On February 6, 2025, the University of Santo Tomas and partners in the Philippine and American governments commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of the Santo Tomas Internment Camp (STIC) at the Plaza Mayor.
The wreath-laying ceremony was led by UST Secretary-General fr. Louie R. Coronal, O.P., EHL, US Ambassador to the Philippines Her Excellency MaryKay L. Carlson, National Historical Commission of the Philippines Chair and former UST Archivist Prof. Regalado Trota Jose Jr., Philippine Veterans Bank’s Miguel Angelo Villareal, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office Administrator Undersecretary Reynaldo Mapagu, American Battle Monuments Commission Director Vicente Lim IV, and Manila’s Department of Tourism, Culture and Arts Director Charlie Dungo.
In her speech, Ambassador Carlson said that we must never forget the suffering endured in STIC, as well as the courage demonstrated by the Filipino and American internees. “Stories of their experiences are etched into the fabric of this hallowed place, reminders of the cruelty of war and the enduring strength of the human spirit,” Carlson said.
For fr. Coronel, honoring the past means ensuring the sacrifices of those who lived and died are never forgotten. “The story of Santo Tomas reminds us that the pursuit of peace, justice, and human dignity is neverending,” fr. Coronel said.
Meanwhile, Jose remembered the life of Captain Manuel Colayco, a faculty member of the University who confronted the Japanese Imperial Forces bastion to liberate the detainees in STIC.
He also underscored the importance of preserving the marks of the past that can still be seen in some parts of the Main Building, namely the doors leading to the Rector’s Hall that bear shrapnels, as well as the bullet-ridden markers and walls of the facade facing the Quadricentennial Park. “May we never forget the lessons of the past by thanking and blessing those who fell in order that we may live. May the courage of those who fought and endured continue to guide us in our life.” Jose said.
The theme of this event was ‘Liberation’s Legacy: Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future’.
The Faculty of Arts and Letters and the UST History Society spearheaded this event in collaboration with the US Embassy, the National Historical Commission (NHCP), the Department of National Defense-Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (DND-PVAO), Manila LGU, American Battle Monuments Commission, and the Philippine Veterans Bank.
