The foxholes in Ilihan, Toledo City served as machine gunner’s nest or shelter of the USAFFE soldiers on the hills of the barangay Ilihan which were constructed by military engineers in January 1942 right after the invasion of the Japanese Imperial Forces in Lingayen Gulf in Luzon and in Davao.

MUELLE OSMENA

During World War II, this area was once a docking place for the Japanese.

CIC - Colegio de la Immaculada Concepcion, Mandaue City

During the Japanese occupation the basement of the main building was used as a garrison by the Japanese Imperial Army.

Pardo Church

This church landmarks an area of which were once battle sites during world war II.

Lapu-Lapu City

The presence of oil tank in Opon made the town an object of Japanese raids a week after the outbreak of World War II in December 1941. The enemy planes succeded in blowing up two of about fourteen oil tanks in Opon.

A unit of the Kawaguchi Detachment of the Japanese Imperial Forces landed on the east coast of Cebu on April 10, 1942. Later, the resistance movement was organized by Colonel James F. Cushing, leader of the southern and central units, and Harry Fenton of the northern unit of the Cebu Resistance Movement.

The Victor II operations of the American Division led by Major General William Arnold landed in Cebu on March 26, 1945, and subsequently liberated the province.

A picture of how one of the buildings in Cebu City looked like after World War II.

The Cebu Cathedral took about a century to complete because of frequent interruptions. One of three diocese created in 1595 (the other two being Nueva Segovia and Nueva Caceres), Cebu was raised to the status of archdiocese in 1934 with the dioceses of Calbayog, Jaro, Zamboanga, Bacolod, and Cagayan de Oro as suffragans. During the Spanish period, Cebu had the most extensive territory because Guam and the Marianas fell under its jurisdiction. Only in 1898, because of the Treaty of Paris, did Cebu lose these territories.

Cebu's railroad service ended with the destruction of World War II.

Colon Street - The oldest street in the Philippines; built by the Spaniards in the time of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. Named after Christopher Columbus, it is the heart of downtown Cebu, a glittering area by night lined with moviehouses, restaurants, department stores, and other business establishments. -- Once a site of battle during the world war.

During World War II

The University of San Carlos is the oldest school in the country established in 1565. During the 2nd world war, the establishment and its surrounding area was once a battle site.

Troops on the beach after the landing on Cebu Island.

The chaos on the beach was soon rectified, and by late morning, Americal forces began pushing inland towards their objectives. They met only limited resistance. Most Japanese outposts had been abandoned. One unit from the 182nd discovered an empty shack, full of explosives, with a telephone ringing. But the Japanese were mostly nowhere to be found. There was only scattered resistance, and all objectives were met by the end of the day. The invasion had been a success.

The photo at right is taken in the 132nd Infantry sector of the beach, looking off towards the 182nd sector. Note the tracked landing vehicles parked all over the beach.

FORT SAN PEDRO

During World War II, from 1941 to 1945, it served as fortification for Japanese soldiers, when the battle for liberation was fought, the fort served as an army camp. Japanese residents of the City took refuge within the walls. When the battle to liberate the City of Cebu from the Imperial Japanese Forces was fought, the fort served as an emergency hospital for the wounded.

Filipino residents of Cebu City welcome
American soldiers.


General Arnold's men moved into Cebu City on the 27th of March, too late to keep the Japanese from destroying it. The next day Lahug airfield, two miles northeast of Cebu City, was captured, but now the American troops began to butt against the Japanese fighting positions in the outpost line. The 182d Infantry attacked two strongly defended hills a mile north of Cebu City on March 28, securing one. As the regiment continued its attack the following day, the Japanese detonated an ammunition dump on the second hill. Company A, already understrength, lost 50 men killed or wounded in the explosion. Grimly resuming the attack on the 30th, the regiment finally swept the hill.

Cebu during World War II

Cebu being one of the most densely populated island in the country, served as a vital Japanese base during the Japanese occupation in World War II which began with the landing of the Japanese Imperial army on April, 1942. Three years later on March 1945, an American force landed and reoccupied the city, resulting in a Japanese surrender.

Formerly known as the Cebu customs builing, and now Malacanang sa Sugbo; this building was used as an office for the military. It was used during the war where warships port in the island of Cebu.

Port of Cebu

The port of Cebu is the place where American warships port. The old Cebu photos show that the dock area is wide and the ships are free to land.

Gotiaco Building, Downtown Cebu

This is just one of the many battle sites around downtown Cebu.

CNU - Cebu Normal University


It was the headquarters of the dreaded Kempeitai, the Japanese secret police. Hundreds were tortured and killed here.

Cebu Capitol

The Cebu Capitol and its surrounding area was once a battle site.

Brgy. Babag, Busay

Tunnel used by the Japanese to hide. It is located at the hilltop of brgy, babag.

Downtown Cebu Most of the buildings are ruined as a result of the rampant fighting during the brink of the war.