United States Embassy Residence Baguio

UNITED STATES EMBASSY RESIDENCE BAGUIO

THIS BUILDING WAS COMPLETED IN 1940 TO SERVE AS THE SUMMER RESIDENCE OF THE US HIGH COMMISSIONER OF THE PHILIPPINES. DURING WORLD WAR II, JAPANESE MILITARY AND POLITICAL LEADERS OCCUPIED THE RESIDENCE FROM DECEMBER 28, 1941, UNTIL APRIL 27, 1945, WHEN ALLIED FORCES AND FILIPINO GUERRILLAS LIBERATED THE CITY OF BAGUIO, FORCING THE JAPANESE TO WITHDRAW INTO THE SURROUNDING MOUNTAINS. ON SEPTEMBER 2, 1945, AS THE JAPANESE SURRENDERED TO ALLIED FORCES IN TOKYO, COMMANDER OF THE JAPANESE ARMY IN THE PHILIPPINES, GENERAL TOMOYUKI YAMASHITA EMERGED FROM HIDING IN KIANGAN TO SURRENDER AND WAS BROUGHT TO BAGUIO. IN THIS BUILDING ON SEPTEMBER 3, 1945, AT 1210 HOURS, GENERAL YAMASHITA AND VICE ADMIRAL DENHICI OKOCHI, COMMANDER OF THE JAPANESE NAVY IN THE PHILIPPINES, FORMALLY SURRENDERED TO UNITED STATES’ FORCES REPRESENTED BY MAJOR GENERAL EDMOND H. LEAVEY, DEPUTY COMMANDER OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY FORCES, WESTERN PACIFIC. THEY SIGNED THE INSTRUMENT FOR SURRENDER, WHICH COMPLETED THE SURRENDER OF ALL JAPANESE FORCES IN THE PHILIPPINES AND OFFICIALLY ENDED THE WAR HERE. SINCE 1946, THE US EMBASSY HAS USED THE RESIDENCE FOR MEETINGS, RECEPTIONS AND STAFF RETREATS.