"The Liberation"

An authentic photograph of an American bomb falling to the city. This has got to be one of the most iconic and dramatic pictures of WW2 in Manila. 
TAKEN BY AN AMERICAN BOMBARDIER ON A B-29 BOMBER FOR RECORD/DOCUMENTARY PURPOSES

Today, February 3, 2013, marks the 68th anniversary of the month-long Battle of Manila between the Japanese and the Americans. It was one of the fiercest urban fighting scenes in the Pacific (and possibly, the whole world) during the Second World War, leading to the ultimate destruction of the city and the death of thousands of innocent civilians and American/Japanese/Filipino soldiers.

Manila was one of the most progressive cities in the Far East and the war completely wiped out almost 400 years of development. Spanish churches and convents, American government buildings, schools and houses, gone to oblivion.

Note that Manila was the second most destroyed city next to Warsaw, Poland during WW2. This event is considered to be one of the darkest in our history. If you think about it, have we fully recovered? After 68 years, can we call Manila and the whole Philippines as the "Pearl of the Orient" again? Hmmm.

Browse through my blog and have your heart broken.

Colorized version of the picture above.
ww2incolor

Retrato Filipinas #13

Japanese war propaganda featuring the iconic Japanese fish kites (koinobori) flying over the skies of Manila, circa World War 2. The Legislative Building is seen on the left, the Manila City Hall on the center, and the Philippine Normal Hall on the right side.
source

The "Fish" of Japan.

"Clouds are covering the blinding sky, and the overgreens

of the tropics lies below. There lies the concrete bridges

and streets which were pressed by tyranny until yesterday.

But now the "Fish" which the symbol of the

strong spirit of the Japanese, is waving over the eastern skies.

The "Fish" with its shinny eyes and broad shoulders

and widespread tale, spreads the symbols throughout the country.

The men are here on God's mission. 

The enemy disappears, as the Japanese soldiers swing their mighty swords.

As the soldiers sing the battle songs, these gospels are

spread even into the brick buildings.

The spirit of the "Fish" is like that of the soldier,

for they spread the gospels into the Philippines.

Ph, "Fish", fly proudly over the Philippine sky, 

fly over the Asiatic skies, and sing loudly, the song of Japan."

Retrato Filipinas #10

Manila's destruction after the Liberation of Manila, late 1940s.
[Click on the photo for better viewing]
John Tewell Photo Collection  

This photo was taken in the Manila Hotel. You can see the Legazpi-Urdaneta Monument undamaged, but the buildings in the background and even the Manila Hotel weren't so lucky. The Manila City Hall (2), the Legislative Building (3), the Bureau of Finance Bldg (4), and the Jai Alai Building (upper right) were all severely damaged because of the war. 

Retrato Filipinas #6

The Burning of Santo Domingo by Fernando Amorsolo, 1946-1949.
Source
National Museum of the Philippines, Manila

"Amorsolo was able to capture on canvas the magnitude of the fire as well as the concerted effort of the firemen and the clergy to save the sanctuary. Noteworthy was his rendition of intensity of the fire through the application of hues, texture, and perspective, which were his trademarks. His early works such as this have a hyper-realistic style. One fine example of a historical painting, it depicts the destruction of the Sto. Domingo Church brought about by the tremendous fire (Japanese bombs) that occurred in the 1940s."

Read more about the Santo Domingo Church here.

Retrato Filipinas #5

Ruins of the Capuchins' Lourdes Church in Intramuros after the Liberation of Manila, 1945.
Source

Retrato Filipinas #3

Ruins of the San Francisco Church complex
Source

Retrato Filipinas #2

Ruins of the Recoletos Church
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