The battle for Manila was the first and fiercest urban fighting in the entire Pacific War, from the time MacArthur started his leapfrogging campaign from New Guinea in 1942, leading to the invasion of Japan in 1945. Few battles in the closing months of World War II exceeded the destruction and the brutality of the massacres and savagery of the fighting in Manila.

I find this photo very strong and very symbolic.

Intramuros was one of the last stronghold of the Japanese during World War II until the US carpet bombing of Manila. Here, an M4 Sherman Tank entering what was probably the main gate of Fort Santiago signifies how foreign forces managed to invade our country.