The Liberation of the Santo Tomas Internment Camp (STIC) was part of the Luzon campaign which, at that time, was the most important plan for the liberation of the Philippines. This was led by the “flying column”, a selected group of men taken from the 5th Cavalry (1st Brigade) and 8th Cavalry (2nd Brigade) under the First Cavalry Division, XIV Corps of the veteran Sixth Army under the command of General (then Lieutenant General) Walter Krueger. The 8th Cavalry was assigned to liberate Santo Tomas while the 5th Cavalry hastily made their way to Malacañang Palace. The men from the flying column were supported by guerrilla units such as the Manila Allied Intelligence Bureau (AIB), who provided invaluable information on Japanese defensive installations that may slow down the rapid advance of the American columns aimed to surprise the Japanese defenders in Manila.
The group assigned to liberate Santo Tomas was led by two guerrillas: Captain Manuel Colayco and Lieutenant Diosdado Guytingco. Colayco, a veteran of the Defense of Bataan in 1941 under the Philippine Army’s 1st Regular Division and a survivor of the infamous Bataan Death March, led the column that was assigned to liberate the internment camp. The group was later ambushed at the Padre Gomez Elementary School, and the convoy detoured towards the camp to avoid being pinned down by the Japanese garrison in the area. Colayco and Guytingco guided the group to the camp and was able to avoid mined areas that could have delayed them from their objectives. The group arrived outside the campus at night with the column resting before entering the camp. A grenade came over the fence and hit Colonel Conner and Captain Colayco, with the latter mortally wounded after being hit in mid-body.
After the encounter, the camp entrance was forced by the famous tank, “Battling Basic”. The Japanese guards took men hostages in the Education building (now the hospital) to negotiate for a safe passage. After two days of coordination, their request was granted.
The “flying column” mirrors the quick response of liberating internees in various camps in Luzon such as in Los Baños and Cabanatuan. The Liberation of Santo Tomas Interment Camp saved 3,785 civilian internees from their three years of imprisonment during the war.
SEPTEMBER 9, 1945 VICTORY DAY IN NEGROS ISLAND
SEPTEMBER 3, 1945 FORMAL SURRENDER OF JAPANESE FORCES IN BAGUIO CITY
SEPTEMBER 2, 1945 SURRENDER OF GENERAL YAMASHITA IN KIANGAN, IFUGAO
AUGUST 15, 1945 LIBERATION OF BENGUET
AUGUST 4, 1945 LIBERATION OF ATOK, BENGUET
JULY 27, 1945 LIBERATION OF MANKAYAN, BENGUET
JULY 26, 1945 LIBERATION OF NATONIN, MOUNTAIN PROVINCE
JULY 19, 1945 LIBERATION OF KABAYAN, BENGUET
JULY 17, 1945 LIBERATION OF BOKOD, BENGUET
JUNE 27, 1945 LIBERATION OF APARRI, CAGAYAN
JUNE 25, 1945 LIBERATION OF TUGUEGARAO, CAGAYAN
JUNE 19, 1945 LIBERATION OF ILAGAN, ISABELA
JUNE 14, 1945 BATTLE OF BESSANG PASS
MAY 31, 1945 BENGUET VETERANS MEMORIAL DAY
MAY 25, 1945 LIBERATION OF BOHOL
MAY 20, 1945 LIBERATION OF MALAYBALAY, BUKIDNON
MAY 17, 1945 LIBERATION OF KIBUNGAN & TUBLAY, BENGUET
MAY 17, 1945 BATTLE OF IPO DAM
MAY 14, 1945 BATTLE OF MALEPUNYO
MAY 13, 1945 BATTLE OF BALETE PASS
MAY 3, 1945 LIBERATION OF DAVAO
APRIL 28, 1945 LIBERATION OF DIGOS, DAVAO
APRIL 27, 1945 LIBERATION OF BAGUIO
APRIL 26, 1945 LIBERATION OF TUBA, BENGUET
APRIL 26, 1945 LIBERATION OF DUMAGUETE CITY
APRIL 21-23, 1945 A SALUTE TO VALOR – PALAWAN LIBERATION
APRIL 18, 1945 LANDING IN COTABATO
APRIL 17, 1945 LIBERATION OF PIKIT, MAGUINDANAO
APRIL 17, 1945 LIBERATION OF PARANG, MAGUINDANAO
APRIL 10, 1945 LIBERATION OF SABLAN BENGUET
APRIL 9, 1945 LANDING IN JOLO ISLAND
APRIL 1, 1945 LIBERATION OF LEGASPI, ALBAY
APRIL 1, 1945 LIBERATION OF BURGOS, LA UNION
MARCH 29, 1945 LIBERATION OF LIPA CITY
MARCH 29, 1945 LANDING IN MASBATE ISLAND
MARCH 29, 1945 LANDING IN NEGROS ISLAND
MARCH 26, 1945 LANDING IN TALISAY,CEBU
MARCH 20, 1945 LIBERATION OF BALAOAN, LA UNION
MARCH 19, 1945 LIBERATION OF BAUANG, LA UNION
MARCH 19, 1945 BATTLE OF BACSIL RIDGE
MARCH 18, 1945 LIBERATION OF PANAY, ROMBLON, AND GUIMARAS
MARCH 10, 1945 LIBERATION OF ZAMBOANGA
MARCH 7, 1945 LIBERATION OF KAPANGAN
MARCH 5, 1945 LIBERATION OF STA CRUZ
FEBRUARY 23, 1945 LIBERATION OF PUERTO PRINCESA
FEBRUARY 23, 1945 LIBERATION OF BAKER HALL, LOS BAÑOS
FEBRUARY 23, 1945 LIBERATION OF TAGUIG
FEBRUARY 23, 1945 LIBERATION OF ANGONO
FEBRUARY 22, 1945 LIBERATION OF TAYTAY
FEBRUARY 22, 1945 LIBERATION OF CAINTA
FEBRUARY 19, 1945 LIBERATION OF PASIG
FEBRUARY 17,1945 RETAKING OF FORT WILLIAM MCKINLEY
FEBRUARY 15,1945 LANDING IN MARIVELES, BATAAN
FEBRUARY 15,1945 RETAKING OF NICHOLS AIR FIELD
FEBRUARY 12, 1945 MASSACRE AT DE LA SALLE
FEBRUARY 9, 1945 LIBERATION OF MANDALUYONG
FEBRUARY 7, 1945 LIBERATION OF CATANDUANES
FEBRUARY 4, 1945 LIBERATION OF MUNTINLUPA
FEBRUARY 4, 1945 LIBERATION OF LAS PIÑAS
FEBRUARY 4, 1945 LIBERATION OF PARAÑAQUE
FEBRUARY 3, 1945 LIBERATION OF BIÑAN, LAGUNA
FEBRUARY 3, 1945 LIBERATION OF VALENZUELA
FEBRUARY 3, 1945 LIBERATION OF SAN JOSE, NUEVA ECIJA
FEBRUARY 3, 1945 LIBERATION OF UNIVERSITY OF SANTO THOMAS
FEBRUARY 3, 1945 BATTLE OF MANILA
FEBRUARY 3, 1945 LIBERATION OF TAGAYTAY
JANUARY 31, 1945 NASUGBU LANDING
JANUARY 30, 1945 LIBERATION OF CAMP PANGATIAN PRISONER OF WAR & CABANATUAN RAID
JANUARY 30, 1945 LIBERATION OF OLONGAPO CITY
JANUARY 26, 1945 LANDING IN SAN NARCISO
JANUARY 28, 1945 RETAKING OF CLARK AIR FIELD