When war broke out in the Philippines, the staff and cadets of the Philippine Military Academy came down from Baguio to Manila. On December 19, 1941 on the grounds of the University of Santo Tomas the cadets of Class 1942 and 1943 graduated earlier and received their commissions, and under their Superintendent Col. Fidel V. Segundo (USMA 1917) formed the 1st Regular Division.