Podcast
The Yamashita Treasure
Hosted by Noeme Espenosa · EN
Readings in Philippine History
2episodes
Episodes
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Unravelling the Lost Treasure
May 23, 202100:05:05Tap to summarizeThe controversial Yamashita treasure, also referred as Fort Santiago Treasure or Yamashita gold has become a Filipino legend yet many experts claim there is no evidence the treasure ever existed. However, many people still believe that enormous quantities of gold lie buried somewhere in the Philippines. To this day, illegal treasure-hunters continue to damage important archaeological sites across the Philippines in the hopes of striking rich. Excavations by treasure hunters searching for a hoard of gold in the Philippines, said to have been hidden by a Japanese World War II general, are threatening to cause landslides in a remote village. Many people also suffering injuries and/or financial bankruptcy due to their obsession. Conspiracies abound, including allegations that high-level politicians have claimed treasure for themselves and kept the discovery quiet. For instance, President Marcos is said to allegedly seized the treasure and that it ever actually existed in any vast amount. There are other stories concerning Yamashita Treasure, all claiming different things which makes it difficult to understand what really happened to the controversial treasure. Indeed, more research on what happened to the treasure is essential.
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The Origin of YAMASHITA TREASURE
May 23, 202100:06:43Tap to summarizeThe Yamashita Treasure legend is one of the stories that Filipinos tell with bated breath. The Yamashita riches are regarded as one of World War II's biggest mysteries. At the end of the horrific struggle, Japanese forces are said to have stolen and dumped the famed Yamashita Treasure. Many people believe the treasure contained gold, jewelry, and rare artifacts smuggled out of many countries. For more than 50 years, treasure hunters from all over the world have been unable to locate the mythical wealth. There's no way of knowing if it's real or not, or whether the American liberators collaborated with the last Japanese war criminals to take and hide some of the wealth. What's left are stories and accounts from people who have been passed down through the generations.
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