THE SECOND REPUBLIC

Japanese Occupation:
In the history of all nations, a
moment comes when the
people rise and establish their
nation state independence in
which they find justice and
security. With the attack in
Pearl Harbor in December 7,
1941,Japan was able to
neutralize the American forces
in the pacific. The World War II
were those nations who either
participated directly in or were
affected by any of the events
of the World War II.

In the Philippine, after century of
domination the moment o National
liberation is of every Filipino. The
Japanese occupation in the Philippines is
integrated in the World War II history when
Germany aggressively Attack European
countries as part of their domination.
Japan is member of the Axis power. So the
Japanese responded to the call of World
War II.

First his attack Pearl Harbor of Hawaii, an
American naval base. The young men of the
country march in the defense of fatherland during
the Japanese occupation. This harsh struggle is
nationalism.
The global situation of world war is the fear of
many Filipino leaders that the Philippines will be
implicated to war. General Douglas McArthur was
commissioned to prepare the national security
measure of the Commonwealth Government, in as
much as National Security the problem is concern.

The German invasion with other
European countries resulted to World War.
The World War II is a result of increasing
militarism, imperialism, nationalism and
rival alliances of different countries all over
the world.

Tora – Tora Air Strike:
The Japanese Kamikaze engaged an air to fight
with the American fighters. When the American
planes were shot down by the Japanese planes, the
American parachuted to the sea. The American pilot
was rescued by the sea plane in deep waters.
President Manuel L. Quezon declared “open city” in
order to preserve industry and business in Manila but
the Japanese military strategy started with the
Japanese pilot strike bombing the different cities
destructing human and properties.

President Manuel L. Quezon deliver his soul-
stirring address in the University of the Philippines
several days before Peal Harbor was bombed.
Quezon talked about how he had spent sleepless
night brooding over the question of national
survival, about how bombs might be dropped into
the heart of the city and in unforgettable language
exhorted the student and the scholars to be ready
to die for the shake of freedom. Japan belongs to
the axis power and Japan respond to World War by
bombing the Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Ironically after
the bombing of Pearl Harbor, is the bombing of the
Philippines.

The Japanese invasion to the Philippines was
a well planned. It should be noted that the Pearl
Harbor bombings was well studied from the reports
of Japanese spy for several years. The time of
bombings in Peal Harbor in Hawaii and Philippines
is well taken by the Japanese considering that the
Americans were unprepared for Japanese invasion.
The Japanese offensive aims to weaken and
destruct the American military and naval bases.

The first offensive attack on December 8, 1941 was
primarily air strike utilizing the Japanese Air force.
Northern Luzon specially Tugegarao , Tarlac , Baguio
,and Iba, Zambales was the first point of Japanese
bombings.
The Japanese imperial army forces begin their
successful landing in Northern Luzon in the provinces of
Aparri and Vigan on December 10, 1941. Thereafter,
more Japanese forces landed in the province of Legaspi in
Southern Luzon. General Masaharu Homa successfully
landed in Lingayen Pangasinan and other forces in the
Atinoma Quezon on December 24, 194.

Quezon declared open city policy in order to
preserved structures in Manila. The Filipino and the
Americans gallantly fought the Japanese invaders.
The Japanese forces did not respect the open city
policy and as a result, building was structed by war.
Manila particularly Intramuros, UST church, old
senate buildings was devastated by bombings. On
January 2, 1942 the Japanese entered occupied
manila.

The Japanese army that landed in La Union
Province defeated 7000 men from January 6- March
on the accounts 2700 men were killed in the battle,
while 10-12,000 men were down by Malaria,
dysentery, beri beri or scurvy. General Homma after
several conferences in San Fernando Pampanga
resided to discontinue its offensive upond the advise of
Lt. General Masami Maela on February 8. That night
he issued order for a withdrawal of Japanese forces in
Bataan asked for reinforcement.

The Commonwealth Government
Under Fire

At the Height of the war Manuel L. Quezon
convene his cabinet to prepare for plan of the
Commonwealth Government. Jose P. Laurel was
instructed to remain in Manila by President Quezon.
While Manuel L. Quezon was in Corregidor, the
Commonwealth Government was established by taking
oath of the Malinta Tunnel in Corregidor. To again
thrust and confidence of the Filipino the Japanese
instructed Jose P. Laurel to form a provisional
Government of the Puppet government. The Japanese
adviser on top of Government structures interfere in the
government. According Zaide several restriction were
implemented by the Japanese Imperial Government,
among the Japanese restriction were:

Military rule prevailed and curfew was enforced
Sabotage of electricity
Firearms and ammunitions were confiscated by
the military.
Nationalist songs and American songs were
prohibited.
Hostile act against the Japanese is punishable
by death.

Any Filipino who was caught disobeying the
Japanese policy will be given punishment. Filipino was
compelled to respect the Japanese by bowing their
heads when they met Japanese. For the theft and not
giving respect to the Japanese, the violator whole day.
The cruelty of the Japanese army to the Filipino
resulted to the “culture of fear” of the Filipino to
Japanese army. The Japanese army was outnumbered
of the Filipino but it is only the Guerilla who has the
courage to fight for liberation. According to Ricardo
Javier of Sto. Tomas Batangas if there are twelve (12)
Filipino and only one Japanese the Filipino could not -

even fight the Japanese because the Filipino afraid
o die. According to Maria Tesoro Gueverra, they
are force to walk from Cabuyao Laguna to Sto.
Tomas Batangas because they are afraid to be
caught by the Japanese and it was only during
liberation time that they realize that it was very far.
The cruelty of the Japanese imperial army to the
Filipino seems to be everywhere. The Japanese
killed child through their bayonet. During starvation
in Talisay Lipa City, they invited the people in the
cave and promise them that rice will be distributed
inside the cave.

War in the Pacific
On July 26, 1941, few months
before the bombing of Pearl
Harbor, the Philippines reserve
and forces were commissioned into
the United States Army under the
command of General Douglas Mac
Arthur. They were able to form a
combination forces of American
and Filipino. In the early days of January 1942 the
battle of Bataan began, day and night, week after week,
the battle become complicated.

When the War broke out in December of
1941, the nations youth-student and scholar’s
campus writers and artist scientist and technicians-
valiantly took arms and offered their lives in
defense of what they considered to be at stake in
the harsh struggle and defense of the country.
The final defense line of Bataan was
established on January 26, 1941 two days after the
abandonment of Abucay - Morong line Corregidor
was designed for war as tactical defense of the
Filipino soldiers against intruders.

The island is almost complete with facilities for the
United States Armed Forces to the Far East
(USAFFE). A Malinta tunnel was constructed with a
facility of office, hospital and secret passage. The
island has also bough of supply 10,000 soldiers.

Major General Edward King Jr. Luzon forces
commander felt it was useless to sacrifice the lives
if they continue defending Bataan. At midnight of
April 8, 1941, King had announced to his staff
surrender Bataan. The deferred of province of
Bataan experienced shortage in food and
medicines. The battle for Bataan has ended on
April 9, 1941. The “death march” has just began
Bataan has fallen but the spirit of freedom loving
Filipino will not fail. Out of 76,000 soldiers who had
surrendered on April 9 only about 54,ooo survived
the 90-mile ordeal from Bataan to Tarlac more than
a week later.

The Economy and
Repercussion of War

As a result of the war, Philippines economy
suffered economic starvation. The economy was
stagnant owing to restless war experienced by the
Filipino. A nation at war is the nightmare of all the
people. People will suffer losses of property and
will stop from working.

The Japanese money or “Mickey Mouse” money
circulated during the Japanese regime. Inflation is
cause by the money that is more than goods and
services. The peso devaluation is one of the economic
problems at that time. In Laguna one needed a sack of
rice. (Abaya, Antonio, Causalities of War Manila
Standard, Feb. 27, 2007).

Agricultural production, business establishment,
roads, bridges, buildings and industry were destructed by
war. In effect food shortage was experienced throughout
the country. The only business that is profitable is
portfolio business or buy and sells. The Filipino farmers
were complied with plant cotton instead of food. Food
shortage is evident during the Japanese regime.
The Filipino survived and learned to developed
initiative and alternative food. The shortage of rice
resulted to mixing corn and rice as staple food. The
kamote and kangkong were important food as substitute.
According to Abaya in his article Casualties of war in
Manila Standard dated February 27, 2007 in Pagsanjan
Laguna at least when there was no rice at least there
always binatog or corn kernels steamed just like rice.

The Government headed by resident Laurel
exerted to resolve the economic and social
problem of the country cause by war. The priority
program is to arrest food security problem, security
and basic needs of the people. The Government
spent much of their time in increasing food for the
country. The Government recognized the rice
control. President Laurel encourage the people to
live outside Manila which is destructed by war.

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 Assembley was actually made
up of 108 members, but half of this number was
composed of incumbent governors and city mayor. Jose
P. Laurel was elected as president of the second
republic (the first republic was Aguinaldo’s Malolos
Republic) and both Benigno Aquino Sr. and Ramon
Avancena as a vice-presidents.

The second 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 gaint posters and distribute
their materials that contains such slogans as “the
Philippines belong to the Filipinos” they also used
newspaper, movies, and others to publicize the same
idea. Promoting Japanese propaganda was one of the
main objectives of the KALIBAP, but still Japanese
failed to gain the trust of the Filipinos.

JOSE P. LAUREL
First President of the Second Republic
From 1943-1975
Dr. Laurel was born in
Tanauan Batangas on March 9,
1891. His parents were Soteaurel
and Jacoba Garcia. Sotero Laurel
Was appointed as undersecretary
Of the interior in President
Aguinaldo’s Revolutionary
Government and the Signer of Malolos Contitution.

Dr. Laurel finished his 7 elementary education
in Tananuan Batangas and high school in Manila.
He finished in low College of Law of the University
of the Philippines. He finished law in 1915 as
salutatorian of his class. He is one of the topnotch.
When he took a bar exam he obtained his degree of
Masters of Law in 1918 from the Escuela de
Detecho and in the same year as a government
pensioned to Yale University, where he acquired the
degree of doctor of civil law in 1920. For more
knowledge he took up humanities in the University
of Santo Tomas, where he obtained in 1936 the
degree of Doctor Philosophy. After 2 years, Tokyo
Imperial University conferred on him the degree of
Doctors Laws.

Dr. Laurel’s career in government service
started as part time laborer in the Bureau of
Forestry and was then promoted to clerk in the
Code Committee. 1918 he became the head of the
legal division of the executive Bureau. In 1922 he
was appointed Chief of the executive Bureau
under the secretary of the Interior Teodoro M.
Kalaw and was promoted undersecretary of the
Interior and ten months later, a full secretary at the
age of 32.

During the election of 1925 he won the senatorial
seat for the 5th senatorial district. Because of his
parliamentary ability he was made the majority floor
leader in Senate until 1931, when he lost his re-election
bid to another Batangueno, Claro M. Recto who became
his good friend and compare until his death.
When he retired from politics he devoted his time
to law practice teaching and writing. He taught in
various schools in Manila many of whom became
prominent in juries prudence and politics. He also gave
lectures in the University of Santo. Tomas, Manila
University, Far Eastern University.

He was elected as delegate to Constitutional
convention in 1934 were he took a leading role in
the making of the constitution of the Philippines.
President Quezon appointed Laurel as Associate
Justice of the Supreme Court on November 15,
1935.
When the World War II come the Philippines
on December 8, 1941, Quezon told Laurel to stay
take care of the people and to be with his people
during the Agonies of the Japanese but he has to
do it as President Quezon ordered him.

He was elected by the National Assembly as
President of the Republic on September 25, 1943.
This unicameral assembly was created though the
sponsorship of the Japanese authorities.
During the Japanese, he was compelled to
accept this position for the sick of his people who
were then suffering beneath the yoke of a brutal
rule of the conquerors. He was inducted into office
during inauguration of the second republic on
October 14, 1943. He save many people from
being arrested tortured and executing by without
Dr. Laurel intercession, General Roxas would have
been executed like Justice Abad Santos.

Prelude to liberation President Laurel
pressured by the Japanese Government to declare
War against the United States and Great Britain but
he bravely refuse to do so. But the first American
air raid on Manila in the morning of September 21
1944 intensified the demand for a Philippines
declaration of War. After consulting Roxas and both
Cabinet and Council of state he issued or
proclamation declaring the state of War against the
U.S and Great Britain. But even if he were to killed
by the Japanese would never sacrifice the able
bodied Filipinos for Japan.

August 18 1945, Lt. Col. Turner and his party
arrested Laurel ex-speaker Benigno Aquino, Claro
M. Recto, Camilo and Vargas at Yokoham Prison
house and then transferred to Sugamo Prison
afterwards. He is not allowed to bring any
documents and writing materials but is allowed to
keep a war memories on its blank space and even
across the printed lines.
As an educator and statesmen he believed
with Dr. Rizal that education plays an important
role in nation building. He founded the Lyceum of
the Philippines patterned after Aristotle's Lyceum
established by plato’s renowned pupil in athens.

As a Nationalist he ranked with Rizal, Mabini,
Quezon, Osmena, Rafael, Palma and Recto. In
one of his stirring address he declared “Love of
Country means as inflicting determination to serve
and defend ones country at all cost. It is a flame
that should keep constantly a glow in our hearts”.
And with all favor and sincerity he said, No one can
love Philippines better than the Filipino themselves.
Dr. Laurel died of cerebral hemorrhage at the
Lourdes Hospital, Manila on November 6, 1959 at
the age of 68.

THE SECOND REPUBLIC

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