THE town of Kiangan in Ifugao held three days of activities to mark the 70th anniversary of World War II Victory Day.

Victory Day, which is a special non-working day in Ifugao, commemorates the day Japanese General Tomoyuki Yamashita surrendered to Filipino and American forces at his garrison at the Old Home Economics Building of the Kiangan Central School.

The surrender officially marked the end of the Japanese occupation of the Philippines.

The activities kicked off with a marathon from Mt. Napulawan in Hungduan, where Yamashita troops made a last stand, to the town of Kiangan where he surrendered.

On September 1 a marker listing the names of Ifugaos who fought during the war was unveiled at the old KCS HE building that has been converted into a Peace Museum.

Victory Day was highlighted by a parade from the town proper to the WWII Memorial Shrine.

Guest of honor at the program that followed was retired Air Force Brigadier General Ildefonso Dulinayan, the first Ifugao native to become a general in the Philippine military and former Ifugao governor. (DBC)