The Liberation of Manila

I would rather call it the senseless destruction of Manila and the massacre of innocent civilians on February 3, 1945 up to March 3, 1945 near the close of the second world war.

The "dynamic duo" of American carpet bombing and Japanese demolition resulted in the destruction of grand churches, exquisite buidings, museums along with priceless collections, and grand bridges across the Pasig River-- historical and cultural treasures of Filipinos lost forever!



Rear Admiral Iwabuchi Sanji, a navy officer untrained in urban warfare, led the Japanese defense of Manila, committed to defend the city to the last man, disobeyed orders by Gen. Yamashita to retreat to the mountains of Baguio where it's easier to defend.

(Gen. Yamashita surrendered to the Americans in Kiangan town, Mountain Province at the end of the war. He later went through a mistrial by an American kagaroo court then eventually hanged (in Los Banos, laguna) by the Americans for war crimes committed in the Philippines even if he wasn't actually responsible for them-- he came to the Philippines only a few days before liberation-- a fact unknown to most Filipinos)

The Americans led by Gen MacArthur, ordered the retaking of Manila at all costs at the soonest possible time seen as a boost of his ego, giving the go signal to level the once proud city instead of using other tactics to capture it. (The man thought and planned in advance for a celebration announcing the liberation of the capital to the world even before the battle began-- that's something most politicians are good at)

In desperation, on realizing impending defeat, the Japanese defenders entrenched themselves in various buildings, and turned their wrath on the civilians resulting to deaths of innocent civilians estimated to be a hundred thousand, and countless rapes of women witnessed by foreigners.

There were even reports of babies thrown into the air and bayonetted to death by Nihon-jin soldiers

Only two of the original seven churches of Intramuros, San Agustin and Manila Cathedral, remained standing. Manila Cathedral needed to be demolished and replaced due to irreparable damage.

The battle of Manila was deemed the deadliest urban fighting of the second world war and made Manila the most ravaged city after Warsaw.


Avenida Rizal after the war with Avenue Theater in view. Sadly, Avenue Theater also fell prey to its uncaring owner last year and gave it the demolition ball only recently. Avenue Theater is an art deco work by National Artist for Architecture Juan Nakpil. That's what's happening to works of National Artists-- demolished to give way to newer buildings in the name of progress!




Up to now the Japanese government is in denial of the occurence of the Manila Massacre as well as others such as the more (in)famous Rape of Nanking (China) and other atrocities across Asia even glossing over these events in present history books to the dismay and outrage of Asians particularly Chinese and Koreans.

It's also perplexing to note that the US didn't pursue much of the war crimes against the Japanese emperor, the royal family and other warmongers not like the zeal they had in pursuing warmongers in Europe especially the Nazis. In fact, they even absolved some people directly responsibile to the war. This is the reason why some nations particularly Russia have yet to sign the document officially ending the war with Japan. Most of the US documents pertaining to these issues are still classified up to this day.


the memorial in Intramuros honoring the innocent victims of the senseless war

In war, there are no real winners, all are losers!

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Disclaimer: As always, I didn't take these pictures (except for the one signed with my name) of the war for practical reason i wasn't born yet. All pictures part of US National Archives and already belonging to public domain.

Also wrote my name both in Baybayin, the ancient script of our forefathers and Japanese (katakana). Isn't it cool?