STA. CRUZ, Laguna – Filipino and Chinese World War II veterans gathered at the town plaza here the other day during the inauguration of the newly-renovated Filipino-Chinese World War II monument statues.

The historic affair which was marked by floral offering to the statues was also attended by Liu Jiancho, China’s Ambassador to the Philippines.

Among those who attended the event were World War II Filipino and Chinese veterans; members of the Filipino-Chinese community, Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce delegates, Philippine Army, Laguna Philippine National Police, and local government officials led by Sta. Cruz Mayor Ariel Magcalas.

During the ceremony, the remaining Filipino-Chinese veterans recalled their gallant efforts in fighting the Japanese soldiers who took refuge inside the Sta.Cruz Church here.

The Wha Chi Guerilla Movement, (also known as the Philippine-Chinese Anti-Japanese Guerilla Forces) was organized on May 19, 1942. It was known during World War II as Squadron 48 in honor of the New 4th Philippine Army, and the Eight Route Army Chinese guerrillas in China.

When the Japanese forces invaded Sta. Cruz, the Filipino-Chinese guerrillas had made the house of their leader, Mariano Chingtoco, as their headquarters and base of operations located at Regidor St., Barangay Poblacion here.

In January 1945, the remaining Japanese soldiers holed up in Sta. Cruz Church and the Wha Chi Guerrilla forces could not enter the church as they were fired upon by the Japanese every time they attempted to enter.

Chingtoco and his forces had decided to put hay stock around the church and burned it and attacked the Japanese forces as they came out of the church due to suffocation.

Lorenzo Dela Cruz, 84, a Filipino war veteran said that the Japanese also occupied the Laguna High School building (now Pedro Guevarra High School) in this town but they were so ruthless that they killed everyone whom they suspected as their enemy prompting the Chinese-Filipino leaders here to form the guerrilla movement.