Philippines During Japanese Occupation By that time, the defending Philippine and U.S. troops were under the command of General Douglas MacArthur. Lacking air cover, the American Asiatic Fleet in the Philippines withdrew to Java on . • 1941 (Dec. 25) Gen. Douglas MacArthur declared Manila an open city. (on the advice of commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon to avoid its destruction) • 1942 (April 9) – US and Filipino defendants in Bataan surrendered to the Japanese During World War II • MacArthur escaped to Corregidor • 76,000 captured soldiers were forced to embark on the "Death March" to a prison camp more than 100 kilometers north. • ~10,000 prisoners died due to thirst, hunger and exhaustion. The “Huks” • farmers of Pampanga banded together and created local brigades for their protection -Luis Taruc -Juan Feleo -Castro Alejandrino • agreed to fight the Japanese as a unified guerilla army The “Huks” • They agreed to call their organization Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa mga Hapon or HUKBALAHAP. - Taruc was the leader - Alejandrino was his right hand - Members were simply called Huks. The Philippine Executive Commission Established on January 23, 1942 The Philippine Executive Comission Chairperson: Jorge Vargas Dept. heads: Interior: Benigno Aquino Sr. Finance: Antonio delas Alas Justice: Jose P. Laurel Education, Health & Public Welfare: Claro M. Recto Public Works & Communication: Quintin Paredes Chief Justice of the Supreme Court: Jose Yulo The Philippine Executive Comission • new constitution -noticeably lacked a bill of rights -contained 12 articles lifted from the 1935 constitution that fitted the wishes of the Japanese -was meant to be in effect only temporarily, while the Philippines still in chaos The Second Republic The Second Republic • September 20 1943 - the KALIBAPI held a party convention -to elect 54 members of the National Assembly (assembly was actually made of 108 members but half of this number was composed of incumbent governors and city mayors) -President: -Vice President: Jose P. Laurel Benigno Aquino Sr. Ramon Anancena The Second Republic • Inauguration -October 14 1943 -on the front steps of the legislative building in Manila -Philippine flag was hoisted as the national anthem was played The Second Republic • Meanwhile… -Japanese started using propaganda to gain the trust and confidence of Filipinos who refused to cooperate with them -hung giant posters and distribute their materials that contains such slogans as "the Philippines belong to the Filipinos." -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.