Wartime Manila Historical Virtual Tour

Learn about the Battle for Manila, a 29-day battle during the Second World War II that converted Manila from being the Pearl of the Orient to the Warsaw of the East, with this virtual tour. The month-long battle fought by forces from both the United States and the Philippines against Japanese troops in Manila. It is now known as the worst urban fighting in the Pacific theater. You will virtually explore the site where horrendous events happened in 1945 with a goal of understanding the event that led to the Manila of the present. This class includes the remarkable story of Lola Rosa:

In 1992, María Rosa Luna Henson or "Lola Rosa" became the first Filipina to speak up about her story as a comfort woman for the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second World War. For 50 years, everyone kept quiet out of fear and shame. But with Lola Rosa’s bravery came an outpour of support as waves of other women began to speak up about their stories of survival. Lola Rosa proved with one simple act that “Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women." (Maya Angelou)

This virtual storytelling of the Battle for Manila, a heart-breaking story in our history, will help you understand the present condition of the country. It's perfect for those interested in war stories and already have a background of Philippine history. This is best for mature audiences, as it features graphic pictures and stories.

Wartime Manila Virtual Tour is presented by Suyomano in partnership with Don’t Skip Manila and the Filipino American History Month (FAHM) – Hawaii.

Suyomano is an online learning platform that seeks to connect Filipinos all over the world to explore, discover, and experience the richness of the Filipino culture. Suyomano intends to bring forth the best that the Philippines has to offer so that the world can gain a better understanding of the country and its people. Suyomano is proud to be a global platform for promoting, celebrating, and preserving the Filipino language, culture, arts, and heritage.