Information about Cata-al War Museum

Cata-al War Museum

Cata-al War Museum was opened by the now 86-year-old survivor of the battle, Porferio Cata-al, Sr. Inside the museum, you can see materials ranging from arms and ordnances to decorations, badges, uniforms and other personal effects; coins, mess kits, binoculars, 108-year-old Eastman Kodak cameras; and a still-functioning phonograph, assorted books, among many other antique objects), who is a consummate historian and a passionate collector.

Felix has inherited this love for his city's place in world culture, and has continued to expand this personal archive that is shown in their home museum. Spent and unfired ammunition, rockets, unexploded explosives and mortars, machine arms, personal equipment, weapons, handguns, swords, uniforms, helmets, shoes, field books, American jeeps, pieces of Japanese combat aircraft, and Nazi German artifacts—the museum has it all.

The tale of an aficionado's dream is to discover the riches of Yamashita, the supposed war loot looted from all over South East Asia by Japanese powers during World War II, and buried in caves, tunnels and underwater complexes in the Philippines, including Mount Talinis. Over the years of digging, he also found the bodies of 26 Japanese soldiers turned over to the Japanese government.

Today, Felix manages the museum and still has a wealth of war tales from villagers and soldiers who battled that time.

How to get there

Located along the main road from Dumaguete to Valencia, about 4.5 miles from the capital, is where travelers can find this iconic war museum. There's a sign on the front of Felix’s mansion for travelers planning to take public transportation such as jeepney or tricycle.

Best time to visit

The museum is open everyday, from 8 AM to 5 PM.