What served as the last sanctuary of Japanese soldiers during World War II was the astonishing Bugabuga Hill in Villaba, Leyte. Fittingly, after WWII, this site was declared as a historical landmark.
From 1943 to 1945, Bugabuga served as a tactical camp for the Japanese Imperial Army led by General Sōsaku Suzuki. There, they holed in in strategic military camps. And, at the height of the Leyte battle, when the American soldiers were closing in, the Japanese contingent took refuge in the maze-like caves of Bugabuga.
Here, many Japanese soldiers succumbed to various illnesses and starvation. During encounters with the United States' 96th Infantry Division, thousands of Japanese militias perished.
In Japan annals in reference to the Leyte battle, these mountains were referred to as Leyte Fuji or Calbukos or Canquipot.
Gold Hunters
Occasionally, Bugabuga is included in Japanese memorial tours organized for family members and relatives of the slain Japanese soldiers to commemorate the dark days of their loved ones.
With its mark in history, Bugabuga is considered a go-to place by both foreign and Filipino tourists. For wanderers seeking adventure, the unusual configuration of its caves has gained popularity.
Bugabuga Hills have striking rock formations in its peak that mirror the beguiling terrains below. The Dakit and Tolingon caves, for instance, are challenging pursuits with its creeping flora and toppled trees as if it were a scene in the Jurassic Park.
Once an adventurer reaches the peak, there is an awesome glimpse of the vastness of the mountains and an spectacular view of the ocean.
Decades after WWII, there are indications the Bugabuga is secretly frequented by bone and gold hunters. It is a belief that treasures were left here by Japanese soldiers. There are traces of excavations in tunnels where there are signs of diggings and damaged dripstones. Recently, it was discovered that a few passages had been intentionally blocked with soil and rocks.