Some of you may still be wondering about the beautiful places or destinations to visit during weekends or holidays with your family and friends. If you have a budget, then there's no problem. After all, it's your money, not mine!
Here are the top two recommended destinations for an unforgettable experience exploring tunnels built during World War II:
1. Gap Japanese Tunnel - It is located at the Gap Farming Resort in Green Meadows, along C.P. Garcia Highway in Barangay Maa, Davao City. Upon entering the gate, I saw a big urinating carabao statue. An old lady was collecting entrance fees at a kiosk near the entrance. The resort features a swimming pool and a food counter where you can buy refreshments.
The most exciting part of my day was discovering the Japanese cave built during World War II. It was carved out under the direction of Lt. Hiroo Onoda, an Imperial Japanese Army Intelligence Officer who was sent to the Philippines to conduct guerrilla warfare against Philippine and US forces.
At the entrance of the cave, there was a large snake carved from wood, as well as a giant cyclops statue that seemed to stare right at me. As I walked forward, I came across a cashier's booth that served as their office for financial transactions. Just beside it, I noticed two large holes.
I initially thought there might be a snake hiding inside them. The caretaker warned me there was no electricity inside, so I turned on my phone's flashlight. If you are exploring alone or scared easily, you might want to skip going inside, as the resort does not assign tour guides.
It was so dark inside, and that was the creepiest part of my adventure. I noticed that balinsasayaw (swiftlets) use this cave as their natural home, building nests out of their hardened saliva. At one point, I heard a crying sound just beside the cashier's booth. It made me think the spirits of the women who were abused and forced into sexual slavery inside this cave during the wartime era.
Ultimately, this tunnel served as an ideal hideout because it was surrounded by mountains and dense forests. Today, it stands as a reminder of the war and of Lt. Onoda's evasion until he finally surrendered in March 1974.
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2. D' Japanese Tunnel
By private car, I stopped at the 7-Eleven store on Tahimik Avenue in Bangkal and turned right toward Matina Balusong Extension, near Hillcrest Subdivision. After paying the entrance fee at the front desk, I followed a tour guide. I was given a hard hat for head protection before entering.
As we stepped inside with the guide and other guests, I felt a wave of fear that the tunnel might suddenly experience an earthquake and collapse on us. This tunnel was dug by Filipino prisoners in 1942 during World War II, under the orders of the Japanese Imperial Army. It was used as a bunker, storage facility, sleeping quarters, and protection from air strikes and artillery as the Japanese forces waged guerrilla warfare against the Philippine and US government. In 1960, excavation began for a diversion road, which led to the tunnel's discovery. It was later sold to a private owner who built a hotel on top of and next to it.
Today, the tunnel is a very popular tourist attraction in Davao City. Although there are lights inside, the path we walked on was wet, so we had to wear proper shoes and step carefully to avoid slipping. I noticed that the tour guide walked quite fast. I figured out she might be in a hurry in case an earthquake suddenly struck and trapped us inside. On the right, I saw a spacious meeting room featuring three life-sized statues of soldiers, and on the left, a prayer room with a Golden Buddha. The Japanese soldiers managed to survive here because the tunnel had a water source at the bottom for drinking, which also helped circulate oxygen.
Further in, I saw a dungeon on the left side where Filipino and American prisoners were once locked up. When we reached the lower section of the tunnel, we had to duck slightly so our heads wouldn't hit the rock ceiling. Weapons and ammunition were stored in this area during the war. The tour guide explained that gold bars were once recovered from the Buddha statue in the prayer room.
This tunnel served as a hideout for a group led by Lt. General Jiro Harada, a high-ranking commander of the Imperial Japanese Army's Occupation Division. After nearly 4,000 of Harada's soldiers were killed, he retreated to the mountainous regions of Bukidnon. After we finished the tour, the guide told us we needed to head back the way we came, as the entrance also served as the exit.
You should be the next guest to discover this fascinating historical attraction in Davao City. Hurry and visit!
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