This day, on December 8, 1941, a pivotal moment unfolded in Filipino history as Japan launched a surprise attack on the Philippines, a mere ten hours after their assault on Pearl Harbor. The blitz began with an initial aerial bombardment, swiftly followed by ground troops landing north and south of Manila.

Under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, Philippine and United States troops found themselves in a dire situation.

MacArthur, previously recalled to active duty in the United States Army, led the defense as the commander of the United States Armed Forces in the Asia-Pacific region.

However, circumstances in the Pacific region thwarted reinforcement and resupply efforts, resulting in the destruction of his command’s aircraft and the evacuation of naval forces.

Facing overwhelming numbers, the defending forces retreated to the Bataan Peninsula and the island of Corregidor at the entrance to Manila Bay.

To prevent the destruction of Manila, the city was declared an open city and was subsequently occupied by Japanese forces on January 2, 1942.

The valiant Philippine defense persisted until the eventual surrender of United States-Philippine forces on the Bataan Peninsula in April 1942 and on Corregidor in May.

Approximately 80,000 prisoners of war, captured during the fall of Bataan, endured the notorious “Death March” to a prison camp 105 kilometers to the north. Tragically, an estimated 10,000 men succumbed to disease and malnutrition or faced harsh treatment by their captors before reaching their destination.

Key figures such as Quezon, Osmeña, and MacArthur played pivotal roles during these tumultuous times. Quezon and Osmeña established a government in exile in the United States, while MacArthur, ordered to Australia, began planning for a strategic return to the Philippines.

Despite Japanese promises of independence for the islands, they initially established a Council of State to direct civil affairs. In October 1943, the Philippines was declared an independent republic under Japanese rule.

However, the Japanese occupation faced increasing opposition from underground and guerrilla activities, involving around 260,000 people in guerrilla organizations.

MacArthur’s Allied forces, landing on Leyte on October 20, 1944, initiated a series of strategic moves, including landings on Mindoro and around the Lingayen Gulf on Luzon’s west side.

Fierce battles ensued, particularly in the mountains of northern Luzon and Manila, where Japanese forces staged a last-ditch resistance.

The guerrilla activity reached large-scale proportions, with the Huks playing a significant role in Central Luzon. MacArthur, accompanied by Osmeña, continued the offensive, leading to Japan’s formal surrender on September 2, 1945.

The Philippines, however, had paid a heavy toll, with an estimated one million Filipinos losing their lives and extensive physical destruction, particularly in Manila, by the war’s end.

(Source: Country Studies, The US Library of Congress Federal Research Division. Photo credit: The National WWII Museum, New Orleans, LA)

(JR AMIGO/AI/MNM)