The Battle for Manila

We are from that part of Manila south of the Pasig River where the Japs took their last stand. Many lives have been lost as the retreating Japanese took their ire at civilians. The church at San Marcelino and the De La Salle College at Taft Avenue are some landmarks where atrocities have been committed. My father was hit by a shrapnel, presumably from friendly fire.

The 8th Cavalry Brigade north of the river successfully liberated the internment camp at the University of Santo Tomas after which they headed to cross the River but the Japanese destroyed all the bridges except one. Quezon Bridge spanned across the Pasig from Quiapo at the north to Plaza Lawton at the southern part of Manila. The 2nd Squadron of the 5th Cavalry tried to seize that bridge but were stopped at a roadblock at Quezon Boulevard. Japanese heavy machine guns from Far Eastern University stopped the Americans. The bridge was eventually blown up by the enemy impeding the deliverance of Manila.

While the troops from the north had the Pasig River to cross, at the south was the 11th Airborne coming from Batangas which encountered firmly entrenched Japanese naval troops at Nichols Air Base.

The Americans used heavy artillery to flush out Japanese hold outs and the continuous shelling was a threat not only to the Japanese but to us civilians as well. We joined other residents to safer places with my mother holding me close to her all the while.

Some of the troops eventually crossed the river. The most bitter fighting for Manila was at the Isla de Provisor at the center of the Pasig River. The Japanese garrison there managed to hold off the American infantry until 11 February. The Paco Railroad Station was another site where the enemy held out.

Manila was the most devastated city of Asia during World War II, next only to Warsaw. Government buildings, universities and colleges, convents, monasteries and churches were destroyed. Our cultural heritage (including art, literature, and especially architecture) a mixing of Spanish, American and Asian was gone.

Was it the reckless bombardment by the Americans or the uncompromising Japanese who could have declared Manila an open city that is to blame? Manileňos will keep on asking this question without ever getting satisfied to any rationalization of the Americans or the Japanese.