67 years ago, the Battle of Manila started to rage. From Northern Luzon, they entered Manila. The first stage of the battle in in Northern Manila specifically in the UST campus and Malacanang. That is why the UST Main Building has that very huge significance to Philippine History. North Manila was almost spared because all of the fighting was staged in the south specifically in Intramuros where the walls provided the Japs a good cover.

Without this battle, there might still be seven churches inside Intramuros. The high society of Manila in Ermita and Malate, the Manila Observatory and Ateneo in Padre Faura, side by side with UP Manila, and yes, the Manila as the Pearl of the Orient. We haven’t recovered from that war yet.