Filipino-American-Japanese Amity Shrine
Valencia – Negros Oriental
The historical obelisk of the Filipino-American-Japanese Amity Shrine rests on the highlands of Valencia. The monumental shrine stands on the very ground where the furious battle of World War II was once fought. The Fil-Am Japanese Shrine was built to commemorate the souls of the departed who fought in the furious war. The shrine symbolizes the termination of the melancholic era and the birth of peace and friendship among the three countries.
Filipino-American-Japanese Amity Shrine
The obelisk (stone pillar) of the said shrine is erected with a solid concrete base that rises about up to 30 feet with a three-sided pillar that represents the three countries. On the 22nd September 1945, the Japanese Imperial Forces surrendered to the combine forces of the Americans and the Filipinos, signaling the end of hostilities in Negros Oriental. By 1997 the actual shrine was built and unveiled by the war veterans and the surviving families and their descendants and some who were one way or another part of the war.
Getting to the Fil-Am Japanese Shrine
The road going uphill the shrine would require a skilled driver for the steepness of the road may be dangerous for some standard vehicles. It is best visited as well any time of the year as long as the weather is dry. Dumaguete to Valencia will take a 20-minute drive and another 30-40 minute going to the site of the shrine. Even with some unpaved road, the majestic view of the Fil-Am Japanese Shrine and the even more breathtaking view of Dumaguete city.
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