70th Anniversary of the Battle of Manila
The battle for the liberation of Manila—waged from February 3 to March 3, 1945, between Philippine and American forces, and the Imperial Japanese forces—is widely considered to be one of the greatest tragedies of the Second World War. One hundred thousand men, women, and children perished. Architectural heritage was reduced to rubble—the City of Manila was the second most devastated Allied capital of World War II.
“The destruction of Manila was one of the greatest tragedies of World War II. Of Allied capitals in those war years, only Warsaw suffered more. Seventy percent of the utilities, 75 percent of the factories, 80 percent of the southern residential district, and 100 percent of the business district was razed.”
— William Manchester, author and historian, in American Caesar
“We remember them, nor shall we ever forget.”
— National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin, on the lives taken during the Battle of Manila, in the inscription of the Memorare Manila 1945 Monument in Intramuros
Liberation: Battle of Manila
A short documentary on the Battle of Manila, waged from February 3 to March 3, 1945, to liberate the Philippines after three years of Imperial Japanese occupation.
This documentary was produced by the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office and the Presidential Museum and Library, in partnership with Memorare Manila 1945 Foundation, National Museum of the Philippines, Filipinas Heritage Library, Lopez Museum and Library, and the Ortigas Foundation Library.
TIMELINE
Key events of the month-long battle for the liberation of Manila.
PHOTO GALLERY
Original scans of historical photographs taken during the Battle of Manila.
THE PRESENT PAST
Historical photos set against contemporary counterparts, superimposed, colorized, and relevant to our understanding of Manila’s changing landscape brought by World War II.
THE GUERRILLAS
Filipino guerrillas played a vital role in the liberation of the country. See the guerrilla groups’ involvement in the Second World War, which led to the defeat of Imperial Japanese forces in 1945.
THE MASSACRES
Beyond the destruction of buildings and institutional landmarks, roughly 100,000 innocent civilians were killed during the liberation of the capital.
Memorare Manila 1945 Monument
Learn more about the monument built at the center of Intramuros, a memorial and a tribute to the 100,000 fallen civilians.
THE LEGARDA ESSAYS
Renowned historian Benito Legarda Jr. addresses common misconceptions about the Battle.
DOCUMENTS: Pillbox, Strategic Maps, and Organizational Charts
Unclassified maps and sketches from the U.S. Army, illustrating the strategic planning undertaken during the battle for the liberation of Manila in 1945.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Learn more about the historic significance of the battle; attend commemoration activities organized by participating institutions.
THE PRESENT PAST
Click to pop out the photos. Drag right to left to view the historical photo; drag left to right for the contemporary photo.
VIEW ALL PHOTOS
Acknowledgements
The Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office and the Presidential Museum and Library would like to thank the following for their invaluable help and assistance in this project: Mr. Jose Custodio, Dr. Benito J. Legarda Jr., Dr. Ricardo T. Jose, Mr. Paulo Alcazaren, Mr. Robert Hudson, Ambassador Juan Jose Rocha, Mrs. Sylvia Lichauco de Leon, Mr. John Tewell, Mr. Lou Gopal, Mr. Manuel Angelo Carreon II, Ms. Lorelei Stewart Mayer, National Historical Commission of the Philippines, National Museum of the Philippines, Memorare Manila 1945 Foundation, Tiger Films Productions, Filipinas Heritage Library, Lopez Museum and Library, Ortigas Foundation Library, Heritage Conservation Society, and the Battle of Manila Online website.
Recommended Readings and Related Documents
70th anniversary of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, on the Presidential Museum and Library
70th anniversary of the Leyte Landing, on the Presidential Museum and Library
The Commonwealth of the Philippines, on the Official Gazette of the Philippines
70th anniversary of the Second Philippine Republic, on the Presidential Museum and Library
Birth anniversary of President Jose P. Laurel, on the Presidential Museum and Library
Anniversary of the Battle of Manila, on the Presidential Museum and Library
Araw ng Kagitingan 2012, on the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office
Araw ng Kagitingan 2013, on the Official Gazette of the Philippines
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Audio: “To the People of the Philippines,” Field Marshal Douglas MacArthur’s speech, October 20, 1944, on the Official Gazette of the Philippines Soundcloud.
Audio: Bataan Has Fallen, on the Official Gazette of the Philippines Soundcloud
Essay: Dr. Jose P. Laurel as President of the Second Philippine Republic, by Dr. Ricardo T. Jose
Essay: The KALIBAPI (Association for Service to the New Philippines) during the Japanese Occupation, by Dr. Ricardo T. Jose, December 27, 2001
Timeline: World War II in the Philippines, on the Official Gazette of the Philippines
Profile: Manuel L. Quezon, on the Presidential Museum and Library
Profile: Sergio Osmeña, on the Presidential Museum and Library
Profile: Jose P. Laurel, on the Presidential Museum and Library
Document: The 1943 Philippine Constitution, on the Official Gazette of the Philippines
Briefer: History of the Philippine Flag, on the Presidential Museum and Library
Briefer: Origin of the Symbols of our National Flag, on the Presidential Museum and Library
Briefer: Jose Abad Santos: Counselor of the Nation
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Report: Fifth Annual Report of the United States High Commissioner to the Philippine Islands November 12, 1942, United States Government Printing Office, 1943
Report: Report of the Philippine Executive Commission to Director, Japanese Military Administration by Chairman Jorge B. Vargas, 1943
Report: Army Service Forces Manual M354-18C Civil Affairs Handbook Section 18C: Japanese Administration of Occupied Areas — Philippine Islands, Headquarters Army Service Forces, July 31, 1944
Report: Possible Developments Resulting from the Granting of Amnesty to Accused Collaborators in the Philippines by the Central Intelligence Agency April 28, 1948
Speech: Message of President Osmeña to Field Marshal Douglas MacArthur on the surrender of Japanese forces, September 3, 1945, on the Official Gazette of the Philippines
Speech: Sergio Osmeña, State of the Nation Address, June 9, 1945, on the Official Gazette of the Philippines
Speech: Memorial Day Address of President Roxas at the National Cemetery in Capas Tarlac, November 30, 1946, on the Official Gazette of the Philippines
Speech: Address of President Roxas at the Convention of the Confederation of Filipino Veterans, February 5, 1947, on the Official Gazette of the Philippines
Telegram: President Quezon to President Roosevelt, December 9, 1941, on the Official Gazette of the Philippines
Telegram: President Roosevelt to President Quezon, December 11, 1941, on the Official Gazette of the Philippines
Telegram: President Roosevelt to President Quezon regarding his letter to Field Marshal MacArthur, January 30, 1942, on the Official Gazette of the Philippines
Telegram: President Quezon to President Roosevelt, February 8, 1942, on the Official Gazette of the Philippines
Telegram: President Quezon to President Roosevelt, February 10, 1942, on the Official Gazette of the Philippines
Telegram: President Roosevelt to President Quezon, February 11, 1942, on the Official Gazette of the Philippines
Telegram: President Quezon to Field Marshal MacArthur, March 17, 1942, on the Official Gazette of the Philippines
Letter: President Quezon to Field Marshal MacArthur, January 28, 1942, on the Official Gazette of the Philippines
Letter: President Quezon to Field Marshal MacArthur, January 28, 1944, on the Official Gazette of the Philippines
Letter: President Quezon to Field Marshal Douglas MacArthur, February 20, 1942, on the Official Gazette of the Philippines
Photoset: Battle of Manila, on the Presidential Museum and Library Flickr
Photoset: The Japanese Occupation of the Philippines, on the Presidential Museum and Library Flickr
Photoset: President Manuel L. Quezon, on the Presidential Museum and Library Flickr
Photoset: President Sergio Osmeña, on the Presidential Museum and Library Flickr
Photoset: President Jose P. Laurel, on the Presidential Museum and Library Flickr
Features: World War II, on the Presidential Museum and Library Tumblr
Video: Battle of Manila 1945, on the Official Gazette of the Philippines Youtube
PGH 1945: Days of terror, nights of fear by Miguel P. Avanceña
World War II in the Philippines: The lasting effect on the Filipino people by Alfonso J. Aluit
Malacañan memoirs, February 28, 1949 by Ernesto T. Bitong
BENIGNO S. AQUINO III
President of the Philippines
MANUEL L. QUEZON III
Undersecretary of Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning
PUBLICATIONS DIVISION
70th anniversary of the Battle of Manila
MANUEL L. QUEZON III
Editor in Chief
POCHOLO GOITIA
SASHA MARTINEZ
RAYMOND MAYMAY
Editors
JOSE ANTONIO CUSTODIO
ERIC AMBATA
Project Consultants
MARK PHILIPPE LEGASPI
Project Manager
JONATHAN CUEVAS
Technical Director
MA. KRISTINA ABELLA
ROMMIN DIAZ
CAMILLE DUFOURT
MITZI ONG
SANDI SUPLIDO
Support Staff
JOSELITO ARCINAS
CHEREY ANN MAE BIGAY
COLINE ESTHER CARDEÑO
FRANCIS KRISTOFFER PASION
CLINTON RONQUILLO
RONALDO RECTO
Researchers and Writers
TYRON CASUMPANG
Translator
DERRICK MACUTAY
Artist
SANDI GHANNAM
Photographer
SANDI GHANNAM
RACHEL MOISES
ROEL SANTOS
Video Editors
BIANCA BUENO
CHERIE TAN
Graphic Designers
ARZENIUS JOSEPH ARCILLA
JOHN MARK PEROCHO
Web Designers and Developers
