THE JAPANESE OCCUPATION

Cause of Japanese Expansionism• Japan had to compete with Western imperialism which had to industrialize and develop her capitalism• Japan’s expansionist program was planned and implemented by the military, the state bureaucracy, and the big business combined (zaibatsu), working hand in hand.• Japan decided to raise armed conflict because of the economic restriction on trade by US.

Zaibatsu

Cause of Japanese ExpansionismThe reasons for

expansion:Needed territories to accommodate

its excess population

Had to look for markets abroad since it had no large consumer market at

home

Had to expand to complete its industrialization

Cause of Japanese Expansionism

The reasons for expansion:Being poor in natural resources, it needed sources of raw materials especially from Western powers or from their colonies

Wanted to become a leader of Asian nations and established the Greater East Asia Co-

Prosperity Sphere

Cause of Japanese ExpansionismThe reasons for expansion:

Resurgence of militarism and ultranationalism

Japanese oligarchy

believed that a strong economy

could only be realized if it was

strong in its military

component

The Sino-Japanese War (1894) led to

Japan’s annexation of Taiwan. Also

controlled Korea and Manchuria

Because of discrimination

against Japanese

immigrants in the US, some

Japanese ultranationalists

thought of a future war.

The Declaration of War

•The bombings of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 after which Japanese aircrafts hit the naval station in Cavite and Claik Air Field and attacked US installations throughout Luzon

The Bombing of Pearl Harbor

The Declaration of War• Japanese occupied the Philippines in 1942. Bataan and Corregidor fell to the Japanese• The Japanese had already investments in the Philippines before the war so that they operated hem plantations, canneries, and other commercial ventures

Impact of Japanese Occupation• Japan, in its proclamation on January 3, 1942, said that its purpose in the Philippines was to liberate the Filipinos from the US and promised its independence when it cooperate and recognize Japan’s program of establishing a Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere•Occupation led to economic hardships•The Japanese enlisted the support of the Filipino elite running the government

Impact of Japanese Occupation

• Continuation of their leadership

• Were genuinely pro-Japanese like Artemio Ricarte, Leon Villafuerte, and Benigno Ramos

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

• A means of survival

Some Filipinos cooperated with the Japanese for different reasons

Impact of Japanese Occupation•Traditional elite left their towns and cities fearing for their lives which resulted in a vacuum in political and social leadership while the peasants took control of their economic life without the interference of the landlords

Impact of Japanese Occupation

Guerrilla groups emerged• The Hukbo ng Bayan

Laban sa Hapon (HUKBALAHAP) operated in Central and Southern Luzon

• Marciano Peralta and Tomas Confesor with the American soldiers in Panay

Impact of Japanese Occupation

The Japanese occupation led to social and moral breakdown• Some Filipino women became sex slave (comfort

women)

Impact of Japanese Occupation•A new bourgeoisie emerged•Nippongo was introduced in schools but Filipinos did not learn the language•The brutality of the occupation made many Filipinos appreciate the Americans

THE LIBERATION

Guerrilla Activities During the War•After the fall of Corregidor and Bataan, some Filipino and American officers organized guerrilla groups•They harassed and killed Japanese troops and sabotage Japanese war efforts as well as spies and Japanese sympathizers

Alamo Scouts

Guerrilla Activities During the War•Guerrillas gathered information about Japanese movements, strengths, weaknesses, and other activities and sent these to Gen. MacArthur’s headquarters in Australia•Guerrilla “newspapers” were circulated to provide truthful news reports

The Return of the Americans

American forces under MacArthur landed in Leyte in October 1944 and landings were also made in Mindoro, Batangas, Lingayen, and Panay

The Return of the Americans• Entered Manila, the second most devastated city in the world after Warsaw, Poland, by blanket bombings by American forces• The Commonwealth was reestablished in Tacloban, Leyte on October 23, 1944.• General MacArthur declared the liberation of the Philippines on July 4, 1945

Nature of Philippine “Liberation”

Liberation meant the reoccupation of the Philippines by the Americans (Constantino)MacArthur implemented American policy in the Philippines who did not entertain nor did not like interference from other American officials

Nature of Philippine “Liberation”MacArthur’s advisers developed a plan for the administration of civil affairs during the

reoccupationCreation of Philippine Civil Affairs Unit (PCAU) to

take care of relief operation

Under the plan, President Osmeña could make recommendations on the choice of provincial

officials and town mayors in the provinces that were under military control but MacArthur had

the final decision.

Recommendees should have the approval of the Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC)

Nature of Philippine “Liberation”•President Osmeña was pressured by MacArthur to restore the Philippine Congress and many of its members were those who served under the Japanese-sponsored government•MacArthur and his group adopted an anti-Huk policy for they considered the Huks as a threat to the Commonwealth because of their communist links.

Sergio Osmena

THANK YOU!