A Japanese Tunnel in Davao

tunnel

When I told my friend Rey ( who is currently enjoying his tea at the University of Manchester -gasp!) that I’ll be flying to Davao, he told me that Davao has the largest Japanese population in the entire country during WWII. Oh, a sweet way to insult my history blood, what I only knew was that there are many sakuras in Davao. haha!

Urging me to check for any temples or Zen gardens in the city, I then turned to my best friend Agnes who took Law in Davao. And she told me that the city has a Japanese tunnel. In a snap I was on  a rush to fly to Davao.

If you have been reading my freelance writer blog ( thank you by the way) then, you know that I love writing about old houses and the likes. And this is something new…

I was with a group and tourist traps in Davao means visiting its various activity parks offering endless outdoor activities. Sadly, they are not my cup of tea.

The Japanese tunnel that most tourists visit while in Davao is part of the D’Japanese Tunnel Family Resort and Restaurant. When I learned about it, I was a little skeptical. You see, I can be a vagabond and I “hate” crowds.

For a fee of 50php per person, you can have a guided tour. I forgot our guide’s name but she was very sweet and patient with us. Here is the entrance of the tunnel with these Japanese soldiers figures. Yokoso?

entrance

As she narrated, it was presumably built in 1942 ( that is 3 years before the Japanese surrendered) and was unearthed by the current owner during the 70s. This tunnel spans up to 300 meters but there are more of them throughout Davao with some intersecting with one another.

As Japanese forces were on the brink of failure, they built tunnels where they can hide and still continue their daily operations as underdogs. They built this structure and I assume with a little help from Filipino prisoners.

To make this tunnel a little bit interesting, the management tried to depict what it is like to spend some time inside a tunnel.

japanese soldiers

 

In one of their chambers, they have their Buddhist altar..

buddha

 

It reminded me of Kamakura’s Daibutsu ( Great Buddha). Sorry Mom, I have to humiliate you here.

 

Even a prison. Gosh! Living underground in a tunnel is already a prison! Oh, that”s me, looking like a fattened cow for a banquet. haha!

prisoner!

 

Our guide said this is the chief’s quarter (?). And it is the dead end for tourists. And I was thankful.  I was no longer comfortable. You can see it in my dorky smile.

chief's quarter

 

There are installed lights to illuminate your navigation. See that ditch? Its from a natural spring inside the tunnel. (FYI, Davao has the best water in Asia in terms of safety).

tunnel

Our guide proudly shared that Kuya Kim ( ang buhay ay weather-weather lng) featured this place on TV show.

tunnel

 

As you traverse back hoping to see sunlight again, nature is still creating wonders in this rather gloomy place..

On its roof…

stalacs..

On one of its walls…

minerals

 

A few inches from its entrance are swallows’ nests, a.ka. bird’s nest ( yeah, the soup) hanging above us. I think we saw like 6 nests. Felt safe little bird?

Balinsasayaw

 

When this was “discovered”, they were able to collect bombs, coins and even a truck. Our guide said, all items are now housed in the Japanese Museum. Our driver had no idea ( was not shocked) where it is so I guess I will drop by to that museum on my next Davao trip.

It was a nice stop! Domo arigato gozaimasu onee chan!

exit

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