PLAZA CUARTEL, PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, PALAWAN

Another attraction in Puerto Princesa City is the Plaza Cuartel, located near the front entrance of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral. This used to be a military installation that was converted into a small park and is situated in an area of  the city that is away from the busy commercial district. The serene surroundings of the plaza hides its turbulent past, this place being the site where 143 American soldiers, prisoners-of-war at that time,  were burned to death by their Japanese captors on December 14, 1944 during the height of the Second World War. The archway-entrance into the plaza, battered and dilapidated, stands as a reminder of the events that took place in the area many years ago.

The arch at the entrance of the Plaza Cuartel, one of the historical sites of Palawan.
(Photo by LDocena)

The historical marker at the arch tells the story of what transpired 
in this part of Palawan 67 years ago . (Photo by LDocena)

Inside the plaza is a Memorial Marker in honor of the 143 soldiers who perished on that fateful night of December 1944. Some of the men survived the ordeal by swimming towards Iwahig.

Beside the memorial marker is a Commemorative Monument installed by artist Don Schloat, himself a former WWII prisoner-of-war in Palawan. It was his dream to be able to install the marker and that dream became a reality on September 26, 2009 when the marker was finally installed at the plaza with the support of Puerto Princesa  City mayor Edward Hagedorn. On it is his sculpture of a burning man in agony..a grim picture showing how ugly wars can be.

The Memorial Marker for the 143 POW's who perished 
in this part of Palawan 67 years ago . (Photo by LDocena)

The Commemorative Marker installed by Don Schloat, 
artist and one of those POW's. (Photo by LDocena)

The sculpture on top of the Commemorative Marker. 
(Photo by LDocena)