We Remember Bataan and Corregidor by Mariano Villarin
Jul 11, 2021 11:20:45 GMT 8
EXO, Karl Welteke, and 1 more like this
Post by beirutvet on Jul 11, 2021 11:20:45 GMT 8
'We Remember Bataan And Corregidor by Mariano Villarin The Story of American & Filipino Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor and their Captivity.
Many of us here have read countless books on this subject by American authors, but this is the first time I remember reading one written by a Filipino. Being separated from the American forces after capture, his viewpoint is certainly unique and enlightening. His accounts of the battles before surrender are very detailed and accurate from a single unit perspective. I was very much enthralled with his narrative of this time period. I was impressed with his attention to detail that he was able to achieve in spite of not being able to keep a diary of his many incursions with the Japanese invaders.
Also of great interest to me was his travels after his parole from the Japanese POW camp.
Of particular note, I would like to detail his opinions, and those of others in theater, both American and Filipino of the special relationship between the Americans and Filipinos, civilian and military.
"Why did the Filipino troops under MacArthur and Wainwright fight so much more effectively than the natives of other Southeastern Asian countries who had earlier given up their territories to the Japanese? "Probably the reason" according to John Gunther, "was that the United States had promised them freedom, and that they fought as equals with white troops. The Filipinos were not looked down upon by Americans as an inferior cast . . The Filipinos were trained by Americans to look forward to independence and to stand on their own feet. They have never been politically exploited on anything like the scale of the Indians, say"
"These experiences are supported by other equally famous Writers, statesmen and soldiers. Shortly before the war, Carlos Romulo, then editor and publisher of DMHM Newspapers, a newspaper chain in Manila, (and also later the "Voice of Freedom" broadcasting from Corregidor during those dark days) embarked on a trip to China and southeast Asia. The result was a series of forty-five articles which won him the Pulitzer prize for "better understanding between nations." The incidents Romulo experienced in Hong Kong, Chungking, Burma, Thailand, Dutch East Indies, French Indochina and British Malaya increased his hatred of imperialism and love of democracy. In Chungking Romulo was waiting in line as Chinese customs officials inspected the traveler's luggage. They attended first to the baggage of two Americans who were in line behind Romulo. The Americans told the Chinese officials to take care of Romulo first as he was ahead of them. The Chinese told Romulo, 'Sorry, but we thought you were Chinese.'
In Hong Kong Romulo was in a crowd of Chinese waiting outside the Queens's Theater to see the inauguration of the new British Governor General. Even after presenting his official ticket, he was waved back. 'British first' was the order. He continued, " I worked at the Manila Post Office for six months long before the war and I could see American civilians and service men waiting in line with the Filipinos for their turn at the window. The Philippines was an American colony but that did not give them the right to cut in ahead of the Filipinos in line".
Romulo had found in Bangkok that the country had been preparing for the the Japanese invasion while the British remained unaware. In Burma Romulo had met some Burmese journalists who confessed to him they were anti-British and pro Japanese. When he argued with them they said, "Any situation is better than to be under the British".
One night Romulo was taken to a secret headquarters in Batavia where he met with leaders who had been educated in Holland England and America. They told him, "How fortunate you are in the Philippines . . . Your condition improved under American Rule. What have we to lose under a change of authority"? But they did not know what was in store for them under the Japanese occupation. In a hotel restaurant in occupied French Indochina, two Japanese officers "persuaded" Romulo to move to another table because they wanted to sit at a table facing the window. When he complained to the manager, the Frenchman replied, "Do you want this hotel closed?"
In a speech made by Dr. Jose P, Laurel (later occupation president) in Tokyo in 1942, months after the fall of Corregidor, at a conference chaired by Premier Tojo is apropos here: " . . . For forty years, through such fair and humane treatment, the Americans won the hearts of the Filipino people. Your Excellency now knows how in Bataan our people fought fiercely and died side by side with their American Comrades . . . The Filipinos cannot be easily harnessed to your crusade against the people who had for forty years befriended them-not as you have done to the other Asiatic peoples, whose Dutch and English masters had treated them ill. You see in us Filipinos the same facial lines . . . and yet you are amazed that the Filipinos had refused to lay down their arms until the Americans surrendered first and told them to do so. But we, Filipinos, had been treated differently by our western mentors. While it is natural for the Burmese, the Javanese and the rest of the Asians to seek revenge against their despoilers, it is equally natural for us to recompense our benefactor in his time of need".
"Added flavor is provided by Clark Lee when he wrote, "I have a special interest in the Philippines, having been there when the war started and when it ended; and because I saw how bravely the Filipinos died for us, I have a special love for them . . . They did not . . . have to fight, but they did because they loved us and believed in us."
Finally, General Romulo sums it all up: "That explains why out of all conquered countries the Philippines alone sprang without question to the aid of its conqueror. Without propaganda or flag-waving, it fought . . . for America."
Who could not be inspired by this, especially in light of the incessant demonization of America as a deeply racist country?
* * * *
Highly Recommended
Many of us here have read countless books on this subject by American authors, but this is the first time I remember reading one written by a Filipino. Being separated from the American forces after capture, his viewpoint is certainly unique and enlightening. His accounts of the battles before surrender are very detailed and accurate from a single unit perspective. I was very much enthralled with his narrative of this time period. I was impressed with his attention to detail that he was able to achieve in spite of not being able to keep a diary of his many incursions with the Japanese invaders.
Also of great interest to me was his travels after his parole from the Japanese POW camp.
Of particular note, I would like to detail his opinions, and those of others in theater, both American and Filipino of the special relationship between the Americans and Filipinos, civilian and military.
"Why did the Filipino troops under MacArthur and Wainwright fight so much more effectively than the natives of other Southeastern Asian countries who had earlier given up their territories to the Japanese? "Probably the reason" according to John Gunther, "was that the United States had promised them freedom, and that they fought as equals with white troops. The Filipinos were not looked down upon by Americans as an inferior cast . . The Filipinos were trained by Americans to look forward to independence and to stand on their own feet. They have never been politically exploited on anything like the scale of the Indians, say"
"These experiences are supported by other equally famous Writers, statesmen and soldiers. Shortly before the war, Carlos Romulo, then editor and publisher of DMHM Newspapers, a newspaper chain in Manila, (and also later the "Voice of Freedom" broadcasting from Corregidor during those dark days) embarked on a trip to China and southeast Asia. The result was a series of forty-five articles which won him the Pulitzer prize for "better understanding between nations." The incidents Romulo experienced in Hong Kong, Chungking, Burma, Thailand, Dutch East Indies, French Indochina and British Malaya increased his hatred of imperialism and love of democracy. In Chungking Romulo was waiting in line as Chinese customs officials inspected the traveler's luggage. They attended first to the baggage of two Americans who were in line behind Romulo. The Americans told the Chinese officials to take care of Romulo first as he was ahead of them. The Chinese told Romulo, 'Sorry, but we thought you were Chinese.'
In Hong Kong Romulo was in a crowd of Chinese waiting outside the Queens's Theater to see the inauguration of the new British Governor General. Even after presenting his official ticket, he was waved back. 'British first' was the order. He continued, " I worked at the Manila Post Office for six months long before the war and I could see American civilians and service men waiting in line with the Filipinos for their turn at the window. The Philippines was an American colony but that did not give them the right to cut in ahead of the Filipinos in line".
Romulo had found in Bangkok that the country had been preparing for the the Japanese invasion while the British remained unaware. In Burma Romulo had met some Burmese journalists who confessed to him they were anti-British and pro Japanese. When he argued with them they said, "Any situation is better than to be under the British".
One night Romulo was taken to a secret headquarters in Batavia where he met with leaders who had been educated in Holland England and America. They told him, "How fortunate you are in the Philippines . . . Your condition improved under American Rule. What have we to lose under a change of authority"? But they did not know what was in store for them under the Japanese occupation. In a hotel restaurant in occupied French Indochina, two Japanese officers "persuaded" Romulo to move to another table because they wanted to sit at a table facing the window. When he complained to the manager, the Frenchman replied, "Do you want this hotel closed?"
In a speech made by Dr. Jose P, Laurel (later occupation president) in Tokyo in 1942, months after the fall of Corregidor, at a conference chaired by Premier Tojo is apropos here: " . . . For forty years, through such fair and humane treatment, the Americans won the hearts of the Filipino people. Your Excellency now knows how in Bataan our people fought fiercely and died side by side with their American Comrades . . . The Filipinos cannot be easily harnessed to your crusade against the people who had for forty years befriended them-not as you have done to the other Asiatic peoples, whose Dutch and English masters had treated them ill. You see in us Filipinos the same facial lines . . . and yet you are amazed that the Filipinos had refused to lay down their arms until the Americans surrendered first and told them to do so. But we, Filipinos, had been treated differently by our western mentors. While it is natural for the Burmese, the Javanese and the rest of the Asians to seek revenge against their despoilers, it is equally natural for us to recompense our benefactor in his time of need".
"Added flavor is provided by Clark Lee when he wrote, "I have a special interest in the Philippines, having been there when the war started and when it ended; and because I saw how bravely the Filipinos died for us, I have a special love for them . . . They did not . . . have to fight, but they did because they loved us and believed in us."
Finally, General Romulo sums it all up: "That explains why out of all conquered countries the Philippines alone sprang without question to the aid of its conqueror. Without propaganda or flag-waving, it fought . . . for America."
Who could not be inspired by this, especially in light of the incessant demonization of America as a deeply racist country?
* * * *
Highly Recommended