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.
