Plaza Cuartel — Attraction in Puerto Princesa

During a city tour of Puerto Princesa City, January 2016, we also visited the Plaza Cuartel (english translation - Park Quarter) on Taft Street. Just across the street is the Catholic Cathedral. This site was once a military base then as a prison with underground tunnels used by the Japanese Army during World War II. It is now a nicely developed park in the city with large trees that provide cool shade and benches or low concrete structures to sit on & relax. There are paved pathways to stroll around & different things to see. There is also a nice view of the bay. We saw & read a number of informative posters about the role of Palawan during WWII, story of survival, Palawan Massacre & other events about the war. Then there are memorials honoring persons who paved the way to Liberation & a bronze memorial for the 143 WWII American prisoners who were atrociously burned to death by Japanese soldiers, 14th Dec. 1944. There were pictures of the 11 survivors. The sculpture of a prisoner of war is unique & remarkable. The park is open to public during daytime....

The Palawan massacre occurred on 14 December 1944, during World War II, near the city of Puerto Princesa in the Philippine province of Palawan. Allied soldiers, imprisoned near the city, were killed by Imperial Japanese soldiers.

Of the victims, 123 are buried in a mass grave at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri. The incident sparked a series of POW rescue campaigns by the US, such as the raid at Cabanatuan on January 30, 1945, the raid at Santo Tomas Internment Camp on February 3, 1945, the raid of Bilibid Prison on February 4, 1945, and raid at Los Baños on February 23, 1945. It was testimony of survivor Pfc. Eugene Nielsen that convinced the US military to embark on a campaign to save the POWs in Philippines in 1945. In 2006, Nielsen was interviewed again by Geoffrey Panos on behalf of...

This was the final stop on a day tour of tourist spots in Puerto Princessa. This tour is referred to as "CITY TOUR" although most of the locations are not in the city. Plaza Cuartel is a picturesque spot next to the Immaculate Conception Cathedral. What is notable is the memorial markers for those lost in the Palawan Massacre. Our tour guide was able to tell the story and that made this more meaningful. The plaza could benefit from a plaque that details the events. If you do not come with a tour guide, please google Palawan Massacre in advance. Other than the memorial, and some beautiful spots for pictures, there's not a lot else to do here. A few street vendors are selling drinks, snacks, and souvenirs,...