Plaza Aviles | Liberation of Manila MarkerPlaza Aviles | Liberation of Manila Marker is a Marked Structure, NHCP located at Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region.
Marker Text:
Liberation of Manila
February 3 – March 3, 1945
Late in the afternoon of February 3, 1945 the two groups of the flying columns of the 1st Cavalry Division liberating the American civilian prisoners at the University of Santo Tomas and 37th Infantry Division rescuing other American war prisoners at Bilibid and taking possession of Malacanang Palace. The 37th Infantry Division, the 44th Tank Battalion and the 11th Airborne Division spearheaded the attack against the Japanese Imperial Forces on February 3 completed the annihilation of the Japanese Imperial Forces in Intramuros by February 24.
In a solemn ceremony in Malacanang at eleven o'clock in the morning of February 27, 1945, General Douglas MacArthur restored the seat of the Commonwealth Government—Manila, the capital of the Philippines, to President Sergio Osmena, Sr.
After the gruesome carnage of civilians numbering about 100 000 and the costly physical devastation of the city, the Battle of Manila ended on March 3, 1945.
To all these innocent victims of World War II, the most important legacy they bequeathed to us is the real meaning of peace and freedom.
Date Unveiled: February 27, 1995