In late 1944, the Americans landed on Leyte with
General Douglas MacArthur to drive out the Japanese. By February 3, 1945, the
US First Cavalry entered Manila to the jubilation of the Manilenos. But the worst
was yet to come when the Japanese troops under Rear Admiral Sanji Iwabuchi
decided to entrench themselves in the city and wage a man-to-man combat as both
armies rained cannon and mortar fire on the city, wounding and killing at least
100,000 city residents in the infamous Massacre of Manila.
(Image, from Internet source)
Fernando Poe’ s wife Elizabeth Kelley and her
two-year old son were caught in the crossfire as they tried to cross Avenida Rizal to join Poe, who was performing at the Avenida Theater. When they got
there, their hearts dropped upon learning that he hurried back to their Malate
home to save them. Fortunately the tearful family was soon reunited. Others in
the film industry were not so lucky. The popular actress Rosario Moreno was
gunned during the Battle of Manila, while Corazon Noble’s baby was stabbed to
death in her own arms by a Japanese soldier.
Source: An Exodus from Philippine Cinema to Live
Theater/ Philippine Cinema 1897- 2020 by Gaspar Vibal and Dennis Villegas)
(The Tribune, February 2, 1945)
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