Feast of La Naval de Manila: A Celebration of Faith and Heritage
Every October, the vibrant streets of Quezon City come alive with faith, devotion, and rich cultural traditions during the Feast of La Naval de Manila.
Located in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, Manila, the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial is situated on a prominent plateau that offers expansive views of the surrounding area. Spanning 152 acres (620,000 square meters), it is the largest American military cemetery outside the United States. The cemetery’s location makes it a significant landmark in the region, both in terms of its historical importance and its commanding presence.
The cemetery’s entrance is positioned at the eastern edge of a large, grassed circle, which provides a grand approach to the memorial. This entrance is situated just beyond the military sentinel’s post and intersects with 8th Avenue, 21st Drive, and Old Lawton Avenue. Upon entering, visitors are greeted by a plaza featuring a circular fountain that serves as a focal point of the entrance area.
To the right of the plaza is the Visitors’ Building, which provides essential services and information for guests. Stretching from the plaza towards the main memorial is a central mall, lined with majestic mahogany trees (Swietenia macrophylla), which add to the serene and reflective atmosphere of the cemetery. The layout includes circular roads that wind through the graves area, connecting to straight roads that run along the edges of the mall, creating an organized and accessible pathway for visitors to explore the site.
The Manila American Cemetery is renowned for being the largest American military cemetery outside the U.S., and it holds the remains of 17,206 U.S. service members who lost their lives during World War II. The cemetery also serves as a final resting place for war heroes from the Philippines and other allied nations. The marble headstones are meticulously arranged in eleven plots, creating a generally circular pattern amidst lush tropical trees and well-maintained shrubbery.
At the heart of the cemetery stands a striking white stone chapel, adorned with elegant sculptures and mosaics that add to the memorial’s solemnity. In front of the chapel, a spacious terrace features two large semicircular structures. These structures house twenty-five large mosaic maps displayed across four rooms, which depict the actions of the United States Armed Forces across the Pacific, China, India, and Burma. The intricate carvings on the floors represent the seals of American states and territories, further commemorating the extensive contributions of the American forces during the war.
The cemetery is a poignant tribute to twenty-nine Medal of Honor recipients, who are recognized for their extraordinary valor and heroism. Among those honored are the five Sullivan Brothers, who perished when the light cruiser USS Juneau was sunk in November 1942, a tragic event that deeply affected the nation. The cemetery also commemorates A. Peter Dewey (1916–1945), an OSS officer who was killed in Saigon shortly after the end of World War II and is listed on the Tablets of the Missing.
Additionally, the cemetery features the Camp O’Donnell Memorial, which is dedicated to the memory of the “Battling Bastards of Bataan.” This memorial pays homage to the soldiers who endured the grueling Bataan Death March and the subsequent hardships, highlighting their courage and resilience during one of the war’s most challenging periods.
Managed by the American Battle Monuments Commission, the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial is open to the public daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PHT, with the exception of December 25 and January 1. This schedule allows visitors to pay their respects and reflect on the sacrifices made by those interred here.
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