Post by fots2 on May 30, 2011 15:18:11 GMT 8
The following photos are from a one day WWII tour of Metro Manila. The weather was not great, we had dark clouds and even a bit of rain at times. Obviously we could just skim the surface of interesting locations in one day but I thought I would show you a sample of where we visited. This is one subject that I am sure many people can add to.
Salamat to tomasctt for being a great guide. Rain or not, it is worthwhile standing on the very spots where history occurred.
Here is a link to the most amazing collection of Manila photos you will find anywhere. It deserves more than just a footnote. I did not realize until recently that some of the old photos I will post here came from his Flickr site. To John T. Pilot, thank-you for making your extensive collection available to us all.
www.flickr.com/photos/johntewell/
After the 1945 raid to liberate Los Banos internees, some of them were brought to the New Bilibid Prison. Here are 1945 and recent photos of the prison.
Rizal Baseball Stadium was used as a strong point by Japanese troops. Elements of the 1st Cavalry Division made an unsuccessful attempt to get into the stadium on February 15, 1945, forced out at dusk by Japanese machine gun, rifle, and mortar fire.
The 5th Cavalry Regiment eventually cleared the stadium the following day after three tanks, having blasted and battered their way through a cement wall on the east side of the park, got into the playing field to support the cavalrymen inside. Resistance came from heavy bunkers constructed all over the diamond, most of them located in left field and in left-center, and from sandbagged positions under the grandstand beyond the third base-left field foul line. Flame throwers and demolitions overcame the last resistance, and by 16:30 on February 16, the 5th Cavalry had finished the job.
baseballinwartime.blogspot.com/2010/01/battle-for-rizal-stadium.html
On April 1, 1945, after three years of Japanese occupation, Rizal Stadium was ready for baseball once more and two teams, the 145th Infantry Regiment and the 544th Engineer Battalion took to the field before a crowd of cheering GIs.
A manual scoreboard.
The manual scoreboard is still there.
One of the more gruesome massacres during the Battle for Manila occurred at De La Salle College. I for one feel that this event or others like it should not be forgotten or diluted in any type of politically correct B.S. that seems common these days. No "story for them" and "story for us" like they do on Corregidor. The following links, especially the first one, give graphic details of what happened on February 12th, 1945.
www.pinoyexchange.com/forums/showthread.php?t=334445
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_La_Salle_Brothers_Philippine_District
Here are a few views of the hallways, spiral stairs, stairway and chapel that were the scenes of this massacre. Nothing remains to indicate what happened here except a few wall plaques.
De La Salle College pre-war (Carreon Family Collection)
De La Salle College, 1945
The chapel is inside this wing.
After Japanese forces entered Manila in January, 1942, they converted the campus at the University of Santo Tomas into an internment camp. Liberation came three years later in February of 1945.
The University of Santo Tomas pre-war.
Internees living quarters
Internees living quarters
Santo Tomas Internment Camp 4 vegetable garden
1945 liberation
1945 liberation. Notice the plaque to the left of the door.
The plaque to the left of the door.
1945 liberation
The same building today.
University of Santo Tomas Chapel
Fort Santiago and the walled city, Intramuros
Fort Santiago plaque
The main gate of Fort Santiago (1920s)
The main gate of Fort Santiago (1930s)
The main gate to Fort Santiago (1945)
The main gate of Fort Santiago (1945)
The main gate of Fort Santiago today
Another view of the main gate showing a bit of the moat that still remains.
Fort Santigo (1920s)
1899
1902
1940
1945
Japanese gun located outside the walls of Intramuros. (1945)
A Japanese 120mm gun on display in Intramuros.
Another view of this gun.
From the walls of Fort Santiago looking down the Pasig River.
From the walls of Fort Santiago looking up the Pasig River.
The Pasig River.
The walls of Intramuros.
The walls of Intramuros.
The walls of Intramuros.
In front the walls of Intramuros is a golf course. Past it are some of the buildings of Metro Manila.
Across the boulevard is the Manila Hotel. The tall section to the right was built post war.
"Sack of Manila" web site. Again, it is graphic.
www.battlingbastardsbataan.com/som.htm
For anyone who thinks that the atrocities committed in Manila were isolated incidents, they might be interested in having a look at this web site.
members.iinet.net.au/~gduncan/massacres_pacific.html
Salamat to tomasctt for being a great guide. Rain or not, it is worthwhile standing on the very spots where history occurred.
Here is a link to the most amazing collection of Manila photos you will find anywhere. It deserves more than just a footnote. I did not realize until recently that some of the old photos I will post here came from his Flickr site. To John T. Pilot, thank-you for making your extensive collection available to us all.
www.flickr.com/photos/johntewell/
After the 1945 raid to liberate Los Banos internees, some of them were brought to the New Bilibid Prison. Here are 1945 and recent photos of the prison.
Rizal Baseball Stadium was used as a strong point by Japanese troops. Elements of the 1st Cavalry Division made an unsuccessful attempt to get into the stadium on February 15, 1945, forced out at dusk by Japanese machine gun, rifle, and mortar fire.
The 5th Cavalry Regiment eventually cleared the stadium the following day after three tanks, having blasted and battered their way through a cement wall on the east side of the park, got into the playing field to support the cavalrymen inside. Resistance came from heavy bunkers constructed all over the diamond, most of them located in left field and in left-center, and from sandbagged positions under the grandstand beyond the third base-left field foul line. Flame throwers and demolitions overcame the last resistance, and by 16:30 on February 16, the 5th Cavalry had finished the job.
baseballinwartime.blogspot.com/2010/01/battle-for-rizal-stadium.html
On April 1, 1945, after three years of Japanese occupation, Rizal Stadium was ready for baseball once more and two teams, the 145th Infantry Regiment and the 544th Engineer Battalion took to the field before a crowd of cheering GIs.
A manual scoreboard.
The manual scoreboard is still there.
One of the more gruesome massacres during the Battle for Manila occurred at De La Salle College. I for one feel that this event or others like it should not be forgotten or diluted in any type of politically correct B.S. that seems common these days. No "story for them" and "story for us" like they do on Corregidor. The following links, especially the first one, give graphic details of what happened on February 12th, 1945.
www.pinoyexchange.com/forums/showthread.php?t=334445
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_La_Salle_Brothers_Philippine_District
Here are a few views of the hallways, spiral stairs, stairway and chapel that were the scenes of this massacre. Nothing remains to indicate what happened here except a few wall plaques.
De La Salle College pre-war (Carreon Family Collection)
De La Salle College, 1945
The chapel is inside this wing.
After Japanese forces entered Manila in January, 1942, they converted the campus at the University of Santo Tomas into an internment camp. Liberation came three years later in February of 1945.
The University of Santo Tomas pre-war.
Internees living quarters
Internees living quarters
Santo Tomas Internment Camp 4 vegetable garden
1945 liberation
1945 liberation. Notice the plaque to the left of the door.
The plaque to the left of the door.
1945 liberation
The same building today.
University of Santo Tomas Chapel
Fort Santiago and the walled city, Intramuros
Fort Santiago plaque
The main gate of Fort Santiago (1920s)
The main gate of Fort Santiago (1930s)
The main gate to Fort Santiago (1945)
The main gate of Fort Santiago (1945)
The main gate of Fort Santiago today
Another view of the main gate showing a bit of the moat that still remains.
Fort Santigo (1920s)
1899
1902
1940
1945
Japanese gun located outside the walls of Intramuros. (1945)
A Japanese 120mm gun on display in Intramuros.
Another view of this gun.
From the walls of Fort Santiago looking down the Pasig River.
From the walls of Fort Santiago looking up the Pasig River.
The Pasig River.
The walls of Intramuros.
The walls of Intramuros.
The walls of Intramuros.
In front the walls of Intramuros is a golf course. Past it are some of the buildings of Metro Manila.
Across the boulevard is the Manila Hotel. The tall section to the right was built post war.
"Sack of Manila" web site. Again, it is graphic.
www.battlingbastardsbataan.com/som.htm
For anyone who thinks that the atrocities committed in Manila were isolated incidents, they might be interested in having a look at this web site.
members.iinet.net.au/~gduncan/massacres_pacific.html