Information about World War II Museum

World War II Museum

World War II Museum is a private-owned museum in Puerto Princesa established in memory of Palawan’s local hero, Dr. Higinio Mendoza Sr.

History

Mendoza is a guerilla soldier who resisted against the Japanese forces. He lost his life while fighting against the Japanese troops in Canigaran beach so his family and his son Higinio “Buddy” Mendoza inaugurated this museum to commemorate the patriarch’s legacy.

This museum is also known as the “Special Battalion World War II Memorial Museum” is located along Rizal Avenue, Barangay San Miguel, Puerto Princesa City in Palawan. It is also dedicated to the thousand guerillas known as the Fighting 1000 or Palawan Special Batallion. They fought with Mendoza during the historic Second World War.

The memorial museum was opened on December 7, 2011, also the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, considered to be one of the most historical events during World War II. However, the museum does not only serve as a memorial for World War II heroes but also for the 143 Americans who died in the notorious Palawan Massacre at Plaza Cuartel.

Features

Full of historic background, the museum now stands as a landmark in Puerto Princesa showcasing the gallant past of Palawan. 

The main museum is divided into five galleries. It features war relics owned by Axis forces composed of the American, British, Russians, Germans, and Japanese troops. 

You can view displays on different forms of arms including bombs, ammunition, guns, knives, bayonets, sabers, and helmets, among others.

Since it is a memorial, uniforms of Americans who fought with the Palawan guerillas were also on display. Actual vehicles used during World War II are also showcased in the museum. One of the galleries, meanwhile, listed down the names of the 1,000 Palawan guerillas to honor their bravery. Another gallery features miniature warplanes and ships used during the war.

To give local and international visitors a feel of Palawan’s past, there are also historic items such as coins, paper denominations, musical instruments, and typewriters used by the Filipinos in the 1940s on display. They also built a small library where one can read books and materials about World War III. The historic establishment is also equipped with a Wi-Fi connection for its visitors.

The World War II museum, open on Mondays to Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., has an entrance fee of P30 but children below the age of 10 can enter the museum free of charge. The entrance fee is for the maintenance and care of the museum.