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Post by tomasctt on Oct 22, 2010 10:06:11 GMT 8
I'm planning a little tour of some parts of Manila that figured in the battle. I've already contacted fots2 on this. Tentative date: 6 November 2010.
Places I've set to visit:
Rizal Stadium baseball stadium (where American tanks and infantry dislodged Japanese in the bleachers)
South Wing of La Salle Hall, DLSU (massacre site and a chapel where survivors took refuge)
Scottish Masonic Temple (ISTR that this was another place that figured in the battle, just can't quite put a finger on it... ISTR - I think - that some Jews were sent here on their way to Shanghai in 1940 I think).
UP Manila-Court of Appeals-Supreme Court (currently, the SC and CA used to be UP which served as an internment camp during the war)
UST
Intramuros
The bridges over the Pasig River
I'll be ironing out the details and making arrangements to make the trip as smooth as possible (read: secure permission to roam around and take photographs). I'll be bringing a van that can accommodate 12 passengers (I'll be driving).
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Post by batteryboy on Oct 22, 2010 12:02:08 GMT 8
Other things to see:
Baluarte de San Diego - Japanese 120mm Type 10 still there.
Parian Gate (Intramuros) famous for an assault of US infantry
In the front part of Fort Santiago, several artillery shells can still be found
Manila Observatory
Bayview Hotel - used as a Japanese brothel
Dewey Blvd - temporary runway and Kamikaze airfield
Bilibid Prison
...more later.
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Post by tomasctt on Oct 22, 2010 12:43:40 GMT 8
Thanks for the list BB! Last time I toured Fort Santiago, it was in 2006. I did notice a lot of shells on display there, alas not much in the way of labels at that time.
Which Bilibid Prison? I'm set to go to the castle-looking structure Maximum Security Compound tomorrow (not for WW2 touring purposes, but to speak to two clients, you see ;D ). Hell, I'm pasok-labas (in-n'-out) of Bilibid at Muntinlupa for the past five years. ;D
Re: Bayview Hotel - AHA! Next time my office holds a conference there, I'll tell them it was a Japanese brothel. ;D
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2010 1:43:31 GMT 8
you might also want to visit the renovated Phil. Air Force Museum at Villamor if you have time
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Post by The Phantom on Oct 30, 2010 5:26:24 GMT 8
Maybe visit......... Plaza De Roma- formerly Plaza McKinley until the 1960's. Known as Plaza Mayor during Spanish times--- was the site of Bullfights and other public events. It is located in front of the Manila Cathedral (were all the aged trees were recently felled by "mistake"). Casas Consistoriales (Ayuntamiento) looking southwest down Andres Soriano Jr. (Aduana) Street. The Manila Cathedral is in the background at left. The roofs of temporary U.S. offices can be seen in Plaza McKinley immediately in front of the Cathedral. The lighthouse of Port Manila is in the background at right. (Image courtesy of the John Tewell Collection.)This is from the new website at battleofmanila.org Intramuros- It is possible to walk around the walls and see the various gates- visit the visitors information center in or near Fort Santiago for information. While on the walk, or drive, look for the war damage still visible on some of the walls and buildings inside Intramuros. Safety an issues on a walk inside the walls? One building I remember in particular was near the Immigration building adjacent to the Pasig river, still in post war shape. Also in Intramuros visit the Monument to the 100,000 Filipino's killed by the Japanese in 1945 in the retaking of Manila, Intramuros in particular. It is located on the street between the Manila Cathedral and San Augustin. If you pay for the visit to the Spanish museum inside San Agustin, worth the small price, (bathroom inside of unknown age, but clean, always want to know were the good bathrooms are), if you go out the back door you can see some of the exposed brick work from the former school that was destroyed in the bombing of WW II. You will have to look close, as a huge new building has been built on most of the old ruins. I believe you can see it best from the upstairs room in the museum with the massive table and a rendition of the entire former San Augustin complex under glass. On the same street as San Augustin, proceeding towards Rizal Park, park your van inside the Illistado, (spelling) you drive through the building and park inside, there is a small but excellent cafe with the best halo halo in Manila, also pastries and cakes, sandwiches. (clean bathrooms), a good break. Visit the restored Spanish meeting room on the second floor, ask the girl by the door, stand under the hollowed out ceiling and speak..........Spanish microphone........ The best Philippine crafts can be found in the same complex. This complex was destroyed during the war. My 2 cents worth...........
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Post by fots2 on Oct 30, 2010 18:37:04 GMT 8
Thanks guys for the suggestions. I have always wanted to do a detailed walk around Intramuros. Hopefully that will happen soon.
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Post by The Phantom on Nov 5, 2010 2:52:32 GMT 8
Nice shot of Plaza De Roma fots.
No sign of any bulls running around.........few trees in Plaza De Roma then.
Also want to do a complete tour inside of Intramuros some day.
My personal walking tour over the years has been limited to --- Starting at Fort Santiago, ( great banana Q on a stick by exit) down the street past the Cathedral, past San Augustine on the same street, and out of Intramuros and into Rizal Park.
Got to known where good deep fried sugar coated bananas are......
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Post by tomasctt on Nov 7, 2010 23:05:44 GMT 8
Fots and I did the trip yesterday. I hope I didn't scare him with my driving abilities. ;D We took photos, I'm in the process of, ah, processing them. Not much, but it'll do I hope. Places we visited: New Bilibid Prison aka the Maximum Security Compound at Muntinlupa De La Salle University's south wing Rizal Baseball Stadium Fort Santiago and Intramuros (thanks BB for the 120mm gun directions!) University of Santo Tomas Places we passed by (just passing, didn't stop, or stayed for a short while without going off the van): UP Manila Rizal Hall and Philippine General Hospital Provisor Island Malacanang Park Old Bilibid Prison aka Manila City Jail (now I know why my colleagues feel filthy when they visit it) This'll be a continuing project. The Phantom, we were along the street I think, alas we didn't get pix from that vantage point. Fots and I would like to go back for a more extensive visit, so there's a chance a "now" version of that pic would be taken in the near-ish future.
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Post by fots2 on Nov 8, 2010 11:09:27 GMT 8
Salamat for the tour yesterday. There is no way I would have gotten into Rizal Stadium or De La Salle without you there. It is always interesting to see the actual locations I have only read about.
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Post by darthdract on Jul 26, 2011 18:58:20 GMT 8
Fots and I did the trip yesterday. I hope I didn't scare him with my driving abilities. ;D Places we visited: New Bilibid Prison aka the Maximum Security Compound at Muntinlupa De La Salle University's south wing Rizal Baseball Stadium Fort Santiago and Intramuros (thanks BB for the 120mm gun directions!) University of Santo Tomas Places we passed by (just passing, didn't stop, or stayed for a short while without going off the van): UP Manila Rizal Hall and Philippine General Hospital Provisor IslandMalacanang Park Old Bilibid Prison aka Manila City Jail (now I know why my colleagues feel filthy when they visit it) Is the old Meralco Tegen station still stands today I remember when I was a kid I can always see the smoke stack from our Elementary School in Singgalong.
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