“I want no prisoners. I wish you to kill and burn. The more you kill and burn the better it will please me. I want all persons killed who are capable of bearing arms in actual hostilities against the United States,” ordered by General Jacob Smith known as the  “Howling Jake” that left a scar on the Philippine history inducing the inhumane “howling wilderness” and enforcing the “Scorched-Earth Policy” or the total destruction of the villages in Balangiga.

In 1945, the World War II over the Philippine skies brought the nation to its darkest damnation, devastating the different realms on country’s aesthetic beauty. The ferocity of war was beyond imagination, bloods spilled baptizing the land, the heated battle induced scarcity of physiological needs to dominate the region and the mourning of every souls begging to spare their lives were heard in every corner of the archipelago as the thunderous bombing attacks reaches the territory.

The brutality of war unites the people of Northern Luzon to win the first victory happened in the history of the Philippines which is still unknown to most Filipinos. According to the book of Ben Cal, the victory of Bessang Pass was the most dramatic victory scored between the Filipino guerrillas with the help of the United States Forces in the Philippines-Northern Luzon (USAFIP-NL) led by Gen. Douglas McArthur against the troops of Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita famed as “Tiger of Malaya” liberating the Northern Luzon from the hands of the ruthless invaders. This success struggles lead to the chain the success in every province to regain their freedom and eventually ending the war in the pacific.

The shortage in the supply of weapons, equipment, ammunition and lack of combat trainings did not hinder the burning desire of the guerrillas to desperately eliminate the forces of the Invincible Imperial Japanese Army freeing the country for almost four years of mounting a war. Japanese Empire built fortress at Bessang Pass because of its strategic location deep in the jungles of Malaya, Cervantes, Ilocos Sur with a rise of 5250 feet above sea level. The stronghold is their tactical way to control Northern Luzon fortifying the towering mountains so that any attempts to enter would be instantly crashed and with the presence of compounded rough terrain it was difficult to reach Bessang Pass.

Nevertheless, with the selfless love for the country reigns in their being offering their souls, bloods and tears until they ruled out the Japanese Empire eradicating threats from the unwanted trespassers. “The work of Northern Luzon guerrillas alone was equal to a frontline division,” Gen. McArthur recognized the significant contributions of the Filipino guerrillas in predominating the World’s dreadful battle.