February 5, 1945. There was a citywide panic and hysteria in Manila.
And with good reason. For it seemed that the entire ground shook to eat Manila alive.
Smoke from the burning buildings set ablaze by the Imperial Japanese went unabated, and crowds began amassing in the streets, running to and fro, fearing that buildings were wired with bombs and explosives.
While the Americans and the Filipino guerrillas coordinate to surround Manila and take control of the government center (that area which is now the Post Office, Manila City Hall, Legislative Building a.k.a. National Museum), the destruction of all the bridges of the Pasig River and the burning of the north bank of the Pasig (Binondo and Tondo) was effective in stalling them. They had cleared San Nicolas, Binondo and Sta. Cruz. But Escolta, that commercial street of Manila near Pasig where one can see the Post Office from the other side of the river, burned intensely as the liberation forces were taken aback. The fire spread until it reached Azcarraga Street (now Recto Avenue). With the streets barricaded by mines, pillboxes and drums of gasoline by the Imperial Japanese, many civilians were wounded or killed. The Imperial Japanese forces began their carnage by shooting people at will in the streets.
By this time, La Concordia College in Calle Herran (now Pedro Gil), became a refugee center, as hundreds came from Santa Ana and Paco districts, to receive medical attention. Meanwhile, in San Marcelino Street, the Imperial Japanese forces had their guns set, shelling the northbank where the liberation forces were. Another Japanese unit had been busy destroying their military stores in the north bank.
The battle for the liberation of Manila is far from over.
Commemorating the 70th anniversary of the 1945 Battle of Manila, the gruelling battle for the liberation of the city that lasted from February 3 to March 3, 1945.
*Photo above: (1) Manileños escape to safety, (2) Escolta after the burning, (3) Smoke from Manila seen from Santa Mesa.
All photos belong to their respective owners.
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