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Sta Cruz - World War II

October 21, 2008

During the Second World War, the district of Sta Cruz was heavily devastated by the bombardment of the Japanese and American forces.

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(Aerial View of Sta Cruz during World War II)

The area became the entry point of the forces to the downtown. The Japanese occupational forces caught unaware of the fast approaching American & Filipino liberation forces in 1945 from the north, abandoned the northern banks of the Pasig River including Santa Cruz.

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(Soldiers in Pasig River, Escolta)

Much of the northern portions of Manila were also spared from the artillery bombardment. Several pre-World War II buildings and houses in the area were totally destroyed and burned.

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(Aerial View of Sta Cruz during World War II)

Old bridges such as Jones, Mcarthur and Quezon bridges in Sta Cruz, Binondo, and Quiapo were all destroyed.

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(Aerial View of Sta Cruz and Pasig River during World War II)

The tranvia operations were also shut down, and business establishments were abandoned. Even the church of Sta Cruz was also damaged shown in this old photo.

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(Sta. Cruz Church and Carriedo Ruins)

This photo shows American soldiers walking in Carriedo street, leaving the area ruined. The building shown in the picture was the Don Roman Building and now Prudential Bank Building.

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(American Soldiers in Carriedo)

During the war, large part of nearby towns such as Binondo and Quiapo Manila were also devastated.

Posted by manilahub at 1:40 pm | permalink

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