Post by insurrectomad on May 2, 2011 1:00:41 GMT -5
The Angeles City History Museum (Museo Ning Angeles) Is planing to restore part of the prison cell of US Army Pvt. Hayden Lawrence, who was held prisoner from the time of his capture in 1942 to his execution in 1943. The Museum was the Municipio, town hall and had a police lock-up to the left of the main door, and now currently being used as the office of the museum. Although the railings have been replace with sliding glass doors, the iron railed gate is still in situ. The Managers of the Museum have spoken with me about the possibility of re-creating a mock -up of Lawence's cell with a manikin of the prisoner Lawrence and also of the Filipino office worker who befriended him as well as one of the japanese soldier standing guard outside. This venture will entail making a cubical just inside the iron gate, with a mirrored wall one side to give the impression of a larger space as like the original cell. I have discussed with them the possibility of making some props to disguise the modern items in the office that occupies the rest of the cell. The tabletop Computer can be made to look like a japanese telephone/radio station, modern desktop telephone can be hidden under a helmet or hat etc so that it can appear like the office of the Japanese Army officers, that had occupied the entire building during the war. The Museums display rooms upstairs were used by flyers of the Jap. Airforce during 1942-45. I shall endevour to enlist help and support ( not to mention funding) from all I can here in the Philippines and elsewhere. Pvt. Hayden Lawence had been managed to escape from the column of prisoners during the "Death March" from Bataan, and having failed to locate the USAFFEE guerilla unit, tagged onto a HUK unit. Not happy to have him they eventually gave him the slip by rising early one morning without waking him. Wandering around and scrounging what he could he was then betrayed for half a sack of rice by a poor Filipino, intent upon feeding his starving family. For 3 day Lawrence sang America pop songs but with the words changed begging someone to speak in English to him. Herminio "MINIONG" Tiotuico, working in the Treasury Offices next door, took up his courage and after work went to eat his packed meal outside the cell. the Jap guard was won over by Miiong offering half of the food to him. A friendship was struck up and Miniong was able to speak and feed food to Lawrence also. One day in 1943, Lawrence was taken out and bayoneted to death crying out "My God" as the Executioners took turns to thrust at his legs first and moving up to his heart. Fortunately the family names and address had been passed over from Lawrence to his Filipino friend just days before. After the Liberation, Miniong was able to locate Haydons Grave and retrieve his dog-tags and inform the Lawrence family. Arrangements were made to ship the body back to the town of De Ville, Lousiana USA, and The Lawrence Family remained friends with Miniong's long after. The Museum can not hope to get much if any Government funding as it is overshadowed by the Pamintuan Mansion just a street behind that is in urgent need of repair and restoration. The Mansion's balcony was used by Pres. Aguinaldo to make a speech on the first anniversary of the First Republic and Independence. Then Gen MacArthur stayed there, using it as his HQ in 1900. Col. Suzuki of the Japanese Army occupied it from 1942 until 1945. Gen George MacArthur slept their as his father had done. If the Phil. Authorities have any funds, it will go there. So Comrades, If you can assist in any way the Hayden Lawrence venture, it would be a great boon! Salute! David