The Hopevale Martyrs were Christian martyrs who died during the

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

in the present day Hopevale, Aglinab,

Tapaz, Capiz Tapaz, officially the Municipality of Tapaz ( Capiznon/ Hiligaynon: ''Banwa sang Tapaz''; Aklanon: ''Banwa it Tapaz''; krj, Banwa kang Tapaz/Banwa ka Tapaz; tl, Bayan ng Tapaz), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Capiz, Philippine ...

, Philippines. The martyrs were Jennie Clare Adams, Prof. James Howard Covell, Charma Moore Covell, Dorothy Antoinette Dowell, Signe Amelia Erikson, Dr. Frederick Willer-Meyer, Ruth Schatch Meyer, Dr. Francis Howard Rose, Gertrude Coombs Rose, Rev. Erle Frederich Rounds, Louise Cummings Rounds, and Erle Douglas. There were also three children, one name Erle Rounds Jr, were also bayoneted. Despite the order that these Americans should go home because of the war, they refused to leave their mission and eventually offered their lives when they were caught by the enemies. During the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, the eleven American Baptist missionaries refused to surrender to the Japanese troops. The martyrs took refuge in the mountains of Barrio Katipunan, Tapaz, Capiz. They hid in the forest they call "Hopevale" with the help of their Filipino friends. On December 19, 1943, Hopevale fell into Japanese hands. The martyrs begged to free the Filipino captives and instead offered themselves as ransom. At the dawn of December 20, 1943, the missionaries asked to be allowed to pray and, an hour later, they told their Japanese captors they were ready to die. The adults were beheaded and the children were bayoneted.Labiste, Ma. Louisa (2005). "One Hundred Years of Lighting up the City and the World." ''Philippine Daily Inquirer''.

Memorial

There is a cross marker on top of the common grave of these martyrs in Hopevale near the place where they were bayoneted to death. A replica of this marker also stands at Central Philippine University. There is also a plaque on the campus of CPU as well.

Legacy

''No Greater Love; Triumph and Sacrifice of American Baptist Missionaries During WW II Philippines, and the Martyrdom in Hopevale'' by Elmo D. Familiaran, Ann Qualls and Wilma Rugh Taylor was published in 2007. The complete Hopevale story is chronicled in ''The Edge of Terror'', by Baptist minister Scott Walker. A two-act musical drama titled ''Hopevale: Memories of Missions and Martyrs'' was staged in honor of the martyrs during the centennial celebrations of the founding of Central Philippine University in 2005. The musical was written by Rodolfo Cabado, an alumnus of the university. Hopevale Church in

Saginaw, Michigan Saginaw () is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw and Saginaw County are both in the area known as Mid-Michigan. Saginaw is adjacent to Saginaw Charter Township and considered part of Greater ...

takes its name from the Hopevale Martyrs.
Parchment Valley
the West Virginia Baptist Conference Center in Ripley, West Virginia hosts a replica of the Hopevale Chapel. It is built at the end of a trail with wind chimes honoring each of the Hopevale Martyrs. Another replica of the Hopevale Chapel can be found on the grounds of Green Lake Conference Center in Green Lake, Wisconsin.

References

{{Central Philippine University History of the Philippines (1898–1946) History of Capiz Visayan history 20th-century Christian martyrs