JAPANESE

OCCUPATION IN
THE PHILIPPINES
Pamugas, I.
BRIEF BACKGROUND
- Japan Rising in Power
(1906-1940’s)
- Creation of USAFFE (Jan, 1941)
- “Peaceful” Negotiations
(Sept - Dec 1941)

- Pearl Harbor (Dec. 7, 1941)

- Clark Bombing (Dec 8, 1941)
- Declaration of Open City
(Dec 26,1941)
- Fall of Bataan and Corregidor
(Apr 9, 1942)
- Japan entered Manila (Jan 2, 1942)
POLITICS
Nina Simone Aguilar
Aguilar, N.

POLITICS

- On January 3 1942, the General of the

Japanese Imperial Forces issued a
proclamation announcing the end of the
American occupation.
- The Japanese were ready to establish
sweeping reforms in the administration
of the government.
Aguilar, N.

POLITICS
- Jorge B. Vargas was issued to be the
Chairman of the Executive
Commission.
- The national government was
re-named the Central Administrative
Organization
Aguilar, N.

POLITICS

● Central Administrative Organization

○ Interior
○ Finance
○ Justice
○ Agriculture and Commerce
○ Education, Health, and Public Welfare
○ Public Works and Communications
Aguilar, N.

POLITICS
Aguilar, N.

POLITICS
● KALIBAPI
- On June 20, 1943, political parties
were abolished and a service
association called Kapisanan sa
Paglilingkod sa Bagong Pilipinas.
- A mass movement designed to
support the Japanese occupation
while taking advantage of Filipino
nationalism in the region.
Aguilar, N.

POLITICS
● KALIBAPI
- Headed by Benigno S. Aquino,
KALIBAPI is also intended to bring
into realization national unification.
- It strives to inculcate pride into our
very own native culture and undue
dependence on the Western culture.
Aguilar, N.

POLITICS

● KALIBAPI

KALIBAPI was not organized to serve the

ambitions of any one individual or class.
It is dedicated entirely to the service of
the people as a whole
Aguilar, N.

POLITICS

● KALIBAPI
- The movement was active in initiatives to
promote the Tagalog language as a
central Filipino identity which further
strengthens the sense of nationalism of
the Filipinos.
Aguilar, N.

POLITICS

● KALIBAPI
- KALIBAPI aims to bring back to the fold of
the Orient.
- Benigno S. Aquino calls upon the youth to
ponder on the great task that lies before
the Filipinos.
Aguilar, N.

POLITICS

- On September 25, the National Assembly

elected Jose P. Laurel as President of the
future Republic.
ECONOMY
Ricci Mendoza & Isaiah Pamugas
Mendoza, R.

ECONOMY

● Performance of the Philippine economy during the Japanese

occupation was widely known to be a negative experience
(Sicat, 2003).
● Industry and trade suffered a setback (Agoncillo, 1990).
Mendoza, R.

ECONOMY
● Transportation and Shipping
- During the Battle of Bataan in 1942, all
inter-island fleet that were docked at Manila
Harbor and Pasig River were either sunk or
destroyed by the USAFFE (United States Armed
Forces in the Far East) for defensive purposes.
- The USAFFE also destroyed and rendered
inoperable a lot of equipment and railway
bridges.
- Horses, trucks, cars, and other means of
transportation were confiscated by the
Japanese.
Mendoza, R.

ECONOMY
● Transportation and Shipping
- An acute shortage of fuel
developed and as time went on,
the only fuel that could be used
was alcohol or charcoal as
gasoline became unavailable.
- Tricycles became more widely
used while bicycles became the
mode of travel for those with
personal vehicles.
Mendoza, R.

ECONOMY
- The Japanese gave high priority to the repairs needed and
the labor was taken mainly from Filipino and American war
prisoners.

- Given the unavailability of ships and other modes of

transportation, it diminished trade and commerce.
Mendoza, R.

ECONOMY
● Food and Crops
Rice and other food items were scarce due to the following reasons:

1. Farmers fled their fields as these became battlegrounds during the war;
2. importation could not take place due to lack of logistics;
3. the food, especially the rice, was sold at very high prices; and
4. the available stocks of food would first be prioritized to the military forces.
Mendoza, R.

ECONOMY
● Food and Crops
- Self-sufficiency in food crops.
- In the later 1942, the Japanese introduced the cultivation of the “Horai” variety of
rice which is a fast-maturing strain from Taiwan.
- Free distribution of seeds and some agricultural implements while also providing
agricultural experts from Japan. They promoted vegetable gardening,
encouraged meat and dairy production, and extolled promotion of fishing

But these attempts fell short and the food situation became scarce and critical as
time went on.
Mendoza, R.

ECONOMY
● Food and Crops
- October 14, 1943: President Jose P. Laurel appealed to the people to plant every
inch of ground with vegetables, and soon, the sidewalks of Manila bloomed with
these.
- Kangkong
Mendoza, R.

ECONOMY
● Food and Crops

- Bigasang Bayan (BIBA), 1944

- National Distribution Corporation (NADISCO)
Pamugas, I.

ECONOMY
● Communication
- Organized communications in the Philippines was virtually paralyzed by the
onset of the war and this continued over time. The Electrical Communication
Bureau of the Japanese Army was given charge of restoring the
communications infrastructure. This was mainly to enhance the military
aspects of communications.
- Restoration of telephone and telegraph service was hampered by an acute
lack of wires. No replacement of wiring supply could be acquired under the
war conditions especially when shipping had become tight. As a result, the
repairs were confined mainly to important centers of population and activity
which were the military.
Pamugas, I.

ECONOMY
● Communication

The Japanese restored those

radio stations with great military
value and left the rest of the
system to be undertaken under the
auspices of the Philippine
government. Only the Globe
Wireless was refitted for service by
the Japanese military.
Pamugas, I.
ECONOMY
● Currency & Banking
Military notes ranging from 1
centavo to 20 pesos were issued as
legal tender for all transactions
while prohibiting the use of the US
Dollar. The number of war notes in
circulation were so substantial as
to force the rapid loss of value of
the peso currency.
In October 1943, the
Japanese authorities
ordered all local banks (such
as Philippine National Bank
and Bank of the Philippine
Islands) to transfer all
American and other national
deposits to the Bank of
Taiwan.
Pamugas, I.

ECONOMY
● Currency

- No production, most of the - Use of Flat Peso or

people engaged in the “Mickey Mouse” money,
Buy-and-Sell business. causing inflation.
Anything could be sold
and purchased at prices
which returned good
profits.
Pamugas, I.

ECONOMY
● Currency
Pamugas, I.

ECONOMY

One Centavo Five Centavos

Pamugas, I.

ECONOMY

Ten Centavos Fifty Centavos

Pamugas, I.

ECONOMY

One Peso Five Pesos Ten Pesos

Pamugas, I.

ECONOMY

One Peso Five Pesos Ten Pesos

Pamugas, I.

ECONOMY

One Hundred Five Hundred One Thousand

Pesos Pesos Pesos
Pamugas, I.

ECONOMY

The drop of production in specific

sectors of agriculture, mining, and
industry, plus the general lack of
employment among the population,
the scarcity of goods and food in
general aggravated the social and
economic conditions during that time.
SOCIAL
CONDITIONS
Jhanessa Tan
Tan, J.

SOCIAL CONDITIONS
- Life under enemy occupation was most trying and
dangerous.
- War hysteria made men unreasonable, making escapes
unlikely in these circumstances.
- Anything that could have been anti-Japanese in any nature
was eliminated.
- FIVE MORTAL ENEMIES: The Japanese Military, Diseases,
Guerillas, Hunger, and Japanese-paid Filipino Spies
Tan, J.

SOCIAL CONDITIONS The Japanese Military

- The Japanese Military, or Kempeitai (Kenpeitai) ,

had a wanton disregard for human lives.
- Examples of torture: water cure, making prisoners
as their punching bags, and pressing red-hot iron
or electric wire into the flesh of the prisoner.
- An unrecorded amount of people died in Fort
Santiago.
- Kura or Kora is a Japanese term that struck fear in
whoever it is directed to.
- Slapping was also a common sight.
- Comfort women
Tan, J.

SOCIAL CONDITIONS Guerillas, and Spies

- Brothers and husbands who were not able to

protect their loved ones joined guerilla groups.
- The guerillas were also quick to liquidate Filipinos
whom they suspected of collaboration with the
Japanese.
- HUKBALAHAP (Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon)
- Hukbalahap Rebellion (1946)
- Along with guerilla groups to be feared, there are
spies as well.
- MAKAPILI (Makabayang Katipunan ng mga Pilipino)
Tan, J.

SOCIAL CONDITIONS Hunger, and Diseases

- The scarcity of food, and medicine resulted into many deaths.

- Malaria, malnutrition, and tuberculosis, to name a few causes of
deaths.
- Sulfathiazole
- Crimes against property and people multiplied.
- There was still light and music for plutocrats and the new
bourgeoisie of the period through night clubs, restaurants, and
business ventures.
Tan, J.

SOCIAL CONDITIONS Others

- The Japanese tried to reorient the Filipinos

from American influences to Asia and Japan.
They changed street names and places.
- Examples: Brixton Hill became Nilad;
Broadway Street, Biak-na-Bato; Chicago
Street in Manila, Makiling; Harrison Park, Rizal
Park
- The rise of the new bourgeoisie, the downfall
of the old social elites, and the pyramid of
Filipino society widened at its base.
 EDUCATION
Patricia Mae Dela Cruz
Dela Cruz, P.

EDUCATION
Military Order No. 2

February 17, 1942

- Establishment of the Commission of Education,

Health and Public Welfare

June 1942

- Public schools were ordered to be reopened by the

Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Japanese
Forces in the Philippines
- First Priority: Elementary Schools
- Second Priority: Vocational and Normal
Schools
Dela Cruz, P.

EDUCATION

The Six Principles of Japanese Education

- Propagation of Filipino Culture
- Dissemination of the principle of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere
- Spiritual rejuvenation of the Filipinos
- Teaching and propagation of Niponggo
- Diffusion of vocational and elementary education
- Promotion of love of labor
Dela Cruz, P.

EDUCATION
March 1943

- There were only 267, 977 enrolled

elementary students

Factors:

1. Suspicion (Japanese intention)

2. Child Labor (Selling)
Dela Cruz, P.

EDUCATION
October 14, 1943

- Proclamation of the Japanese-sponsored Republic

President Jose P. Laurel

- Added the fundamental principle of militant nationalism

- Propagation of Tagalog as the national language by using it as an official
language
- Teaching Tagalog, Philippine History, and Character Education
- Heads of schools must be Filipino citizens
- Teaching of foreign culture was barred
Dela Cruz, P.

EDUCATION
Products of the Public and Private Schools were expected to contain the following
virtues:
1. Respect for the dignity of labor and endurance for hard work
2. Preference for simple and frugal life to a life of ostentation and
extravagance
3. Adherence to the moral principles of honesty, sincerity, and
righteousness
4. Abhorrence for materialism and greed
5. Reverence for old age and sympathy for the poor and unfortunate
6. Obedience to the law and respect for constituted authorities
7. Deep sense of consciousness as Orientals and as Filipinos
 RELIGION
Sofia Marie Espanillo
Espanillo, S.

RELIGION
1942 - Filipino churchmen spoke out in favor of
cooperation with the Japanese Military
Administration (JMA)
Bishop Cesar Ma. Guerrero (Auxiliary Bishop
Manila)
“Now Almighty God has decreed that our country should
pass into the hands of a sister oriental nation. The
Nipponese empire has offered us a chance to reform our
national life...”

Bishop Santiago Fonacier (head of the

Philippine Independent Church)
“We have been assured of respect for, as well as the free
exercise of our religions… Our duty, I believe, should be to
lend every assistance to Japan...”
Espanillo, S.

RELIGION
Bishop N.S. Binstead of the Episcopal Church
drafted pledge:
“I freely acknowledge the authority in all things temporal of
the Imperial Japanese Army High Command… I do hereby
promise to conform to all commands, orders, and
regulations, issued by the said constituted authorities...”

Pledge cooperation with authorities:

The Federation of Evangelical Churches.

These statements are rhetoric

Espanillo, S.

RELIGION
Japanese failed to win the Christian
Community

● Filipino perspective: Japanese are

non-christians and thus have nothing to
teach them in terms of faith and morals.
● Christianity and state religion of Japan
was not possible to reconcile

Christian background of the Filipino

community served as a block against the
Japanese.
Espanillo, S.

RELIGION
January 17, 1942:
Archbishop Michael O’Doherty in a
meeting with Japanese Military
Administration (JMA) said he was
pleased that religion would be respected
and protected by the Japanese Army.

“Churchmen in the Philippines could not have

brought the people to cooperate with the
Japanese even if they had tried to do so”
Espanillo, S.

RELIGION
The Western presence among the Christian
community is one of the reasons why
Japanese failed to convince Filipino christian
community to cooperate with them.
“Separation of Church and State”
- Western, democratic innovation.

February 1945 - Manila Bloodbaths

(Battle of Manila)
- Filipino Church’s mistrust with the Japanese
was confirmed.
Espanillo, S.

RELIGION
Post War Investigations
● Extracts were taken from a file of “Manila
Navy Defense force” and “South Western
Area Fleet Operation Orders”, dated from
December 23, 1944 to February 14, 1945.
“When killing Filipinos, assemble them together in
one place…”

● Extracts from the diary of Yamaguchi who

Intramuros
was a Japanese warrant officer.
“We are ordered to kill all the males we find… Our
aim is to kill or wound all the men and collect
information...”
May 1945
Espanillo, S.

RELIGION
April 19, 1945:
Msgr. Piani, Apostolic Delegate was able
to talk to Rome about the sufferings of
the churches in the Philippines.

Japanese Officials labeled the Apostolic

Delegate’s report of Manila a lie.
CULTURE
Ysabel De los Santos
De los Santos, Y.

Dramatic Philippines, Inc.

- Formed in 1943
- Purpose: Adapt popular plays in English into
Tagalog
- Examples: Passion Play, Seven Keys to
Baldpate, Sa Pula Sa Puti, Julius Caesar
 Musical Philippines Inc.
- Sister organization of Dramatic
Philippines Inc.
- Concerts performed in the
Metropolitan Theater
- Such concerts provided enjoyment
and entertainment which made the
elite and the masses temporarily
forget the cruelties of the war
METROPOLITAN
THEATER
De los Santos, Y.

AWIT SA PAGLIKHA NG
BAGONG PILIPINAS

PHILIPPINE - “Hymn of The Birth of the New

Philippines” or “Tindig! Aking
NATIONAL ANTHEM Inang Bayan”
- DECEMBER 20, 1942
- Written by Catalino S. Dioniso
and music by Felipe Padilla De
Leon
De los Santos, Y.

TIME HOLIDAYS
Japanese central time Japanese holidays
(one hour ahead of replaced American

CHANGE IN CULTURE
Philippine time) holidays
58

LANGUAGE
Because the English language
was prohibited, the native
language, Tagalog, flourished
and developed
De los Santos, Y.

MANILA TRIBUNE
- Was the morning paper in
Manila before the war
- Propaganda mouthpiece for the
Japanese
- Japanese discouraged the
Filipinos from writing in English
- Manila Tribune newspaper was
suppressed
De los Santos, Y.

LIWAYWAY THE PHILIPPINE THE PILLARS

REVIEW
Only Tagalog weekly Became the refuge
allowed to continue Published poems, of those in need of
publication under the historical articles, and a few hundred
Japanese pure propaganda pesos to buy food 60
materials
De los Santos, Y.

PEOPLE’S REACTIONS
- While the press carried many speeches in support of the new order, Filipinos
found ways to express their skepticism about the Japanese plans.
- Orchestrated shouts of “Banzai” for Prime Minister Tojo instead became
“Bangkay!” by some Filipinos
- Manuel (6 years old): “Mabuti pa ang ako’y mamatay kaysa masakop ng Japon.”
- There was a systematic but subtle attempt to subject the Filipinos to mass
discipline
- At the Theaters, move goers were required to uncover and observe silence
whenever the Japanese Emperor or any member of the Imperial Household would
appear on the screen.
- “Radio Taiso” - daily mass calisthenics exercises conducted over the radio
De los Santos, Y.

PEOPLE’S REACTIONS
- Early resistance before Bataan fell known
as the “Fighters for Freedom”
- The Japanese had put up posters saying
“For every Japanese killed, ten Filipinos
will be killed.”
- Posters were replaced with text changed
to: “For every Filipino, ten Japs will be
killed.”
- Each new poster was signed with the
letters “F.F.F.”
De los Santos, Y.

PEOPLE’S REACTIONS
- Some Filipinos spoke of the Japanese as the “Sakang” or “Singkit”
(Bowleged or Slit-eyed)
- “Greatest East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere” → “Sama-samang
Kasaganaan sa Lalong Malaking Silangang Asya” → “Sama-samang
Pangnanakawan sa Lalong Malaking Silangang Asya” (Greater East Asia
Robbery Sphere)
- Kalibapi → Kalibabi (babi meaning pig in Pampango) or Sa Kabila Pa (Still
on the Other Side)
De los Santos, Y.

PEOPLE’S REACTIONS
Neighborhood Association

- The smallest unit of the national mobilization program established by the

Japanese government in World War II
- The Japanese relied on them to supply a required amount of participants at
forced demonstrations and parades.
- The Japanese Military Policemen supervise and control their movements.
- The Filipinos knew that the real purpose of the Neighborhood Association was
to apprehend the guerillas.
- In the Filipinos’ estimation, the association was just an espionage agency of
which they were the tools.
De los Santos, Y.

PEOPLE’S REACTIONS
- Filipino POWs (Prisoners of War) later on were the authorized to bark out
the merits of the Japanese East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere
- Everybody should bow every morning in the direction of the Hirohito and
sing the Japanese Kimigayo
- The Japanese wanted the Filipino people to work for them in
concentration camps
- POWS were not proud of working under order of Japs
- Feign sickness or inability one way or another
PEOPLE’S REACTIONS
- The Japanese threatened that for every
Japanese killed, ten Filipinos would have to
pay with their lives
- Response in San Nicolas: For every Filipino
life taken by the Japanese twenty Japanese
lives will answer
- It was dangerous to speak one’s mind in the
occupied areas
- In Manila 1942, Spies sprang like
mushrooms. Psuedo-patriots minced
unsavory words against the United States
- Bagong Pagkakaisa Resolution
De los Santos, Y.

Nonetheless, it must be admitted that the Japanese,

more than the Americans, encouraged the development
of Tagalog and gave to it an impetus never before
witnessed. Whether their purpose was selfish or not is
immaterial. The fact remains that the Japanese helped
the writer in Tagalog re-discover the beauty and
potentialities of his native language.
(Agoncillo, 1990)
References:
- Agoncillo, T. (1990). History of the Filipino people. Philippines: Garotech Publishing.

- Jose, R. (2006). World War II and the Japanese occupation. Quezon City: University of the
Philippines Press.

- Parpan, A. (1989). The Japanese and the Philippine Church, 1942-45. Retrieved from
https://www.jstor.org/stable/42633149?read-now=1&seq=4#page_scan_tab_contents

- Sicat, G. (2003). The Philippine economy during the Japanese occupation, 1941-1945.
Retrieved from http://www.econ.upd.edu.ph/dp/index.php/dp/article/view/109/161