LAGAWE, Ifugao (PIA) — The story of the final campaign that brought World War II in the Philippines to its decisive conclusion can now be read in the newly unveiled book, “Victory in the Mountains: The Capture of Yamashita and the Triumph at Kiangan (1945).”
Major General Gulliver Señires, 5th Infantry Division (ID) Commanding Officer, Governor Jerry U. Dalipog, and Undersecretary Reynaldo B. Mapagu, Administrator of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), led the launching of the book during the 81st Victory Day celebration in Kiangan on Sept. 2, 2026.
Published by the 5th ID in partnership with the PVAO and the Ifugao provincial local government unit, the book chronicles how Filipino guerrillas, the United States Armed Forces in the Philippines–North Luzon (USAFIP-NL), American troops, and the people of Ifugao jointly dismantled the last Japanese defenses under General Tomoyuki Yamashita.
“More than a history of war, Victory in the Mountains is a tribute to the courage of those who fought for freedom and a reminder that the greatest triumph of victory is the peace that follows,” the 5th ID stated.
Based on historical accounts, Gen. Yamashita was captured in Kiangan, Ifugao, on Sept. 2, 1945, before he was brought to Baguio City for the formal surrender ending World War II in the Asia-Pacific.
Beyond recounting military operations, the publication also honors the extraordinary contributions of war heroes whose resilience, sacrifices, and intimate knowledge of the highlands proved indispensable to the Allied victory.
It also serves as a bridge between generations by keeping the lessons of Kiangan’s wartime history accessible to future Filipinos.
The publication of the book was also made possible through the contributions of a pool of writers and members of the editorial board composed of representatives from the academe, government, and non-government institutions.
Some copies of the book were turned over to the PLGU for distribution to the local government units. (JDP/MBL-PIA CAR, Ifugao)
