Our third stop was at the Palawan World War Two Museum. Actually, the full name is the Palawan Special Battalion World War Two Memorial Museum. I had to shorten the name for the title because it was too long for my computer to handle.
So, what’s the thing that makes it different from other war museums? Well apart from having the longest name I have come across for a museum, you get to play with some of the items on display.
Table of Contents
Background
Display at the Entrance
The owner of the Museum is Higinio Mendoza, Jr. who is an active officer in the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA.) The idea of opening the museum was to honor the memory of his father, Dr. Higinio Mendoza Sr., who was a guerilla fighter and was killed in 1944 by the occupational forces of World War Two.
Quite a bit of the collection is original pieces from the Second World War. There are also a few items which are non-war related but are part of the collection. For items which could not be acquired, replicas, such as the uniforms were made to allow people a deeper appreciation of the past.
Museum Sign
The museum itself was inaugurated on December 5, 2011 and opened to the public two days later on December 7, a day that will live in infamy. As many of you will recall, this was the day that Pearl Harbor was bombed, bringing the United States in to World War Two.
Museum
The first thing that will greet you is a 1957 Buick by the entrance. And though this particular model came twelve years after the end of the war, it was still a nice sight to behold.
1957 Buick
After entering the museum, you might notice that the entire ceiling is composed of camouflage material. The part over the jeep is the translucent type, with the opaque material covering the rest of the collection.
Ordinance
The area of the museum itself is not large, being the size of an average home. It is grouped into five major collections covering the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, Japan, and Germany.
Scattered throughout the small dividers are high caliber machine guns, rifles, swords, and even huge bombs.
Heavy Machine Gun
So what it the one thing people do whenever they see bombs on display? If you said they “They take pictures,” well, you’d be wrong. The first they do is tap on the shell to listen to how thick the steel is. Luckily, the ones on display have already been diffused to the sound people hear isn’t boom.
Incidentally, as you walk around, you’ll also find actual bills of the currency used during the war as well as pictures and maps hanging on the walls. Most of them are in very good condition and I hope that the good Palawan weather continues to play a part in keeping them that way.
Main Attraction
Perhaps the biggest attraction of the place is that the guides allow you to sit in a jeep or man the machine gun mounted on the back. Not only that, but they will lend you a uniform just to help in keep you in the spirit of things.
Rat Patrol
For those of you who are 80s Babies who caught the tail end of Black and White television, this is your chance to relive those Rat Patrol days!
Yup, one of you gets to sit in the driver’s seat while the other mans the machine gun. Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat! Ah, it’s wonderful being a kid once more. Just keep the noises down though. We wouldn’t want to alarm the ushers now would we?
Oh, the sound effects are not included; so you’ll have to bring your own. You’ll also have to do some bouncing to get that on-terrain feeling as you make the sounds.
Final Thoughts
There is no entrance fee for this museum, but donations are certainly welcome as they help to maintain the place. If you’re looking for a suggested amount, I’m sure that PhP 50 and above would be greatly appreciated.
Dedication
Also, though it is very tempting to touch the displays, try to hold off. The moisture from our hands may contribute to their deterioration. To allow generations to enjoy the displays, just take as many pictures, without a flash, as you like.
I did enjoy myself reliving those Black and White pictures. Now if there was a place to relive another old series – Combat, my experience would be complete.
It’s off to our next destination, so we’ll see you there!
Till next time, keep your cameras ready, your eyes peeled, and your minds open. You never know where your next adventure will take you!
Must Do’s
- Leave a donation to help keep the museum alive.
- Put on a uniform and get the chance to be part of the Rat Patrol.
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