DID YOU KNOW: La Concordia College; Japanese attack

On Feb. 8, 1945, La Concordia College on Calle Herran (now Pedro Gil Street) in Paco, Manila, was attacked by Japanese occupying forces during the Battle of Manila. By the end of the day, the roof of the college’s main building had been blown off while hundreds of people died after they were hit by shrapnel or falling debris. Those who tried to escape were shot by the Japanese. Founded on May 3, 1868, by Doña Margarita Roxas de Ayala, La Concordia College was originally an exclusive Catholic school for girls.    —Marielle Medina, Inquirer Research