Liberation of Manila exhibit opens in Taguig

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora, Philippine News Agency

“Burning of Sto. Domingo Church” (1942) by Philippine National Artist Fernando Amorsolo (Photo: U.S. Embassy in the Philippines)

MANILA – An exhibit featuring the works of renowned Filipino painters, including National Artist Fernando Amorsolo, was opened to the public in Taguig City as the country commemorates the 80th anniversary of Liberation of Manila during World War II.

The “Liberation of Manila: 80 Years of Remembrance through Art” exhibit invites audiences to reflect on the destruction and resilience experienced during one of the most significant events in Philippine history through the lens of Amorsolo, Diosdado Lorenzo, Nena Saguil, and Galo Ocampo.

US Ambassador to Manila MaryKay Carlson graced the opening of the exhibit on Thursday, which runs until Feb. 25 at the Visitor Center of the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial.

“Art has the power to transcend time, to give voice to the voiceless, to capture history not as cold facts but as lived experience,” Carlson said, as quoted by a news release of the US Embassy on Friday.

“The four powerful works in this exhibit, created by some of the Philippines’ most celebrated national artists, serve as a visual testament to the past. They remind us of the shared sacrifices, lives lost, and profound stories that must never be forgotten.”

The featured Amorsolo painting is the “Burning of Sto. Domingo”, which captures the enormous flames that razed the centuries-old church for three days in 1941.

Built in 1588, the Sto. Domingo Church was one of the first structures destroyed by Japanese bombers during the Battle of Manila.

After the war, the church was relocated from Intramuros to its present location in Quezon City.

In “Ruins of the Legislative Building”, Ocampo illustrated the shattered remains of what was once a Japanese stronghold in the war. Today, the Legislative Building stands as the National Museum of Fine Arts.

Lorenzo’s “Ruins of Sales Street, Quiapo” portrays the destruction of a bustling district, renowned both then and now for its vibrant markets and heritage architecture.

Saguil’s “Ruined Gate of Fort Santiago”, on the other hand, depicted the destruction of the iconic fortress in the aftermath of intense fighting in the Walled City of Intramuros, a site that now stands as a symbol of the city’s resilience and rebirth.

The paintings were loaned by the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) from its Fine Arts Collection as part of a series of events marking the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of Manila on Feb. 22.

The Manila American Cemetery, the largest overseas American military cemetery in the world, is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day.

Admission is free and guided tours are available, including for schools and large groups.