University of Santo Tomas during the 2nd World War

A photographic slideshow documentary I made using various photos of UST at the time of their liberation from their Japanese captors.

For more info on the UST Camp and its internees,
go to: http://www.cnac.org/emilscott/santotomas01.htm
(thanks stephanie (hyacinthebouquet) for this link!)

The story goes:

The Japanese round up all the American civilians in Manila and confines them in the Main Building. The prisoners were treated harshly, and some were starved by their captors (0:34), (0:46), (2:01), (3:27), (4:17), (4:50). Some Filipino Civilians were killed (1:23), (1:41)

UST became a Japanese Concentration Camp for a time. At the time of their release from captivity, many showed signs of extreme malnourishment.

The Japs then planned to finish them all off, but fortunately news of this planned massacre reached Douglas Macarthur. MacArthur immediately directed a large number of troops from Cabanatuan to head straight to UST to perform a daring rescue mission (2:29) and (3:50).

Along the way this formidable armada of US troops easily annihilated any opposing Japanese attacks trying to stop them en route to UST. (1:27)

When the Japanese heard of the oncoming unstoppable rescue force, they made a deal: Let us go quietly and we will spare the prisoners. The Yanks then sent an American translator to UST and he led the Japanese troops out of UST using a "back door exit" - a safe pass (5:06) (5:12), (5:19) and (5:27)

The American civilian prisoners in UST were then freed (2:24), (5:35), (5:47), (5:54) by the advancing American troops upon arrival and were rehabilitated back to health (3:32) (3:56), (4:40), . Here, two frail Americans push cooking oil (4:10) - the building on the left is the gym; and on the right is the chapel.

The UST Gym was also turned into a makeshift hospital (1:54), (3:14).
Some classrooms were turned into wards (2:05)
A photo of the Main Building's famous stairs (2:36)
A short battle also ensued on the UST football field (2:42), (3:21) with the US troops aiming their cannons toward España street - there were still some Japanese resistance.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• UST
• University of Santo Tomas
• World War 2
• World War
• Japan
• Manila
• Philippines
• USA
• War
• Hero
• Heroes
• Filipinos
• UST Tigers
• Michael Reyes
• Pinnoy
• WW2

[mirandagmail]

WOW... amazing images! UST is very rich in history since the Spanish colonial era. So many memories.. and to see the pictures, so many foreigners used to live and make a living in the Philippines during those times...

I've read an article before, that UST became a civilian camp during WW2..this is the first time I ran into these images.. and come to think of it.. my mother gave birth to me in UST hospital... and 3 decades later, my father passed away at UST hospital.

[pinnoy]

@mirandagmail Thank you Mirandagmail! Yes indeed UST has a long history. This week they are celebrating the closing of the Quadricentennial. You can come tomorrow (Jan 28) there will be fireworks!

[beautyandbrain01]

wow...this is a wonderful thing, so that's how the main building used to look like during those times, galing! :)

[pinnoy]

@beautyandbrain01 Yes, isn't it amazing that it still looks very much like it did in the 40's?

[zeev3o]

where did you get the pictures?

[pinnoy]

@zeev3o I got the pictures from Life Magazine (old issue)

[joedkev]

so this was UST during the World War II. OMG. i still can't believe that the university i'm in right now had witnessed one of the most brutal experiences Filipinos never imagined. :O

[theretsen]

Medal of honor allied assault theme song pa talaga haha

[mirandagmail]

Pearl of the Orient..............

[prettyplease012]

3:35 - is that Mr. Bean? :))

[64canadian]

My God!!! The internees were packed like canned sardines inside the hot gym! Why didn't the Japanese allow the buildings to be used as bedrooms? 

[NamVetBuck]

My old man, uncle, and grandfather were "guests' of the Japs in WW2...Grandpa didn't make it out. All have since passed away.

Lest we forget...William Wallace Harn, Robert Bruce Harn, Wilson Harn...

[RoyFMuir]

Great to see these photos. My Grandmother, father, uncle and two aunties were all interned here during the war.

Thanks for posting.

[batilsky]

i spent 5 years of my life in ust main building..... basically the same pa rin, maski yung mga puno sa loon main eh ganun pa din, yung mga puno sa tapat yan saksi sa kasaysayan ng uste, sana pag modernize nila, wag ipagwalang bahala ang mga istrakturang taal ng kasaysayang ng uste, sana me pictures din ng seminary and yung botanical garden, antigo den yun. :)

[rommy7010]

@biktima2007 Bakit hindi ka mag punta ng ESPANYA SA EUROPA @ doon ka manirahan para MAgtae ka sa (JAMON SERRANO) BUGOK KA KUNG mag isip!

[lastand18]

Now that's the reason why I feel odd whenever I enter the campus. The Main Building's architecture is still intact on the pics -- the same built as it is in the present.