JAPANESE OCCUPATION

Hist 1 Readings in Philippine History

 ● Explain why the Philippines was
occupied by the Japanese
● Explain the Filipino response to

Learning Objectives the Japanese occupation of the

country
● Explain the Japanese treatment
of Filipinos
● Assess the Japanese occupation
in the Philippines
INTRODUCTION
● Dec 7 1941 - Pearl Harbor was
bombed by the Japanese
○ Home to the US naval
installation in the Pacific.
● Military installations in the
Philippines were bombed by the
Japanese.
○ Bombed to weaken
American bases in the
Pacific
○ As an American colony,
Philippines was dragged
into the war.
Clark Air Field (Angeles, Pampanga)
Sangley Point ( Southwest of Manila)
Nichols Air Field (South of Manila)
● National Defense Act
○ 1st legislative measure of the Commonwealth
government
○ Provided an establishment of an infantry consisting
of a reserve force and an active force, an army air
corps, and a navy.
● 1941 - military forces of the US and of the PH were put
under a single command
○ Head: Douglas McArthur
○ United States Armed Forces in the Far East
(USAFFE)
BREAKING THE SILENCE
● Dec 9 1941 - news of the bombing of Pearl
Harbor hit the front page of newspapers in
Manila
● Filipinos evacuated to safer grounds and started
hoarding food items
● Written by Lourdes Reyes Montinola
○ Daughter of Nicanor Reyes, founder of FEU
○ 14 years old when the war broke out
○ Sole survivor
At first the war had been an exciting novelty for us children. It meant only a timely
interruption to examinations. I was with mother and Lola Maria on the way to Antipolo
to hear early mass on December 8, 1941, it being the feast of the Immaculate
Concepcion. We sensed something was wrong as crowds huddled in many stops, and
even traffic policeman seemed to be distracted.
When we inquired what was going on, we were told that Pearl harbor had been
bombed. War had been declared by America! This meant that was Philippines was also
at war!

We turned back home, to the great relief of Father, who was anxiously waiting in our
carport. I wondered why Mother and Father were so alarmed. To me, Pearl Harbor and
America were far away. All I could think of were the suman and Antipolo clay pots that
we had missed buying.
● After the Japanese bombed the
military installations, and places
like Baguio, Davao and Manila,
their forces landed in the northern
part of Luzon.
○ Dec 10, 1941 - Landed in Vigan
and Aparri
○ Dec 20 - in Davao
○ Dec 22 - Pangasinan
○ Dec 24 - Atimonan and
Mauban in Lamon Bay
● Commonwealth Government was
evacuated to Corregidor
○ 1941 Eve of Christmas - USAFFE
forces withdrew to Bataan
● Japanese came from the northern part
and southern part of Luzon to
converge in Manila
○ Dec 26 - Declaration of Manila as
an “Open City”
○ Bombed by the Japanese, hitting
Sto. Domingo Church and the
Intendencia in Intramuros
● April 9 1942 - At noon, the surrender of Bataan was announced by the USAFFE
Broadcast station in Malinta Tunnel in Corregidor.
○ Written by Capt. Salvador P. Lopez (Future President of UP)
○ Announced on air by Lt. Norman Reyes.
 Battle of the Points
Japanese landings on
Bataan 22 January – 1
February 1942
American survivors of
the Battle of Bataan
under Japanese guard
before beginning the
Bataan Death March.
(U.S. Marine Corps)
American prisoners
under guard during
the Bataan Death
March.

(U.S. Marine Corps)

OF APR 9 1942 MALINTA TUNNEL, CORREGIDOR
● After the fall of Bataan, Filipino-American troops
were forced to march from Bataan to San
Fernando, Pampanga.
○ March under the heat affected hunger,
dehydration, & fatigue to the point of death.
○ AKA “The Death March”
● The Japanese forces concentrated on bombing
Corregidor (“Rock Fortress”)
● May 6 1942 - USAFFE Commander-in-Chief,
Jonathan Wainwright, surrender the entire forces
to Gen. Masaharu Homma.
American and Filipino prisoners, captured at Corregidor, arrive at Bilibid prison by foot and truck as
Japanese look on, 25 May 1942.
ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES (LT GEN. MASAHARU
HOMMA)
● The Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere
○ Created and promulgated by the Japanese to prevail in their occupied
territories in Asia during 1930-45.
○ To create a self-sufficient bloc of Asian nations free from Western
powers, and led by Japan.
● The Philippines was to serve as a source of agricultural products.
● Attempted cotton cultivation, yet it failed due to lack of skills,
transportation shortage from lack of fuel and food shortage.
ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES (LT GEN. MASAHARU
HOMMA)

● Filipinos were lukewarm due to

servitude of Japanese needs instead
of betterment for the country.
● August 3 - Gen. Masaharu Homma
explained the reason for their
occupation.
INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT JOSE P. LAUREL
● 1943 - Activities leading to the granting of independence to the Philippines
by the Japanese.
● December 1942 - Establishment of the Kapisanan sa paglilingkod sa Bagong
Pilipinas (KALIBAPI)
○ Only political party allowed
● June 18 - 1st assembly
○ The Preparatory Commission for Philippine Independence (PCPI) was
organized
○ Head: Jose P. Laurel
INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT JOSE P. LAUREL
● A constitution was prepared and approved
by the Japanese government.
○ Provided for the unicameral legislature
(”National Assembly”)
○ Chosen from the president of the
Japanese-sponsored republic
● Sept 25 - Elected Jose P. Laurel as president
● Oct 14 - Inducted into office.
 ● Mitigating the harshness of
Reasons for Philippine Japanese rule
collaboration in ● Protection of family and personal
Japanese-sponsored interests
● Pan-Asian interpretation of the
political and administrative future of Philippine nationalism
institutions ● Passing information to the Allies
LETTER OF CLARO M. RECTO TO DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE
JAPANESE MILITARY ADMINISTRATION

● June 15 1944 - Claro M. Recto (Minister of Foreign

Affairs) wrote to Lt. Gen. Takaki Wachi (Director
General of the Japanese Military Administration
○ Protesting Japanese atrocities
● Establishment of a Japanese-sponsored Republic
did not make the Filipinos accept the new
occupation readily.
Ang pagsakop at pag-abuso ng Meet Estelita Dy: A Filipino
mga Hapon sa mga Pilipino noong Comfort Woman Survivor | STAY
World War II | I-Witness CURIOUS #13 (Asian Boss)
PROCLAMATION OF GEN. DOUGLAS MACARTHUR
● Aug 1944 - Davao, 1st American
raids in the Philippines
● Sept 21 - Manila experienced
American air raids
○ Prompted Pres. Laurel to
proclaim the existence of war
against the US.
The Battle of Manila: 75 years after one of WWII's deadliest battles (DW News)
 TIMELINE
US forces landed in Leyte

3 days after; temporary

establishment of the US forces landing in
Commonwealth Lingayen, Pampanga
government in Tacloban,
Leyte Dec 21 1944 March 1945

Oct 20 1944 January 1945

The Laurel Pres. Laurel had flown out of
government the Philippines, brought into
evacuated in Baguio Taiwan and then to Japan
 TIMELINE

Gen. Tomoyuki
McArthur proclaimed Yamashita
that the Philippines surrendered all
had been liberated Japanese forces
Oct 20 1944
Aug 15 1945

July 4 1945 Sept 3 1945

Japan surrendered “I shall return”
unconditionally to
the Allied Powers