‘Joey Gaston’s WW2 story is a good way of concluding the observance of the 80th anniversary of the Philippine triumph: September 9, 1945, Victory Day in Negros Island.’
NATIONAL POW/MIA Recognition Day—Never Forget (September 19). From Mindy Kotler (Director, Asia Policy Point and American POWs of Japan Project, Washington, DC): Remember the men and women who fought with grace and courage, the silent battles and won the internal victories of our wars. Such as Olympian Louis Zamperini (Unbroken), who was tortured in Japan in a Nippon Steel mill. The POWs are mentioned in S. Res. 383 (commemorating the 80th anniversary of the conclusion of World War II with the surrender of Imperial Japan and honoring veterans of both the Pacific and European theaters). [https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-resolution/383]
Another September Souvenir: “Kasaysayan/Sejarah (Research and Teaching Southeast Asian Histories in the Face of New Historiographies)” where Parallel Session 3A (“Critical Perspectives On The Anti-Fascist War Of 1941-1945 In Southeast Asia” chaired by Bernard Karganilla, University of the Philippines Manila) presented the views of a natural scientist from Thailand (Suwit Laohasiriwong, Khon Kaen University), a teacher from Bulacan (Jesse Caling, Guiguinto National Vocational High School) and a scholar from Eastern Visayas (Lakan Uhay Alegre, University of the Philippines Diliman). In particular, Alegre sounded the call to remember the Leyte Guerrillas (Kangleon, Balderian, Jain, Nazareno, Capili, Erfe, Pabilona, Nuique, Miranda,Fernandez) because without the Leyte guerrillas, there would be no Leyte Landing. Karganilla, meanwhile, revived the narrative of the Tentera Anti-Jepun Penduduk Tanah Melayu (aka Malayan Peoples’ Anti-Japanese Army): “History is the written testimony – or interpretations – of events by those who live it or who inherit its spoils. When it comes to matters of military conflict, history is inevitably portrayed from the point of view of victors whose utterances end up in libraries and archives. Dominant and mightier forces have a way of keeping from prying eyes documents that may depict them in anything but the noble roles for which they would want to be remembered . . . at very least for the duration of their lifetimes. So you have files that remain classified for 30, 50, even 75 years. Some are never released. Such is the protection offered victors against the embarrassment of historical introspection. This is why winners are seldom called names.” [Chin Peng. My Side of History. As told to lan Ward and Norma Miraflor. Singapore: Media Masters Pte Ltd., 2003, pp. 09-10]
Souvenir No. 3. The Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho September 21, 2025 episode featured “Puno Ng Kayamanan?” about a purported treasure found beneath a tree in Mindanao. Was this part of Yamashita’s gold? Joke? [livestream replay, GMA Public Affairs, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8g2Ie84UmNE] We were asked, and for reference: “1974, magazines and newspapers already were calling President Marcos the richest man in Asia, with holdings estimated from $10 billion to $100 billion. Curiously, the source of his wealth could not be explained. With a grin, Marcos told people he had found Yamashita’s Gold. They thought he was joking. But a number of people were shown around Marcos’ vaults stacked with gold bars, some with strange markings. Maybe it was not a joke.” [Sterling Seagrave and Peggy Seagrave. Chapter 11: Pointing The Way. Gold Warriors]
Souvenir no. 4 is Himbon: “In 1985, the first Negros Trade Fair took place at the Makati Carpark with only 30 vendors. It was an initiative sparked by the wives of sugar planters in Negros Occidental. Together with Manila-based Negrenses and their friends, they gathered to support fledgling cottage industries in the province. Since the collapse of the sugar industry, farm workers turned to craft and other creative endeavors as a means for augmenting their livelihood, molding products that would echo the Negrense identity and spirit. Their wares were then shipped to Manila for free via Negros Navigation, courtesy of Daniel ‘Bitay’ Lacson, Jr. The inaugural event 39 years ago was a himbon. This act of coming together for a shared purpose would later give birth to a robust creative industry, powered by a growing community of MSMEs in Negros. Most of the exhibitors from the first Negros Trade Fair have evolved to become successful exporters. By 1988, the Association of Negros Producers was founded by 14 Negrense women and a gentleman who have since played an integral role in championing the MSMEs in Negros.”
At this event (The 39th Negros Trade Fair), Joey Gaston told us the WW2 story of the Miracle of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Negros. The fascist Japanese invaders were being defeated and these sore losers were massacring the Negrenses house by house. The next victims on their hit list were the Gaston residence, whose patriarch was moved to supplicate Almighty God in front of the Icon in his home. It worked as the truckload of war criminals who had already intruded into the area was suddenly dispersed by a mysterious warplane that swooped down with a strafing run.
This narrative of faith is also known as the Gaston Deliverance. The angel was an American pilot: “It was during the March/June 1945 period that something to which only passing attention was given at the time…I was “F” Company’s Executive Officer, and Bill Bailey was my Company Commander. Prior to our deployment to the area, in early March, shortly after our return from Corregidor to Mindoro, Bill Bailey was one of a number of 503d officers taken on B-24 missions from Mindoro to inspect the area for possible landing grounds and to familiarize themselves with the terrain. From the air it had been easy to see that the Japanese had been burning the large haciendas in the area, and had torched some nearby. The aircraft Bailey was in also had strafed a Japanese truck that was spotted heading from the highway to a large plantation house. The truck exploded…the incident had probably prevented a massacre of some of the almost 100 people who had spent their war living in and around the hacienda, and of course the destruction of the hacienda itself.” [https://corregidor.org/BEA503/gaston/01.htm]
Joey Gaston’s WW2 story is a good way of concluding the observance of the 80th anniversary of the Philippine triumph: September 9, 1945, Victory Day in Negros Island.
