Japanese Occupation: a Catalyst for the Philippine’s Economical Development and Independence

The Japanese occupation in Southeast Asia was an overall catalyst to the nationalistic movement among nations including the Philippines as well as their eventual independence.

Unlike other Southeast Asian nations, the nationalistic desire was already present in the Philippines caused by the prominent actions of our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. In fact, the Philippines were the first country to declare independence, doing so in 1898 with the end of Spanish colonialism, though that was quashed by the subsequent colonialism by the United States.

Another plus point for the Philippines is that unlike the colonizers in other countries, the Americans were more open to the idea of Philippine’s eventual independence, even with their implementation of direct rule. Policies such as the Jones Act in 1916 or the Tydings-McDuffie Act in 1935 all pointed to a Philippines that was already about to achieve independence.

As such, the Japanese invasion, accompanied by destruction and loss of life and property, especially in Manila could be said to have crippled the Philippines progress to independence. Economic poverty would continue to be a feature of Japanese rule over the years, such as the use of the Japanese currency, derisively termed as “Mickey Mouse money”.

Political upheavals also divided the country as a divide emerged between those who chose to cooperate with the Japanese, and those who eventually became guerillas. One such group was the Hukbalahap, whose violence was a reaction both to Japanese rule and their discontent with the previous class structure. Corruption and violence prevailed, as respect for law and order disappeared. The sense of nationhood was put aside in the individual pursuit for family survival among the Filipinos.

In that light, the effect of Japanese occupation did really have a crippling effect on the nation's development.

An alternative and less negative perspective worth considering would be to see the Japanese invasion...