The Commonwealth of the Philippines was interrupted by harsh Japanese occupation shortly after Japan entered World War II. With the American forces defeated, Japan was in full control. In an attempt to make their occupation more legitimate, the Japanese promised independence and so the Second Republic of the Philippines was established. However, independence was nothing but an empty promise.


December 8, 1941: The attack on the Philippines begins only 10 hours after the attack on Pearl Harbour. American aircraft are entirely destroyed on the ground. Several cities in the Philippines are bombed.

December 12, 1941: Without air cover, the American Asiatic Fleet in the Philippines is forced to withdraw to Java.

December 22, 1941: Japanese troops land and advance across Central Luzon towards Manila.

December 25, 1941: Under the advice of President Quezon, General MacArthur declares Manila an open city to spare it from Japanese bombings. The Japanese either do not respect or understand this. The Japanese bomb the city destroying a number of historical sites. The Commonwealth government relocates to Corregidor. President Quezon asks Jose P. Laurel to stay behind and assist the Japanese wartime administration in an attempt to reduce the severity of the occupation.

December 31, 1941: On Corregidor, Manuel Quezon and Sergio Osmeña take oath for a second term in office.

January 2, 1942: The Japanese arrive in Manila. MacArthur concentrates his troops on the Bataan peninsula. The Japanese penetrate Bataan's first line of defence.

January 3, 1942: Japanese Military Commander Masaharu Homma proclaims an end to US occupation of the Philippines. Martial law is imposed.

January 23, 1942: The Japanese military administration creates the Executive Commission of the Philippine Council of State to carry out and implement its policies. This committee is composed entirely of Filipinos.

Febraury 17, 1942: The Japanese order the Philippines to adopt the Japanese educational system.

Febraury 21, 1942: President Quezon and Vice-President Osmeña leave Corregidor by submarine to form a government in exile in the US.

March 11, 1942: MacArthur leaves for Australia.

March 29, 1942: The Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon (People's Anti-Japanese Army), or HUKBALAHAP, a guerilla movement, is founded by Luis Taruc.

April 9, 1942: The 76,000 starving and sick American and Filipino defenders in Bataan surrender to the Japanese. They are led on a cruel and criminal death march on which 7,000 - 10,000 die or are murdered before arriving at the internment camps 10 days later.

April 1942: A pro-US resistance is formed to provide intelligence to the US and to hinder the Japanese.

May 6, 1942: The 13,000 survivors at Corregidor surrender to the Japanese.

June 14, 1942: The Commonwealth of the Philippines becomes a member of the United Nations.


December 30, 1942: All existing political parties are dissolved. The Japanese fund and organise the Kalibapi. This organisation is the instrument of pro-Japanese propaganda for Filipinos. A junior wing is also created for Filipinos aged 7 - 18.

June 20, 1943: The Japanese government nominates 20 Filipinos to the Preparatory Commission prior to Philippine independence.

September 4, 1943: The Preparatory Commission drafts the 1943 Constitution.

September 20, 1943: The Preparatory Commission selects the delegates to a new unicameral national assembly as specified under the 1943 Constitution.

September 25, 1943: The Japanese sponsored National Assembly takes place and elects Jose P. Laurel as president with Benigno Aquino Sr. and Ramon Avancena each as a vice-president. Laurel and his wartime government are despised.

October 14, 1943: The Second Republic is officially inaugurated as officials take oath. The Philippines is declared an independent republic by Japan.

November 1943: Under the harsh conditions of war including hyperinflation, the Philippine economy collapses. A critical rice shortage makes the situation even worse.

May 1944: The Green Revolution Movement is established by the Second Republic. Intended to combat starvation, all persons of age 16 - 20 are required to plant on any available land.

August 1, 1944: Osmeña becomes president of the exiled Commonwealth government as the result of Quezon's death.

September 21, 1944: The US launches an air raid on Manila. This worsens the food situation and the Japanese pressurise Laurel into declaring war on the US. In response, President Laurel places the Philippines under martial law.

September 22, 1944: President Laurel announces a state of war exists with the United States and Great Britain.


October 17, 1944: General MacArthur returns with a force of 700 vessels and 175,000 men. The Battle of Leyte Gulf begins.

October 20, 1944: MacArthur and President Osmeña land at Palo with US forces.

October 23, 1944: Tacloban City becomes the temporary seat of government for the Commonwealth government during liberation.

December 8, 1944: The pro-Japanese Filipino generals organise a Philippine army called the Makapilis to fight for the Japanese.

December, 1944: Leyte and Mindoro are cleared of the hostile Japanese forces.

January 9, 1945: The Americans land on Luzon and head towards Manila.

February 3, 1945: The battle for liberation of Manila begins as US troops arrive in the city. Japanese forces fight desperately, street by street, to hold the city. The Japanese massacre thousands of Filipino civilians.

February 22, 1945: Luis Taruc and other Huks leaders are arrested and jailed for being communists by US forces.

February 23, 1945: Manila has been mostly liberated. The Japanese have retreated into the old Spanish walled city of Intramuros.

February 27, 1945: MacArthur hands over Malacañan Palace to Osmeña who issues an executive order restoring Commonwealth government departments to their pre-war state.

February 28, 1945: Intramuros is cleared of Japanese forces and the remains of around 600 Filipinos are discovered from Japanese atrocities. Only scattered pockets of resistance remain throughout Manila.

March 4, 1945: Manila is officially liberated but the city has been reduced to ruins.

March 22, 1945: President Laurel and other Second Republic officials depart for Japan.


June 9, 1945: The Congress elected in 1941 convenes for the first time.

July 5, 1945: MacArthur officially announces the liberation of the Philippines.

August 6, 1945: An atomic bomb is dropped on Hiroshima, Japan.

August 9, 1945: An atomic bomb is dropped on Nagasaki, Japan.

August 15, 1945: Japan unconditionally surrenders but fighting continues until formal surrender.

August 17, 1945: In Naga, Japan, President Laurel officially dissolves the Second Republic.

September 2, 1945: The remaining Japanese forces surrender, the same day Japan formally surrenders. The liberation of the Philippines has cost the lives of 60,628 Americans, an estimated 300,000 Japanese and an estimated over a million Filipinos. Investigations after the war show that 260,000 Filipinos had been actively engaged in guerrilla organisations and an even larger number operated covertly in the anti-Japanese underground. The largest such organisation is the Hukbalahap (or the Huks), founded by Luis Taruc. He has about 30,000 armed guerrillas who control most of Luzon.

September 14, 1945: Laurel informs MacArthur of his whereabouts.

September 15, 1945: Laurel is imprisoned in Japan but eventually moved to the Philippines.

April 20, 1946: Manuel Roxas wins the last Commonwealth presidential election.