By Mike Baños
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY- The Cagayan de Oro Filipino Chinese Community in partnership with the Filipino-Chinese Amity Club, Incorporated hosted a Photo Exhibition on the 80th Anniversary of the End of World War II at Limketkai Mall from August 26 to September 30, 2025 and was open free to the public during mall hours (10AM-8PM).
“The local portion of our exhibit focuses on the Philippine resistance against the Japanese occupation during World War II,” said Efren T. Uy, chairman of the Cagayan de Oro Filipino-Chinese Community sponsoring the exhibit, in cooperation with the Filipino-Chinese Amity Club, Inc. which provided the main body of the exhibit.
“These can be broadly divided into three phases: The Japanese invasion and initial guerrilla warfare (1942-1943), the Japanese Occupation and emergence of organized resistance groups (1943-1944), and the final push for Liberation.”
The initial phase saw scattered resistance from remnants of the defeated Filipino and American forces, followed by the growth of organized guerrilla units like the 10th Military District in Mindanao.
As the war progressed, several organized resistance groups emerged, and unique among them were the Wha-Chi, also known as the Philippine-Chinese Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Forces, a resistance unit composed of Filipino-Chinese and Chinese immigrants.
Also known as Squadron 48 (after the Communist Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army of the National Revolutionary Army), they were established from the Chinese General Labor Union of the Philippines and the Philippine branch of the Chinese Communist Party and attained a peak complement of 700 men.
In Cagayan de Oro, one of the Chinese-Filipinos who joined the resistance was Lim Ket Kai, the patriarch of the Limketkai Group of Companies. While he wasn’t in the front lines, he was food administrator of their unit and was in charge of securing their provisions and supplies.
Unfortunately, he was caught by the Japanese and imprisoned, but escaped with the help of his fellow guerrillas. After the war, he went on to become one of the country’s leading Taipans.
Finally, the resistance intensified as Allied forces landed, leading to the liberation of the Philippines in late 1944-1945. With the Allied landings in 1944, the resistance became more active and coordinated with the advancing American and Filipino forces.
The 10th Military District was officially recognized by GHQ SWPA under Gen. Douglas MacArthur as the military district for the entire island of Mindanao. It was one of the most effective and well-organized guerrilla forces in the Philippines. Its success is attributed to the leadership of Colonel Wendell Fertig and the dedication of its members. The guerrilla forces were instrumental in the eventual liberation of Mindanao.
Among the dignitaries who graced the launching program on Wednesday, 27 August 2025 were John A. Asuncion, Oro-TIPC Dept Head representing Cagayan de Oro Mayor Rolando “Klarex” A. Uy; Atty. Constantino G. Jaraula, Chairman of the Cagayan de Oro World War II & Veterans Studies Committee; Filipino-Chinese Amity Club, Inc. National President Mariano Chua, Deputy Consul General Wang Mingqing and Consul Shan Jin of the Consulate General’s Office of the People’s Republic of China (PROC) in Davao City, DepEd Division of Cagayan de Oro SDS Roy Angelo D. Gazo with officials of the city’s leading educational institutions, and officials of the 23 Filipino-Chinese community associations of Cagayan de Oro.
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