Overview

The Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines occupies 152 acres on a prominent plateau, visible at a distance from the east, south and west. It contains the largest number of graves of our military dead of World War II, a total of 16,859, most of whom lost their lives in operations in New Guinea and the Philippines. The headstones are aligned in 11 plots forming a generally circular pattern, set among masses of a wide variety of tropical trees and shrubbery.

The chapel, a white masonry building enriched with sculpture and mosaic, stands near the center of the cemetery. In front of it on a wide terrace are two large hemicycles. Twenty-five mosaic maps recall the achievements of the American armed forces in the Pacific, China, India and Burma. On rectangular Trani limestone piers within the hemicycles, are inscribed the Tablets of the Missing containing 36,286 names. Rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified. Currently, there are 439 rosettes found on the Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery and Memorial. Carved in the floors are the seals of the American states and its territories. From the memorial and other points within the cemetery there are impressive views over the lowlands to Laguna de Bay and towards the distant mountains.

On Oct. 19, 2019, the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) officially opened a new interpretive visitor center at the Manila American Cemetery to honor the American and Filipino sacrifices during the fight for the Pacific in WWII.  The dedication also marked the 75th anniversary of the return of Gen. Douglas McArthur to the Philippines.

Image
Vintage poster of Manila American Cemetery
A vintage poster was created by French artist DOZ for all ABMC cemeteries and five monuments and memorials to mark ABMC’s centennial. At this time, we are not offering printed versions of the posters, but the high-resolution printing file for each poster is available here for personal use. Please note that the posters are copyrighted and may not be reproduced for commercial purposes. Please contact ABMC Public Affairs at publicaffairs@abmc.gov with any questions.
Dedicated:
Location: Philippines
Burials:
16859
Missing in Action:
36286
Acres:
152.00

Virtual 360

Experience this site in a 360 degree view. Immerse yourself now with the beauty, serenity and history of the cemetery.

Photos

Browse photos, videos, interactive websites and apps dedicated to memorializing those who served in the U.S. Armed Forces overseas. Their service, achievements, and sacrifice are illuminated — dive in to learn more.

Cemetery Information

Visiting Hours

The cemetery is open daily to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except December 25 and January 1. It is open on host country holidays. When the cemetery is open to the public, a staff member is on duty in the visitor building to answer questions and escort relatives to grave and memorial sites. A valid photo ID is required for entrance to the cemetery. Free guided tours and next of kin assistance are provided by our visitor center staff. The flag lowering ceremony is held 15 minutes before the cemetery closes to the public. Admission to the cemetery and the Visitor Center ends 15 minutes before closing time.

To contact the cemetery staff, please call:
011-632-8844-0212
011-632-8813-2521
011-632-8894-3963

Contact Us

Manila American Cemetery
McKinley Road, Fort Bonifacio
1634
Taguig City
Philippines

Visitor Center

A new visitor center opened at Manila American Cemetery on 19 October, 2019. The visitor center is 11,000 square feet and includes an exhibit gallery that highlights the contributions and sacrifices of the U.S. and the Philippines in the fight for the Pacific during WWII.

Directions

GPS Coordinates: 14° 32' 29" N , 121° 3' 0" E

Manila American Cemetery is located in the Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila, within the boundaries of the former Fort William McKinley.

Please note that a valid photo ID is required for entrance to the cemetery. Drivers must follow a 20 km/h (12 mi/h) speed limit. Student drivers are not permitted to practice in the cemetery. Parking is available behind the chapel; bicycles must remain parked at the front gate for the duration of your visit. 

Travel via Car
Travel via Epifano de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) to McKinley Road. Take the McKinley Parkway inside the Global City.

Travel via Airplane
Lawton Avenue, also known as the Fort Bonifacio-Nichols Field Road, is the easiest access from Manila International Airport to the cemetery.

News & Events

Download this infographic to see where ABMC sites are located throughout the world.

Experience the history of World War II through a new interactive timeline. View maps, watch videos, see photos and read about the events that shaped the war.

Plan a visit to an ABMC site on Veterans Day to honor the fallen. Ceremonies are planned in France, England, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Philippines, and the Netherlands.

During Veterans Day weekend ABMC sites paid tribute and honored those men and women that are buried and memorialized overseas.