Bataan World War II Museum
Bataan World War II Museum
Bataan World War II Museum
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
48 reviews
Excellent
25
Very good
18
Average
4
Poor
0
Terrible
1
biggixer
Cambridgeshire, UK62 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
Set inside a school and former military barracks this is a must see museum.
This historically significant site, which is also the location of the 'Surrender Site', is a must see for Filipino, American and other nationalities who have any interest in the horrors of WW2 and the history of the Philippines during Japanese occupation. This small museum documents the events of the surrender and the subsequent Bataan Death March. A sobering piece of history.
Currently its P50 admission for adults.
This historically significant site, which is also the location of the 'Surrender Site', is a must see for Filipino, American and other nationalities who have any interest in the horrors of WW2 and the history of the Philippines during Japanese occupation. This small museum documents the events of the surrender and the subsequent Bataan Death March. A sobering piece of history.
Currently its P50 admission for adults.
Written February 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Freekoffee
Washington, MO16 contributions
Sep 2018 • Friends
This is a most see if your a WWII history buff or just interested in the war. I visited on 9/4/2018 . I found the place to be very clean. There is a road going up to the cross, or you can take the stairs ( be in shape if you walk ). They do have shops at top for drinks and souvenirs.
Note: They will not let you take pictures inside museum. out side ok
Note: They will not let you take pictures inside museum. out side ok
Written September 4, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
J_A
Kansas City, MO74 contributions
Sep 2017 • Friends
I had taken the WWII Bataan tour through Tripadvisor / Viatar, a tour I do not recommend.
Located within the grounds of a nice little elementary school, the location of one of the April 1942 surrender. The absolute and unique highlight of this stop is that you are given a tour/presentation by retired school teachers! If you are exceptionally lucky as we were, you may meet and be blessed by a visit with a local war survivor and beautiful soul who’s story and love will stay with you forever. The highlight of our Philippine trip!
Located within the grounds of a nice little elementary school, the location of one of the April 1942 surrender. The absolute and unique highlight of this stop is that you are given a tour/presentation by retired school teachers! If you are exceptionally lucky as we were, you may meet and be blessed by a visit with a local war survivor and beautiful soul who’s story and love will stay with you forever. The highlight of our Philippine trip!
Written September 17, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pascal brandt
3 contributions
Dec 2021
December 17, 2021: website mentioning that museum (as well as Mount Samat) are opened. Fine, travelling from Manila to dicover. Nothing opened, neither Bataan museum nor Mount Samat memorial. With guys just telling us that we are wrong. Forget it, better to go to Wikipedia, will be more educational without loss of time.
Written December 17, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vanessa51910
Burbank, CA85 contributions
Aug 2017 • Family
What makes this site worth visiting is the fact that a bataan death march survivor will be the one to take you through the exhibits and share her personal stories which you wont find in any textbook. They dont get paid so please do give a generous tip!
Written September 1, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GeneAng
Seoul, South Korea164 contributions
Jun 2015 • Couples
A small museum but full of information regarding the WWII. Its only 1 floor and small room and you will be entering it from the left side then just follow the history and after that you will be watching a short movie bout WWII. Very informative museum. You can also see there some original things used during WWII even some parts of the plane that crashed in the Tarak Ridge. If you want someone to know the history of WWII, this would be the best place. It will take you around 40mins to an hour if you will be really reading those information there. Entrance is only 50php. Staff is friendly and accomodating.
Written July 5, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
William G
Liverpool, UK365 contributions
Jan 2018 • Couples
A must do if visiting Balanga and Bataan. We arrived here, expecting a very basic museum with little to do. However the staff there made it extra special all of whom are ex-teachers or volunteers.
There are lots of items to look at and see, so much information to read. They had a lady who had survived WW2 and was witness to the Bataan Death March, she showed us around while telling us incredible stories she had seen. I bought a Bataan death march marker souvenir on my way out, it is now one of my favourite souvenirs i have. Only downside to me is that you're not allowed to take photos in the museum, any that have been uploaded here have been taken against the museums permission.
There are lots of items to look at and see, so much information to read. They had a lady who had survived WW2 and was witness to the Bataan Death March, she showed us around while telling us incredible stories she had seen. I bought a Bataan death march marker souvenir on my way out, it is now one of my favourite souvenirs i have. Only downside to me is that you're not allowed to take photos in the museum, any that have been uploaded here have been taken against the museums permission.
Written August 13, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Candice T
manila, philippines224 contributions
Dec 2019
We visited this place as a side trip going to Morong, Bataan. It's located inside a public elementary school and it was quite small, maybe only about 100 sqm inside. However, there was a lady who talks about what happened during the war. It made it more interesting and alive for the kids. There was also a short video clip to give you some sort of history if you know nothing about the death march. Photos and videos aren't allowed inside though. But overall, it was alright.
Written December 14, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ezarra101
Alhambra, CA124 contributions
Apr 2017 • Solo
This very underrated museum is found behind Balanga Elementary School in Barangay Talisay, Balanga Bataan. It is a 10 to 15 minute walk from the plaza itself. The Museum is situated near the actual site of the Surrender of Bataan of General Wainwright to Masaharu Homma. On the first floor of the museum, there is no picture taking of the narrations but you can take pictures of the artifacts and relics themselves.
I was accompanied by a resident of the museum, a very gentle old lady who actually experienced the war times. To summarize her narration, The Philippines is under the colony of the USA. The greatest legacy the Americans gave the country is democracy and education. During these times, its pretty safe to leave your houses open. The Japanese conquered the country with minimal forces. They perfectly studied the country thats why these made them so successful. General Douglas Mc Arthur planned to escape. The brave forces of Bataan held on against the Japanese. By the time they surrendered, McArthur is out of the country already. The Japanese were so enraged that only Bataan held against them so they called the punishment The Bataan Death March.
During the Death March, they were first forced to endure the heat walking nearly 100 km. to San Fernando, Pampanga to take a train to Capas Tarlac. There, tales of heroes emerged. To give up during the ordeal means death. Fellow soldiers carried each other to avoid being killed. The father of Philippine Action Star FPJ hid under a widow's skirt to save from being killed. He helped raised the widow's children after the war to the extent his son continued his helping hand to the family. The Japanese caught the surrenderees drinking water and killed them. The ordeal also led to some soldiers escaping thus forming a guerrilla unit. Pres. Ramon Magsaysay is one of them. They manage to clean their area out of Japanese forces until America finally supported them liberating the country.
The museum despite the terror of war, you will see the heroic exploits of the people. In the first floor can be summarized like The surrender of Bataan to the Japanese to the surrender of the Japanese to the Allied forces in Baguio. A mini gallery about the effects of the war can be found on the second floor also the dedicated section to the widow of PRes. Magsaysay. Small museum but tells intimate stories of the darkest chapters in human history.
I was accompanied by a resident of the museum, a very gentle old lady who actually experienced the war times. To summarize her narration, The Philippines is under the colony of the USA. The greatest legacy the Americans gave the country is democracy and education. During these times, its pretty safe to leave your houses open. The Japanese conquered the country with minimal forces. They perfectly studied the country thats why these made them so successful. General Douglas Mc Arthur planned to escape. The brave forces of Bataan held on against the Japanese. By the time they surrendered, McArthur is out of the country already. The Japanese were so enraged that only Bataan held against them so they called the punishment The Bataan Death March.
During the Death March, they were first forced to endure the heat walking nearly 100 km. to San Fernando, Pampanga to take a train to Capas Tarlac. There, tales of heroes emerged. To give up during the ordeal means death. Fellow soldiers carried each other to avoid being killed. The father of Philippine Action Star FPJ hid under a widow's skirt to save from being killed. He helped raised the widow's children after the war to the extent his son continued his helping hand to the family. The Japanese caught the surrenderees drinking water and killed them. The ordeal also led to some soldiers escaping thus forming a guerrilla unit. Pres. Ramon Magsaysay is one of them. They manage to clean their area out of Japanese forces until America finally supported them liberating the country.
The museum despite the terror of war, you will see the heroic exploits of the people. In the first floor can be summarized like The surrender of Bataan to the Japanese to the surrender of the Japanese to the Allied forces in Baguio. A mini gallery about the effects of the war can be found on the second floor also the dedicated section to the widow of PRes. Magsaysay. Small museum but tells intimate stories of the darkest chapters in human history.
Written April 5, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jake2014jake
Pasig, Philippines600 contributions
Sep 2016 • Friends
The Museum is located inside the Balanga Elementary School at Basa St., Talisay, Balanga City. Just in front of the Museum is the Surrender Site monument, also worth seeing. While there are photos inside the Museum posted by others, at the time of this particular visit, photography inside the Museum at the ground floor, is prohibited. The taking of photos at the second floor of the Museum is allowed. There is a minimal entrance fee.
The Museum has two floors. At the first floor there will be a tour guide assigned to explain the highlights of the Museum, mainly on the events of WWII as it unfolded in Bataan. There are dioramas, photos of actual events and sites during WWII, relics of the time, and a film showing at the first floor of the Museum. These are all very interesting but also quite saddening, because so much atrocities were committed at that time. At the second floor, there is a photo exhibit pertinent to the subject.
Outside the Museum building but also within the school, see the torture chamber used by the Japanese, which is quite eerie.
Feel free to leave a donation, or buy souvenirs from the Museum's small shop, as the Museum is operated mainly from its income from the entrance fees, donations, and income from sales at the shop.
The Museum has two floors. At the first floor there will be a tour guide assigned to explain the highlights of the Museum, mainly on the events of WWII as it unfolded in Bataan. There are dioramas, photos of actual events and sites during WWII, relics of the time, and a film showing at the first floor of the Museum. These are all very interesting but also quite saddening, because so much atrocities were committed at that time. At the second floor, there is a photo exhibit pertinent to the subject.
Outside the Museum building but also within the school, see the torture chamber used by the Japanese, which is quite eerie.
Feel free to leave a donation, or buy souvenirs from the Museum's small shop, as the Museum is operated mainly from its income from the entrance fees, donations, and income from sales at the shop.
Written September 12, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
No they are closed only on a Sunday
Written February 24, 2018
Hi,
From what I understand the tour of the museum is free. You can purchase items that contributes to the development of the museum and donations are most welcome.
Written April 10, 2016
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