In the coming decades of American governance, the capital of the Philippines immediately developed into a metropolitan site—not only in title, bearing the name of a city—but in its picturesque social realities. Commerce boomed; a common scene showed people in coat and slacks and trilby. Cars and kalesas travelled with walking civilians, some of them still dressed in native clothes: dress and skirt for women (baro't saya), shirt and pants made of chino cloth for men. Activities largely focused on the areas near the harbour, and Taft Avenue presented itself as a clean, wide road; unsullied tree branches swayed by its pavements.

With the growth of the country, De La Salle began to attract more students, and the need to envision a larger foothold to support its growing community became manifest to the Christian Brothers of the Philippines. Architects and engineers showed their drafts, eventually presented the final design. In April 1921, Japanese and Chinese workers began to build the oldest Lasallian edifice in Taft Avenue. Br. Albinus Peter, the president at the time, and Br. Celba John supervised the laying of scaffolding, the pouring of cement, perhaps even direction given to the carpenters.

The building encountered problems regarding space. Given the need for a bigger area for the students, the Brothers decided to request permission to purchase the one-storey building within the vicinity of De La Salle's land. The structure's owner, Gabriel Hermanos, acknowledge the need; his property eventually became a quarters for the lay teachers of the early De La Salle College. At the end of the construction, when the first building opened, only its first floor was finished—the rest remained incomplete given the financial constraints of the congregation.

All the difficulties hardly stopped the Brothers from rubbing life into their latest project. Classrooms sat well-ventilated; each wall stood with modern design, and its white walls endured the city's weather with reinforced concrete. Naturally, unless a student began learning within its halls, however, the new picture of De La Salle School will never be complete. On September 24, 1921 four hundred and twenty-five students marched out of their Paco Campus and put blood into the unfinished, but the young and adolescent students, growing institution. Studying and teaching ensued. A year later, as the affairs of the school stabilized, Brother Director Peter resumed the unfinished parts of the De La Salle's campus in Taft Avenue.

Even colonial territories receive a part in the development of their colonizers; the potential growth of the former links to the advancement of the latter. By the 1920s, the American government has reached its second decade of rule over the Philippines, and since education functions as a significant factor in progress, an evaluation may provide data on what governments must do, as well as notify citizens about which learning institution can benefit them most. When the Monroe Educational Survey Commission assessed the De La Salle College, the Lasallian brothers, who arrived barely able to sleep perhaps due to worry and the lack of decent shelter, received praises from their observers.

De La Salle College administered by the Christian Brothers in Manila, has without exception, the finest plant for a school in the entire Archipelago. The refectories and sanitary arrangements are all that can be desired and ought to serve as a model for other schools in the Islands. Moreover, the recitations heard by the representatives of the Commissions were excellent and the progressive spirit evidenced by the fine group of Brothers in charge make quite certain a fine future for the institution. (Br. J. Castillo FSC, 1969)

Lasallian education began focusing on primary and secondary levels, adhering to the reforms done by the American government. Later, it advanced to include college courses, which continued to expand. Under the leadership of Br. Albinus Peter, Geography, Political Science, Philosophy, Advanced Anatomy, Mathematics, and Languages entered its list of offers to the students. French, Spanish, and German tutorials may also be taken by any interested pupil, as long as they have gained fluency in the compulsory English subject.

Br. Aciselus Michael continued the efforts of Br. Peter and, under his directorship, pursued the excellence of Lasallian Education. His challenge resembled what his predecessors had encountered. According to Br. David King, in charge of analyzing the conditions of the De La Salle College stated, "The growing pains of its childhood days were not, as yet, completely obliterated…" Then again, he saw progress, saying, "So some laborious work, as well as hard thinking, had to be gone through to bring the college to that enviable position it attained in a very short time." De La Salle College sought to improve its knowledge in the field of science.

Physics and Chemistry laboratories first brought the most advanced equipment in the school. The Biology laboratory followed later, for it lacked in the necessary specimens. Its completion, however, began with luck. A museum in Manila closed during its construction; fortuitously, De La Salle acquired its animal and plant samples. Most of these, however, would be lost during the war.

The non-academic fields also preoccupied the first batches of the De La Salle College. By the mid 1920s, its athletes began to show competence in the fields of swimming and track and field. In 1926, Lasallians won four out of five events in the Carnival Relays; in 1927, junior football began their two-year hold of the NCAA football championship.

The central mark of a Lasallian manifests through the discipline he learns from the Christian Brothers. Proper social behavior and respect for friends and relatives quickly became admirable traits of the young men who came under the supervision of a brother. All these receive cultivation in various classes, including sports, music, school celebrations, academic instruction, even in the literary magazine, Green and White, where thoughts of students and alumni participate in the shaping of a community. Living with a high standard of moral attitude, every ideal Lasallian brings an image of a Christian gentleman.

The war in Europe spread to the Pacific. The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and soon sent forces to the American-occupied Philippines. Alarm resounded upon the approach of Japanese warplanes, which yielded upon the impact of bombs and news regarding the fall of military camps protecting the archipelago.

During the preliminary resistance of the defending American and Filipino soldiers, De La Salle functioned as a training camp and a shelter for displaced civilians and injured soldiers. The Brothers prepared some rooms to nurse the wounded, as well as provide nourishment for the recovering combatants. All these changed when, in January 2, 1942, the Japanese Imperial Army marched to Manila and occupied field and offices of the De La Salle College. The invaders took the property, despite the pleadings of the Brothers, although they spared the clergy from harm.

School amid the War
Most of the educational activities ceased during the peak violence. When the situation stabilized, the Japanese eventually allowed classes to resume. Since most American have left the country, German brothers—whose government allied with Japan—and other foreign brothers continued teaching the Lasallian students. Brother Bonaventure John wrote to Brother Eliphys Victor: "The grades and High School are in regular session in the College for about a year now, lessons being given by non-American Brothers and by Filipino teachers. Needless to say, there is much of interest that I could writer to you, but that must wait until more peaceful time."

Restrictions came with harsh penalties, as implied in this letter, and the Brothers were unable to make decisions with independent autonomy. They all acted with caution. An alumnus said in an interview that "we [the students] were 'goosesteping,'" perhaps to show respect and compliance with the instructions of the Japanese occupiers. High school classes happened in St. Scholastica's College with the aid of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters. Many Lasallians studied with pupils from other schools that have closed and took De La Salle as their refuge.

Difficulties during the War
Like all countries that hosted battlefields for the combating armies, the Christian Brothers in the Philippines saw the spread of war-related predicaments. At the time of powerlessness, they relied on strong faith and the guidance of St. Jean Baptiste De La Salle. With Divine Providence, they kept themselves from straying from the duty to help. More families rushed to the Lasallian campus, and the Brothers continued to shelter and feed the homeless families. Their greatest success lay on their enforcement of the Lasallian mission of educating a troubled community. Br. B. John speaks of the condition of St. La Salle's congregation and all its members during wartime— "War or no war, Filipino youth must not grow up in ignorance and vice. Too easily does juvenile delinquency develop on the streets of well-ordered cities; and much more readily in times disturbed by war, with the children of the nation idle and surrounded by vast numbers of pagan soldiers. To prevent this and thus safeguard the future of the Philippines was the aim of these soldiers of Christ, fighting on the battlefield of the classroom for the souls of boys confided to their care…"

The victories of the United States over the Japanese Imperial Army came with a quick advance of American warships, land battalions, and air force divisions. Fighting grew fiercer in the islands of Southeast Asia, particularly in the Philippines, which Gen. MacArthur planned to use as a base to commence the bombardment of Japan. History speaks of many stories about conflicts. We have learned that capturing the real picture of battle always has difficulties; then again it is imperative for humanity to elucidate the world's reaction to chaos, of describing bravery and cowardice, heroism and villainy.

The Christian Brothers upholding the ideals of St. La Salle witnessed that explosives do not only kill people; air raids also corrupt the spirit, block the conscience of those they touch, and lead them to options of despair and vengeance. Many have witnessed this, as American troopers surrounded Manila, while bombers leveled the city and turned the Philippine capital into the second most destroyed metropolis after World War 2. Mere reports that rape and pillage have occurred will always be an understatement. A detailed account, especially on the perspective on a reporter, on the other hand, may overstate and overlook certain peoples in warfare—after all, the Japanese also took the skin of victims. Nevertheless, glimpses of survivors' accounts about the Massacre in De La Salle College Manila depict horror, which we might as well remember to nourish our taste of repugnance for killing.

On Wednesday, February 7, 1945, the Japanese came and took away Brother Xavier and Judge Carlos. They were taken to the Japanese Club, which was later burned, but further than this we have no knowledge as to what happened to them. The Japanese forbade us to leave the building, even to go into the garden, or to look out of the windows. With the Japanese who came to take Brother Xavier away was a well-dressed Filipino who seemed to be showing them way. -Fr. Francis J. Cosgrave, C.SS.R., while recovering in Manila Hospital

A common picture of wartime massacre suggests to the mind a squad of soldiers dragging and bayoneting their victims. From a distant view, many of us would think that the enormous work was swift and that life, in the midst of sharp and hot steel, could easily vanish. Many Brothers during the Liberation of Manila died when the Japanese attacked. Most of the survivors owed the extension of their earthly lives because of these Lasallian clergymen, who pushed the children under inconspicuous furniture, or took a stab for another.

Even knives that cut the flesh do not immediately kill. After the Japanese soldiers had left the bloodied floors of the Chapel of the Most Blessed Sacrament, many survivors—brothers and lay people—crawled about, searching for survivors. It would be difficult enough how they felt about their wounded limbs. How can we describe what went on their minds, as they helped each other enter the sacristy? What did they think when they waited for rescue, hungry and thirsty? The Japanese troopers who charged at them only foreshadowed a long struggle. When the Americans came, violence ensued; their bombs continued to fall. Artillery shells quickly became a daily noise. Some who died did not die by the weapons; others took their final breath while lying on the floors and halls of De La Salle College.

What makes the courage of the martyred Brothers admirable was not the blood they spent because of a bullet, or the painful emotions they endured as their murderers toyed with their flesh. We remember them today, because instead of lying motionless to tend to their wounds, or run, they endured the pain and looked for others who can live. Accounts speak of how the brothers tried persuading the raging soldiers to spare them. We also know of some who led others to a safe passage and used their own bodies to conceal the hiding refugees. An exact detail of how they defended life may never be revealed, yet all are grateful. At the centennial of De La Salle, we begin to cherish the reminiscence of their heroism.

Voltes Five!