TERTIARY LEARNING MODULE

1st Semester A.Y. 2024-2025

The Japanese Occupation
- Beginning of World War II
I. MODULE TITLE:
- Japanese Attack in the Philippines
- Results of Japanese Occupation
Learn and understand the tactics of Japan in invading the Philippines
Appreciate the sacrifices of the fallen soldiers of Bataan during Death
March
II. LEARNING OBJECTIVE:
Analyze the political situation during Japanese Occupation and the
creation of the puppet government in the leadership of the Filipino
elites
III. INSTRUCTOR: Beverly R. Padilla
IV. WEEK COVERAGE: Week 15
V. COURSES:
Information Sheet 1.1

Beginning of World War II

Philippines is indeed a country reach in experiences of dealing with other countries.

Unexpectedly, the 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 CoProsperity
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 bombs 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)

Self-check

A. ESSAY

1. Gen. McArthur declared Manila as Open City when the Japanese arrived in the country. Do you think he
made a wise decision? Why and Why not. Explain.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
2. Discuss how the Second Republic established in the Philippines during Japanese Occupation.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
B. Identify the following:
________________1. He was tasked by the Japanese to write the constitution of the Second
Philippine Republic.
________________2. An organization that was established to carry the primary objectives of
Japanese occupation in the Philippines.
________________3. He was the leader of the Japanese forces when they occupied the Philippines.
________________4. Place which bombed by the Japanese that marked the beginning of the World
War II.
________________5. He was the President of the Philippine Second Republic.
________________6. In this place, the Japanese accepted their defeat and formally surrendered to
the Americans.
________________7. He was appointed as the head of USAFFE when McArthur left the
Philippines and moved to Australia.
________________8. This commission had 20 representatives for the framing of the constitution for
the established Philippine Republic.
________________9. Date when Bataan fell in the hands of the Japanese.
________________10. This was the famous line of Gen. Douglas McArthur.