Henry J Neils’ Travelogue 25 March 1959

Manila, Philippine Islands

H.J.N.…
Temperature 77°F. rising to near 100°F.
Up at 6.30am. Go on deck to see the Bataan Peninsula and the Island of Corrigedor. These names bring back sad memories of the bravery and suffering of our men in the services. The entrance to Manila Bay is about three miles wide.

Then comes 28 miles more of water till reaching the anchorage. The area of this port is tremendous and leaves a lot of room for future expansion. After a twenty minute ride in the ship's launch, we arrived at the dock in front of the Manila Hotel.

Just next to it is the Presidential dock. Soon we are in our cars seeing the sights. Several 16th century churches (Catholic). Ninety percent of the inhabitants are of this faith. It is the only predominantly Christian country in Asia.

The ancient Spanish Walled City, now in ruins. Fort Santiago, an old dungeon built by the Spaniards and used by the Japanese as a prison and torture chamber. This was shelled and bombed by American troops for two weeks to drive out the Japanese.

The Fort is levelled and surrounding buildings also. Most of them have been rebuilt, but certain plots of ground right in this part of the city are still covered with rubble and windowless walls, perforated by shells. A grim reminder of what once happened.

H.J.N.…
Santo Tomás University was founded in 1611. This is where the American civilians were housed during the war. World War II Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Ft. McKinley is on a beautiful plateau overlooking the surrounding country.

The Memorial Building is being completed. The graves are marked by white marble crosses. The countless numbers bring tears to your eyes and a lump in your throat. You ponder why such a sacrifice of life was necessary.

There are differences of opinion, but in the meantime our brave men lie in peaceful, quiet and beautiful surroundings.

H.J.N.…
Many modern plants are seen along the highway to Quezon City, the capital of the Philippine Islands, situated about twenty miles from Manila. This is also the new site of the University of Philippines.

There are modern roads and streets - no rickshaws, horse carts or ox carts. Converted jeeps with a woven fibre top and all decorated with flashy paint and chrome are the means of transportation.

It seems our Army left many of these jeeps and sold them for $25.00 each. The versatile Filippinos did a fine conversion job. I have never seen so many jeep taxi-buses anywhere at any time.

After seeing some native dances at the Hotel, we boarded the launches for the Caronia for a bath after a hot day. Quite refreshing. A gorgeous sunset on Manila Bay and the full moon rising in the east. Quite a spectacle!

H.J.N.…
Some comments from Dr. Croizat's lecture may be of interest, even though statistics are usually quite dry.

• The Philippines are a group if 7,109 islands
• Only 462 are larger than one square mile
• Population is approximately twenty-three million
  • nine million of whom live on Luzon
  • which has an area of 40,000 square miles
  • on which is located Manila with a population of 900,000
• There are fifty-one provinces in the Republic
• The total area of all of the islands is 115,000 square miles

History:
Chinese voyagers evidently visited the islands in the 10th century A.D., but it was Magellan, on his history-making circumnavigation trip of the World, that the Spanish King Charles V became interested.

The islands were renamed after his son, Phillip II, became king. Of five vessels, one, the Victoria completed the trip. Magellan lost his life fighting natives on one of the Islands.

Key Dates:

• 1571 - is the date of Manila Bay settlement
• 1577 - Sir Francis Drake visited the islands
• 1580 - Friars and Jesuits establish missions
• 1898 - Spanish-American War. United States takes possession
• 1901 - Revolution ended. President McKinley in office
• The United States paid Spanish Friars 7.5 million dollars for the land and agreed with the Pope that only American priests would be permitted on the islands
• 1946 - Independence given to the Philippine Islands by United States