"We as a people seem to have forgotten those three years of Japanese occupation."
"We as a people seem to have forgotten those three years of Japanese occupation."
Not too many people realize it but later this month, Manila will commemorate the liberation of the City from the Japanese occupation forces. February 6 was in fact the day that the headquarters of the Southwest Pacific Command announced to the world that Manila had fallen to the American forces under General Douglas MacArthur. Actually, the fight was just beginning and would take the whole month of February before Manila was fully liberated. When the fighting was over, more than 100,000 innocent Filipinos were brutally and systematically murdered by the Japanese forces who decided that the best way to serve their Emperor was to die fighting in Manila.
The composite Japanese force of navy and army personnel defending Manila numbering about 17,000 under the command of Rear Admiral Sanji Iwabachi went on a killing orgy, killing infants, children, pregnant women, young and old people and raping as many women as they can. Whole families died in the process. People were killed for no other reason than the Japanese soldiers wanting to take as many people with them even if those people were non-combatants. Knowing the Japanese of today, it is hard to believe that they were capable of such barbarity and brutality. But the Japanese of 75 years ago were different from who they are today. To the Japanese soldier then, there was no greater honor than to die for their Emperor. Today, however, all the Japanese people seem to have become almost all pacifists abhorring the evils of war. But the Japanese of World War 2 preferred death than surrender and so it was in the battle to liberate Manila. Except for a few who surrendered, all the Japanese defenders had to be killed before the fighting was finally declared over. The fighting was so intense and brutal that the city was virtually left in ruins.
As one historian would later write, viewed from the air, the city of Manila was like Hiroshima and Nagasaki after the two cities were bombed. Japan today is one of our closest friends in Asia providing most of the economic aid that is helping us improve our infrastructure. We as a people seem to have forgotten those three years of Japanese occupation. In fact, of all the countries in Asia that the Japanese invaded and occupied in WW2, we are the only country who seems to have forgotten what happened during those years. China and South Korea certainly have not forgotten what happened when the Japanese invaded and occupied their countries. In fact, war issues always seem to pop out between the three countries during anniversaries. We, however, have chosen to remember fewer things about the past. As far as I know, we are the only Asian country to have hosted Japanese royalty, not once but twice.
The father of the current Emperor when he was the Crown Prince came to the country in the 1960s, and again when he was Emperor. Also, two of the senior Japanese Army Officers convicted of war crimes who were sentenced to be executed were pardoned by former President Elpidio Quirino who himself lost his wife and two children when Japanese soldiers killed them during the fighting to liberate Manila. The Liberation of Manila will be commemorated in many ways like lectures or a simple wreath laying which does not seem to be enough tribute to remember what the City had to go through in those February days of 1945. There should be a more fitting ceremony to commemorate the event.
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It took the death of a Chinese citizen from Wuhan at the San Lazaro Hospital who arrived here in the country on Jan. 20, 2020, together with his girlfriend, to spur the government to take more aggressive steps to contain the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus. Now, all foreigners originating from China, Hong Kong and Macau will temporarily not be allowed into the country until the spread of the virus is contained.
Should this action been taken earlier as some have been suggesting? Maybe, but coming up with a decision like closing borders is not a decision to be taken very lightly because of its repercussions. Maybe the government did not want to be accused of hysteria or panic that is why it had to consider all options. It is perfectly understandable but, considering what is at stake, an earlier decision should probably have been made earlier. After all, the outbreak was announced by China on Dec. 30, 2019.
In addition to the 2019 nCoV, China has also just announced the outbreak of the bird flu. China is therefore now grappling with two potentially dangerous infections, one of which could develop into a pandemic. If it does happen and I hope it does not, it could kill millions. The Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 killed about 50 million people worldwide which was more than all those killed in the First World War. Let us hope that this 2019 coronavirus will eventually be contained.
As I said in my piece last week, we, the public must do everything to keep ourselves free from infection. The other half is putting our faith in the government to do the right thing and put the interest of the Filipino people above all else.
Judging from the way the Senate hearing went the other day, it is clear there are still areas where protocols could be better. It is surprising that all those passengers and people who got in close contact with the two infected Chinese citizens have not yet been contacted. How much more if the situation worsens? Hopefully, the system being established by the government will not be overwhelmed.