The Japanese

Occupation (1942-1945)
Alfie Anthony N. Neodama
 Causes of Japanese
Expansionism
• Japan needed territories to accommodate its excess
population

• Japan had no large consumer market at home, Japan had to

look for markets abroad

• Japan was poor in natural resources, Japan needed sources

of raw materials to fuel her industries

• Japan wanted to become the leader of Asian nations. It

established the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere
where Asian countries would become cooperating members
of the union.
The Declaration of War
• The Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7,
1941 led the US to declare war on Japan

• After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese aircraft hit

the naval station in Cavite and Clark Air Field where
America’s largest array of planes was stationed
destroying America’s air armada. The Japanese
repeatedly attacked US installations throughout Luzon.

• The Japanese occupied the Philippines in 1942

 Impact of the Japanese
Occupation on Philippine Society
• In its proclamation on January 3, 1942, Japan said that its
purpose was to liberate Filipinos from the US. Japan
promised the Filipinos to grant “its independence so long
as it cooperates and recognizes Japan’s program of
establishing a Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere”.
The Japanese allowed the establishment of the Philippine
Republic on October 14, 1943

• The Japanese occupation led to economic hardships.

• The Japanese enlisted the support of the Filipino elite in

running the government.
 Impact of the Japanese
Occupation on Philippine Society
• Some Filipinos collaborated with the Japanese for different reasons

• pro-Japanese

• Continuation of leadership

• It was patriotic to protect Filipinos from harsh policies of the Japanese

• Survival

• Traditional elite left their towns and cities fearing for their dear lives which
resulted in a political vacuum

• Guerilla groups emerged such as the HUKBALAHAP which operated in

Central and Southern Luzon
 Impact of the Japanese
Occupation on Philippine Society

• The Japanese occupation also led to social and moral

breakdown

• Some Filipino women were made sex slaves or comfort

women by the Japanese army https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=zpWm9jnW9_Q [WW2 "Comfort Women" in the Philippines Revisited]; https://www.awf.or.jp/e1/
philippine-00.html [Women made to be Comfort Women - Philippines]

• The Japanese cultural policy https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=LwWHms6NSBk&t=849s [Cultural Policy during the Japanese Occupation | Dr. Ricardo T. Jose]
 The Liberation
• After the fall of Corregidor and Bataan, some Filipino and
American officers organized guerilla groups. https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=wM7YM5EFEzA [Bataan Death March]

• They gathered information about Japanese movements,

strengths, weaknesses, and sent these to General MacArthur’s
headquarters in Australia. These would be used in planning their
return to the Philippines.

• Guerrillas killed spies and Japanese sympathizers

• Guerrilla newspapers were circulated to provide truthful news

reports, which Filipinos could not get from Japanese-controlled
papers and radio broadcast.
 The Return of the
Americans
• The American forces under Gen. MacArthur landed in Leyte in October
1944 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqE6dkaFYV8 [The Battle of Leyte Gulf]

• Landings were also made in Mindoro, Batangas, Pangasinan,

Panay

• The Americans entered Manila in February 1945 https://www.youtube.com/

watch?v=UdfxZrqvq1c.

• October 23, 1944, the Commonwealth was reestablished in

Tacloban, Leyte

• July 4, 1945, General MacArthur declared the liberation of the

Philippines
What stories have you
heard from your elders
about their experience
of the war?