Egsan, Kendal Rhode BSPT-2 Aug.

22, 2019
Norial, April Joy Lit 101
Padalla, Narviel Love

THE JAPANESE OCCUPATION

Japanese Occupation in the Philippines

On December 8, 1941, Japan invaded the Philippines. Clark Air Base in Pampanga
was first attacked and also Nichols Field outside Manila was attacked, then on December
22, The Japanese forces landed at the Lingayen Gulf and continued on to Manila.
General Douglas MacArthur declared Manila an open city on the advice of
commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon to avoid its destruction.
Manila was occupied by the Japanese on January 2, 1942. MacArthur retreated
with his troops to Bataan while the commonwealth government withdrew to Corregidor
island before proceeding to the United States. The joint American and Filipino soldiers in
Bataan finally surrendered on April 9, 1942. MacArthur escaped to Corregidor then
proceeded to Australia. The 76,000 captured soldiers were forced to embark on the
infamous "Death March" to a prison camp more than 100 kilometers north. An estimated
10,000 prisoners died due to thirst, hunger and exhaustion.
The Huks In the midst of fear and chaos, some farmers of Pampanga banded
together and created local brigades for their protection. Luis Taruc, Juan Feleo, Castro
Alejandrino, and other leaders of organized farmers held a meeting in February 1942 in
Cabiao, Nueva Ecija. In that meeting, they agreed to fight the Japanese as a unified
guerrilla army. Another meeting was held the following month, where in representatives
from Tarlac, Pampanga and Nueva Ecija threshed out various details regarding their
organization, which they agreed to call "Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa mga Hapon" or
HUKBALAHAP.
Taruc was chosen to be the Leader of the group, with Alejandrino as his right hand
man. The members were simply known as Huks! The Philippine Executive Commission Jose
P. Laurel, president during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines In accordance
the instructions of President Manuel Quezon to Jorge Vargas, the Filipino officials in Manila
were told to enter into agreements and compromises with the Japanese to mitigate the
sufferings of the people under the iron-clad rule of the Japanese.
On January 23, 1942 the Philippine Executive Commission was established, with
Vargas as chairman. the following was appointed as department heads: Benigno
Aquino, Sr., interior; Antonio de las Alas, finance; Jose P. Laurel, justice; Claro M. Recto,
education, health, and public welfare; and Quintin Paredes, public works and
communication; Jose Yulo was named Chief Justice of the Supreme court.
The following month, an election was held for members of The Preparatory
Commission for Philippine Independence (PCPI). The purpose of PCPI is to draw up a
constitution for a free Philippines. Jose Laurel became its head. Against the will of the
PCPI delegates the new Constitution was finalized on July 10, 1943. Two months later it
was ratified by the KALIBAPI, which was the only political party allowed to exist at that
time. KALIBAPI is the acronym for "Kapisanan sa Paglilingkod sa Bagong Pilipinas". The
new constitution, which noticeably lacked a bill of rights contained 12 articles lifted from
the 1935 constitution that fitted the wishes of the Japanese. It was meant to be in effect
only temporarily, while the Philippines still in chaos.
After the war, a new constitution would again be drafted for the new Philippine
Republic. The Second 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 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. Gen. Douglas MacArthur Returns
From Australia, Allied forces slowly advanced toward the Philippines, bombing several
Japanese strongholds until they regained control of areas previously occupied by the
enemy. The bombings began on September 21 1944, and barely a month later, on
October 20, 1944, the Americans landed triumphantly in Leyte. Once a shore, General
Douglas MacArthur said; "I have returned." Sergio Osmena, President during the
commonwealth period Sergio Osmeña was Part of MacArthur’s group. He had taken
over Manuel L. Quezon as president.

Prominent Authors and their stories

Sinai Hamada
 Born in 1911 in Baguio City
 Parents: Ryukichi Hamada - an engineer, one of the earliest Japanese immigrants
to arrive in Baguio at about the time it was founded by the American colonial
authority; Josefa Carino - native Ibaloi, belonged to one of the most eminent
families of Benguet
 Studied at the University of the Philippines, a graduated of law and journalism in
1937
Tanabata’s Wife
Set in the 1920s when Kennon road was being built, the story focuses on Tanabata-San.
He is a successful Japanese immigrant farmer in La Trinidad Valley in Benguet, where
the Japanese have been known to pioneer the planting of salad greens. He’s a middle-
aged man who is lonely. When he saw Fas-ang, a young Bontok woman, he hires her as
a farmhand, and eventually falls in love with her. They get married and have a son, but
Fas-ang became attracted to the lights of Baguio City, upon the American’s arrival. She
also becomes attracted to someone else, and decides to elope with the man. In the
end of the story, the man left her for another, breaking her heart. Fas-ang went back to
Tanabata, who was left lonely and sad with his drying farm. He took her back, pointing
out his deep love for her.

Narciso G. Reyes
 Born on February 2, 1914 in Tondo
 A Filipino diplomat and author
 He served as:
1. Chairman of UNICEF from 1972-1974
2. Secretary-General of the ASEAN from 1980-1982
3. Permanent Representative to the UN and Ambassador to the United Kingdom,
China and other countries.
Lupang Tinubuan
The story revolves around how a person is shaped by his history, which is a part of life and
the world. The characters, Danding, Tiya Juana, Tiyo Gorio, Tata Inong, and Lolo Tasyo
were portrayed to give importance to family being the root of a community. Its
importance is shown to give birth to a nation, as it is a very valuable thing. The story also
emphasized respect and honor to whatever we came from, lived from, and grown from.

The situation of literature during the period

Newspaper: Liwayway

- a weekly periodical that was placed under strict surveillance until it was
managed by Japanese named Ishiwara.

Situation: English works of literature were stopped, therefore making Filipino writers
create more in the local language allowing three types of poetry to emerge during the
time. However, drama had its lull since the Japanese closed most movie houses that
showed American films. Others reproduced some English plays into Tagalog. Aside from
poetry and drama, short stories also were created, making this field widen.

Types of works:

1. Poetry – common topics are nationalism, country, love, life in the barrios, faith,
religion and the arts
a. Haiku – a poem of free verse that the Japanese like
- has 17 syllables divided into three lines; first line had 5 syllables,
the second, 7 syllables, and the third, five
- meaning is allegorical, short in length
b. Tanaga – like the Haiku but with measure and rhyme
- has 17 syllables and it’s also allegorical in meaning
c. Karaniwang anyo (Usual form)
2. Drama
a. Panday Pira by Jose Ma. Hernandez
b. Sa Pula, Sa Puti by Francisco Soc Rodrigo
c. Bulaga by Clodualdo del Mundo
d. Sino Ba Kayo?, Dahil Sa Anak, and Higante Ng Patay by Julian Cruz
Balmaceda

3. Short stories
a. Lupang Tinubuan by Narciso Reyes
b. Uhaw Ang Tigang Na Lupa by Liwayway Arceo
c. Lunsod, Nayon, and Dagat-dagatan by NVM Gonzales