American

Occupation

The rule of the United States over the Philippines had two phases.

The first phase was from 1898 to 1935, during which time Washington defined its colonial mission as one of tutelage and preparing the Philippines for eventual independence. Political organizations developed quickly, and the popularly elected Philippine Assembly (lower house) and the U.S.-appointed Philippine Commission (upper house) served as a bicameral legislature. The ilustrados formed the Federalista Party, but their statehood platform had limited appeal. In 1905 the party was renamed the National Progressive Party and took up a platform of independence. The Nacionalista Party was formed in 1907 and dominated Filipino politics until after World War II. Its leaders were not ilustrados. Despite their “immediate independence” platform, the party leaders participated in a collaborative leadership with the United States. A major development emerging in the post-World War I period was resistance to elite control of the land by tenant farmers, who were supported by the Socialist Party and the Communist Party of the Philippines. Tenant strikes and occasional violence occurred as the Great Depression wore on and cash-crop prices collapsed.

The second period of United States rule—from 1936 to 1946—was characterized by the establishment of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and occupation by Japan during World War II. Legislation passed by the U.S. Congress in 1934 provided for a 10-year period of transition to independence. The country’s first constitution was framed in 1934 and overwhelmingly approved by plebiscite in 1935, and Manuel Quezon was elected president of the commonwealth. Quezon later died in exile in 1944 and was succeeded by Vice President Sergio Osmeña.

Japan attacked the Philippines on December 8, 1941, and occupied Manila on January 2, 1942. Tokyo set up an ostensibly independent republic, which was opposed by underground and guerrilla activity that eventually reached large-scale proportions. A major element of the resistance in the Central Luzon area was furnished by the Huks (short for Hukbalahap, or People’s Anti-Japanese Army). Allied forces invaded the Philippines in October 1944, and the Japanese surrendered on September 2, 1945.

World War II was demoralizing for the Philippines, and the islands suffered from rampant inflation and shortages of food and other goods. Various trade and security issues with the United States also remained to be settled before Independence Day. The Allied leaders wanted to purge officials who collaborated with the Japanese during the war and to deny them the right to vote in the first postwar elections. Commonwealth President Osmeña, however, countered that each case should be tried on its own merits. The successful Liberal Party presidential candidate, Manual Roxas, was among those collaborationists. Independence from the United States came on July 4, 1946, and Roxas was sworn in as the first president. The economy remained highly dependent on U.S. markets, and the United States also continued to maintain control of 23 military installations. A bilateral treaty was signed in March 1947 by which the United States continued to provide military aid, training, and matériel.

August 23, 1896-  Philippine revolution begins.

March 4, 1897-  William McKinley was inaugurated as 25th President of the United States.

25th President of the United States

                                                     

February 9, 1898-  De Lome’s letter came out of the press.

 

The first page of the De Lôme Letter.

The last page of the letter.

February 15, 1898-  The American battleship causing USS Maine exploded near the port of Havana. Out of the 350 passengers, 266 died and many others were wounded.

April 11, 1898-  McKinley asked Congress to declare war.

April 16, 1898-   Army began mobilization. Teller Amendment was passed in Congress stating that the US would not annex Cuba.

April 23, 1898-  McKinley issued call for 125,000 volunteers. Spain declared war.

April 25, 1898-   US declared war with the Spain but made the declaration retroactive to April 22.

April 27, 1898-  Commodore Dewey’s squadron left Mirs Bay, China for the Philippines.

May 1, 1898-   Dewey defeated the Spanish Armada in the Battle of Manila Bay.

May 19, 1898-  Emilio Aguinaldo returned from exile.

Filipino exiles in Hong Kong, photo taken in early 1898: Emilio Aguinaldo (sitting, 2nd from right) led 36 other revolutionary leaders into exile in the British colony. 

May 25, 1898-  McKinley issued a call for 75,000 more volunteers. The first army expedition left San Francisco for Manila.

June 18, 1898-  Aguinaldo issued a proclamation establishing a revolutionary government and a message to foreign powers announcing that government.

June 30, 1898-  The first batch of American soldier arrived in Manila under the command of Brig, General Thomas M. Anderson.

The First Expedition stopped over at Honolulu, Hawaii, on June 1-4. Photo shows Brig. Gen. Thomas M. Anderson visiting the USS Charleston at Honolulu Bay. The cruiser convoyed the expedition to Manila.

August 12, 1898- Pain and U.S signed the peace protocol which ended the war.

August 13, 1898- Capitulation of the Manila to the Americans.

September 15, 1898- Filipino congress met at Malolos.

December 10, 1898- U.S and Spain signed the Treaty of Paris.

 Last joint session of the Treaty of Paris.

January 22, 1899- Malolos Constitution was promulgated.

February 4, 1899- Filipino-American war began.

Filipino casualties on the first day of Philippine-American War. Original caption is 'Insurgent dead just as they fell in the trench near Santa Ana, February 5

March 31, 1899- Malolos fell into the hands of the Americans.

August 29, 1899- Gen. Elwell Otis succeeded Gen. Merritt in command.

Gen. Otis                                   Gen. Merritt

May 2, 1899- The Schurman Commission arrived in Manila.

First Philippine Commission Jacob G Schurman, Admiral Dewey, Charels Denby, and Dean C. Worcester
Gen. Elwell S. Otis not present

November 13, 1899-  Aguinaldo disbanded the organized army and resorted to guerilla warfare.

May 5, 1900-  General MacArthur succeeded General Merritt as commander of the American army.

June 3, 1900-  The Taft commission arrived in Manila.

June 21, 1900- General MacArthur issued a proclamation amnesty to all who renounced to the Filipino aspiration for independence and accepted American rule.

March 10, 1901- The Taft commission conducted provincial sorties in Southern Luzon. They visited 18 provinces and returned to Manila on May 3.

March 23, 1901- Aguinaldo was captured in Palanan, Isabela.

April 1, 1901- The commission issued a decree that property and funds of the insurgents would be confiscated if they did not surrender and that they be deprived of any position in the government, “no job, no peace!”

April 19, 1901-  Aguinaldo swore allegiance to the U.S government.

Aguinaldo's oath of allegiance

July 4, 1901-  Taft was inaugurated first civil governor of the Philippines and Gen. Chaffee replaced Gen. Macarthur.

August, 1901-  The Taft commission conducted another provincial sortie to establish civil government in several towns in Northern Luzon.

August 21, 1901-The military transport S.S. Thomas arrived in Manila with 540 American school teachers.

The arrival of 'Thomasites'. They were 540 american teachers.

September 6, 1901-  President McKinley was shot in Buffalo, New York and died after eight days. (September 14)

September 28, 1901- Forty four American soldiers were massacred in Balangiga, Samar worst blow to the American campaign in the Philippines.

April 27, 1902- Vicente Lukban, the last recognized leader was captured.

Vicente Lukban

July 4, 1902- Pres. Roosevelt declared the Philippine granted amnesty to rebels. Military rule formally ended.

December 23, 1902- Taft left Manila to succeed Elihu Root as Secretary of War.

William Howard Taft                              Elihu Root

Japanese

Occupation

The Japanese occupation of the Philippines occurred between 1942 and 1945, when the Empire of Japan occupied theCommonwealth of the Philippines during World War II.


The invasion of the Phil. started on December 8, 1941, ten hours after the attack on Peral. As at Pearl Harbor, American aircraft were severely damaged in the initial Japanese attack. Lacking air cover, the American Asiatic Fleet in the Philippines withdrew to Java on December 12, 1941. General Douglas MacArthur escaped Corregidor on the night of March 11, 1942 for Australia, 4,000 km away. The 76,000 starving and sick American and Filipino defenders on Bataan surrendered on April 9, 1942, and were forced to endure the infamous Bataan Death March on which 7,000–10,000 died or were murdered. The 13,000 survivors on Corregidor surrendered on May 6.


Japan occupied the Philippines for over three years, until the surrender of Japan. A highly effective guerilla campaign by Philippine resistance forces controlled sixty percent of the islands, mostly jungle and mountain areas. MacArthur supplied them by submarine, and sent reinforcements and officers. Filipinos remained loyal to the United States, partly because of the American guarantee of independence, and also because the Japanese had pressed large numbers of Filipinos into work details and even put young Filipino women into brothels.[1]


General MacArthur kept his promise to return to the Philippines on October 20, 1944. The landings of the islands of Leyte were accomplished by a force of 700 vessels and 174,000 men. Through December 1944, the islands of Leyte & Mindoro were cleared of Japanese soldiers. During the campaign, the Imperial Japanese Army conducted a suicidal defense of the islands. Cities such as Manila were reduced to rubble. 

Between 500,000 and 1,000,000 Filipinos died during the occupation.


December 8, 1941-  Japanese attacked Philippines after the bombing of Pearl Harbor ten hours earlier.

                                    

December 8, 1941-  Japanese bombed Camp John Hay in Baguio City, Clark Air Base in Pampanga and Nicholas Field outside Manila.

 Camp John Hay

December 10, 1941- Japanese landed in Aparri, Cagayan and Vigan, Ilocus Sur.

December 22, 1941- Japanese landed to Lingayen Gulf, Luzon and continued to advance Manila.

December 23, 1941-  General Douglas MacArthur, head of the allied forces, withdrew from Manila and relocated to Bataan.

General Douglas MacArthur

December 26, 1941- General Douglas MacArthur declared Manila as an open city on the advice of President Manuel L. Quezon to avoid further destruction.

December 27, 1941- Japanese bombed Manila.

January 2, 1942-  Japanese captured Manila and U.S Naval Base in Cavite. Japanese Military administration activated bringing Philippines firmly under Japanese control.
                              - Postal service under U.S Commonwealth was temporarily suspended.

January 3, 1942-  proclamation issued by the Imperial Japanese Government as to the immediate use of war notes issued by the Japanese.

January 23, 1942-  Establishment of the Philippines Executive Commission with Jorge B. Vargas as Chairman.

Jorge B. Vargas

February 22, 1942-  U.S President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered Gen. MacArthur to leave the Philippines.

U.S Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt

March 4, 1942- Postal office in Manila re-opened under Japanese Administration.

March 11, 1942- Gen. MacArthur left Corregidor and flew to Australia. Gen. Jonathan Wainwright became the new U.S commander.

Gen. Jonathan Wainwright

March 18, 1942-  President Roosevelt appointed Gen. MacArthur commander of the Southwest Pacific Theater.

March 24, 1942- Admiral Chester W. Nimitz appointed as commander-in-chief of the U.S Pacific Theater.

Admiral Chester W. Nimitz

April 3, 1942- Japanese attacked American and Filipino troops in Bataan.

April 9, 1942- American and Filipino forces in Bataan surrendered to the Japanese.

April 10, 1942- Death March began with 76,000 Allied Prisoners of War (POW) forced to walk 60 miles under blazing sun without food and water toward a new POW camp. An estimated 10,000 prisoners died.

May 6, 1942-  Japanese took Corregidor as Gen. Wainwright unconditionally surrendered all U.S and Filipino force in the Philippines. (Fall of Corregidor)

May 12,1942- The last U.S troops holding out in the Philippines surrendered in Mindanao.

August 29, 1942- The red cross announced Japan’s refusal to allow safe passage of ships containing supplies for U.S prisoners war.

July 10, 1943-  A new constitution was finalized as drawn by the Preparatory Commission of the Philippines Independence.

September 20, 1943- election of 54 members in National Assembly was held.

October 14, 1943-  Inauguration of Philippine Independence (2nd republic) with Jose P. Laurel as the President.

Jose P. Laurel

September 21, 1944- U.S Allied forces started bombing Japanese controlled area.

October, 1944- American forces conducted air raids at Clark Base in October, continuing for four months and damaging over 1500 Japanese planes.

October 20, 1944- U.S Allied forces, headed by General MacArthur, triumphantly landed in Leyte.

October 23-26, 1944- Battle of Leyte Gulf resulted in a deceive U.S naval victory. This encounter almost destroyed the entire Japanese fleet and signaled the beginning of the liberation of the Philippines.

October 25, 1944- Lt. General Tomoyuki Yamashita, supreme commander of the Japanese troops in Manila ordered the kamikazes (Japanese suicide bombers) only to fail miserably.

Lt. General Tomoyuki Yamashita

December 8, 1944- President Laurel and cabinet members moved to Baguio City upon orders from Yamashita.

December 15, 1944- U.S troops invaded Mindoro.

January, 1945- Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita moved his headquarters from Manila to Baguio in anticipation of the coming invasion of the allied forces.

January 3, 1945- Gen. Douglas MacArthur placed in command of all U.S ground forces and Adm. Chester Nimitz in command of all naval forces in preparation of planned assaults including Japan.

February 3, 1945-  U.S sixth army attacked Japanese forces in Manila. The beginning of the Liberation of Manila by American and Filipinos soldiers.
                                - Last day of postal service under Japanese occupation.

Sixth United States Army shoulder sleeve insignia

February 16, 1945- U.S troops recaptured Bataan.

March 2, 1945- U.S airborne troops recaptured Corregidor.

March 3, 1945- U.S and Filipino troops took Manila.

March 10, 1945- U.S eighth army invaded Zamboanga Peninsula in Mindanao.

Eighth United States Army shoulder sleeve insignia

June 18, 1945- Japanese resistance ends in Mindanao.

June 28, 1945- Gen. MacArthur’s headquarters announced the end of all Japanese resistance in the Philippines.

July 5, 1945- Liberation of the Philippines declared.

August 14, 1945- Unconditional surrender of Japan accepted.

September 2, 1945- Formal Japanese surrender ceremony on board U.S.S Missouri in Tokyo Bay as 1,000 carrier based planes fly overhead.

-                                      - U.S President Harry Truman declared VJ day (Victory Japan).

U.S Pres. Harry Truman

September 3, 1945-  Gen. Yamashita surrendered to Gen. Wainwright in Baguio City.


Check video here:

http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675052561_General-Jonathan-Wainwright_Japanese-General-Tomoyuki-Yamashita_surrender

               Third Republic

Elections were held in April 1946, with Manuel Roxas becoming the first president of the independent Republic of the Philippines. The United States receded its sovereignty over the Philippines on July 4, 1946, as scheduled. However, the Philippine economy remained highly dependent on United States markets– more dependent, according to United States high commissioner Paul McNutt, than any single U.S. state was dependent on the rest of the country. The Philippine Trade Act, passed as a precondition for receiving war rehabilitation grants from the United States, exacerbated the dependency with provisions further tying the economies of the two countries. A military assistance pact was signed in 1947 granting the United States a 99-year lease on designated military bases in the country (the lease was later reduced to 25 years beginning 1967).

The Roxas administration granted general amnesty to those who had collaborated with the Japanese in World War II, except for those who had committed violent crimes. Roxas died suddenly of a heart attack in April 1948, and the vice president, Elpidio Quirino, was elevated to the presidency. He ran for president in his own right in 1949, defeating Jose P. Laurel and winning a four-year term.

World War II had left the Philippines demoralized and severely damaged. The task of reconstruction was complicated by the activities of the Communist-supported Hukbalahap guerrillas (known as "Huks"), who had evolved into a violent resistance force against the new Philippine government. Government policy towards the Huks alternated between gestures of negotiation and harsh suppression. Secretary of Defense Ramon Magsaysay initiated a campaign to defeat the insurgents militarily and at the same time win popular support for the government. The Huk movement had waned in the early 1950s, finally ending with the unconditional surrender of Huk leader Luis Taruc in May 1954.

Supported by the United States, Magsaysay was elected president in 1953 on a populist platform. He promised sweeping economic reform, and made progress in land reform by promoting the resettlement of poor people in the Catholic north into traditionally Muslim areas. Though this relieved population pressure in the north, it heightened religious hostilities. Nevertheless, he was extremely popular with the common people, and his death in an airplane crash in March 1957 dealt a serious blow to national morale.

Carlos P. Garcia succeeded to the presidency after Magsaysay's death, and was elected to a four-year term in the election of November that same year. His administration emphasized the nationalist theme of "Filipino first", arguing that the Filipino people should be given the chances to improve the country's economy. Garcia successfully negotiated for the United States' relinquishment of large military land reservations. However, his administration lost popularity on issues of government corruption as his term advanced.

Diosdado Macapagal was elected president in the 1961 election, defeating Garcia's re-election bid. Macapagal's foreign policy sought closer relations with neighboring Asian nations, particularly Malaya (later Malaysia) and Indonesia. Negotiations with the United States over base rights led to anti-American sentiment. Notably, the celebration of Independence Day was changed from July 4 to June 12, to honor the day that Emilio Aguinaldo declared independence from Spain in 1898.

Third Republic (Part 1)

Sept 28,1944-  first organized in New Guinea, the PCAU (Philippine Civil Affairs Unit) took part in the Leyte Campaign.

                     Philippine Civil Affairs Unit (PCAU)

March 7, 1945-  Pres. Osmeña signed an Executive Order providing for the restoration of the executive departments of the government as they existed before the war.

Pres. Sergio Osmeña

Febuary 27-  new feauture of the re-organizational was the creation of the department of information as part of the Department of Public Institution.

March 8-  Osmeña swore in the new members of the cabinet.

June 9-  Osmeña called a special session of Congress.

May 26-  Roxas instructed his men to launch his candidacy.

Manuel Roxas

July-  the President called the congress to a regular session.

1948-  the Back Bay law approved, promised to give three years back to pay all prewar government employee after the end of a ten year period.

1958-  end of the ten year period.

June 29, 1944-  line of cond.

August 14-  special session when Congress was covened at least 2 bills were presented providing for the creation of a court to try the so called collaborators.

Sept. 11-  American Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes reminded Osmeña, in cable gram, of the late Pres. Roosevelt's

Harold Ickes

September 1945- American agency, the Counter Intelligence Corps cape handed over to the Commonwealth Government all the detained political prisoners.

U.S. Army Counterintelligence Corps Special Agent Badge circa World War II

            

1946-  publication of Senator Claro M. Recto's brilliant book, Three years of Enemy Occupation, the cause of those who wanded all colaborators jailed as weakened.

 Claro M. Recto

Third Republic (Part Two)

May 23, 1945-  Senator Millard Tydings arrived in Manila and intended to stay four weeks.

Senator Millard Tydings

Check video here:

http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675045282_inauguration-ceremony_Millard-Tydings_President-Manuel-Roxas_Douglas-MacArthur

July 4, 1946-  proclamation of Philippines Independence and Roxas became the 1st president of the Republic.

Proclamation of Philippine Independence

Semptember 26,1945-  Congressman C. Jasper Rell of Missouri introduced a bill providing for free trade relations between the US and the Phil. for a period of 20 yrs.

October-  Jasper Bell introduced another bill for providing an eight year free trade relation with the US, the bill was approved.

Jasper Bell sponsored the Philippine Trade Act that the US Congress passed in April 1946.

1954-  bill known as the Bell Trade Relations Act, provided for free-trade relations between the US and the Philippines until this year.

April 30,1946-  Pres. Truman signed the bill, Tydings Rehabilitation Act as a complement to the Bell Trade Relations Act.

President Harry Truman

November 1941-  Manuel A. Roxas, elected senator in the election taken to Baguio.

January 4,1946-  Congress met in a special session.

April 23-  set the election.

September 7, 1946-  Roxas proclaimed a general amnesty of those guerillas who killed and murdered in pursuance of the resistance, movement, however , those who kidnapped, murdered, and otherwise confiscated property not in pursuance of the objectives of the guerilla movements were not included in the amnesty.

Dec. 10,1898-  the Phil. agreed to assume all obligations the US had assumed after the conclusion of the Treaty of Paris between US and Spain.

1946-  the election resulted not only in the return to power of the prewar lords of Philippine economy , had also, as a relation against such a comeback, in the election of six Democratic Alliance men, headed by Luis Taruc of Pampanga, to Congress.

March 11,1947-  Congress submitted to the people the draft amending the Constitution.

March 17, 1947-  Roxas delivered a speech at Plaza Miranda.

Plaza Miranda in front of Quiapo church, Manila, Philippines, 1945-1946

1948-  The world was in turmoil.

            -  Berlin Crisis creating trouble spots all over Europe weaken the democracies.

           -  Chiang Kai-Shek was on the verge of collapse and the communist with comptemptoused disgraced for human life.

           -  US was looking in all directions for allies.

March 1948-  military authorities of Clark Air Base invited Roxas to make a public statement on the loyalty of the Philippines to the US.

April 15,1948-  Roxas accepted the invitation and delivered a major speech at the Kelly Theatre.

                               - at 9:30 pm, President Roxas was dead.

President Elpidio Quirino weeps beside the coffin of his predecessor, Manuel Roxas during the latter's wake in 1948.

-End of timeline-

Opinion Corner

Lawrence Saldua:

              During the Japanese occupation many Filipinos suffered and died. They don't have a freedom to do whatever they want. Their life was in danger because every time they make a move, punishment for sure will be the outcome. Most of the women was raped while their husbands was killed. They can't sleep during at night. Japanese was truly a cruel people and don't have any mercy. I don't like it during their time. They were merciless and ruthless.

               In American Occupation all i can say is that they did something which we Filipinos, until now is using it. Education, that's the one thing I like about them. Even though General MacArthur is not a good General at all, atleast in their occupation he made something great.

             During the third republic, I don't like how some Presidents used their tactics. For me, Only President Ramos did something for the 3rd republic. The bill known as the Bell Trade Relations Act, provided for free-trade relations between the US and the Philippines until this year made great impact to the Filipinos. Even though the other Presidents are not that well in managing some situations, for me, at least they did something to make them called a real president.

Christine Mary Talip:

            During the American occupation, there were positive results. The bell trade act which allows trading between Philippines and US. It had a great benefit to our Philippine economy. This is still observed in the present. A new educational system was also established at this time in which English was the medium of instruction. This new educational system leads to Filipinos to be good at speaking english, this is also observed until now. So, for me, though we were not fully free at this time, it was still okay that Americans ruled the Philippines because there were good outcome of it.

            When Americans left the Philippines, it was the Japanese who next ruled the country. At this time, many Filipinos died. Because whatever they do that go against the Japanese, they are surely punished, making them suffer. Many women were also raped and their husbands were killed. It was pitiful. It was really tragic at this time, I really don't like it. For sure, this happenings resulted for the Filipinos to be afraid of Japanese people up until year 2000.

                 And finally, the Third Republic, the Independent Republic of the Philippines. What I really like at this time is that when Ramon Magsaysay became the president. He was really a good man. He treated the Filipinos equally. And he took actions on everything he says to his people. I salute him for that, for being a man with actions. But I must say, the other presidents under this republic also did their best to make the Philippines a better place. They were good but only Ramon Magsaysay captured my attention because of the way he treated the Filipinos. To sum it all up, what happened at this time were all historical and good, not too chaotic at all, unlike Japanese time. So, that's it, I'm done.

Vina Ciara Carpizo:

                          In my own opinion, it was with the American period when the Philippines was in the preparation for eventual independence. they introduced education in which the Filipinos learned to speak English. I was very happy indeed that up to the present we remained to follow and learned lessons from the Americans in coming one hour earlier than the time being set. We are free to express our ideas.

                    The next colonizers who ruled or invaded the Philippines were the Japanese after the Americans who left the country. At the same time, Filipinos don't have freedom. They suffered maltreatment from the Japanese and even death. For me, Japanese were very cruel and heartless. It's heart-breaking to know that our fellow country men were ruled by the colonizers. Knowing the "Bataan Death March", I felt disgusted to the Japanese regime on which 7,000-10,000 died or were murdered. Japanese occupation was a tragic history to the Philippines. I don't like the way of their ruling.

                        Lastly, it was during the Third Republic that the Philippines, our country became independent. I really admired Pres. Ramon Magsaysay because it was during his presidency that the country got the cleanest and zero corruption. He also gave his whole life and dedicated his service to his fellow men. The other past presidents also contributed a lot to the development of our country.
                               I really learned a lot from this lesson in which I will remember as history.