PLAZA CUARTEL

Remnants of the untold suffering of some American and Filipino soldiers during the World War II are still found here in this place known as "Plaza Cuartel".

(Plaza Cuartel-- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

Located along taft street in Baranggay Liwanag (just across the Immaculate Conception Cathedral and Rizal Park) is a small park with a great history.

(Plaza Cuartel-- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

It was built sometime in the 1940's. The historic Plaza Cuartel once served as a garrison of American and Filipino soldiers until they were invaded by the Japanese invaders.

(Plaza Cuartel-- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

It may look like an ordinary park, but when you know its history, you will never look at it in the same way again. The once stronghold became a prison and a place of suffering and pain. A hundred and fifty American POWs and some Filipinos were imprisoned and were eventually burned in an underground tunnel under this park.

(Plaza Cuartel-- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

Behind these steel bars is the narrow opening of the underground tunnel where the American soldiers were kept, starved and burned alive.

(Plaza Cuartel-- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

Many Americans died but eleven (11) of them survived. Some people say that they escaped through the other ends of the tunnel.

(Plaza Cuartel-- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

(Plaza Cuartel-- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

Looking down the tunnel, I can't help but feel goosebumps. The dark history of the place is really something that makes the place super interesting.

(Plaza Cuartel-- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

There were even ghost stories in here that I've heard before. Some locals say that they've heard Japanese voices, feet-dragging-chains and a lot more. Quite creepy, isn't it?

(Plaza Cuartel-- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

Today, the gate of the tunnel is locked and no one is allowed to go through the tunnel. It now only serves as a tourist attraction and a venue for researchers and historians.

(Plaza Cuartel-- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

(Plaza Cuartel-- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

In the middle of the park is a memorial which lists down the names of 143 American POWs and the 11 survivors.

(Plaza Cuartel-- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

This sculpture shows us how the prisoners must have looked like while they're being starved to death by the Japanese invaders. It's an illustration of how the victims suffered.

(Plaza Cuartel-- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

What else is there in the Park?


In there you can find an old fountain,

(Plaza Cuartel-- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

... a mini version of Bohol's Chocolate Hills,

(Plaza Cuartel-- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

... an old Calesa (chariot),

(Plaza Cuartel-- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

... a well-maintained garden.

(Plaza Cuartel-- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

And a lot of benches scattered around the area.

(Plaza Cuartel-- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

(Plaza Cuartel-- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

This place was also known as lover's park. It was called as such because this place is crowded with couples when the sun goes below the horizon in the evening. It's just recently when the city government installed post lamps in the area and they implemented a schedule of closing the park after 6pm strikes. So, today the park is not flocked with much couples who goes here after dark unlike before.


Getting here is very easy since it is accessible by public utility vehicles from anywhere in the city. Just tell the tricycle driver that you intend to go to Plaza Cuartel or Lover's Park and they will bring you here.

If you're riding a multi-cab or jeepney, just go down the end of the route which is the Immacculate Concepcion Cathedral or the Cathedral Church and just walk to the other side of the church where you will find the gate of the park.

(Plaza Cuartel-- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

(Plaza Cuartel-- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

This is the view behind the vines. This is the cleaner version of the view because before, it really is a sore in the eyes when you take a glimpse in this area behind the fence of the park. I think that's the main reason why the park's management decided not to remove the vines from the fence to block the view of the slum area.

(Plaza Cuartel-- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

That area used to be a slum area, but not it is being developed by the local government as an extension of the baywalk. The squatters were transferred in another baranggay called Sicsican where they were given their own lots where they could put up their houses.

(Plaza Cuartel-- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

There's nothing so special about the place except of its history and the peacefulness and calmness which the place has to offer.

(Plaza Cuartel-- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

The park is open daily from 8:00am-6:00pm. There is no entrance fee.

(Plaza Cuartel-- Puerto Princesa City, Palawan)

ADIOS!

-The Palawenya Explorer ;)