CHAPTER 13

THE JAPANESE OCCUPATION

Description
This chapter discusses the conflict between America and Japan and how the
Philippines got involved. It focuses on the interruption of the Japanese in
the ten-year preparatory period of America to Philippines for self- rule which is
called the Commonwealth.
Objectives
At the end of this module, students should be able to:
1.Learn and understand the tactics of Japan in invading the
Philippines;
2.Appreciate the sacrifices of the fallen soldiers of Bataan during Death
March; and
3.Analyze the political situation during Japanese Occupation and the
creation of the puppet government in the leadership of the Filipino elites.
MAIN POINTS AND HIGHLIGHTS
Manila as Open City
Fall of Bataan
Death March
Philippines under Puppet Government
Beginning of World War II

Philippines is indeed a country reach in experiences of

d e a l i n g w i t h o t h e r c o u n t r i e s . U n e x p e c t e d l y, t h e
Commonwealth era in the Philippines was interrupted by
the Japanese in early 1940s when the latter country
bombed Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 8, 1941.
Apparently, our country was not the target of Japan – it was
the America. It was just happened that America occupied
some areas in the Philippines for military base.
The Second World War II is being regarded as the biggest
and most destructive war in the World History. Even before
the outbreak of the war in December 1941, Filipinos already
made some preparations. And as the tension grew,
President Roosevelt called Gen. Douglas McArthur again
for active service and he became the head of United States
Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE).
Japanese Attack in the Philippines
The largest Japanese force headed by Gen Masaharu Homma docked in
Lingayen. President Manuel Quezon together with his family and some
members of the cabinet left Manila on Christmas eve and transferred the
seat of the Commonwealth to Corregidor. It was December 26, when McArthur
declared Manila as an Open City to avoid further destructions and killings of the
civilians left in the city. Due to the health and critical condition of President
Manuel Quezon, US President Roosevelt that President Manuel Quezon and
his family be brought in US. Aside from Quezon family, Roosevelt also ordered
the departure of McArthur for Australia so that he could organize a new
army that could possibly fight the Japanese troops. Gen. McArthut left the
Philippines and when he reached Australia, he mentioned his most famous line
“I shall return”. He was replaced by Gen. Jonathan Mainwright as head of
USAFFE.
April 9, 1942 – Bataan fell in the hands of the Japanese.
They had no choice but to surrender to avoid and minimize
the killings of the Filipino as well as the American soldiers.
The Death March took place. From Mariveles, Bataan,
prisoners marched to San Fernando, Pampanga. From San
Fernando Pampanga, they boarded on the train and were
brought to prison in Tarlac. The Fall of Bataan marked the
temporary end of American regime in the Philippines. Even
Gen. Mainwright failed to defend Corregidor from the
Japanese troops.
When the Japanese finally took over the Philippines from
America, Gen. Masahru Homma established a military government
in the city on January 3, 1942. They wanted to administer the
political, economic and cultural system of the country. The
Japanese planned to establish a puppet government and they
succeed. The said government was headed by the prominent
Filipino in the society. The Philippine Executive Commission (PEC)
was established on January 23, 1942 with Jorge Vargas being the
appointed Chairman. PEC abolished all the political parties that
were established during American times in the country on
December 8, 1942, by virtue of Proclamation No. 109 creating the
“Kapisanan sa Paglilingkod sa Bagong Pilipinas” (Association for
Service to the New Philippines).
When the Japanese took over the Philippines, they actually, they actually
expressed their main objective- to liberate all the oppressed in East Asia and
establish the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere for the development of
the countries in the East.
The PCPI (Philippine Commission for Philippine Independence) elected its
twenty representatives for the framing of the constitution for the established
Philippine Republic. The said commission was headed by Jose P. Laurel.
The arrival of Gen. McArthur in Leyte on October 20, 1944 marked the end of
the Second Philippine Republic. With him was a fleet of 700 Marine Vessels
with 174,000 men on board. When the Japanese Imperial Forces was informed
of the coming of the American liberation forces, they feared the massive assault
might happen.
Gen. McArthur declared the Philippine liberation on July 5, 1945. The defeat of Japan
happened when two atomic bomb where launch in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. They formally
surrendered in ceremony held at the USS Missouri docked in Tokyo Bay.
Results of Japanese Occupation
Japanese had the shortest period of stay here in the country but they really left scars in the
Philippine history. During their occupation, life was most trying and dangerous. According to
Agoncillo - Men in the cities and plains had five mortal enemies:
Japanese Military
Diseases
Guerillas
Hunger
Japanese-Filipino spies
Owing to McArthur who delivered his promise of coming back, the agony of the Filipino
people stopped.
REFERENCES

Palado, D., De Silva, A., Reyes, C., et. al., (2018) Readings
in Philippine History, Muntinlupa City. Panday-Lahi
Publishing House, Inc. (143-154).

Alcantara, V., (2009). Philippine History: Past and

Present (Social Studies for First Year), Quezon City. CJS
Publishing. (257-265)