The Battle of Manila (1570) (Spanish: Batalla de Manila en el 1570) was fought in Manila between the native Filipinos led by Rajah

Sulayman, a vassal to the Sultan of Brunei and the Spaniards led by Martin de Goiti, Maestro de Campo on May 24, 1570. The forces
under Goiti were victorious and as a result, Manila became the capital of the Spanish East Indies.

A modern-day satellite image of Manila Bay, showing the locations of Cavite and the Pasig River delta, including Intramuros, the site
of what used to be the Rajahnate of Maynila.

By the late 1560s, Miguel López de Legazpi who had left Mexico with a retinue of Spanish and Mexican soldiers, was already
searching for a more suitable place to establish the Spanish colonial capital, having found first Cebu and then Iloilo undesirable
because insufficient food supplies and attacks by Portuguese pirates. He was in Cebu when he first heard about a well-supplied,
fortified settlement to the north, and sent messages of friendship to its ruler, Rajah Matanda, whom he addressed as "King of
Luzon."[1] In 1570, Legazpi put Martin de Goiti in command of an expedition north to Manila and tasked him with negotiating the
establishment of a Spanish fort there.[2]
De Goiti arrived in May 1570, anchored at Cavite on the mouth of Manila Bay. He was initially well received by Maynila's ruler Rajah
Matanda, who, as former commander of the Naval forces of the Sultanate of Brunei, had already had dealings with the Magellan
expedition in late 1521. Negotiations broke down, however, when another ruler, Rajah Sulayman, arrived and began treating the
Spanish belligerently, saying that the Tagalog people would not surrender their freedoms as easily as the "painted" Visayans did.[2][1]
[3][4]
 The accounts of the De Goiti mission report that Tondo's ruler, Lakandula, sought to participate in these negotiations early on,
but De Goiti intentionally ignored Lakandula because he wanted to focus on Maynila, which Legaspi wanted to use as a headquarters
because it was already fortified, whereas Tondo was not.[2]
By May 24, negotiations had broken down, and according to the Spanish accounts, their ships fired their cannon as a signal for the
expedition boats to return. Whether or not this claim was true, the rulers of Maynila perceived this to be an attack and as a result,
Sulayman ordered an attack on the Spanish forces still within the city. The battle was very brief because it concluded with the
settlement of Maynila being set ablaze.[2][1][3]
The Spanish accounts claim that De Goiti ordered his men to set the fire,[2] historians today still debate whether this was true. Some
historians believe it is more likely that the Maynila forces themselves set fire to their settlement, because scorched-earth retreats
were a common military tactic among the peoples of the Philippine archipelago at the time.[1]
De Goiti proclaimed victory, symbolically claimed Maynila on behalf of Spain, then quickly returned to Legaspi because he knew that
his naval forces were outnumbered.[2][1] Contemporary writers believe the survivors of Maynila's forces would have fled across the
river to Tondo and other neighboring towns.
Aftermath[edit]
In 1571, the Spaniards returned with their entire force consisting of 280 Spaniards and Mexicans and 600 native allies from Panay,
this time led by Legazpi himself. They successfully occupied Maynila by crushing the resistance posed by tens of thousands of native
Muslim militia, and established a settlement there. On May 19, 1571, Legaspi gave the title city to the colony of Manila.[5]
A Kapampangan leader of the Macabebe tribe, later identified as Tarik Sulayman (from Arabic ‫طارق سليمان‬ Tāriq Sulaiman),
refused to submit to the Spaniards and, after failing to gain the support of the kings of Manila (Lakandula, Matanda) and Hagonoy,
Bulacan, gathered a formidable force composed of Kapampangan warriors. He subsequent fought and lost the Battle of Bangkusay
Channel. The Spanish solidified their control over Manila and Legazpi was able to establish a municipal government for Manila on
June 24, 1571, which eventually became the capital of the entire Spanish East Indies colony and subsequently the capital of the
Philippines.
The initial population of the city was around 250.[6]
Martín de Goiti
Martín de Goiti (c. 1534 – 1575) was one of the soldiers who accompanied the Spanish colonization of the East Indies and
the Pacific, in 1565. From his main base in Mexico City, he was the leader of the expedition to Manila, ordered by Miguel López de
Legazpi in 1569. There, he fought a number of battles against the Muslim, Tariq Suleiman/Soliman (Arabic ‫)سليمان‬, the Hindu Rajah
Matanda (Hindi ऋअज ंअतन्द), and the Taoist Lakandula (trad. Chinese 王 杜拉) of the kingdoms in Luzon; for control of the lands
and its settlements. He is also known for his statesmanship by betrothing his sister to Batang Dula, the eldest son and successor
apparent of Lakan Dula of Tondo (trad. Chinese"東都" pronounced Dongdu), the paramount ruler of Manila. Eventually their
descendants unified the 3 royal houses of Tariq Suleiman, Rajah Matanda and Lakan Dula with the Basque Goiti family. The Dula y
Goiti family eventually married with the Mendoza family who came over from Latin-America, who were Sephardic Hebrews that
were practicing Catholics. Afterwards, the Dula y Goiti surname was shortened to Dulay. However, during the Spanish era, some
descendants changed their surnames even further in order to avoid persecution and among which; the Salonga
and Macapagal families are known descendants of these royal houses albeit only through a different family name.
The Battles for Manila (1570 – 1575)[edit]
The Spaniards arrived in Luzon on May 8, 1570, and camped on the shores of Manila Bay for several weeks, while forming an alliance
with the Muslims. On May 24, 1570, disputes and hostility erupted between the two groups. The Spaniards occupied the city
of Tondo where they were greeted with thousands of warriors. There, they defeated most of Tariq Suleiman's (‫)سليمان‬,
Rajah Matanda's (ऋअज ंअतन्द), and Lakan Dula's (王 杜拉) people. The Spaniards marched their armies towards the Pasig River,
and occupied the settlements in Manila on June 6, 1570 and burned them.
Guerrilla warfare broke out following the battle, which continued for about ten months. The Spaniards fortified themselves in the
area and constructed their military barracks of Fort Santiago, which became their outpost for trade with Mexico. The Spaniards
gained control of the settlements on June 24, 1571, after the arrival of Miguel López de Legazpi in Manila, who agreed to a peace
agreement sealed by betrothing one of his half-caste (Half Aztec and Half Spanish) daughters to Batang Dula, heir apparent of Lakan
Dula. Eventually their descendants unified the 3 royal houses of Tariq Suleiman, Rajah Matanda and Lakan Dula with the half-Aztec
and half Spanish de Goiti family. The Dula y Goiti family married with the Mendoza family who were Catholic Sephardic Hebrews and
to mark the dynasty, changed the surname to Dulay. However, upon the commencement of persecutions the Dulay family's
descendants changed their surnames even further and thus we have the Salonga and Macapagal families that are known
descendants of these royal houses but subsist under a different family name.
The Spanish colonization paved the way for the establishment of Manila as a permanent settlement and capital city of the Spanish
East Indies. He later explored Pampanga, Pangasinan and founded several Spanish cities in Luzon between the periods of 1571
-1573. De Goiti, along with other soldiers were granted with haciendas (estates) for the lands they had conquered, by Philip II of
Spain.
In 1574, De Goiti fought in the war during the invasion of about 3,000 Chinese sea pirates who had sailed from the South China sea.
Their leader, Limahong, besieged on the Spanish settlements in Manila. De Goiti was killed by these pirates. Most of the Spanish
reinforcements came from Vigan and Cebu. Martín de Goiti's second in command, Juan de Salcedo left Ilocos Sur, after hearing the
news and traveled to Manila where he discovered their settlements had been ceded to the pirates. Salcedo's forces attacked and
drove the pirates out of Manila. Limahong and his fleets retreated to Pangasinan where they re-organize their forces.
In 1575, Salcedo's army marched north to Pangasinan, in pursuit of the pirates, and besieged them for three months. There the
Spaniards captured Limahong and his fleets in the river of Pangasinan and executed them.
# Name of mayor Party Start of term End of term Name of Vice mayor

Appointive position (1901–1951)

1 Arsenio Cruz- Progresista August 7, 1901 September 18, 1905 Ramón J. Fernández
Herrera

2 Félix Roxas September 19, January 15, 1917

1905
Pablo Ocampo

3 Justo Lukban January 16, 1917 March 6, 1920

4 Ramón Fernández March 7, 1920 July 16, 1923 Juan Posadas, Jr.

5 Eulogio Rodriguez Nacionalista July 17, 1923 February 8, 1924

6 Miguel Romuáldez February 9, 1924 August 31, 1927

7 Tomás Earnshaw September 1, December 31, 1933 Honorio Lopez

1927

8 Juan Posadas, Jr. January 1, 1934 January 4, 1940 Jorge B. Vargas

(5) Eulogio Rodriguez Nacionalista January 5, 1940 August 28, 1941 Hermenegildo Atienza

9 Juan G. Nolasco August 29, 1941 December 23, 1941

10 Jorge B. Vargas KALIBAPI December 24, January 26, 1942

1941

11 Leon Guinto KALIBAPI January 27, 1942 July 17, 1944

12 Hermenegildo KALIBAPI July 18, 1944 July 18, 1945 Joaquin R. Roces
Atienza

(9) Juan G. Nolasco July 19, 1945 June 6, 1946

13 Valeriano Fugoso Liberal June 7, 1946 December 31, 1947

14 Manuel de la Liberal January 1, 1948 December 31, 1951

Fuente

Elective position (1952–present)

15 Arsenio Lacson Nacionalista January 1, 1952 April 15, 1962[a] Jesus Marcos Roces

Antonio Villegas

16 Antonio Villegas Liberal April 16, 1962 December 31, 1971 Herminio A. Astorga

Felicisimo Cabigao

Leonardo B. Fugoso

Mel Lopez

17 Ramon Bagatsing Liberal January 1, 1972 March 26, 1986[b] Martin B. Isidro, Sr.

KBL James Barbers

— Mel Lopez[c] UNIDO March 26, 1986 December 1, 1987 Bambi M. Ocampo
 PDP-Laban Ernesto A. Nieva

— Gregorio Ejercito[c] N/A December 2, February 2, 1988

1987

18 Mel Lopez PDP-Laban February 3, 1988 June 30, 1992 Danilo B. Lacuna, Sr.

LDP

Lakas Ernesto V.P. Maceda, Jr.

19 Alfredo Lim PRP June 30, 1992 March 27, 1998[d] Lito Atienza

Liberal

20 Lito Atienza Liberal March 27, 1998 June 30, 2007 Ernesto A. Nieva

Larry Silva

Danilo B. Lacuna, Sr.

(19) Alfredo Lim PMP June 30, 2007 June 30, 2013 Isko Moreno

Liberal

21 Joseph Estrada UNA June 30, 2013 June 30, 2019

PMP Ma. Sheilah H. Lacuna-

Pangan
22 Isko Moreno NUP / Asenso June 30, 2019 Present (Term ends June
Manileño 30, 2022)

a
 Died in office
b
 At this time, after the 1986 EDSA Revolution, President Cory Aquino forced the resignation of all local government unit heads and
appointed officers in charge in their place.
c1 c2
   Officer-in-charge
d
 Resigned
Elections[edit]
 1951 Manila mayoral election
 1955 Manila mayoral election
 1959 Manila mayoral election
 1963 Manila mayoral election
 1967 Manila mayoral election
 1971 Manila mayoral election
 1980 Manila mayoral election
 1988 Manila local elections
 1992 Manila local elections
 1995 Manila local elections
 1998 Manila local elections
 2001 Manila local elections
 2004 Manila local elections
 2007 Manila local elections
 2010 Manila local elections
 2013 Manila local elections
 2016 Manila local elections
 2019 Manila local elections
 2022 Manila local elections
Vice Mayor of Manila[edit]
The Vice Mayor is the second-highest official of the city. The vice mayor is elected via popular vote; although most mayoral
candidates have running mates, the vice mayor is elected separately from the mayor. This can result in the mayor and the vice
mayor coming from different political parties.
The Vice Mayor is the presiding officer of the Manila City Council, although they can only vote as the tiebreaker. When a mayor is
removed from office, the vice mayor becomes the mayor until the scheduled next election.
# Name Start of term End of term Full name

1 Ramón J. Fernández August 7, 1901 August 7, 1911 Ramón J. de Castro. Fernández

2 Pablo D. Ocampo August 8, 1911 March 6, 1920 Pablo De Leon. Ocampo

3 Juan Posadas, Jr. March 7, 1920 August 31, 1927 Juan Pablo Posadas Jr.
 4 Honorio Lopez September 1, 1927 December 31, 1933

5 Jorge B. Vargas January 1, 1934 January 4, 1940 Jorge Bartolome Vargas

6 Hermenegildo Atienza January 5, 1940 July 17, 1944

7 Joaquin R. Roces July 18, 1944 December 31, 1951 Joaquin Reyes Roces

8 Jesus M. R. Roces January 1, 1952 December 30, 1959 Jesus Marcos Reyes Roces

9 Antonio J. Villegas December 30, 1959 April 15, 1962 Antonio de Jesus. Villegas

10 Herminio A. Astorga April 16, 1962 December 31, 1967 Herminio Aldaba Astorga

11 Felicisimo R. Cabigao January 1, 1968 December 31, 1969 Felicisimo Reyes Cabigao

12 Leonardo B. Fugoso January 1, 1970 December 31, 1970 Leonardo Baloy Fugoso

13 Gemiliano C. Lopez, Jr. January 1, 1971 December 31, 1971 Gemiliano Campos López, Jr.

14 Martin B. Isidro, Sr. January 1, 1972 December 31, 1975 Martin Buenaventura Isidro, Sr.

15 James Z. Barbers January 1, 1976 March 26, 1986 James Zabala Barbers

16 Bambi M. Ocampo March 26, 1986 April 27, 1987 Bambi Malabanan Ocampo

17* Ernesto A. Nieva April 28, 1987 February 2, 1988 Ernesto Acheco Nieva

18* Danilo B. Lacuna, Sr. February 3, 1988 January 31, 1992 Danilo Bautista Lacuna, Sr.
*

19 Ernesto V.P. Maceda, Jr. February 1, 1992 June 30, 1992 Ernesto Vera Perez Maceda, Jr.

20 José L. Atienza, Jr. June 30, 1992 March 27, 1998 José Livioko Atienza, Jr.

21* Ernesto A. Nieva March 27, 1998 May 19, 1998 Ernesto Acheco Nieva

22 Hilario C. Silva May 20, 1998 June 30, 1998 Hilario Cuenca Silva

23* Danilo B. Lacuna, Sr. June 30, 1998 June 30, 2007 Danilo Bautista Lacuna, Sr.
*

24 Isko Moreno Domagoso June 30, 2007 June 30, 2016 Francisco Moreno Domagoso

25 Ma. Sheilah H. Lacuna-Pangan June 30, 2016 Present Ma. Sheilah Honrado Lacuna

History[edit]
Prior to the arrival of Miguel López de Legazpi, Manila was a Muslim chiefdom headed by datus. From the defeat of Rajah
Sulayman's forces in 1595 to the passage of the Maura Law in 1895, the chief executive of the city was appointed by the Spanish
government to a person of Spanish descent. The highest position a Filipino was able to hold was the cabeza de barangay. With the
passage of the Maura Law, the office of capitan municipal was established, with the people electing their own town heads, although
the Spanish retained considerable influence and can veto decisions.
With the eruption of the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine–American War, the position reverted to an appointive head. With
the advent of World War II, President Manuel L. Quezon appointed Jorge B. Vargas as mayor of the City of Greater
Manila (forerunner of Metro Manila) in 1941. With the liberation of Manila in 1945 by combined Filipino and American soldiers
under the United States Army and the Philippine Commonwealth Army including local recognized guerrillas against the Japanese
Imperial forces, the earlier setup was used once again.
With the amendment of the city's charter in 1951, the position became an elective post. The first mayoral election was in 1951,
and Manila's congressman from the 2nd district Arsenio Lacson defeated incumbent Manuel de la Fuente. A few years after the
declaration of martial law by President Ferdinand Marcos, Manila and nearby cities like Quezon City, Caloocan, Pasay and Makati,
were overshadowed by the office of the governor of the newly created Metro Manila, whom Marcos appointed his wife, Imelda
Marcos, to the position.
With Arsenio Lacson becoming the first elected Mayor, the City of Manila underwent The Golden Age,[1] was revitalized, and once
again became the "Pearl of the Orient", a moniker it earned before the outbreak of the war[citation needed]. After Mayor Lacson's term in
the fifties, the city was led by Mayor Antonio Villegas during most of the 60's, and Mayor Ramon Bagatsing for nearly the entire
decade of the 70's until the 1986 Edsa revolution.
Mayors Lacson, Villegas, and Bagatsing are often collectively considered as "the Big Three of Manila" for their rather long tenures as
the City Hall's chief executive (continuously for over three decades, from 1952 - 1986), but more importantly, for their indelible
contribution to the development and progress of the City and their lasting legacy in uplifting the quality of life and welfare of the
people of Manila.
With the ouster of Marcos during the People Power Revolution, President Corazon Aquino vacated all local executive officials and
appointed officers in charge (OIC) in their place; she appointed party-mate Mel Lopez as OIC of Manila. Local elections were held in
1988, and Lopez was elected as mayor. The Local Government Code was enacted in 1991, and standardized the powers of Manila's
mayor making it at par with other cities in the country.
The office of the mayor is often used as a springboard for further political ambitions. In 1961, Lacson bolted the Nacionalista Party to
become the campaign manager of the Liberal Party's Diosdado Macapagal's presidential campaign. After Macapagal's victory, Lacson
returned with the Nacionalistas and became a critic of the Macapagal administration. Lacson would've been likely the Nacionalista's
candidate for the presidency in 1965, had not death intervened in 1962.[2] In 1998, the sitting mayor of Manila, Alfredo Lim, did run
as the Liberal Party's candidate for the presidency, but was beaten by Joseph Estrada, finishing fifth in a field of ten candidates,
garnering 9% of the vote.
The longest-serving mayor of the City of Manila is Mayor Ramon Bagatsing, who continuously served as the city's chief executive
from 1971 until 1986. His tenure could have been longer if his term was not disrupted by the forced resignation of all local
government unit heads and the appointment of officers in charge in their place after the 1986 revolution, to which Bagatsing fully
supported and complied with, voluntarily handing over his position to the officer in charge Mel Lopez.
Ordinance Ordinance Title Date Enacted Status
No.
8334 An Ordinance authorizing his Honor, The Mayor, to acquire by expropriation or by any legal Tuesday, APPROVED
means those certain parcels of land located at Barangay 184, zone 16, in the 2nd district, January 14,
covered by Transfer Certificates of Title Numbers 172580, 172583, 172584, 172585, 2014
172586, 172587, 172588, 172589, 172590, 172591, 172592, 172593, 172594, 172595,
172596, 172597, 283687,286688, 283739, 283737, 283690, 283736 and 283733 measuring
an aggregate area of Thirty-Eight Thousand Six Hundred Fifty Square Meters and Twenty-
Nine Decimeters (38,650.29 SQ.M.) registered in the Registry of Deeds for the City of
Manila, in the name of the Manotok Estate, for award or resale at cost to the bona fide
tenants or residents thereat under the Land-for-the-Landless Program of the City of Manila,
appropriating the amount necessary therefor.
8335 An Ordinance exempting private markets with franchise from the City Government of Tuesday, APPROVED
Manila from the distance restriction of Two Hundred Fifty Meters (250 M.) with City-owned January 21,
Public Markets under Section 1 of Ordinance No. 3782, entitled: “An Ordinance amending 2014
Section 1 of Ordinance No. 3563, by prohibiting the sale of fresh meat within a radius of two
hundred fifty meters from any City Public Market.
8336 An Ordinance amending certain provisions of Ordinance No. 8092, otherwise known as the Tuesday, APPROVED
“ Traffic Management Code of the City of Manila” and Appendix V thereof, and for other February 4,
purposes. 2014
8337 An Ordinance enhancing the Job and Skills Database of the Public Employment Service Tuesday, APPROVED
Office of the City of Manila from the Barangay Level. January 28,
2014
8338 An Ordinance regulating the use of Lacson underpass by establishing a certain portion Thursday, APPROVED
thereof into a shopping area for the purpose of providing employment to Manila residents January 30,
and approving the construction, improvement, repair and maintenance of the same. 2014
8339 An Ordinance withdrawing from public use a certain portion of the Arsenio Lacson Thursday, APPROVED
underpass, located in Quezon Boulevard, Quiapo, District III, Manila, and for other January 30,
purposes. 2014
8340 An Ordinance granting a franchise to B.C. Net, Incorporated, authorizing it to construct, Tuesday, APPROVED
install, operate and maintain a cable television system, broad-over-cable, and other value- February 18,
added services in the City of Manila 2014
8341 An Ordinance amending certain administration and enforcement provisions of Article XI of Tuesday, APPROVED
Ordinance No. 8119, otherwise known as The Manila Comprehensive Land Use Plan and March 4, 2014
Zoning Ordinance of 2006.
8342 An Ordinance granting to ALEXA REALTY, Incorporated a franchise to maintain and operate Tuesday, APPROVED
the existing private property market known as ZAMORA PRIVATE MARKET located at Lot 5, March 18,
Block 1012, in Kahilum Street, Pandacan, Manila, owned and registered under its corporate 2014
name, covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. 272984, in the Registry of Deeds for the
City of Manila, subject to certain terms and conditions.
8343 An Ordinance mandating the allocation of free screen time for local public service Tuesday, April APPROVED
announcements before each film screening in all cinemas, movie houses and theaters 1, 2014
located within the City of Manila as an additional requirement for the grand and/or renewal
of Business registration and for other purposes.
Ordinance Ordinance Title Date Enacted Status
No.
8344 An Ordinance granting free medical care to certain individuals on all City-owned Friday, April APPROVED
Government Hospitals within the territorial jurisdiction of the City of Manila, and for other 18, 2014
purposes.
8346 An Ordinance governing Joint Ventures between the City of Manila and Private Sector Tuesday, May APPROVED
partners, providing for the procedures for identifying joint venture projects and selecting 6, 2014
joint venture partners, instituting accountability mechanisms, and for other purposes.
8347 An Ordinance reverting to the General Fund the amount of Nineteen Million Pesos (Php Tuesday, June APPROVED
19,000,000.00) from the Food Supplies Expenses, in the Maintenance and other Operating 3, 2014
Expenses of the Manila Department of Social Welfare, funded through Ordinance No. 8329,
otherwise known as the Executive Budget of CY 2014.
8348 An Ordinance appropriating the amount of Nineteen Million Pesos (PHP 19,000,000.00) Tuesday, June APPROVED
from the General Fund to other supplies expenses, under the Maintenance and other 10, 2014
Operating expenses of the Manila Department of Social Welfare Funded through Ordinance
No. 8329, otherwise known as the Executive Budget of CY 2014 and for other purposes.
 8349 An Ordinance amending Ordinance No. 8179, otherwise known as the Manila City STI/AIDS Tuesday, July APPROVED
Council Ordinance of 2008 by Strengthening the City of Manila’s STI, HIV and AIDS 1, 2014
Prevention and Control Mechanisms, providing funds therefor and for other purposes.
8351 An Ordinance appropriating the amount of One Billion One Hundred Million Pesos (PHP Tuesday, July APPROVED
1,100,000,000.00), out of new revenue sources generated in the General Fund, duly 15, 2014
prepared and certified by the City Treasurer and approved by the City Accountant, as
General Fund Supplemental Budget No. 1, to be made available as additional
Appropriations of the City of Manila for Calendar Year 2014.
8352 An Ordinance realigning the amount of One Hundred Seventy One Thousand Six Hundred Tuesday, July APPROVED
Ninety Two Pesos (PHP 171,692.00), from salary savings for the period January to February 15, 2014
2014 of the office of Bureau of Permits in the Current Year Budget Under Ordinance No.
8329, to be transferred and appropriated for payment of Overtime Services rendered for
the Period March 1 to March 31, 2014.
8353 An Ordinance requiring all Restaurants, Eateries, Hospitals and School Canteens and Thursday, July APPROVED
Cafeterias Fast Food Chains, and all other similar businesses, firms or institutions that serve 31, 2014
meal prepared outside the Home, including Catering Operations, to serve Half-cup rice
servings in their menus.
8354 An Ordinance prohibiting all forms of obstruction in all roads within the periphery or Tuesday, July APPROVED
circumference of government and private hospitals in the City of Manila and for other 22, 2014
purposes.
8355 An Ordinance creating A Comprehensive Anti-Dengue Ordinance of Manila. Tuesday, APPROVED
August 12,
2014
Ordinance Ordinance Title Date Enacted Status
No.
8356 An Ordinance realigning the amount of Five Million Seven Hundred Sixty Thousand Seven Tuesday, APPROVED
Hundred Fifty Nine Pesos and Sixty One Centavos (PHP 5,760,759.61), from salary savings September 2,
for the period of January to May 2014 of the Department of Assessment in the current Year 2014
Budget under Ordinance No. 8329, to be transferred and appropriated for payment of
overtime services rendered for the period of April 1 to December 31, 2014.
8357 An Ordinance providing for better security measures for the students of all schools, colleges Tuesday, APPROVED
and Universities within the City of Manila, and for other purposes. August 19,
2014
8358 An Ordinance amending Sections 1 and 2 of Ordinance No. 8140, entitled: “An Ordinance Tuesday, APPROVED
withdrawing from public use that certain parcel of land situated at Calle Bodega, being the September 16,
dead-end portion of T. Ayala Street in Ermita, Barangay 663, Zone 71, District V, Manila, 2014
reclassifying that certain parcel of land from Road Lot to Patrimonial Property, providing for
its use and for other purposes”.
8359 An Ordinance withdrawing from public use that certain parcel of land situated at Road Lot Tuesday, APPROVED
15 in Leveriza Street, Malate, Barangay 721, Zone 78, District V, Manila, reclassifying the September 9,
same from Road Lot to Lot for the Land-For-The-Landless Program of the City of Manila, 2014
providing for its use and for other purposes.
8361 An Ordinance furthermore amending Section 2.a of Ordinance No. 7755 (under Jeepney Tuesday, APPROVED
Terminals), as amended, by including therein the Loading and Unloading Areas of the September 16,
Dasmarinas – Divisoria Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association, Incorporated, located at 2014
Muelle De La Industria, Banquero and Dasmarinas.
8362 An Ordinance granting birthday gifts to all Senior Citizens of Manila, and for other purposes. Tuesday, APPROVED
September 30,
2014
8363 An Ordinance penalizing the act of flyposting of any form of private advertisement, Tuesday, APPROVED
announcement or any other sort of posters, flyers, writings or bills for private and October 28,
commercial purposes on any of the City of Manila’s trees, electric posts, lampposts and 2014
cables.
8364 An Ordinance realigning the amount of Two Million Pesos (PHP 2,000,000.00), originally Tuesday, APPROVED
allotted for the purchase of a motor vehicle in the Current Year Budget Under City October 21,
Ordinance No. 8329, to be transferred and appropriated for renovation in the office of the 2014
City Administrator.
8365 An Ordinance declaring the territorial jurisdiction of Barangay 128, Zone 10, District I, Tuesday, APPROVED
Manila, to specifically include the area bounded by the City of Navotas to the North, Pasig October 28,
River to The South, Manila Bay to the West and Radial Road 10 to the East, thus affirming 2014
the City Council Resolution No. 154, series of 2013, and for other purposes.
8366 An Ordinance declaring the territorial jurisdiction of Barangay 248, Zone 22, District II, Tuesday, APPROVE
Manila, to specifically include the area of Mayhaligue Street to the North, C.M. Recto October 28,
Avenue to the South, Dagupan Street to the West and Antonio Rivera to the East, thus 2014
affirming the City Council Resolution No. 110, series of 2014, and for other purposes.
Battle of Manila (1945)

Legislative Building in Manila before the liberation

The Battle of Manila (Filipino: Labanan sa Maynila; 3 February – 3 March 1945) was a major battle of the Philippine campaign of
1944-45, during the Second World War. It was fought by American forces from both the U.S. mainland and the Philippines against
Japanese troops in Manila, the capital city of the Philippines. The month-long battle, which resulted in the death of over 100,000
civilians and the complete devastation of the city, was the scene of the worst urban fighting in the Pacific theater. Japanese forces
committed mass murder against Filipino civilians during the battle. Along with massive loss of life, the battle also destroyed
architectural and cultural heritage dating back to the city's foundation, and Manila became one of the most devastated capital cities
during the entire war, alongside Berlin and Warsaw. The battle ended the almost three years of Japanese military occupation in the
Philippines (1942–1945). The city's capture was marked as General Douglas MacArthur's key to victory in the campaign of
reconquest. It is the last of the many battles fought within Manila's history.

Background[edit]

On 9 January 1945, the Sixth U.S. Army under Lt. Gen. Walter Krueger waded ashore at Lingayen Gulf and began a rapid drive south
in the Battle of Luzon. On 12 Jan., MacArthur ordered Krueger to advance rapidly to Manila.[1]:83 The 37th Infantry Division, under the
command of Major Gen. Robert S. Beightler, headed south.[1]:84
After landing at San Fabian on 27 Jan., the 1st Cavalry Division, under the command of Major Gen. Vernon D. Mudge, was ordered by
MacArthur on 31 Jan., to "Get to Manila! Free the internees at Santo Tomas. Take Malacanang Palace and the Legislative Building.".
[1]:83–84

On 31 January, the Eighth United States Army of Lt. Gen. Robert L. Eichelberger, consisting of the 187th and 188th Glider Infantry
Regiments of Col. Robert H. Soule, and components of the U.S. 11th Airborne Division under Maj. Gen. Joseph Swing, landed
unopposed at Nasugbu in southern Luzon and began moving north toward Manila.[1]:182 Meanwhile, the 11th A/B Division's 511th
Regimental Combat Team, commanded by Col. Orin D. "Hard Rock" Haugen, parachuted onto Tagaytay Ridge on 4 February.[1]:85–87[3]
[4]
 On 10 Feb., the 11th Airborne Division came under the command of the Sixth Army, and seized Fort William McKinley on 17 Feb.
[1]:89

Swing was joined by the Hunters ROTC Filipino guerrillas, under the command of Lt. Col. Emmanuel V. de Ocampo, and by 5 Feb.,
they were on the outskirts of Manila.[1]:87
Japanese defense[edit]
As the Americans converged on Manila from different directions, they found that most of the Imperial Japanese Army troops
defending the city had been withdrawn to Baguio City, on the orders of General Tomoyuki Yamashita, commander in chief of
Japanese Army forces in the Philippines. Yamashita planned to engage Filipino and U.S. forces in northern Luzon in a co-ordinated
campaign, with the aim of buying time for the build-up of defences against the pending Allied invasion of the Japanese home islands.
He had three main groups under his command: 80,000 men of the Shimbu Group in the mountains east of Manila, 30,000 of the
Kembu Group in the hills north of Manila, and 152,000 in the Shobu Group in northeastern Luzon.[1]:72
General Yamashita did not declare Manila an open city, although General Douglas MacArthur had done so before its capture in 1941.
[5]
 Yamashita had not intended to defend Manila; he did not think that he could feed the city's one million residents[1]:72 and defend a
large area with vast tracts of flammable wooden buildings.
Yamashita did order the commander of Shimbu Group, Gen. Shizuo Yokoyama, to destroy all bridges and other vital installations and
then evacuate the city as soon as any large American forces made their appearance. However, Rear Admiral Sanji Iwabuchi,
commander of the Imperial Japanese Navy's 31st Naval Special Base Force, was determined to fight a last-ditch battle in Manila, and,
though nominally part of the Shimbu Army Group, repeatedly ignored Army orders to withdraw from the city. The naval staff in
Japan agreed to Iwabuchi's scheme, eroding a frustrated Yamashita's attempts at confronting the Americans with a concerted,
unified defense.[6][1]:72–73 Iwabuchi had 12,500 men under his command, designated the Manila Naval Defence Force,[1]:73 augmented
by 4,500 army personnel under Col. Katsuzo Noguchi and Capt. Saburo Abe.[1]:73 They built defensive positions in the city,
including Intramuros, cut down the palm trees on Dewey Blvd. to form a runway, and set up barricades across major streets.
[1]:73
 Iwabuchi formed the Northern Force under Noguchi, and the Southern Force under Capt. Takusue Furuse.[1]:74
Iwabuchi had been in command of the battleship Kirishima when she was sunk by a US Navy task force off Guadalcanal in 1942, a
blot on his honor which may have inspired his determination to fight to the death. Before the battle began, he issued an address to
his men:
We are very glad and grateful for the opportunity of being able to serve our country in this epic battle. Now, with what strength
remains, we will daringly engage the enemy. Banzai to the Emperor! We are determined to fight to the last man.[7]
Battle[edit]
Santo Tomas internees liberated[edit]
Main article: Santo Tomas Internment Camp

Citizens of Manila run for safety from suburbs burned by Japanese soldiers, 10 February 1945

Map of the capture of Manila

On 3 February, elements of the U.S. 1st Cavalry Division under Maj. Gen. Verne D. Mudge pushed into the northern outskirts of
Manila and seized a vital bridge across the Tullahan River, which separated them from the city proper, and quickly captured
Malacanang Palace.[1]:91 A squadron of Brig. Gen. William C. Chase's 8th Cavalry, the first unit to arrive in the city, began a drive
toward the sprawling campus of the University of Santo Tomas, which had been turned into the Santo Tomas Internment Camp for
civilians and the US Army and Navy nurses sometimes known as the "Angels of Bataan".
Since 4 January 1942, a total of thirty-seven months, the university's main building had been used to hold civilians. Out of 4,255
prisoners, 466 died in captivity, three were killed while attempting to escape on 15 February 1942, and one made a successful
breakout in early January 1945.
Capt. Manuel Colayco, a USAFFE guerrilla officer, became an allied casualty of the city's liberation, after he and his companion, Lt.
Diosdado Guytingco, guided the American First Cavalry to the front gate of Santo Tomas.[1]:91 Struck by Japanese bullets, Colayco died
seven days later in Legarda Elementary School, which became a field hospital. At 9 PM, five tanks of the 44th Tank Battalion, headed
by "Battlin' Basic", headed into the compound.[1]:93
The Japanese, commanded by Lt. Col. Toshio Hayashi, gathered the remaining internees together in the Education Building as
hostages, and exchanged pot shots with the Americans and Filipinos.[1]:95 The next day, 5 February, they negotiated with the
Americans to allow them to rejoin Japanese troops to the south of the city, carrying only individual arms.[1]:95 The Japanese were
unaware the area they requested, was the now American-occupied Malacañan Palace, and soon afterwards were fired upon and
several were killed including Hayashi.[1]:95
On 4 February, the 37th Infantry Division freed more than 1,000 prisoners of war, mostly former defenders
of Bataan and Corregidor, held at Bilibid Prison, which had been abandoned by the Japanese.[1]:96
Encirclement and massacres[edit]
Early on 6 February, General MacArthur announced that "Manila had fallen";[1]:97 in fact, the battle for Manila had barely begun.
Almost at once the 1st Cavalry Division in the north and the 11th Airborne Division in the south reported stiffening Japanese
resistance to further advances into the city.
General Oscar Griswold continued to push elements of the XIV Corps south from Santo Tomas University toward the Pasig River.
Late on the afternoon on 4 February, he ordered the 2nd Squadron, 5th Cavalry Regiment, to seize Quezon Bridge, the only crossing
over the Pasig that the Japanese had not destroyed. As the squadron approached the bridge, Japanese heavy machine guns opened
fire from a formidable roadblock thrown up across Quezon Boulevard, forcing the cavalry to stop its advance and withdraw until
nightfall. As the Americans and Filipinos pulled back, the Japanese blew up the bridge.
On 5 February, the 37th Infantry Division began to move into Manila, and Griswold divided the northern section of the city into two
sectors, with the 37th responsible for advancing to the south, and the 1st Cavalry Division responsible for an envelopment to the
east.[1]:101 The Americans secured the northern bank of the Pasig River by 6 February, and had captured the city's water supply at
the Novaliches Dam, Balara Water Filters, and the San Juan Reservoir.[1]:103
On 7 February, Gen. Beightler ordered the 148th Regiment to cross the Pasig River and clear Paco and Pandacan.[1]:109 The bitterest
fighting for Manila - which proved costliest to the 129th Regiment - was in capturing the steam-driven power plant on Provisor
Island, where the Japanese held out until 11 February.[1]:103,122 By the afternoon of 8 February, 37th Division units had cleared most of
the Japanese from their sector, but the residential districts were damaged extensively. The Japanese added to the destruction by
demolishing buildings and military installations as they withdrew. Japanese resistance in Tondo and Malabon continued until 9
February.[1]:104
Trying to protect the city and its civilians, MacArthur had stringently restricted U.S. artillery and air support.[1]:103 Yet, by 9 February,
American shelling had set fire to a number of districts.[1]:114 "If the city were to be secured without the destruction of the 37th and
the 1st Cavalry Divisions, no further effort could be made to save buildings, everything holding up progress would be
pounded."[1]:122 Iwabuchi's sailors, marines, and Army reinforcements, having initially had some success resisting American
infantrymen armed with flamethrowers, grenades and bazookas, soon faced direct fire from tanks, tank destroyers, and howitzers,
which blasted holes in one building after another, often killing both Japanese and civilians trapped inside, without differentiation.[8]
Subjected to incessant pounding and facing certain death or capture, the beleaguered Japanese troops took out their anger and
frustration on the civilians caught in the crossfire, committing multiple acts of severe brutality, which later would be known as
the Manila Massacre.[1]:96,107 Violent mutilations, rapes,[1]:114–120 and massacres of the populace accompanied the battle for control of
the city. Massacres occurred in schools, hospitals and convents, including San Juan de Dios Hospital, Santa Rosa College, Santo
Domingo Church, Manila Cathedral, Paco Church, St. Paul's Convent, and St. Vincent de Paul Church.[1]:113

U.S. troops at the Rizal Baseball Stadium, Manila, 16 February 1945

By 12 February Iwabuchi's artillery and heavy mortars had been destroyed, and with no plan for withdrawal or regrouping, "each
man had his meager supply of rations, barely sufficient arms and ammunition, and a building in which his life would end..."[1]:144 The
1st Cavalry Division reached Manila Bay on 12 February, but it was not until 18 February that they took Rizal Stadium, which the
Japanese had turned into an ammunition dump, and Fort San Antonio Abad.[1]:144 On 17 February, the 148th Regiment took
the Philippine General Hospital, freeing 7,000 civilians, the University of the Philippines Padre Faura campus, and Assumption
College San Lorenzo's original Herran-Dakota campus.[1]:150
Iwabuchi was ordered by Gen. Shizuo Yokoyama, commander of the Shimbu Group, to break out of Manila on the night of 17–18
February, in coordination with counter-attacks on Novaliches Dam and Grace Park.[1]:142 The breakout failed and Iwabuchi's remaining
6,000 men were trapped in Manila.[1]:142 The destruction of Manila, a quarter of a million civilian casualties, and the subsequent
execution of General Yamashita for war crimes after the war was the result.[1]:143 1,010 Americans, 16,665 Japanese and 100,000 to
240,000 civilians were killed.[2][1]:151 There was no animosity amongst the liberated Filipinos, claiming, "We were with the Americans!
We were safe! We were liberated!"[1]:150
By 20 February, the New Police Station, St. Vincent de Paul Church, San Pablo Church, the Manila Club, City Hall and the General Post
Office were in American hands.[1]:156–157 The Japanese retreated into Intramuros on the night of 19 February, and the Manila
Hotel was liberated on 22 Feb., but MacArthur found his penthouse in ashes.[1]:155–156 Only Intramuros, plus the Legislative, Finance,
and Agricultural Buildings, remained in Japanese hands.[1]:157
Intramuros devastated[edit]
U.S. troops fighting in the Walled City, Manila, 27 February 1945

The assault on Intramuros started at 0730 on 23 February, with a 140 gun artillery barrage, followed by the 148th attacking through
breaches made in the walls between the Quezon and Parian Gates, and the 129th crossing the Pasig River, then attacking near the
location of the Government Mint.[1]:164–167
The fighting for Intramuros continued until 26 February.[1]:171 Fewer than 3,000 civilians escaped the assault, mostly women and
children who were released on the afternoon of 23 February.[9] Colonel Noguchi's soldiers and sailors killed 1,000 men and women,
while the other hostages died during the American shelling.[10]

Manila Cathedral after the war

Iwabuchi and his officers committed seppuku (ritual suicide) at dawn on 26 February.[1]:171 The 5th Cavalry Regiment took the
Agricultural Building by 1 March, and the 148th Regiment took the Legislative Building on 28th Feb. and the Finance Building by 3
March.[1]:171–173
Army Historian Robert R. Smith wrote:
"Griswold and Beightler were not willing to attempt the assault with infantry alone. Not expressly enjoined from employing artillery,
they now planned a massive artillery preparation that would last from 17 to 23 February and would include indirect fire at ranges up
to 8,000 yards as well as direct, point-blank fire from ranges as short as 250 yards. They would employ all available corps and
division artillery, from 240mm howitzers down. (...) Just how civilian lives could be saved by this type of preparation, as opposed to
aerial bombardment, is unknown. The net result would be the same: Intramuros would be practically razed." [11]  "That the artillery
had almost razed the ancient Walled City could not be helped. To the XIV Corps and the 37th Division at this state of the battle for
Manila, American lives were understandably far more valuable than historic landmarks. The destruction stemmed from the American
decision to save lives in a battle against Japanese troops who had decided to sacrifice their lives as dearly as possible." [12]
Before the fighting ended, MacArthur summoned a provisional assembly of prominent Filipinos to Malacañan Palace and in their
presence declared the Commonwealth of the Philippines to be permanently reestablished. "My country kept the faith," he told the
gathered assembly. "Your capital city, cruelly punished though it be, has regained its rightful place—citadel of democracy in the
East."[13]

Like many other buildings in Manila, the Legislative Building was not spared from heavy shelling and bombing.

For the rest of the month the Americans and Filipino guerrillas mopped up resistance throughout the city. With Intramuros secured
on 4 March, Manila was officially liberated, albeit completely destroyed with large areas levelled by American bombing. The battle
left 1,010 U.S. soldiers dead and 5,565 wounded. An estimated 100,000 to 240,000 Filipinos civilians were killed, both deliberately by
the Japanese in the Manila massacre and from artillery and aerial bombardment by U.S. and Japanese forces. 16,665 Japanese dead
were counted within Intramuros alone.[14][2]
Destruction of the city[edit]
The battle for Manila was the first and fiercest urban fighting in the entire Pacific War. 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.[1]:186,200 In Manila's business
district only two buildings were not damaged and those two were looted of their plumbing.[15]
A steel flagpole still stands today at the entrance to the old U.S. Embassy building in Ermita, pockmarked by numerous bullet and
shrapnel hits, a testament to the intense, bitter fighting for the walled city. In this category, Manila is second to Stalingrad as being
the city with the fiercest urban fighting during the war.[16]
Filipinos lost an irreplaceable cultural and historical treasure in the resulting carnage and devastation of Manila, remembered today
as a national tragedy. Countless government buildings, universities and colleges, convents, monasteries and churches, and their
accompanying treasures dating to the founding of the city, were ruined. The cultural patrimony (including art, literature, and
especially architecture) of the Orient's first truly international melting pot - the confluence of Spanish, American and Asian cultures -
was eviscerated. Manila, once touted as the "Pearl of the Orient" and famed as a living monument to the meeting of Asian and
European cultures, was virtually wiped out.[citation needed]
Most of the buildings damaged during the war were demolished after the Liberation, as part of rebuilding Manila, replacing
European style architecture from the Spanish and early American era with modern American style architecture. Only a few old
buildings remain intact.[17]
Commemoration[edit]

Battle of Manila (1945) Historical Marker, Malacañang Palace

On February 18, 1995, the Memorare-Manila 1945 Foundation dedicated a memorial called the Shrine of Freedom to honor the
memory of the over 100,000 civilians killed in the battle. It is also known as the Memorare Manila Monument and is located at Plaza
de Santa Isabel in Intramuros. The inscription for the memorial was penned by National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin and reads:
"This memorial is dedicated to all those innocent victims of war, many of whom went nameless and unknown to a common grave, or
even never knew a grave at all, their bodies having been consumed by fire or crushed to dust beneath the rubble of ruins."
"Let this monument be the gravestone for each and every one of the over 100,000 men, women, children and infants killed in Manila
during its battle of liberation, February 3 - March 3, 1945. We have not forgotten them, nor shall we ever forget."
"May they rest in peace as part now of the sacred ground of this city: the Manila of our affections."