The American Battle Monuments Commission will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Manila including an art exhibition, lecture and commemorative ceremony at Manila American Cemetery.

The art exhibition will open Feb. 13 at the visitor center and showcase four paintings on temporary loan from the National Museum of the Philippines depicting scenes from the battle of Manila. The paintings include Fernando Amorsolo’s “Burning of Santo Domingo Church;” Diosdado M. Lorenzo’s “Ruins of Sales Street, Quiapo;” Nena L. Santiago’s “Ruined Gate of Fort Santiago;” and Galo B. Ocampo’s “Legislative Building.” The exhibit will be open to the public during visitor center hours and run through Feb. 25.

Feb. 21, Dr. Richard Jose, a professor of history at the University of the Philippines-Diliman, will speak to an audience about the Battle of Manila during an invite-only lecture. 

Commemorative events will end with the liberation of Manila anniversary ceremony from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Manila American Cemetery. The cemetery will close at noon Feb. 22 to the general public and reopen at 2 p.m. for ticketed guests. For updates on ceremony information, visit the Manila American Cemetery alerts page.

The event program will include remarks by ABMC Secretary Charles K. Djou, U.S. Army Pacific Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. Joel B. Vowell, U.S. Indo-Pacific Commander Adm. Samuel Paparo, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay L. Carlson, and other dignitaries. A ceremonial wreath-laying, sharing of Medal of Honor stories, recognition of American and Filipino World War II veterans and the reading of a statement from Arthur MacArthur V will also be included among other ceremonial elements. 

About Manila American Cemetery

Manila American Cemetery was dedicated Dec. 8, 1960, to honor the sacrifices and achievements of American military forces killed during operations in the Pacific between December 1941 and September 1945. The cemetery is a reverent place where both American and Filipino war dead are honored and a visible reminder of the continued partnership between the U.S. and the Philippines. 

Manila American Cemetery is the largest ABMC cemetery in the world. It includes the remains of more than 17,000 American service members and commemorates almost 36,300 individuals missing in action or lost at sea whose names are engraved on the Wall of the Missing; 522 bronze rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified. 

Most of those buried at Manila American Cemetery lost their lives in operations in New Guinea and the Philippines during WWII. Known commemorations at the cemetery include 30 Medal of Honor recipients, 38 women, 21 sets of brothers buried side-by-side, two fathers and sons, and 570 Filipino scouts.