Dumaguete City marked the 81st anniversary of its liberation from Japanese Imperial occupation on Sunday, April 26, 2026, with a solemn commemoration at Quezon Park beginning at 7:00 a.m., honoring the courage of Filipino guerrillas and American soldiers who together broke nearly three years of wartime darkness on April 26, 1945.
The early-morning rites drew the city's living links to that decisive moment in history — surviving spouses of World War II veterans, post-war veterans, and the sons and daughters of those who served. Their presence at the historic park transformed the ceremony from a state observance into a deeply personal tribute, as families who carried the burden of war stood once more on the ground their loved ones helped reclaim.
Combined Forces Secured City's Freedom
The liberation of Dumaguete was secured by a combined operation of Filipino guerrilla units and United States Army forces. The liberation marker at Quezon Park bears the inscription: "On this day 26th of April 1945 Dumaguete was liberated by a composite force of Filipino guerillas (75th and 77th Infantry Regiment) and units of the 164th Regiment, American Division, 8th Army, United States."
On April 26, 1945, remnants of the 164th Infantry Regiment went ashore at Sibulan, some five miles north of Dumaguete, rendezvoused with a Reconnaissance Troop of the 40th Division, and within two days attacked the 1,300-strong Japanese force entrenched in forbidding hill positions surrounding the city.
The guerrilla forces of the 7th Military District, headed by Col. Salvador Abcede, advanced from the south and converged with the American battalions to retake the provincial capital.
Three Years Under Japanese Rule
The April 26, 1945 liberation closed a chapter that had begun nearly three years earlier. Imperial Japanese forces landed at Dumaguete on May 26, 1942, after the fall of the Philippines, and all of Negros Oriental Province surrendered shortly thereafter.
Resistance against the occupation continued through guerrilla groups in the inner mountains, where many native residents had fled to escape enemy patrols. Throughout those years, young men from Dumaguete and across Negros Oriental joined the underground resistance.
Among them was Maj. Galicano L. Sibala, a 1941 business administration graduate of Silliman University and an advanced cadet officer of its ROTC program, who, like many other young Filipinos of his generation, was mobilized during World War II and went on to lead United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) units in Negros Oriental.
Liberation Day Marked Beginning, Not End of Fighting
While April 26 is celebrated as Liberation Day, the war in southern Negros continued for months afterward. Weeks of intense fighting followed as two American battalions from the 164th Infantry Regiment and the local guerrillas of the 7th Military District pursued the Japanese troops into the hinterlands.
Major combat operations continued until May 28, 1945, when the Japanese hill positions fell and Filipino guerrillas assumed responsibility for mopping-up operations. The American troops of the 164th Infantry Regiment stopped pursuing the Japanese forces by mid-June 1945, as they were ordered to travel to Cebu in preparation for the possible invasion of Japan.
The remaining Japanese forces in the hinterlands of Zamboanguita finally surrendered on September 22, 1945, after learning of Japan's formal surrender on September 2, 1945.
Recognition for Veterans' Families and Rebuilders
Sunday's commemoration recognized not only the bravery of the veterans who fought to free the city, but also the resilience of the families who rebuilt Dumaguete from the ruins of war. The post-war generation faced devastated infrastructure, displaced populations, and the heavy task of reconstruction — work that laid the foundation for the modern provincial capital that stands today.
The ceremony highlighted how families who endured the occupation period and subsequent reconstruction efforts contributed to the city's recovery. Their sacrifices extended beyond the battlefield to include years of rebuilding homes, businesses, and community institutions that had been damaged or destroyed during the three-year occupation.
Legacy of Unity Passes to New Generation
As the 81st commemoration concluded, organizers underscored that the unity which liberated Dumaguete in 1945 — Filipino and American, soldier and civilian, guerrilla and regular forces — remains the city's most enduring inheritance.
With the ranks of living World War II veterans now nearly gone, the responsibility of remembrance has formally passed to their spouses, children, and grandchildren. The attendance of these family members at Sunday's ceremony demonstrated the continued commitment to preserving the memory of those who served.
The commemoration served as both a historical remembrance and a call to present and future generations to maintain the spirit of cooperation and courage that characterized the liberation effort. Organizers emphasized that the values demonstrated during the war — unity across different groups, courage in the face of adversity, and commitment to freedom — remain relevant for contemporary challenges.
Historical Significance for Provincial Capital
The liberation of Dumaguete held strategic importance as the provincial capital of Negros Oriental. The successful joint operation between American forces and Filipino guerrillas represented a model of cooperation that was replicated in other liberation campaigns across the Philippines during the final months of World War II.
The involvement of local academic institutions, particularly Silliman University through its ROTC program, illustrated how educational institutions contributed to the war effort and the eventual liberation of the city.
As participants in Sunday's ceremony departed Quezon Park, the message remained clear: the spirit of unity that liberated these shores eight decades ago continues to guide Dumaguete City, and the names of those who fought, fell, and rebuilt will not be forgotten.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of Kenneth/Telegram