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Report on Chapters 20, 21 and 22. Amit, Arianna Maever L. Bautista, Hope Lanika M. Bigay, Kyrsten Jannae J. Geron, Erwin Gerard P. Ibasco, Ken Paolo L.

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Chapter 20: Results of the American Occupation Benevolent Assimilation By President Mckinley A regime was introduced by the United States; the Filipinos played the role of junior partner

Progress in education The best contribution of the Americans was Public Education Emphasized democratic traditions and the practical application of laws and principles The regulation of religion to the optional category was based on the principle separation of the church and state, under which the church had no say in running the public school system Compelled Filipinos to study the English language. Enrollment of students in the public school was compulsory. They gave students free books, pencils and other school supplies. First public school teachers were American soldiers, who were later replaced by the Thomasites (American teachers on board the S.S. Thomas). Filipino students who excelled were sent to the United States as pensionados and at their return, teach or work for the government. University of Sto. Tomas, The Escuela de Derecho, and The Instituto Burgos still used Spanish as their medium of instruction but were forced to abandon it. Net result: Increase of Filipino Literacy

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Public Health and Welfare When the Americans came they minimized the spread of diseases and to improve, the health of the people. Epidemics were prevented or minimized by the establishment of the quarantine service. Educated the people with hygiene and sanitation. Filipinos that time were ignorant with the power of minute germs to cause death. They believed in superstitions. The board of public health was created on 1901 which became a bureau at later date. In 1917-1918, cholera and small pox epidemics broke out, the mortality per 1000 persons progressively diminished in the succeeding years. The vocational training given to the orphans and the juvenile delinquents resulted in their moral and physical rehabilitation. At the turn of the century, the average Filipino height measured 52 and 54 but with improved diet, exercise and sports the height increased to between 54 and 56.

Trade, Commerce and Industry In 1909, when the American Congress passed the Payne-Aldrich Tariff Act, partial free trade relations between the Philippines and the United States were established. All Philippine exports were allowed to enter American markets except rice. To correct the inequality in the law, American congress passed the Simmons-Underwood Tariff act in 1913, which abolished the quota limitations on Philippine export products like hemp, sugar and tobacco. The development of domestic trade under the Americans was, therefore, not actually a boon to the Filipinos, who had to play second fiddle to the aliens. In the industry, the Philippines developed in the sense that factories, such as textile and cigar and cigarette factories, multiplied. Mining was one of the backbones of Philippine economy. Other foreign markets were neglected so that the closure of the undutiable Philippine exports resulted in economic dislocation. This is the reason why Speaker Osmena and Resident Commissioner Quezon opposed free trade relations.
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Tydings-Mcduffie Independence Act of 1934 was about the restriction of the exportation of Philippine sugar, tobacco, hemp and coconut. The over-all effect of the Philippine-American free trade relations: It placed the Philippine economy at the mercy of the Americans.

Transportation and Communication The means of transportation vastly improved, for while the ancient bull carts, carretellas and calesas existed, the cars, trucks and railways speeded up the means of transportation. Rail road transportation was preceded by governments acquisition of the ManilaDagupan Railway Company, which became the Manila railroad Company. The inter-island shipping by the Americans in 1902 opened a hundred ports to domestic shipping. Ships owned locally were allowed to engage in inter-island shipping. Progress in communication was notable. Telephone lines, radio-telephone service, ordinary mails, money orders, air mail letters and packages were available. The improvement and building of roads, railways and bridges meant transportation of American tools, equipments and materials. As the history of the Philippines under the United States eloquently testifies, American altruism was engrafted with profit motive.

Individual Freedom McKinleys Benevolent Assimilation Proclamation and his Instructions to the second or Taft Commission laid the bases of American policy in the Philippines. Filipinos were not allowed to enjoy full measure of freedom during the American tutelage. The Sedition Law of 1901, passed by the Philippine Commission, considered it seditious of any Filipino to advocate independence. The flag law of 1907 prohibited the display of Philippine flag. During the American regime, Filipinos were able to exercise their freedom.

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The pages of the nationalistic periodical El Renacimiento and its Tagalog section, the Muling Pagsilang, were full of vitriolic attacks on the Americans, culturing in the most famous Aves de Rapina (birds of prey) libel case. Nationalistic plays were staged to remind the people of their freedom and independence. As the condition of peace and order improved, the repression of civil liberties was removed.

Political Consciousness Colonization implies the bringing over of American practices and institutions. Partisans politics was brought by the Americans. The Filipinos were as yet too politically nave to understand the intricacies of modern politics. After the creation of bicameral legislature in 1916, Philippine politics followed the American groove. Thus, many American political practices finally found a rich soil in the Philippines. Despite the negative effects of imported brand of politics, Filipinos learned intricate machinery of government.

Language and Literature One of the most lasting American influences in the Philippines. English became the medium of instruction in schools and creative expression. Writers wrote, poems, essay, short story, novels and dramas The drama and the novel were the most neglected branches of literature, although few novels and plays were written. Adaptation of American words and phrases in the national language is a lasting influence. Some examples are bulakbol (black ball) and paul (foul) In the third decade, Filipinos started to translate English phrases to the national language.

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Over enthusiasm and ignorance of the Tagalog idioms compelled some writers to translate English phrases indiscriminately.

Negative results As a people, Filipinos are apt pupils and need not to be whipped into the line to perform foreign tricks. They are naturally imitative. The economic invasion of the Philippines brought the American mode of living close to the Filipinos. Then, Filipinos became economically dependent on Americans. The mental attitude that despises ones own and loves anything foreign was the natural result of American altruism bolstered by propaganda. As a consequence, it affected the close family ties of Filipinos, love of their language and culture. Filipinos did not critically evaluate of their intrinsic worth, the average Filipino considers it blasphemous to criticize the United States or Americans. Success is measured in terms of material possession. The people as a rule lost their sense of values. Values to them are those that can be turned into hard cash; if they are not or cannot, they are valueless. Ridiculed poets as filosofos, patay-gutom. Filipinos excel as imitators. Many of the social problems (gangsterism, juvenile delinquency, betrayal, graft and corruption etc.) that plagued Filipino society today are as much result of the growth of urban centers as of the American movies. de-Filipinization

Many of the social problems that plague the Filipino society today are as much the result of the growth of the urban centers as of the American movies. (page 383)

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Chapter 21: The Japanese Occupation Reason: Search for territories to accommodation their excess population and manufactured goods. On December 1941, the Japanese naval bombers attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii which caused the United States to declare war against Japan. Consequence: The Philippines was occupied by the Japanese and for three years, the Filipinos suffered the rigors of war.

Background of Pearl Harbor The American leaders feared that the Philippines might become the next target of the Japanese expansion program. On July 26, 1941, the Philippine reserve and regular forces were incorporated into the United States Army under the command of General MacArthur. The combined forces were called the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE). United States, Great Britain and Holland imposed economic sanctions on Japan. In September 1941, Japan, apparently to discuss American-Japanese problems in a peaceful manner, sent Admiral K. Nomura to Washington. But it was during his presentation of peace proposals that the Japanese bombers attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and sank the cream of the American Navy. This happened in the early morning of December 7, 1941.

Roosevelt and the War Roosevelt asked the Congress to declare war and at one oclock, declared so without a dissenting vote. Ten minutes later, the House of Representatives declared war with only one dissenting vote.

Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill of England announced to the world that Great Britain would declare war on Japan. As a promise that if US will be under attack, they will also declare war. The European war, which commenced in 1939, now expanded to become the Second World War.

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** The subjugation of the Philippines was a part of the general plan of conquering the rich countries of Southeast Asia so that their natural resources could be used to bolster up Japans war machine.

To spare the city, General MacArthur, on December 26, 1941, declared Manila an open city. But despite this declaration, the Japanese continued to bomb Manila. Faced with the brutality of war, President Roosevelt on December 28, 1941 assured them by saying: I give to the people of the Philippines my solemn pledge that their freedom will be redeemed and their independence established and protected. The entire resources, in men and material, of the United States stand behind that pledge.

On December 24, 1941, General MacArthur informed President Manuel L. Quezon that he and some of his officials and members of his family were to leave for Corregidor. Jose P. Laurel was sworn in as Secretary of Justice to take the place of Jose Abad Santos. On December 30, Quezon took his oath of office as President of the Commonnwealth, marking the end of his first term and the beginning of his second.

The Fall of Bataan and Corregidor Under the circumstances, the Bataan defenders had no other alternative than to surrender. On April 9, General Edward King, commander of the forces of Bataan, surrendered. On May 6, General Wainwright offered to surrender. With General Hommas demand on the surrender of all, Wainwright had no other alternative than to give in to the enemys demand.

Admission **Tragedy of Capas Death March The surrendered Filipino-American troops were forced to march from Bataan to San Fernando, Pampanga.

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Reorganization of the Government On January 3, 1942, the Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Imperial Forces, General Masaharu Homma, issued a proclamation announcing the end of the American occupation. The avowed purpose was to emancipate the Filipinos from the oppressive domination of the U.S.A., letting you establish the Philippines for the Filipinos as a member of the *Co-prosperity Sphere in the Greater East Asia and making you enjoy your own prosperity and culture. The national government was renamed as the Central Administrative Organization. The Council of State as an advisory body was created.

**The Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity was a concept created and promulgated during the Shwa era by the government and military of the Empire of Japan. It represented the desire to create a self-sufficient "bloc of Asian nations led by the Japanese and free of Western powers"1.

Educational Re-Orientation The Japanese educational policy was embodied in Military Order No. 2 dated February 17, 1942.

Its basic points were: a) the propagation of the Filipino culture; b) the dissemination of the principle of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere; c) the spiritual rejuvenation of the Filipinos; d) the teaching and propagation of Nippongo; d) the diffusion of vocational and elementary education; e) and the promotion of love of labor. President Jose P. Laurel added the fundamental principle of militant nationalism. He encouraged the propagation of Tagalog as the national language. Educational reforms were instituted by requiring teachers to obtain licenses after undergoing a rigid examination.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_East_Asia_Co-Prosperity_Sphere

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The Republic O n October 14, 1943, the Declaration of Independence was read, and President Laurel was inducted into office.

Economic Conditions Industry, Commerce and Trade suffered Work animals decreased Other means of transportation were confiscated Many haciendas remained idle for a time. Rice production sank to a new low Baka may gintong ngipin kayo riyan! Baka may gintong ngipin kayo riyan! People engaged in the buy-and-sell business. Mickey Mouse money which resulted to inflation Cigarette paper disappeared and the people used newspapers and books for their purpose. Food production campaign was intensified under the direction of the National Food Production Campaign Office.

Social Conditions The men of the cities and plains had five mortal enemies: the Japanese military, diseases, the guerillas, hunger and the Japanese-paid Filipino spies. Kempeitai (Military Police) began a career of wanton disregard of human lives. Kura was the most feared Japanese word To the Filipino men, slapping was a sign of condescension. Sulfathiazole was the wonder drug of the period. Social derelicts became present. Night clubs, restaurants, stage presentations consisting mainly of slapstick comedies
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The elites no longer held the monopoly of the social circle The pyramid of Filipino society widened at the base Intensification of graft and corruption

Cultural Aspects Movie theaters which presented pre-war American films In 1943, the Dramatic Philippines, Inc., was formed, whose purpose was to bring to the stage some popular plays in English. Good music by classical composers was furnished by Musical Philippines, Inc. Filipino Literature in English was discouraged The Manila Tribune was the only English daily at the time The Liwayway was the only Tagalog weekly allowed to continue publication under the Japanese thumb There was no freedom of expression and the writers were limited in their subject matter. The favorite subject matter was the rural scene

Summary of Chapter 21: The Japanese Occupation December 8, 1941, Japan invaded the Philippines. 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.
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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 wherein an estimated 10,000 prisoners died due to thirst, hunger and exhaustion.

The Huks 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. 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. The members of the unified guerilla army, called Huks, were led by Taruc, with Alejandrino as his right hand man.

The Philippine Executive Commission In accordance the instructions of President Manuel Quezon to Jorge Vargas, the Filipino officials in Manila were told to enter into agreements and compromises

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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. Antonio de las Alas Jose P. Laurel Claro M. Recto Quintin Paredes Jose Yulo Commissioner of the Interior Commissioner of Finance Commissioner of Justice Commissioner of Education, Health, and Public Welfare Commissioner of Public Works and Communication Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

An election was held for members of The Preparatory Commission for Philippine Independence (PCPI) to draw up a constitution for a free Philippines and 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 (Kapisanan sa Paglilingkod sa Bagong Pilipinas), which was the only political party allowed to exist at that time.

The Second Republic

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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.

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

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."
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Sergio Osmea, a part of MacArthurs group,had taken over Manuel L. Quezon as president after the latter past way at Saranac Lake, New York on August 1944.

From October 23 to October 26, 1944 the Americans engaged Japanese forces in the Battle of Leyte Gulf which is considered as the biggest naval battle in World History. This historic encounter almost destroyed the entire Japanese fleet and rendered in incapable of further attack.

The US victory in the Battle of Leyte Gulf is said to have signaled the beginning of Philippine liberation from the Japanese.

US liberation forces successfully docked at Lingayen Gulf on January 9, 1945. This news alarmed the Japanese. Lt. Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita, supreme commander of the Japanese troops in Manila, mobilize his kamikazes (Japanese suicide pilots); but they failed to stop Americans. The Japanese also deployed MAKAPILI (Makabayan Katipunan ng mga Pilipino) units to defend Manila but neither succeeds.

On December 8, 1944, President Laurel and his cabinet moved to Baguio upon orders of Yamashita, who is also known as the tiger of Malaya. The Japanese forces retreated to Yamashita line - a jungle battlefront stretching along the Sierra Madre Mountains from Antipolo, Rizal to Appari Cagayan.

The Japanese in Manila would not give up easily. In fact, it took 3 weeks of intense fighting before they finally surrendered on February 23. Gen. MacArthur continued to liberate other parts of the country. And finally proclaim general freedom from the Japanese on July 4, 1945.

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Chapter 22: The Liberation

During the three years of the Japanese occupation, the guerillas sent reports to MacArthurs headquarters in Australia. The reports helped Macarthur in planning for his return to the Philippines. The long wait of the Filipinos ended on October 1944 when the American forces hit the beach of Leyte. Other landings were made in Lingayen, San Fabian, Mindoro and Batangas. The Pacific war ended when the Japanese officials signed the terms of surrender on the battleship Missouri at Tokyo Bay.

Guerilla Warfare The threat to death of the Japanese was only a reaction to the Filipino-American partnership.

The main reason why majority of the Filipinos turned into guerillas or potential guerillas is because the military Japanese brutal ways neutralized the propaganda of the guerilla. line of making the Philippines an important part of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. (Pakitang tao lang yung phils. Is for the Filipinos tapos yung we are allowed to develop our culture. Lahat yun pakitang tao lang kaya hindi naniwala yung mga Filipino It represented the desire to create a self-sufficient "bloc of Asian nations led by the Japanese and free of Western powers". During this period, it was difficult for men to behave like human beings because the matter of life and death was too urgent for a person to behave and stay like one.

Guerillas There were guerillas all over the country. Guerilla units in: 1. Northern Luzon which were led by Russell Volckmann. 2. Central Luzon: The Hunters ROTC guerillas led by Miguel Ver and Eleuterio Adevoso; Markings guerillas led by Marcos Agustin and Yay Panlilio and

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the HUKBALAHAP [Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa mga Hapon] led by Luis Taruc. 3. Southern Luzon: PQOC [President Quezons Own Guerillas. 4. Visayas: Samar and Leyte led by Colonel Ruperto Kanleon; and Panay guerillas led by Colonel Macario Peralta and Governor Tomas Confesor. 5. Mindanao which were led by Tomas Cabili, Wendell Fertig and Salipada Pendatun. These are some of the Filipinos who refused to be under the authority of the Japanese administration. They are usually found in the mountains. They performed three important functions: to ambush or kill enemy soldiers and civilians, to relay important reports to MacArthur, and to liquidate spies and Japanese sympathizers.

Guerilla padres Fathers Edward Haggerty, John Pollock, Clement Risacher, and Harold Murphy They alleviated the conditions of the people suffering from the effects of war.

Guerilla newspapers Since truthful news reports were impossible under the enemy, the Filipinos only had two ways to get real news. The first one is by tuning their radios into Radio San Francisco and the second option is by reading the guerilla newspapers.

Tribune- one of the Japanese controlled magazines Matang Lawin- Hawks Eye It was operated by Colonel Guillermo Nakar in Sierra Madre It informed people that like the hawk, the guerillas will watch over the welfare of the people and at the same time take cognizance of the activities of the spies.

The Liberator- put out and edited by Leon Ty of the Philippines Free Press. It circulated in Cavite, Manila, Rizal and Bulakan. The Flash- came out in Tagalog, Englisg and Spanish. Pedro de la Llana was the editor of the paper. He was also mistaken as a collaborator and was liquidated by the uninformed guerillas.
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Ing Masala (The Light)- put out by the HUKBALAHAP. It was circulated in Arayat. It was so effective that the peasants of Tarlac and Pampanga forged a unity that made HUKBALAHAP the most powerful organization in Central Luzon. Thunderclap- was used by the Hunters ROTC. It came out in 1943 and changed its publication place to confuse the Japanese. On February 2, 1945, the paper changed its name to Liberty. Kalibo War Bulletin- most famous among the guerilla papers in Panay. It had the widest circulation in the place. Ang Tigbatas(The Common People)- put out by Tomas Confesor. This paper served the war and became the principal reading matter in Panay.

The Commentator- was published by Juan Frivaldo in Sorsogon. It came out only when the publisher heard news from the Allied Intelligence Bureau. The Saber- was the organ of the ROTC guerillas in Bicol. It was popularized by Wencelao Vinzons.

The Government in Exile President Quezon did not proceed directly to Australia because he visited several islands in Visayas to boost the morale of the people. From Negros, he proceeded to Oroquieta, Misamis and waited for their ride to Australia. President Quezon issued an Executive order naming Colonel Manuel A. Roxas President of Commonwealth upon his and Osmenas death. While in exile, Quezon still participated in the Pacific War Council and later on signed the agreement providing for the organization of the United Nations. Senator Millard Tydings, the co-author of the Tydings-McDuffie Independence Act pointed out that Quezons term will only last for 8 years and that Osmena would succeed him. Since Quezon wanted to remain in power and Osmena thought that there must be unity in the ranks, he prepared a resolution to the American Congress that the succession be waived and to allow Quezon to be the President even beyond the 8 year period. Quezon remained as President but his health started to fail and less than a year later, he died in Saranac Lake, New York. Osmena then preceded to Presidency.

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Battle of the Philippine Sea On June 19, the battle of the Philippine Sea began. It was fought up until June 20. It was primarily an air combat. The air battles started in Guam with Admiral Marc Mitchers Task Force 58 carry brunt attacks. It resulted to the destruction of 402 enemy airplanes, 17 lost American planes and 4 damaged American ships. The battle of the Philippine Sea prevented the Japanese from reinforcing the Marianas and led the subsequent capture of the islands by the Americans The Japanese put out a small edition of the tribune describing the alleged destruction of the American Fleet. Such alleged Japanese victories were called Tribune victories by the Filipinos.

The Road to Leyte American territorial losses during the early phase of war were being recovered, and the way to the Philippines was being paved. Carrier planes softened the Japanese positions in Iwo Jima, the Palau islands, the Peleliu and the Angar Islands. MacArthurs forces occupied Morotai Island, and struck at Northern Celebes, Halmahera, Ceram, and Vogelkop. On September 21, the American carrier-based planes swooped down the city of Manila undetected. The air attack coincided with the Japanese target practice so that the Japanese and the Filipinos were unaware of the presence of the American planes of the third fleet under the command of Admiral Willliam Bull Halsey. The strike led to the conclusion that the invasion of the Philippines must begin in Leyte because air resistance was weak in the Visayas. He also suggested that the acceleration of the date of invasion to prevent the enemies from strengthening his defenses in the weak areas. The date for the invasion was set for October 20. The way was now paved for return of the beloved.

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The Leyte Landings Carried out by the forces of MacArthur. The American Forces known as the Central Philippine Attack Force were divided into Northern and Southern Attack Force On October 20, the Leyte beaches were severely bombarded from the air and from the sea. With the enemy neutralized by heavy bombings and naval guns, two army crops landed in the morning of October 20.

The Battle for Leyte Gulf The Leyte landings brought home to the Japanese naval and military authorities the urgent menace of the landing presented to them. Admiral Soemu Toyoda had Sho operation put into effect. considered as the greatest naval fought simultaneously in three October 24-26.
Envisaged control of the air and the neutralization of the American menace

battle in history. It was different places from

In its magnitude and significance, the battle for Leyte Gulf exceeded all previous naval combats.

The Battle of Surigao Strait The commander of the Japanese Southern Force coming from Singapore entered the narrow Surigao Strait without suspecting that his approach had been discovered. So, at the moment when the enemy ships were within range of the American heavy guns, Oldendorf, the head of the American Task force, gave the signal to attack. The Japanese ships were completely trapped, resulted in the almost total annihilation of the Southern Force. On the American side, only one destroyer was severely damaged.

The Battle off Samar On October 24, when the American naval intelligence discovered that a strong Japanese Force was steaming for San Bernardino Strait, planes of the Third Fleet attacked the Japanese Central Force under Admiral Kurita.

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During the daybreak of October 25, the Central Force, having penetrated the strait, attacked admiral Spragues weak escort carriers. After two and a half hours of intense firing, Kurita retired toward San Bernardino Straight. With the help of aircraft from the Third Fleet, Spragues escort-carrier planes pursued the enemy in afternoon of October 25. The next day, the pursuit continued and eventually, the Leyte Gulf was secured for the Americans.

The Battle off Cape Engao Admiral Ozawas intention was to draw Admiral Halseys fleet from the vicinity of Leyte Gulf in order to allow the Central Force and the Southern Force to sneak into the Gulf and destroy Admiral Spragues weak force. Halsey took the bait and pursued Ozawa, leaving San Bernardino Straight unguarded. At the moment that Halsey was murdering Ozawa, he received the news that the Central Force penetrated the San Bernardino Strait. Halsey detached fast battle ships and sent them posthaste to Leyte Gulf. On October 26, the remnants of the Japanese Fleets were wiped out by planes of the Third fleet. The dispatching of a part of Halseys fleet was called Battle of Bulls Run..

The Landings at Lingayen Gulf On January 9, 1945, the American fleet unexpectedly landed at Lingayen Gulf, thereby taking the enemy by surprise. The Japanese could not offer stiff resistance particularly because the number of their airplanes had dwindled and because it was difficult to defend the plains of Pangasinan.

The Liberation of Manila Once MacArthurs forces had set foot on Lingayen, they relentlessly moved down south. It was impressive that Manila be captured without delay, for the city offered excellent harbor facilities. Several assaults have been made to cut off the Bataan Peninsula. By noon, the troops were in Subic. The Subic Bay was secured without any opposition on January 30. The rapidity with which the American troops were coming down the main highway to Manila infuriated the enemy.

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They: 1. Compelled men found in the streets to work in Japanese airfields or installations 2. Confiscated different means of transportation and used these for transporting Japanese soldiers and materials. 3. Sacked the San Juan de Dios Hospital and massacred its patients and doctors. 4. They set houses and buildings on fire and shot their occupants. From Tarlac, the American army knifed its way to Pampanga, Bulakan, and to Manila. The Filipinos and Americans sang God Bless America followed by Star Spangled Banner.

The Return of the Commonwealth When it was finally determined that a large part of Leyte was in American hands, MacArthur ordered the organization of civil municipal government. The temporary seat of the Commonwealth Government was established in Tacloban, Leyte on October 23, 1944. General MacArthur turned over the reins of the civil government to President Osmena. On July 4, MacArthur proclaimed the liberation of the Philippines from the enemy.

The End of the War MacArthur proposed to carry the war right at Japans door. On July 26, the Allies, through President Truman and Prime Minister Churchill, issued the Postdam Proclamation calling upon Japan to surrender unconditionally. However, Japan refused to surrender. On August 6, United States Air Force unleashed the deadly atomic bomb in Hiroshima. On August 9, another bombed was dropped on Nagasaki. To make things more difficult for the Japanese, Russia declared war on Japan the same day. faced with total annihilation, Japan unconditionally accepted the Allies demand for surrender in August 15. On September 2, Japan signed the terms of surrender on board the battleship Missouri at Tokyo Bay.

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