History of the

Philippines
Project of: Carlo Joseph Moskito
Mylene Nipales
Paolo Nobleza
History 1 –G

Prof. Armi Evangel N. Peña

Guerillas: Those who refused to place themselves
under the authority of the Japanese Military
Administration
Table 1. Officers and Soldiers who organized guerilla units

Leader Headed the:

Walter M. Cushing 121st Infantry
Col. Guillermo Nakar 14th Infantry
Col. Parker Calvert 43rd Infantry

Table 2. Northern Luzon Guerillas after Cushing’s death

Areas Guerilla Leader
Ilocos Norte Governor Roque Ablan
Apayao and Cagayan Captain Praeger
Benguet Lt. Rufino Baldwin
Along Mountain trail,
Bado Dangwa
in and about Baguio
Table 3. Central Luzon Guerillas
Guerilla Leader Areas
Hunter’s ROTC Manila (and provinces
Miguel Ver
guerillas around)
Marcos Agustin, Manila (and provinces
Marking’s Guerillas
assisted by Yay Panlilio around)
HUKBALAHAP Tarlac, Pampanga,
Hukbo ng Bayan Luis Taruc Bulakan and Nueva
Laban sa Hapon Ecija
Anderson’s guerilla Around Manila
PQOG Cavite, Laguna,
Wenceslao Q. Vinzons
Pres. Quezon’s Own Batangas, Bicol
Guerillas Region and Quezon
 Table 4. Guerillas in the Visayas and Mindanao
Areas Guerilla Leader
Samar and Leyte Col. Ruperto Kangleon

Col. Macario Peralta of Tarlac

Panay (with Gov. Tomas Confesor as civilian
leader)
Mindanao Tomas Cabili, Wendell Fertig and Salipada
Pendatun

Three Important Functions of the Guerilla Groups

• To ambush or otherwise kill enemy soldiers and

civilians;
• To relay important intelligence reports to MacArthur
in Australia; and
• To liquidate spies and Japanese sympathizers
Table 5. Guerilla Newspapers

Guerilla Newspapers Editor/ Group Areas

Matang Lawin Sierra Madre near
Col. Guillermo Nakar
(Hawk’s Eye) Nueva Vizcaya

Leon O. Ty of the Cavite, Manila, Rizal

The Liberator, 1944
Philippine Free Press and Bulakan

The Flash, 1943

In Tagalog, Spanish and Pedro de la Llana
English
Ing Masala, Oct. 1942 Pampanga and
HUKBALAHAP
(The Light) Central Luzon
Thunderclap, 1943
Changed name to “Liberty” Hunters ROTC
in Feb. 2, 1945
Kalibo War Bulletin Panay
Ang Tigbatas
(The Common People) Tomas Confesor,
Panay
Bilingual (Hiligaynon- Governor of Free Panay
English)
Coordinator Panay
Harbinger Panay
Chronicle Panay
Unknown Soldiers Panay
The Commentator Juan Frivaldo Sorsogon
The Saber
Wenceslao Q. Vinzons Bicol and Laguna
ROTC Guerillas
The Bugle Leyte
Kalayaan Bulakan
Palasŏ Manila
GOVERNMENT OF COMMONWEALTH: Washington-in-exile

Washington Cabinet:
1. Gen. Basilio Valdes, Secretary of National Defense
2. Manuel Nieto, Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce
3. Jaime Hernandez, Secretary of Finance
4. Joaquin Elizalde, Resident Commissioner

Although in Washingtion, Pres. Manuel L. Quezon participated in

the Pacific War Council and agreement providing for the
organization of the United Nations.

Senator Millard Tydings (co-author of the Tydings McDuffie

Independence Act) pointed out that Quezon’s term would expire on
Nov. 15, 1943 and Osmeña would succeed him.

A resolution asking for his (Osmeña) succession to be waived was

passed by Senate on Nov. 9, 1943 and the House of
Representatives the next day to give way for Quezon.

However, Pres. Quezon died on August 1, 1944 at Saranac Lake,

New York.
The Battle of the Philippine Sea started June
19, 1944 and fought up on June 20 is
primarily an air combat on Guam with
Admiral Marc A. Mitcher’s Task Force 58
carrying brunt of the attack. It led to
destruction of 402 enemy airplanes against 17
American airplanes lost and 4 ships damaged.
It also prevented the Japanese from
reinforcing the Marianas and to subsequent
capture of the of the islands by the Americans.

Meanwhile, the Japanese put out a “pony” of

the Tribune describing alleged destruction of
American fleet. The Filipinos described
alleged Japanese victories as “Tribune
victories”
After the “skip and jump” operations of the
American on the Pacific Islands, American carrier-
based swooped down Manila undetected while
listening to Japanese controlled Radio Station
PIAM on September 21. It resulted on heavy
damage on Japanese installations in and around
Manila, Cavite. Similar air strikes in Visayas by
airplanes of the Third Fleet under Admiral
William F. “Bull” Halsey.

Halsey gave conclusion that strikes must begin at

Leyte (contemplated by Mac Arthur) due to weak
air resistance in Visayas. He also suggested
acceleration of invasion to prevent strengthening
weak areas

October 20: The date of invasion for Leyte as

approved by President Roosevelt
The troop of Gen. Douglas MacArthur, head
of the American Forces (Central Philippine
Attack Force), which was divided into the
Northern Attack Force and Southern Attack
Force, consists 650 ships and 4 army divisions

October 9-20softening of the enemy positions

on Leyte by carrier strikes; similar raids on
Pescadores, Formosa and N. Luzon in order to
paralyze Japanese activities

Oct. 11: American attack force left New

Guinea to Leyte

Oct. 18 and 19: Central Luzon took share of

the carrier attack

Oct. 20: Leyte beaches were bombarded from

the air and sea. THE AMERICANS HAD
RETURNED.
BATTLE FOR LEYTE GULF:
greatest naval battle fought simultaneously
from Oct. 24 – 26 and exceeded all previous
naval combat, including the Battle of Jutland
during World War I.

Admiral Soemu Toyoda, Chief of Japanese

Combined Fleet had “Sho Operation”, which
envisaged control of air and the neutralization of the
American hazard. It aims counterattack by air and
naval ships in order to destroy American fleet and to
protect Leyte Beachheads

Three Japanese Naval Forces on Leyte

1. Northern Force, Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa
2. Central Force, Admiral Takeo Kurita
3. Southern Force:
1.Group of Vice Admiral Shoji Nishimura
2.Group of Admiral Kiyohide Shima
 The Japanese Southern Force, from
Singapore, entered Surigao Strait in
October 25. Rear Admiral J. B.
Oldendorf of the American task force
waited and attacked Admiral Nishimura’s
force silently.The Japanese did not
suspect that the approach was
discovered. Their ships were completely
trapped which resulted in total annihilation
of the Southern Force. The American won
with only one destroyer severely
damaged.
On October 24, American planes of the Third
Fleet attacked the Japanese Central Force
under Admiral Kurita. Enemy suffered from
severe losses before reaching San
Bernardino strait. It was daybreak of Oct 25
when Central Force attacked Admiral CAF
Sprague’s weak escort carriers. Sprague
retreated to Leyte. After 2 ½ hours of intense
firing on both sides, Kurita retired to San
Bernardino Strait. Sprague’s escort carrier
planes sunk 2 heavy cruisers and one
destroyer. Kurita suffered one destroyer sunk
and several ships damaged or sunk the next
day. Although the Americans suffered heavy
losses, the Leyte Gulf was secured for the
Americans.
Happened on October 25; Called the Battle of Bull’s Run
Due to the presence of two powerful fleets in Leyte Gulf,
Admiral Halsey suspect another Japanese fleet and sent
planes to search around the place and on Oct. 21, they found
the Northern Force coming from Japan. Admiral Ozawa’s
intention was to draw Admiral Halsey to the vicinity of Leyte
Gulf in order to allow the Central and Southern Force to
sneak and destroy Admiral Sprague’s weak force. Halsey
pursued Ozawa and left San Bernardino Strait unguarded to
Cape Engaño in N. Luzon
•At the time of murdering Ozawa, Halsey received news that
the Central Force had penetrated to San Bernardino Strait.
He detached his fleet to Leyte Gulf immediately. His fleet
destroyed the Japanese fleet and save Sprague’s cry for
help. On Oct 26, Leyte was safe in American’s hand.
FEBRUARY 3, 1945;
5:30 – 6:30pm

American forces entered

Manila. A tank rushed to
University of Santo Tomas
and liberated American and
allied prisoners. Prisoners
sang God Bless America and
Star Spangled Banner.
The Temporary Seat of Commonwealth was
at Tacloban, Leyte on October 23, 1944

On Nov. 15, 1944, ninth anniversary of the

Commonwealth, Pres. Sergio Osmeña said:
“The cause of democracy and liberty,
the right of every people to govern itself and
to be secure against aggression, the great
moral issues of justice and righteousness
and human dignity are being fought in the
Philippines today. I am proud of the way the
American soldier is fighting this battle. I am
also proud of the way the Filipinos are
adding in that fight.”

Feb 27,1945 - Gen. MacArthur who had

taken over the gov’t as Military Administrator
turned the civil gov’t to Pres. Osmeña.**
•July 4, 1945 -
•LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES
 On July 26, Pres. Truman and Prime Minister Churchill issued the
Postdam Proclamation, calling Japan to surrender unconditionally or
face “prompt and utter destruction”.
Still JAPAN REFUSED TO SURRENDER.

The US Air Force bombed Hiroshima on August 6 (Tokyo Time)

The second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, August 9.

It was on August 15 that Japan unconditionally surrendered and signed

the terms of surrender on the battleship Missouri at Tokyo Bay on
September 2.
After the war, income of the people dipped rapidly and livelihood
reduced tremendously. Poverty, from destruction of property is
RAMPANT

Total Damage on Diff. Industries: P582,500,000.

Reduction on Domestic Assets: P798,767,595.
Loss on Rice: P140,291,000
Mining: P121,210,000
Sugar: P94,590,000
Livestock: P81,203,000.

Production is at standstill. The main problem is lack of capital to

finance the rehabilitation of destroyed machinery and equipments.
Shipping and railway is out of operation that cause very limited
production and marketing of consumer goods.

TOTAL PICTURE: dismal and discouraging

The Philippine Civil Affairs Unit provides speedy relief
for all the people of Manila and the provinces which had
been recently liberated from Japanese rule. It was first
organized on New Guinea, Sept 28, 1944 and took
part in Leyte campaigns.

Functions:
• Assist various military commanders in the civil
administration and relief of areas liberated.
• Paid salaries of municipal officials and teachers in the
hands of America
• Organized food distributing centers in Manila and
provinces
• Employment to laborers; paid P1.00 daily with food or
P1.20 without food.
• Provided consumer goods to wholesaler at fixed price
On March 7, 1945, President
Sergio Osmeña signed an
Executive Order providing
restoration the executive
departments of the government
as they existed before the war.
(However, it is dated Feb 27)

NEW FEATURE: Creation of the

Department of Information as a
part of the Department of Public
President Sergio Osmeña
Instruction.
 Gen. Mac Arthur made important decisions for Pres. Osmeña-
behind Roxas’ drive for presidency, for he considered him the “man of the
hour”, the “strong man who could save the Philippines in a critical period.
He believed it was “impossible to start things without calling the Philippine
Congress to a session
Senate Pres. Manuel Roxas, whose ambition was to be President,
spoke for the so-called collaborationists by declaring that that all men who
were employed during the Japanese occupation were actually loyal to the
Commonwealth Govt.(it was his way of winning to his side the powerful
members of the Nacionalista Party who worked, willingly or unwillingly, for
the enemy. Roxas was offered by Osmeña to go to Washington as
Philippine Resident Commissioner but he turned down the offer
On May 26, Roxas instructed his men to launch his candidacy. He
promised that if elected he would recommend the passage of a Back Pay
Law. Pres. Osmeña, unassuming and cool under fire, did not want to
convoke Congress on the ground that it might fall into the hands of
collaborators (the government suspected of treason). On June 9: he
called a special session of Congress because of the policy of the American
government to restore constitutional government as soon as law and
order had been established. He called the Congress to a regular session
on July. The government employees demanded also for back pay and held
demonstration at Malacañang to compel Osmeña to promise them back
pay but he promised nothing for there was no money with which to pay
the government employees.
Pres. Roosevelt on June 29, 1944 stated that those who collaborated
with the enemy should be removed from “authority and influence over the
political and economic life of the country”. On August 14, Congress had a
special session, two bills were presented providing for the creation of a
court to try the so-called collaborators; Osmeña realized it was
unsatisfactory, presented an administration measure. Roxas maneuvered
to have the Osmeña bill toned down. It was on Sept. 11- American
Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes reminded Osmeña of the late Pres.
Roosevelt’s policy regarding collaboration. It was clear that the American
Govt. wanted Osmeña to deal with the collaborationists firmly, that is why
the Osmeña bill, with some modifications, was passed.

PEOPLES’S COURT: handled all cases of collaboration

THREE YEARS OF ENEMY OCCUPATION - Senator Claro M. Recto’s

brilliant book that was published in 1946. This was cause of those who
wanted all collaborators jailed was weakened

When Roxas won the presidency in 1946, he solved the collaboration issue
by proclaiming amnesty to all political prisoners, for he was also a
collaborator, having been active in in Laurel’s Government. Senator Recto
refused to be amnestied, believing in the justice of his cause. He fought Pres. Franklin Roosevelt
his legal battles with the People’ Court and won an acquittal. (above) and Sen. Claro
Mayo Recto (bottom).
 Senator Millard Tydings was sent to the Philippines
to make the survey of the actual damage inflicted by
the enemy on the Philippines. A misunderstanding with
Mac Arthur led him to conclude the recommendation of
giving $100,000,000 to the Philippines for rehabilitation
and reconstruction. He also recommended that the
pre-war trade and relations between Philippines and US
be continued for a period of 3-5 years

American Congress voted $120,000,000 for

rehabilitation of public buildings, road and bridges. A
law providing for $75,000,000 for budgetary purposes
and another $25,000,000 for the redemption of
guerilla notes used as currency during the occupation
was also passed. On top of this, the American Army
surplus, worth $1B but with a sale value of
P100,000,000, was turned over to the Phil.
Government. For reconstruction purposes, the US
Reconstruction and Finance Corporation granted a loan
Senator Millard Tydings of $60,000,000 to the Philippines.
Bell Trade Relations Act: provided for free trade relations
between US and Phils. until 1954. Goods coming from the US
and from the Philippines would be taxed 5% tariff increase
every year until the full 100% was reached in 1974 . The bad
feature of the law was the provision giving “parity” rights
to the Americans —this meant that the Filipinos would have
to amend the Constitution w/c provides that only
corporations of w/c the Filipinos owned at least 60% could
dispose, exploit, develop, and utilize the public lands and
their mineral resources

Tydings Rehabilitation Act: complement to the Bell Trade

Relations Act that provided for an outlay of $620,000,000 to
be given to those who suffered damage during the war, but
with a condition that no amount in excess of $500 would be
given unless and until an agreement had been reached by
the Presidents of the Phils. and US regarding trade relations
between the two countries
RESULTS OF THE 1946 PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION
President Manuel A. Roxas Liberal Party
Vice President Elpidio Quirino Liberal Party

July 4, 1946: proclamation of the

Philippine independence and Roxas
became the first President of the Republic
1.The rebuilding of the “economy that was
broken and destroyed by war”
2.The industrialization of the country
3.The encouragement of the of Filipinos “to
participate in all the operations of the new
economy at all its levels”
4.Devotion “to the ideals of an indivisible
world”
5.Close cooperation with the US
6.Restoration of the “role of law and
government as the arbiter of right among
the people President Manuel A. Roxas
The world of 1948 was in turmoil. The
Berlin Crisis was coming to a head with
the Soviet Union creating trouble spots
all over Europe. The US was looking in all
directions for allies. So in March 1948,the
military authorities of Clark Air Base
invited Roxas to make a public statement
on the loyalty of the Philippines. He
accepted the invitation and delivered a
major speech at the Kelly Theater on
April15, 1948. His loyalty speech was
received with tremendous ovation. He
was not feeling well. At 9:30 pm, an
American army officer noticed that Roxas
made a sudden gasp, and in a few
minutes, President Roxas was dead.
Vice-President Elpidio Quirino took his
oath of office as President of the Philippines
two days after Roxas’ death. He announced
that his program would consist in restoring
the faith and confidence of the people in the
government (due to rampant graft and
corruption of the Liberal Party) and in the
restoration of peace and order

His program of government were:

1. government reorganization to achieve
efficiency at all levels of the bureaucracy
2. immediate increase in production to give
employment to thousands of idle laborers
3. vigorous and honest enforcement of tax
laws
4. preservation of national integrity
5. continued friendly relations with the
countries of the world President Elpidio Quirino
Agoncillo, Teodoro A.
1990. History of the
Filipino People. 8 th
ed. Quezon City:
Garotech Publishing.
p p . 4 1 0 - 4 3 0