Princesa na nagsisilbing paalala sa sinapit ng mga bihag noong panahon ng okupasyon.

Habang kontrolado ng mga Hapones ang mga baybaying lugar, umatras naman sa kabundukan ang mga Pilipinong sundalo at lokal na gerilya upang ipagpatuloy ang paglaban.

Kabilang sa mga nanguna sa resistance movement si Higinio Mendoza Sr., dating gobernador at manggagamot, na nag-organisa ng mga gerilya laban sa mga puwersang Hapones sa Palawan.

Naging aktibo rin ang mga sibilyang boluntaryo na tinaguriang “Bolo Battalion,” na tumulong sa pagdadala ng pagkain, impormasyon, at suplay sa mga gerilya sa kabundukan.

Ang okupasyon ng mga Hapones sa Palawan ay humantong kalaunan sa Palawan Massacre noong Disyembre 14, 1944 kung saan pinaslang ang 139 na Amerikanong POWs sa Plaza Cuartel.

Pinalaya ang Palawan noong 1945 sa tulong ng pinagsanib na puwersa ng mga gerilya at sundalong Amerikano matapos ang paglapag ng US forces sa Puerto Princesa Bay.

Check out the Vietnamese refugee story at our museum where we have the new Vietnamese refugee memory room.
30/04/2026

Check out the Vietnamese refugee story at our museum where we have the new Vietnamese refugee memory room.

𝗛𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶 𝗸𝘂𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝗼 𝗸𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶 𝗺𝗼 𝗽𝗮 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗸𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗴 “𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗼 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴”! 🍜

As we conclude the 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗼 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, with the theme “𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗼 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗹𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗡,” we highlight a dish that reflects cultural exchange and adaptation—the 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗼 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴! More than just a local favorite, it has become a comfort food for many Palaweños and a must-try for visitors exploring the province.

The roots of Chao Long in Palawan can be traced back to the late 1970s, when Vietnamese refugees arrived in Puerto Princesa and were temporarily housed in the Philippine First Asylum Center. Along with their stories, resilience, and hopes for a new beginning, they brought with them their culinary traditions, which would later influence the local food culture of Palawan.

Among these traditions was 𝙋𝙝𝙤̛̉, the traditional Vietnamese noodle soup. Over time, however, this dish was often associated locally with what was referred to as “Chao Long.” In its original Vietnamese context, 𝑪𝒉𝒂́𝒐 𝑳𝒐̀𝒏𝒈 is actually a rice porridge served with assorted pork organs such as liver, intestines, and blood sausage, and is more similar to Filipino 𝙡𝙪𝙜𝙖𝙬. In Palawan, the term evolved and was adapted to describe a noodle soup similar to 𝙋𝙝𝙤̛̉, reflecting how names and meanings can shift as food travels across cultures.

Today, Chao Long is no longer limited to Puerto Princesa City. Its popularity has spread across the entire province, making it available in almost every municipality. This widespread presence reflects how food transcends its origins, evolves through local preferences, and becomes deeply embedded in community identity. Chao Long shows how shared flavors can connect people, carrying with it a history of migration, adaptation, and cultural belonging.

𝘒𝘢𝘺𝘰, 𝘴𝘢𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘺𝘰 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘬𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘱 𝘯𝘢 “𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘰 𝘓𝘰𝘯𝘨” 𝘴𝘢 𝘗𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘯?

#𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗼𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴 #𝙋𝙝𝙤̛̉

References: Vietnamese Heritage Museum. Palawan refugee camps, Philippines. Retrieved April 26, 2026, from [https://vietnamesemuseum.org/our-roots/refugee-camps/philippine/palawan/](https://vietnamesemuseum.org/our-roots/refugee-camps/philippine/palawan/) ([Vietnamese Heritage Museum]

Tunac, H. J. (2024, January 4). What is Chao Long and why is Vietnamese food so popular in Palawan? GMA Integrated News. [https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/food/893084/what-is-chao-long-and-why-vietnamese-food-so-popular-in-palawan/story/](https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/food/893084/what-is-chao-long-and-why-vietnamese-food-so-popular-in-palawan/story/) ([GMA Network]

Pham, V. Vietnamese pork organ porridge (cháo lòng). Vicky Pham. [https://vickypham.com/blog/vietnamese-pork-organ-porridge-chao-long/](https://vickypham.com/blog/vietnamese-pork-organ-porridge-chao-long/)

Vergara, P. (2024, September 29). Puerto Princesa is the Philippines’ hidden Vietnam. Lifestyle Inquirer. [https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/517926/puerto-princesa-is-the-philippines-hidden-vietnam/](https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/517926/puerto-princesa-is-the-philippines-hidden-vietnam/) ([Lifestyle Inquirer]

30/04/2026
25/04/2026

Address

Rizal Avenue
Puerto Princesa
5300

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+639173264342

Website

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