Onoda Trail and Caves – The forests of Lubang was the hideout of Japanese officer Lt. Hiroo Onoda for 30 years, who was convinced that the war was still not over. The soldier, along with three other comrades, first occupied the forest of Puting Bato Mountain in February 1945 to hide from the Americans who took over Lubang. It reached just 7 months before Japan finally declared their surrender. Unaware, the troops managed to survive on bananas, coconut milk, and hunting, sometimes stealing from the villagers nearby. In 1949, one of Onoda’s men, Private Akatsu, surrendered to the Philippine Army. Akatsu went back for the others. However, Onoda and his men refused to believe him, insisting that it was a trap. The succeeding years, efforts were made to persuade the soldiers; none of them yielded. Eventually, Onoda was the only one left (the two others died respectively in 1954 and 1972). It was only in 1974 when Onoda’s former commanding officer met with him and finally convinced him to surrender. Today, tourists can visit Puting Bato and retrace Onoda’s steps. The trail ranges a total of 8 kilometers, covering a series of visits to 4 caves in which Onoda and his men took shelter. To visit the caves, hikers are advised to coordinate with the local tourism office. Read More:  https://explora.ph/attraction/383/onoda-trail-and-caves