The dawn of May 1, 1898, breaks like any other over Manila Bay. But as the first light touches the horizon, a thunderous roar shatters the morning calm—the deep boom of naval artillery. You witness an extraordinary sight: the proud Spanish fleet faces unfamiliar warships flying the stars and stripes. Smoke and flame erupt from both battle lines as history pivots on the morning tide. You are witnessing the moment when one empire's three-century reign ends.