Feb. 5, 2015, 8:34 p.m. – THE UST Museum on Tuesday
launched an exhibit to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the liberation the
Santo Tomas Internment Camp.
The University served as a internment camp during World War
II, hosting enemy civilians held by the Japanese occupation.
Maita Oebanda, collection management and documentation
assistant at the UST Museum, said the exhibit was unique to UST.
“[UST is] one of the most important locations as regards the
Battle of Manila. UST was a safe haven for thousands of civilians for three
years,” she said.
The exhibit is also an opportunity for the youth to
experience the rich history and legacy of the University, Oebanda added.
Surviving internees, some from the United States, visited
the exhibit and shared their personal experiences.
“This commemoration is so important because it is one of the
last major historical milestones where we have people who are still living
[and] are able to come back [to] tell their stories,” Oebanda said.
The exhibit is at the second floor of the UST Main Building.
It features various photographs and relics of nearly 4,000 internees during
their stay in the University, including letters to their families. It also has
a timeline of the events leading to their liberation by American forces on Feb.
3, 1945.
The exhibit will run until March 3. Dayanara T. Cudal
