Kiangan, Ifugao’s ONLY living WW2 veteran: Pedro Indunan honored for valor, service, song

Kiangan, Ifugao – In Kiangan, Ifugao, where the historic Kiangan War Memorial Shrine stands, lives a man whose century-long journey tells survival from the horrors of war and service to nation, education, community and culture in triumphs of peace.

Pedro Dinaon Indunan, who turned 100 in July, is the lone living World War II (WWII) veteran of Kiangan, according to the town’s local government unit. He is celebrated as the first regional director of Department of Education, Culture, and Sports – Cordillera Administrative Region (DECS-CAR), now the Department of Education – Cordillera, and the composer of Batanes provincial hymn.

WWII Years: From radioman to witness of surrender

Indunan, as reported by the National Museum of the Philippines, was a teenager when he served as radioman during the war against the oppressive Japanese rule in the 1940s. He recalled that the spear fighters and “bolo men” or volunteers under military recruitment fought with Filipino guerillas to fight for their homeland.

The bravery and courage of Indunan and his comrades eventually led to the capture and surrender of Japanese General Tomoyuki Yamashita, dubbed as “Tiger of Malaya,” on September 2, 1945, ending WWII in the country.

The following day, the general and his soldiers were then airlifted to Baguio City, where he formally signed the “Instrument of Surrender” before American Forces in Camp John Hay, as narrated by Philippine Veterans Affairs Office.

Since then, Kiangan etched its name in the world history as Yamashita’s surrender site. The town now celebrates Victory Day every September 2 to honor veterans like Indunan who fought for liberation.

The war was over but the service of Indunan did not end.

From warrior to educator

The warrior who once held rifle and radio chose chalk and pen as he pursued a career in education, dedicating decades to molding young minds. He rose through ranks and became Supervisor for then Benguet, Ifugao, Apayao, Kalinga (BIAK) division.

Being the Division Supervisor, Indunan facilitated the roll-out of programs under Ifugao Pilot Opportunity School of Agriculture (IPOSA), which offered agriculture to out-of-school youth and adults, when it started in 1961.

In April 1988, he was appointed as the first Regional Director of DECS, now DepEd, in the then newly established CAR. Indunan’s leadership helped lay the groundwork for then young administrative region, which at the time, was still rebuilding from shadows of martial law.

He held the post until his retirement in 1990.

One of his former colleagues recalled through a comment on social media that they were preparing for his retirement ceremony when the killer Luzon quake struck Baguio, where DECS-CAR was based, on July 16, 1990. The program, initially slated for his 65th birthday on July 17, was postponed by a day in deference to the tragic incident.

Hymn for isles

Indunan discovered another way to leave a mark when he was appointed as the Schools Division Superintendent of DECS – Batanes. Drawing inspiration from the islands and Ivatan people, he composed “Beautiful Batanes Isles.” The late Peter B. Morado Sr., former Music Supervisor in Ifugao, provided its musical arrangement.

In 2024, the song was institutionalized as the official Provincial Hymn of Batanes and its singing is now required in official functions, schools and government programs.

Recognizing him not just as a war veteran and educator but as a composer, the provincial government of Ifugao on July 21, through Resolution No. 2025-246, commended Indunan for his “historic and timeless legacies.” The same citation was given to the family of late Morado.

During this year’s celebration of Victory Day, tributes poured in for Indunan and the two other remaining living WWII in Ifugao province, namely Miguel F. Toledo and Mary Flores Torres, both from Lamut. The three are among the 16 surviving veterans in Cordillera.

As people continue to honor Indunan, they celebrate not just a century of life but of courage, wisdom, and service to the nation, and as Kiangan’s mountains stand watch, so does its lone living veteran – still inspiring, teaching and singing songs of people.