The Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), foreign embassies, and historical institutions gathered on Feb. 21, 2026 at the Memorare Manila 1945 Memorial in Intramuros to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the Battle of Manila and honor more than 100,000 civilians killed during the month-long urban conflict in 1945.

The solemn rites were held at Plazuela de Santa Isabel, at the corner of General Luna and Anda Streets, where the memorial stands as a permanent tribute to the civilian victims of one of the most devastating episodes of World War II in the Philippines.

PVAO Administrator Undersecretary Reynaldo B. Mapagu led the Philippine delegation, joined by representatives from various embassies, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the Memorare Manila 1945 Foundation. Their participation underscored the continuing diplomatic and institutional commitment to preserving historical memory and honoring wartime sacrifices.

The program opened with a wreath-laying ceremony and a 21-gun salute in memory of those who perished between February 3 and March 3, 1945, when intense fighting between Japanese forces and the combined American and Filipino troops left large parts of Manila in ruins and resulted in widespread civilian casualties.

Ma. Cristina Aboitiz, Board Member of the Memorare Manila 1945 Foundation, delivered the opening remarks, thanking partner institutions and embassies for their continued support of the annual commemoration. Prof. Hitoshi Nagai, PhD, expressed solidarity with the foundation’s mission to sustain remembrance through scholarship and public engagement.

Representing the U.S. Embassy in Manila, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Sharyn Fitzgerald paid tribute to those who defended freedom during the war and recognized the resilience of the Filipino people. She also commended the Memorare Foundation for ensuring that the civilian experience of war remains part of the historical narrative shared with future generations.

The keynote address was delivered by historian and author James Scott, whose book “Rampage: The Battle of Manila” chronicles the destruction of the capital during the final months of World War II. Scott reflected on Manila before, during, and after the battle, emphasizing the scale of loss and the long shadow cast by war on the city’s identity.

In her closing remarks, Intramuros Administration Administrator Atty. Joan Padilla noted that the walls of Intramuros continue to bear physical traces of conflict—from bullet marks to wartime structures—serving as tangible reminders of history. She stressed that monuments derive meaning from the communities that continue to remember and reaffirmed the importance of solidarity and peace-building among nations.

Installed in 1995, the Memorare Manila 1945 Memorial features a sculpture by Peter de Guzman depicting a grieving mother and child. The inscription, written by National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin, honors the innocent civilians who perished and calls on future generations to remember.

More than three decades after its installation, the memorial remains a focal point of annual commemorations. A site where diplomatic representatives, government officials, historians, veterans’ groups, and civil society gather to uphold historical truth and collective memory.