Japanese Occupation
Japanese Occupation
Filipino war veterans would describe it life under the Japanese was anything but peaceful. Thousands of them stood witness to oppression and suffering through the years of colonial occupation under Japan. All their stories were spoken against a backdrop of violent subjugations, each one bringing back old wounds and reliving some of their worst nightmares. For most Filipinos, it was a harsh and fearsome reality filled with terror and abuse. Never in the history of the Philippines had such brutality been committed against the dignity of the human person. For this very reason, the Japanese Occupation is another essential facet that must be examined through the lens of Human Rights.
The bombing of Manila on December 8, 1941 marked the beginning of what was known to be the one of the darkest and most traumatic ages in Philippine history. At the start of the Second World War, the Filipinos were unprepared for the sudden attacks in the capital. A flood of people were forced to hurriedly evacuate the city, for fear of more attacks. War was indeed at hand. To avoid further damages, Manila was declared an Open City.
What began with a surprise attack in Manila, stretched to 4 years of Japanese colonial regime. The new colonizers justified war and violence as their means of empowering fellow Asian races to finally put an end Western colonialism. The Japanese invoked nationalism and revolution and openly acted towards eliminating American influence in the Philippines. The Japanese strongly believed in “Asian for Asians” which provided space for Filipino leaders to serve in the government. But veering away from this puppet government as well as from the interests of the elite, we see a contrastingly different picture of the Filipino people. Certain rights were curtailed as the First Proclamation of the Imperial Army was announced 1942. Under this proclamation, all Filipinos were to obey whatever the Administration might rule or decree. It was
Filipino war veterans would describe it life under the Japanese was anything but peaceful. Thousands of them stood witness to oppression and suffering through the years of colonial occupation under Japan. All their stories were spoken against a backdrop of violent subjugations, each one bringing back old wounds and reliving some of their worst nightmares. For most Filipinos, it was a harsh and fearsome reality filled with terror and abuse. Never in the history of the Philippines had such brutality been committed against the dignity of the human person. For this very reason, the Japanese Occupation is another essential facet that must be examined through the lens of Human Rights.
The bombing of Manila on December 8, 1941 marked the beginning of what was known to be the one of the darkest and most traumatic ages in Philippine history. At the start of the Second World War, the Filipinos were unprepared for the sudden attacks in the capital. A flood of people were forced to hurriedly evacuate the city, for fear of more attacks. War was indeed at hand. To avoid further damages, Manila was declared an Open City.
What began with a surprise attack in Manila, stretched to 4 years of Japanese colonial regime. The new colonizers justified war and violence as their means of empowering fellow Asian races to finally put an end Western colonialism. The Japanese invoked nationalism and revolution and openly acted towards eliminating American influence in the Philippines. The Japanese strongly believed in “Asian for Asians” which provided space for Filipino leaders to serve in the government. But veering away from this puppet government as well as from the interests of the elite, we see a contrastingly different picture of the Filipino people. Certain rights were curtailed as the First Proclamation of the Imperial Army was announced 1942. Under this proclamation, all Filipinos were to obey whatever the Administration might rule or decree. It was