The Japanese Occupation of the

Philippines

Sensei TMalit

バンザイ！このバカ！

Naloko na! Ano Daw???

Introduction• Japan occupied the Philippines for over

three years, until the surrender of Japan. A highly effective guerrilla campaign by Philippine resistance forces controlled sixty percent of the islands, mostly jungle and mountain areas. MacArthur supplied them by submarine, and sent reinforcements and officers. Filipinos remained loyal to the United States, partly because of the American guarantee of independence, and also because the Japanese had pressed large numbers of Filipinos into work details and even put young Filipino women into brothels.

Hours after Pearl Harbor• War came unexpectedly to the Philippines.

Japan opened a surprise attack on the Philippines on December 8, 1941, when Japan attacked without warning, just ten hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Japanese troops attacked the islands in many places and launched a pincer drive on Manila. Aerial bombardment was followed by landings of ground troops in Luzon. The defending Philippine and United States troops were under the command of General Douglas MacArthur.

• . Under the pressure of superior numbers, the defending forces (about 80,000 troops, four fifths of them Filipinos) withdrew to the Bataan Peninsula and to the island of Corregidor at the entrance to Manila Bay where they entrenched and tried to hold until the arrival of reinforcements.

Japanese Rules for Filipinos (1941-1945)1. Salute to the Japanese soldiers when you

meet them.2. The Japanese flag should be displayed at

every house's door.3. Everybody must put the sun-rise armband

on the left arm.4. Everybody should have the certificate of

residence.5. Wherever you see Japanese soldiers you

must welcome them and not escape from them. The escaper will be considered as the enemy.

6. Unless you do not tell false prices you will be paid reasonable.

7. You are absolutely prohibited to walk until the sun-set until the sun-rise without carrying lamps. The walker who has not lights will be shot by the Japanese patrolling soldier without any warns.

8. Don't be fooled and bewildered by false propaganda by Communists, bandits and Chinese

9. The incendiarism accidental fire and robbery will be punished

10.The holding of arms is allowed by the army. But the arms-holder must report to the mayor it and get permission from

11.The jobless people can find one's jobs in Japanese army and will be…

12.Be obedient to the orders of governor and mayor who are authorized

The Japanese Influence• During the Japanese occupation of the

Philippines during World War II, the Japanese influenced the government in the Philippines by enforcing a strict curfew, adding Japanese currency, instituting a military government and reducing neighborhood government systems by half. The occupation also cost the lives of over a million people in the Philippines.

The Lives of the Filipinos during the Occupation

• During the occupation of the Japanese in the Philippines, they ran the Philippines with an iron hand. They instilled fear declared martial law. They imposed curfews, they ordered that anyone who opposes them or even those who are just accused of going against the Japanese were punished and killed. Singing of the national anthem and raising of the national flag was prohibited. Use of radios and transmitters was also prohibited. Political parties, elections, and public assemblies were put to a halt. School, printing presses, telegraph, and radio stations were closed down. Everything was controlled by the Japanese.

Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere• It was an imperialist propaganda concept

created and promulgated for occupied Asian populations during the first third of the Shōwa era by the government and military of the Empire of Japan. It extended greater than East Asia and promoted the cultural and economic unity of Northeast Asians, Southeast Asians, and Oceanians. It also declared the intention to create a self-sufficient "bloc of Asian nations led by the Japanese and free of Western powers". It was announced in a radio address entitled "The International Situation and Japan's Position" by Foreign Minister Hachirō Arita on June 29, 1940.

The Japanese Propaganda• Japanese propaganda during World War II was

designed to assist the ruling government of Japan during that time. Many of its elements were continuous with pre-war elements of statism in Shōwa Japan, including the principles of kokutai, hakkō ichiu, and bushido. New forms of propaganda were developed to persuade occupied countries of the benefits of the Greater Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, to undermine American troops' morale, to counteract claims of Japanese atrocities, and to present the war to the Japanese people as victorious. It started with the Second Sino-Japanese War, which merged into World War II. It used a large variety of media to send its messages.

The Japanese Propaganda

The MAKAPILI• Headed by the triumvirate of former Revolutionary General Artemio Ricarte, Pio Duran, and former Sakdalista Movement founder Benigno Ramos, the MAKAPILI came into existence after the Japanese started to conscript Filipinos to augment their military forces. However, its members became feared not because of their fighting prowess but because of their treacherous behavior which included spying and selling out their own people.

• Whenever a village or a town was suspected of guerrilla activity, the Japanese would round up the residents and then let the MAKAPILI members—who covered their faces with bamboo baskets except for their eyes—point out the suspected guerrillas or their sympathizers. In this way, many Filipinos, including the innocent ones, were dragged off by the Japanese to be tortured and executed.

The 2nd Philippine Republic• On September 20 1943, the KALIBAPI-

under the leadership of its director general, Benigno Aquino Sr. held a party convention to elect 54 members of the National Assembly. The Assembly was actually made up of 108 members; but half of this number was composed of incumbent governors and city mayors. Jose P. Laurel was elected as president of the second republic (the first republic was Aguinldo's Malolos Republic) and both Benigno Aquino Sr. & Ramon Avancena as a vice-presidents. The new republic was inaugurated on October 14 1943 on the front steps of the legislative building in Manila.

The 2nd Philippine Republic• The Philippine flag was hoisted as the

national anthem was played. Meanwhile, the Japanese started using propaganda to gain the trust and confidence of Filipinos who refused to cooperate with them. They hung giant posters and distribute their materials that contains such slogans as "the Philippines belong to the Filipinos." they also used newspapers, movies, and others to publicize the same idea. Promoting Japanese propaganda was one of the main objectives of the KALIBAPI, but still Japanese failed to gain the trust of the Filipinos.

The 2nd Philippine Republic• The new republic was inaugurated on October

14 1943 on the front steps of the legislative building in Manila. The Philippine flag was hoisted as the national anthem was played. Meanwhile, the Japanese started using propaganda to gain the trust and confidence of Filipinos who refused to cooperate with them. They hung giant posters and distribute their materials that contains such slogans as "the Philippines belong to the Filipinos." they also used newspapers, movies, and others to publicize the same idea. Promoting Japanese propaganda was one of the main objectives of the KALIBAPI, but still Japanese failed to gain the trust of the Filipinos.

The KALIBAPI• For the Japanese, KALIBAPI served as a

labour recruitment service in its initial stages before taking on an expanded role in mid 1943. It was left to KALIBAPI to write the new constitution and establish the new National Assembly, resulting in Aquino's appointment as Speaker (as his replacement as Director-General by Camilo Osías). All 54 members of the Assembly were KALIBAPI members, although 33 of them had held elected office before the invasion as well.

The KALIBAPI• KALIBAPI soon claimed a membership that

ran into the hundreds of thousands. The islands were declared officially independent as the Second Philippine Republic on 14 October 1943 under the Presidency of José P. Laurel and his KALIBAPI government. This had been accomplished through the Preparatory Committee for Philippine Independence, which KALIBAPI had established in mid-1943 under Japanese direction.

The execution of Jose Abad Santos• He was killed by the

Japanese because he stood his ground for his country. He had full authority over what's left of the Philippines and on his capture, it was like catching the president himself. Abad Santos choose honor and death over a life of shame. He even saw dying for the country as an opportunity. Such was his patriotism, such was his heroism during those times of war. Just like our national hero, Jose Rizal, he was calm upon receiving the news until the end.

“Do not cry, Pepito. Show these people that you are

brave. It is a rare opportunity for me to die for our country. Not everybody is given that

chance.”

- Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos

to his son, Pepito.

Manila declared as open city• MacArthur issued the following communiqué: “In order to

spare the Metropolitan area from ravages of attack, either by air or ground, Manila is hereby declared an open city without the characteristics of a military objective. In order that no excuse may be given for possible mistake, the American high commissioner, the Commonwealth government and all combatant military installations will be withdrawn from its environs as rapidly as possible. The Municipal government will continue to function with its police powers, reinforced by constabulary troops, so that the normal protection of life and property may be preserved. Citizens are requested to maintain obedience to constituted authorities and continue the normal processes of business.”