A HISTORICAL RESEARCH ENTITLED:

JAPANESE SAGA: A COLLECTION OF STORIES DURING THE

JAPANESE OCCUPATION IN EASTERN SAMAR (1942-1945)

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT IN THE COURSE OF READING IN

PHILIPPINE HISTORY
2019-2020

PROPONENTS:

ACOL, MARVIN G.
ASADON, JOHN VIRGIL C.
COLICO, ELSIE B.
OLALIA, APRIL JOY G.
BSED-2B

SUBMITTED TO:

DR. JOEL PANGILINAN

JANUARY 6, 2020

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Table of Contents
TITLE PAGE…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………i

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT………………………………………………………………………………………………………….......ii

ABSTRACT………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….iii

Chapter 1 (INTRODUCTION)
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY................................................................................................. 1-2
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM .................................................................................................. 2
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY……………………………………………………………………………………………………3

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY ................................................................................................. 3-4

SCOPE AND DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY.…………………………………………………………………………4

Chapter 2 (REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE) ................................................................................. 5-11

Chapter 3 (RESEARCH METHODOLOGY)

RESEARCH DESIGN ................................................................................................................... 12

LOCALE OF THE STUDY…….………………………………………………………………………………………………….12

RESPONDENTS OF THE STUDY ................................................................................................. 12

SAMPLING TECHNIQUE …………………….………………………………………………………………………………..13
RESEARCH INSTRUMENT……………………………………………………………………………………………………..13

DATA GATHERING PROCEDURE……………………………………………………………………….…………….13-14

Chapter 4 (RESULTS AND DISCUSSION) …………………………………………………………………………….........15-22

Chapter 5 (SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION)

SUMMARY…………………….……………………………………………………………………………......................23

CONCLUSION……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………23

RECOMMENDATION………………………………………………………………………………………………………..24

BIBLIOGRAPHY..................................................................................................................................25

APPENDIX A (LETTER TO THE RESPONDENTS)………………………………………………………………………………26

APPENDIX B (SURVEY QUESTIONAIRE)………………………………………………………………………………………….27

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We would like to thank first the Almighty God, for everything we had, for giving

us strength to do the study.

To our respondents, with their full cooperation even though they are busy they still

assisted us during our survey.

To our parents/guardians, with their ceaseless support throughout the

accomplishment of this research.

To our friends, who never failed to inspire and motivate us in doing the study, in

spite of the struggles we faced.

To our co-researchers, for the full participation before, during and after the

conduction of the study.

And most especially, to Sir Joel Pangilinan, who never failed to assist us in

finishing this study.

Thank you and God bless! 

ii

ABSTRACT

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 The research was conducted to determine the significant events or stories in the era

of Japanese occupation in the Province of Eastern Samar, Philippines during the Second

World War ranging from the year 1941 to 1945. This study was conducted in the selected

municipality of Eastern Samar specifically in Borongan, Oras, Sulat and LIorente. One month

was allotted for the study.

The researchers of this study use random sampling in selecting the participants. For

the sake of the validity of the study the researchers consulted the secretary of the veterans

office on Campesao. Mrs. Consurcia Cartago Yubal the secretary of the Veterans Office,

who is also a veteran’s daughter is a participant in the study. Also the researchers

formulated a consent letter to have a formal access on the profile of the veterans in Eastern

Samar. The chosen participants were Mr. Alfonso Cartago a former veteran in Borongan, Mr.

Bernardo Pecayo resident in Oras, Mrs. Cecilia Palines a resident in Sulat and Mr. David

Campo in Llorente.

In terms of the questionnaires that are used for the interview, the researchers

formulated a first-hand questionnaire that provided participant-friendly questions which

created a detailed and organized sequence of answers.

In terms of the results, it yielded a positive outcome and provided significant and

sufficient information that can be used for further scholarly study. The research also showed

an interesting opportunity for future researchers to conduct further historical researches

regarding this topic.

CHAPTER I

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 INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The Japanese occupation of the Philippines was a dark period in the history of the

Philippines between 1941 and 1945, being part of the Second World War. It started on

December 8, 1941 with the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Soon after, the war reached

the Philippine shores and chaos followed. The invaders spread themselves to the different

parts of the country until they reached the inner towns of the province of Iloilo. Filipino

defenders were outnumbered and there was a need to recruit more soldiers, Filipino males

who reached the age 16 were obliged to join the armed forces in defense of our country.

The Japanese occupation of the Philippines was a time of pain and suffering. To

those who went through that period in Philippine history, the memories linger, wanting to be

told to others, especially today’s generation of young people. Many of them have died and

very few still alive. Recent studies that has conducted by the historians and people all about

the Japanese occupation during the past World War II, always direct and focuses on the

events that have happened in Luzon, more so, in Manila and its neighbouring provinces.

Little had only known about the Japanese occupation in other parts of the Philippines like in

Visayas and Mindanao. Maybe because some and even famous event which happened

during that time happened in the Luzon, like the Bataan Death March, the downfall of

Corregidor. The Philippine collaborated in puppet government and the formation of

“HUKBALAHAP” or “Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon”. However, there are only few and

limited studies that had been conducted that talks about the Japanese Occupation in

Eastern Visayas, more so, in the rural areas in the provinces of Eastern Samar. To the

further related happening of the era in how the elders pass stories to their children and

grandchildren. So this, study aims and focus to understand, learn and know the significant

events that has happened in the era of Japanese occupation in the Province of Eastern

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Samar, Philippines during the second World War ranging from 1942 to 1945.( A Collection of

stories during the World War II in the Philippines, Carlito A. Cerbo Jr. Ph.D)

Harry Benda (1958) argued that the Japanese occupation of Southeast Asia

drastically changed the post-war situation by creating a discontinuity in the rule of some local

elites in Indonesia. Another scholar by the name of David Steinberg (1967) supported this

“interregnum” theory in his study of local leaders in the Philippines who collaborated with the

Japanese army. Steinberg suggested that even through the war retained the oligarchy in

some areas; it created changes in the political leadership of the country due to the treason

charges against them that weakened their political influence in the post war period.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This research aims to study “Japanese Saga: A Collection of Japanese Stories

during Japanese Occupation in Eastern Samar.”

The following questions expected to be answered by the researchers:

1. Profile of the respondents;

a. Name (Optional)

b. Age

c. Gender

d. Address

2. Why did Japanese occupied in Eastern Samar?

3. What are the different stories that happened during Japanese occupation in Eastern

Samar?

4. In what particular place in Eastern Samar did the story happened?

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OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

This study aims to know the collection of Stories during the Japanese Occupation in

Eastern Samar.

1. To know the demographic profile of the Japanese veterans in terms of:

a. Name

b. Age

c. Gender

d. Address

2. To understand why Japanese occupied Eastern Samar.

3. To identify the different Japanese stories that happened in Eastern Samar.

4. To determine the particular place or places in Eastern Samar where the different

Japanese stories happened.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study focuses on the collection of Japanese stories that happens here in

Eastern Samar. The researches believed that the findings of this study will be

beneficial and can contribute knowledge and information about historical events here

in Eastern Samar mainly during Japanese occupation to the society as a whole. This

study would be beneficial to the following:

 To the college education

This research will give ideas and information about different

Japanese stories during their occupation in Eastern Samar and it will

serve as their bases in teaching history about Eastern Samar.

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  To the students

This research will serve as guide to their future studies related to

these studies to further enhance their knowledge about historical

events here in Eastern Samar.

 To the future researchers

This research will serve as their references to their studies about

the Japanese stories on their occupation here in eastern Samar.

 To the people of Eastern Samar

This research will give them further understanding and knowledge

about the Japanese stories and their occupation here in Eastern

Samar.

SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

This study aims to know the significant events that have happened in the era

of Japanese occupation in the Province of Eastern Samar, Philippines during the Second

World War ranging from 1942 to 1945. The respondents of this study are the veterans and

other responsible elders during the Japanese occupation in Eastern Samar. One (1) month

will do for this study.

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 CHAPTER II

REVIEWS OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter presents the reviews of related literature and studies of the study

Japanese Saga: A Collection of Japanese Stories during the Japanese Occupation in

Eastern Samar the local and foreign sources. This also includes the conceptual framework

to fully understand the research to be done.

History

According to Resil B. Mojares’ keynote address during the Fifth National Conference

on Local History in Iligan City, Philippines, this period was one of the most widely written

about phases of Philippine History.

The Japanese occupation in the Philippines occurred between 1942 and 1945, when

Imperial Japan occupied the Commonwealth of the Philippines during World War II Werner

Gruhl (2007). Japan occupied Philippines for over three years, until the surrender of japan. A

highly effective guerrilla campaign by Philippine resistance forces controlled sixty percent of

the islands, mostly jungle and mountain areas. McArthur supplied them by submarine, and

sent reinforcements and officers. Filipinos remained loyal to the United States, partly

because of the American guarantee of independence, and also because the Japanese had

pressed large numbers of Filipinos into to work details and even put young Filipino women

into brothels. General MacArthur kept his promise to return to the Philippines on 20 October

1944. The landings on the island of Leyte were accompanied by force of 700 vessels and

174,000 men. The Islands of Leyte and Mindoro were cleared of Japanese soldiers. During

the campaign, the Imperial Japanese Army conducted suicidal defense of the islands. Cities

such as Manila were reduced to rubble. Around 500,000 Filipinos died during the Japanese

occupation Period (BG Harold Nelson, 2013.)

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Foreign Literature

According to Ding Choo Ming in his study, Japanese occupation in Peninsula Malaya

began on 8th December 1941 after Japanese occupation force launched its attacks on Kota

Baharu, preceded by her attack on the US Naval base in Pearl Harbor. With the surrender of

Singapore ten weeks later, on 15 February 1942, Malaya and Singapore, previously as one

British colony, were occupied by the Japanese. The latter set out immediately to establish

control over almost all aspects of life, including literary writings, for three-and-a-half years. In

the beginning, Japanese was welcomed by the Malays as they came with power, vigor, and

promise of freedom for them who had been under Western Colonial powers since 16th

century and hoped life will be better off under the Japanese.

Such a euphemism was shared by Mochtar Lubis (1992:87) who wrote that “To

welcome the Japanese troops, the Indonesians had already hoisted the Indonesian national

red-and-white flag. The whole city looked festive. The main roads of the city on which the

Japanese troops were expected to march to the city center were already full with people.”

Japanese propaganda also emphasized the rare qualities of Japanese spirit, the

thoroughness of Japanese patriotism, the supremacy of Japanese Armed Forces, the

efficiency of Japanese light and heavy industries, the vastness of Japanese material

resources, the capabilities of Japanese organizing skill, and the Japanese cooperation to

free peoples Southeast Asia from European colonization (Chin 1946: 151). Such

propaganda must have filled the hearts of young people with great happiness, satisfaction

and anxiety and made them believed in the Japanese as Asian new power. But Mochtar

Lubis (2000) was different and wrote “I told myself not to accept the Japanese at the face

value of their public statements about their intentions with our country and people”.

Nevertheless, young Malay writers, including Masuri S.N,. Coming of age then must have

been very happy with the collapse of the British colonial regime.

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Local Literature

According to the book of Carlito A. Cerbo Jr. Ph.D., in his War Memories( A

Collection of stories during the World War II in the Philippines), it was in April 9, 1942- the

fateful day of the Bataan Death March that changed his life forever. “Indi ku gid malipatan

anu natabo sang Bataan Death March”. [I will never forget what happened during the Bataan

Death March], he said. Through physically not present, it was this historical march of

American and Filipino surrendered troops in horrible and harsh conditions from Bataan to

Pampanga that inspired Filipinos to join the cause in fighting for freedom by becoming a

grilla fighter: including him, his brothers in the right age and even his sisters. In addition, in

Cerbo’s book, ( War memories, 2013-2014), a survivor recalled that on February 1943,

several soldiers who were members of the recognized guerrilla movement based in Panay

Island that served as its theater of operations in Masbate arrived in Mandaon. They

established a temporary headquarters in the open area. On December 7, 1941, at the start

of the war the Pacific, Mr.Roberto V. Duran was already employed as secretary of the gold

mining company (Masbate Consolidated Mining Company) located at Mandaon, Masbate. In

the middle part of January 1942, news of the landing of Japanese in the Philippines was

relayed to the company management. He was 24 years old then. According to him, the

employees and laborers abandoned the company and looked for safer places not accessible

to the Japanese soldiers. When asked about their initial reactions upon hearing that the war

broke out, he said that they were told to stay put in their places because they thought the

war would only be in manila. They also trusted the assurance given by the American

government that they would never abandon the Philippines at such time. According to him,

local governments not yet occupied by the Japanese forces were being run by the guerrillas

and one of them was the Municipality of Mandaon, Masbate. Among his tasks during the war

was to recruit civilian volunteers to serve as sentinels to monitor the movement of the

Japanese soldiers when they came to the area. They also solicited and asked from the

people donations such as food and supervised the delivery of war materials and supplies.

11 | P a g e
Over and above all these tasks, Mr Duran was responsible to his superior officers regarding

the loyalty of the guerrilla soldiers. He also reiterated that because of his massive

involvement in the daily operations of the guerrilla movement, he was one of the most

wanted individuals to the Japanese forces.

The Philippines never really had anything in terms of defense and war. Soldiers and

troops were lacking, more so with weapons and other war materials. Hence, when the war

started, they had no more time to lose. They simply rallied up male teenagers and

adolescents they found suitable for combat. One of them was Julian F. Aldon, my great

uncle. Yes, they underwent training, but it was all rushed. Once they caught wind of the

Japanese Army’s plans, the Americans wasted no time in training men for battle. Most of

them were in their twenties, some were too young to witness and be involved in the war first-

hand. They were all assigned in Iloilo. Wearing their simple army uniform, they took turns to

stand watch for signs of danger. “The Americans never saw it coming. They were

unprepared. The Japanese showed no mercy, dropping bombs on everything in their way. It

was a very tragic day for the Americans. Several lives were lost, almost all of their weapons

and war supplies were destroyed,” my great grand-uncle relates. Iloilo experienced bombing

by the enemies on December 23, 1941. Many people died and infrastructures were

destroyed. Lolo Julian and the rest of the trainees moved to Camp Hernandez in Dingle,

Iloilo. They waited for their fate as they were finally integrated into the US army to comprise

the United States Armed Forces in the Far East or USAFFE. They spent long days of

training and even longer nights trying to sleep, anticipating the sound of enemy forces. Soon,

they were dispatched to their respective assignments in the war zone.

According to Lolo Paco in the Journey and Hardships during World War II under

the book of War Memories Vol.2 a collection of stories during World War II in the Philippines

by Carlito A. Cerbo Jr. PhD, that he was 19 yrs. old when he joined the guerrilla’s forces. His

parents didn’t want him to volunteer but he insisted. His parents could not do anything about

his decision as they had to evacuate immediately. He, too, had made up his mind. “We were

12 | P a g e
first assigned in Antique. We were organized into groups assigned to ambush the enemies.

We hid in plains and trees, waiting for the Japanese to appear. Once our leader called for

combat, we would fight. Whenever the Japanese had operations, we would stand by on alert

and waited for the signal to proceed.” According to him, in every place he was assigned,

they would really wait for their enemies no matter how long it would take them, without

knowing whether they would come or not. “Our “banig” (sleeping mat) was the hard ground

and our roof was the sky. We would sleep everywhere. Our life wasn’t easy.” Of the many

places he was assigned as a guerrilla, lolo Paco has the longest stay in Tiring, Cabatuan.

They stayed there for several months, unlike in other place where they only stayed for

several days or weeks. It was their final assignment before the Americans arrived to help the

guerrilla forces. It was 1945. He was grateful that he survived the war but flet sorry for thos

who perished.

The Japanese forces arrived in Leyte in May 1942. According to the war document

of the Japanese forces, the invasion of Japanese Army to Leyte was carried out based on

the strategy of 14th Army so-called “The Second Phase Operations Plan in Visayas and

Mindanao.” The Nagano Detachments, which consisted of 62nd Army Infantry Regiment,

21st Engineer Regiment, and 3rd Battalion in 51st Artillery Infantry, was assigned to occupy

and garrison the island. The landing point of Nagano Detachment was Capoocan, located at

Northern part of Leyte Island. This detachment garrisoning Leyte Island was reinforced by

the Matsunaga detachment forces later on to be stationed in Tacloban. This force was taken

over by the Omori Unit in October 1943 (Alfred McCoy, 2011). A study conducted by Satoshi

Ara, 2011, Leyte was first be occupied by the Matsunaga detachment forces (May 1942 to

October 1942) and later on by the Omori Unit (October 1942 to October 1943). Both military

units were not capable of eliminating the large-scale guerrilla resistance that they had to

confront due to lack of troops.). Hence, two general situations were happening during the

Japanese occupation of Leyte. The first was the existence of two governments; the

resistance-administered government and the one controlled by Japanese collaborators; and

13 | P a g e
the second situation was that the guerrillas since the time they invaded the Island in May

1942 to October 1943.

During the Japanese occupation of Ormoc lasting for less than two years and six

months or so (from May 1942 to October 1944), as in the provincial capital, Tacloban, this

town had also been totally controlled and occupied by the Japanese forces unlike the other

towns of the province being under the control of the anti-Japanese guerrilla groups. Given

the abundant agricultural products planted by the major landlords (hacenderos) including

Larrazabal, Hermosilla or Tan family, and these families had been quite dominant in the local

politics of the town supporting the colonial economy of the Spanish and American colonial

times. Since the necessity of establishment of the self-subsistence system of Japanese

during the Japanese occupation period in Leyte (The Reporter, March 2011).

Recent studies that has conducted by Satoshi Ara, 2011, all about the Japanese

occupation during the past World War II,always direct and focuses on the events that have

happened in Luzon, more so, in Manila and its neighbouring provinces. Little had only known

about the Japanese occupation in other parts of the Philippines like in Visayas and

Mindanao. Maybe because some and even famous event which happened during that time

happened in the Luzon, like the Bataan Death March, the downfall of Corregidor. The

Philippine collaborated in puppet government and the formation of “HUKBALAHAP” or

“Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon”. However, there are only few and limited studies that

had been conducted that talks about the Japanese Occupation in Eastern Visayas, more so,

in the rural areas in the provinces of Eastern Samar. To the further related happening of the

era in how the elders pass stories to their children and grandchildren. So this, study aims

and focus to understand, learn and know the significant events that has happened in the era

of Japanese occupation in the Province of Eastern Samar, Philippines during the second

World War ranging from 1942 to 1945.

Harry Benda (1958) argued that the Japanese occupation of Southeast Asia

drastically changed the post-war situation by creating a discontinuity in the rule of some local

14 | P a g e
elites in Indonesia. Another scholar by the name of David Steinberg (1967) supported this

“interregnum” theory in his study of local leaders in the Philippines who collaborated with the

Japanese army. Steinberg suggested that even through the war retained the oligarchy in

some areas; it created changes in the political leadership of the country due to the treason

charges against them that weakened their political influence in the post war period.

Moreover, according to M.A Abenir,MCD that on December 7, 1941, Japanese

attack the Pearl Harbor, the United States naval base in Hawaii, to knock out the U.S Pacific

fleet in a single strike in order to expand the Japanese influence in the pacific which leads

the invasion of Japanese to the Philippines.

CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY

The type of research that will be used in the study is historical research. In this

chapter discusses the research design, locale of the study, respondents of the study,

sampling technique, research instrument and data gathering procedure.

Research Design

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 This study used descriptive survey method through interview to assess socio-

demographic profile of the respondents such as name, age and gender and other

information that will be used in the study. The use of descriptive method was premise to the

fact that the main purpose of the study was to know the different stories during Japanese

occupation in Eastern Samar, also to identify the particular place in Eastern Samar where

the story happened through the use of an instrument (survey questionnaire in interview).

Descriptive research is a purpose process of the data gathering, analysing,

classifying and tabulating data about prevailing conditions, practices, beliefs, processes,

trends and cause-effect relationship and accurate interpretation about such data with or

without aid of statistical treatment.

Locale of the Study

This study will be conducted in Eastern Samar mainly in Sulat, Dolores, Oras,

Guiuan, and City of Brongan.

Respondents of the Study

The participant of the study will be the veterans during Japanese occupation, civilians

and the veterans’ children or grandchildren as secondary sources in Eastern Samar. The

total numbers of the respondents in this study will base on how many veterans in Eastern

Samar that will go under interview from the researchers.

Sampling Technique

The researchers will be use random sampling method that used in studies which

need to be carried out to understand the subject which are difficult to trace.

Research Instrument

In this study, researchers made the questions through interview will be asked to the

participant to identify the different stories during Japanese occupation in Eastern Samar.

There are questions regarding the research that should be answered truthfully.

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Data-Gathering Procedure

Descriptive method was the main tool that will be uses in this study. The researchers

will sought permission from the participants (veterans, civilians and veterans’ children and

grandchildren if ever the veterans are dead) to conduct depth interview. In depth interview

are a personal and unstructured interview, which aims to identify participants’ emotion,

feelings, and opinions regarding a particular research subject. The main advantage of

personal interviews is that they involve personal and direct contact between interviewers and

interviewees, as well as eliminate non-response rates, but interviewers need to have

developed the necessary skills to successfully carry an interview (Fisher, 2005,

Wilson,2003).

As far as data collection tools were concerned the conduction of the study involve the

use of semi-structured questionnaire, which was used in interview guide for the researcher.

Some certain questions were prepared, so as for the researcher to guide the interview

toward the satisfaction of research objectives but additional questions were made

encountered during interviews.

Some sample questions that were included in the semi-structured questionnaire were

the following:

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I. RESPONDENT PROFILE

a) NAME
b) AGE
c) GENDER
d) ADDRESS

II. IDENTIFYING SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

1. What are the stories that you know during the Japanese occupation here in

Eastern Samar? ( Ano an iyo mga aram nga panhitabo han panahon han pananakop

han mga hapones dinhi ha Eastern Samar? )

2. Do you have any experiences or what are your experiences during the

Japanese occupation in Eastern Samar? ( Mayda ba niyo mga eksperyensya han

pagdatong han mga hapones dinhi ha Eastern Samar or ha iyo lugar? )

3. Can you tell us when and where the specific year and places did the

Japanese stories or your experiences happened? ( Pwede ba niyo maistorya kon

ano nga tu-ig ngan diin nga lugar nanhitabo an ini nga mga eksperyensya han

panahon han pagdatong han mga hapones? )

4. How did the Japanese treat the Filipinos during their occupation? ( Ano an

kadak-an nga pinanmumuhat han mga hapones han mga Pilipino dinhi ha Eastern

Samar? )

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 CHAPTER IV

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

This chapter presents the results of the study from the collected interviews from the

veterans and their descendants here in Eastern Samar.

Interviewee No. 1

Consurcia Cartago Yubal

55 years old
Female
Brgy. Maypangdan, Borongan City, E. Samar

“Based on the stories of my father, Alfonso Cartago who is a former veteran, at the

age of 12, he already joined several groups that fought Japanese colonizers in Eastern

Samar around 1942 to 1945. He was assigned in Borongan which became the military base

of the American Armies. And due to the intensifying violence caused by the Japanese, many

Filipinos in Borongan were in fear. During that time my father was selected and assigned to

join a troupe led by Mr. Pablo Rosales a.k.a. "Bu-aya" to some specific areas such as

"Bayobay", Cagbonga and Bayaran. He joined different groups to fight the invading

Japanese soldiers in the areas of Libuton and Maypangdan. According to my father, one

time he was forced to climb a banana tree to get its fruit, with the angry Japanese soldier

shouting "Crime! Crime!", which he erroneously pronounced and means only telling my

father to climb the banana tree. And because the fruit was heavy, the banana fruit and its

tree fell and smashed the Japanese soldiers making him unable to move. The Japanese was

in pain and my father found a great opportunity to grab and took the weapo8 and

immediately run away. The Japanese soldier was then found by his fellow soldiers and was

immediately helped. They burned the churches and other areas of Borongan. The Japanese

tried to search for my father who also surrendered then the weapons he took from the

Japanese to his group leader. His troupe he took from the Japanese to his group leader. His

troupe went to Cagbonga to hide and escape from the Japanese. With the widespread

19 | P a g e
cruelty of the Japanese soldiers, my father and his group was unstable and was always

reassigned to different areas until he was assigned at Catbalogan in 1945 where his papers

was processed and he was given an army serial numbers and became officially part of the

army group. When peace time arrived, my father received pension from being a member of

the army. He was then reassigned to Bayaran, a small area in Tabunan, when a submarine

anchored near its bridge. This American submarine was loaded with necessary weapons

and provisions such food that was given to the Filipino armies as assistance for those who

joined in fighting the Japanese colonizers. The Americans also established a naval Base in

Guiuan, wherein my father was finally assigned. Though my father was not able to finish his

studies, he became one of the most trusted guards by the American armies to watch for their

base including their weapons.”

Waray Version:
Interviewee No. 1
Consurcia Cartago Yubal
55 Years Old
Female
Brgy. Maypangdan, Borongan City, E. Samar
“Base han mga istorya han akon tatay, hi Alfonso Cartago hiya nagserbisyo han

panahon han pagdatong han mga Hapon ha Eastern Samar ha tuig 1942 ngada 1945.

Gutiay pa la hiya, 12 years old pala hiya, 12 years pala hiya, nahibulig hiya han mga

nanmamatay han hapones, igin bulig hiya han era laban nga hi Pablo Rosales alyas bu-aya.

Nahibulig pa hiya hin iba pa nga assignment kundiin nahi-assign hiya ha Bayobay,

Cagbonga nga Bayaran. Pagsakop Jan mga Hapon ha Bayaran ngan iba pa nga parte han

Libuton ngan Maypangdan, binulig hiya han panmatay han mga Hapon. Niyan naman,

sinugo hiya hin usa na Hapon nga sundalo pagsaka hin puno hin saging, gilulurabi an saka

bulig nga bunga han saging. Nasiring an Hapon nga Crimed! Crime! Banana! na ibig sabihin,

"Climb Banana". Gin saka naman han akon tatay, niyan natumba iton nga puno han saging,

nalupit iton nga Hapon, largo kinuha han akon tatay an armas han nalulupit nga hapon ngan

nagdinalagan naman hiya tipakadto ha Borongan. Niyan kay gin buruligan man an Hapon

20 | P a g e
han iya igkasi sundalo, han ira kaaringit hiton nga panhinabo, ginsunog nira an simbahan

ngan iba pa nga mga parte han Borongan. Gin pinanuroy han Hapon an kinuha han iya

armas. Sumat han akon tatay nanhingadto hira ha Cagbonga kundiin-diin la hasta nga

nahingadto hira ha Catbalogan. Han 1945 tinagan hiya hin Army Serial Number, kundiin ini

nagsususmat hiya in bulig na nga opisyal han sundalo, ngan naproseso na liwat an iya mga

papeles. Pag-abot han "peace-time", nakakarawat hiya hin pension han mga sundalo nga

binulig pagpatay han mga Hapon. Igin upod hiya utro ha Bayaran kundiin mayda dinu-ong

nga submarino harani dida han tulay ha Tabunan nga maayuda han mga Filipino. An sulod

han submarino in mga armas han Amerikano ngan mga pagkaon para han mga Filipino.

Nahingadto hira ha Guiuan, nagbutang didto hin Naval Base an mga Amerikano. Didto igin

bulig an akon tatay han pagbantay han mga Amerikano, bisan kun dire tangpos han

pagiskuyla an akon tatay, hiya in tinapuran han mga Amerikano.”

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Interview No. 2

Cecilia Palines
83 years old
Female
Brgy. Riverside, Sulat E. Samar

“Based on my own understanding and personal knowledge about the

Japanese occupation, the Japanese colonizers came to our town because of some
good reasons and better plans as well. However, because of some
misunderstanding between the Filipinos especially the language barrier, the
Japanese soldiers treated the Filipinos like slaves and we were being harassed and
maltreated. The alarming violence of Japanese soldiers forced us to evacuate and
hide on safer places or areas like mountains. It was indeed really hard, I was able to
experience a lot of struggles together with other Sulatnons during our escape from
the Japanese. We became fugitives of our own country. We have struggled getting
food just to make sure that the Japanese would not caught us, because if they do so,
they would took all our food and if we refuse to give it to them, they would badly hurt
us. We experienced sleeping on the mountain ground, eat once a day only during
night time so that the Japanese would not be able to see the smoke when we are
cooking. I was young during the Japanese occupation in our place. I was around the
age of 13 or 17 when these experiences came to life. A lot of memories was brought
because of the horrifying acts of the Japanese soldiers that scared the hearts of the
most Filipinos especially in Sulat. At first thought, the arrival of Japanese in our town
brought high hopes to us that they will be of great help to the people of Sulat. But all
our hopes turned to nightmares when the Japanese shade off their true colors and
became abusive of their power. They maltreated us, and even raped women and
treated them as toys. It was really a horrible experience for us that I will never
forget.”

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Waray Version:

Interview No. 2
Cecilia Palines
83
Female
Brgy. Riverside, Sulat E. Samar
“An akon pagkakahibaro basi han akon nakadakoan nga an mga Hapones hin
inabot nganhi ha hungto han kadahilanan nga hira may maupay nga plano pero dara
han deri hira nakakaintindi ha amon hira hin nagtrato hin deri maupay, kami in ira
gintatarhog ngan pinapakurian hin para la deri nira makit-an. Han akon
eksperyensya bahin han mga panhitabo han nakanhi an mga Hapones han amon
bungto, kami hin ginkukuri. Ginkukuri pagtaga kuha hin pagkaon kay kon kami nira
kikitaon may kasiguraduhan nga ira pangunguhaon, danay pa ngani ngin kami
indumiri paghatag6 ira kami pasusul-an. Kami daman in naka eksperyensya hin
pagkaturog6 ha bukid, pangangaon hin usa ka beses hit usa ka adlaw kay gab-i
manla kami nagtutuon para diri kitaon an aso ngin kami ngin nagtutuon.

Dire ak makakapagsiring kon kakan-o pasinganhi an mga Hapones ha amon bungto.

Kun akon pagbabana-banaon hit akon edad, inabot Hira han ak edad nga 13 to 17
years old. Basi han ak napagmat-an mga Hapones han una ko nga nahibaruan nga
pag abot nira in maupay man an ira pakiatubangay ngan pakidungog ha amon, pero
pag-abot him pira ka adlaw or bulan nag iba na hira ambot kon ano. Naghigpit hira
ha amon, nangangastigo han mga kalalakin-an nga kitaon ha dalan, nag-rirape han
kababayin-an, na ngunguha hin pagkaon han tagsa-tagsa nga bab-lay. Makuri gud
an amon kamutangan han nakanhi an mga Hapones.”

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Interview No. 3

Bernardo Pecayo

79 years old

Male

Brgy. Malingon, Oras E. Samar

"It was an unpleasant and horrifying experience when the Japanese came to our

town. These colonizers brought no good intentions only leaving fear and violence to the

Filipinos people. During their regimen, I was able to experience the cruelty of the Japanese

soldiers. They burned many churches in our town. They know nothing but to destroy so

many areas in Oras. I remember a time when they killed many innocent civilians whoever

they wnated to kill with Jo valid reasons. Our town was covered with fear brought by the

abusive Japanese soldiers. I was even afraid to get out of our house just to escape the

cruelty of the Japanese. Many of my fellow "Orasnon" have suffered and many Filipinos also

experienced the worst caused by the arrival of those Japanese colonizers.”

Waray Version:

Interview No. 3
Bernado Pecayo
79
Male
Brgy. Malingon, Oras E. Samar
“Han mga happened nga nahinganhi ha aton lugar ini hira nga dire maupay an

sadya. Nagpipinanhibang him singbahan, balay ngan mga iskuylahan. Ini nga mga Hapones

waray maupay nga nabuhat ngani ha Oras. Mayda adlaw nga nagpipinanmatay hira him

mga sibilyan kun hino an ira matitipuhan paghibangon. An ak naeksperyensya han panahon

an mga hapones talagsa la in kami nakakagawas han am panimalay dara han kalupit han

mga hapon ha aton.”

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Interview No. 4

David Campo
81
December 30, 1938
Male
Brgy. 11, Llorente E. Samar

“Based on my memory, I was very young at that time. I was 4 years old when

the Japanese came to our place. According to my mother's stories during the

Japanese occupation, many people were maltreated by the Japanese soldier,

especially most of the women in our place. They burned so many homes during that

time. Many of my fellow Filipinos were in fear. When they heard that the Japanese

soldiers were arriving, they immediately fled on to different areas of the Mountain

and cave just to escape the cruelty of the Japanese colonizers. During the Japanese

occupation in our place it was very difficult for my parents especially all the Filipinos

to live peacefully because of the abusive Japanese soldiers. However, despite of

these circumstances, they were united by their hopes and faith that they will be able

to survive all the struggles. That is the reason why we are still alive.”

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Waray Version:

Interview No. 4
David Campo
81
Male
December 30, 1938
Brgy. 11, Llorente E. Samar

“Basi han ak pakahinomdom, bata paak hadto nga panahon. An istorya haak han ak

kag-anak, nira nanay han panahon han hapon. Damo at an balay na sinusunog tapos

mayda hat pagmamaltrato han mga tawo labi na dida han kababayin-an. Basta mayda ngani

nagkakadatong nga mga Hapon ha kairayanhan an mga tawo nakadto dayon ha bukid para

tumago di ngani may mga lungib. Han panahon hadto gikuri-e an kinabuhi hat pero nasugad

hira nanay damo maat an nagbuburoblig ngan nagkakaurusa, asya ngada yana buhi pa.”

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 CHAPTER V
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

SUMMARY

The study was conducted primarily to determine the different stories during the

Japanese occupation in Eastern Samar. Based on the date gathered or stories of the

respondents of the Japanese occupation in some parts in eastern Samar, they have almost

the same response which Japanese soldiers turn out to be cruel in their treatment to the

Filipinos during that time, which in some instance they “burned homes and churches” and

even “killed civilians” also “raped women”. Living during the Japanese occupation tales us

heroism in the part of veterans who fight for freedom and endurance, for the civilians even

though they were being harassed in the means of their foods. With this gathered data, it

opens up the mind to many Filipinos on what was the sacrifices, and struggles has been

experiences of our heroes here in Eastern Samar.

CONCLUSION
Based on the results of the study, the researchers concluded that there are stories of

Japanese Occupation in Eastern Samar (and it occurred in the areas of Borongan) during

the Japanese colonization in the Philippines around 1941 to 1945. And these different

stories were collected in different areas in Eastern Samar particularly in Borongan, Oras,

Sulat and LIorente. Also based on the stories gathered with the selected participants.

Japanese occupation in the Philippines was indeed a time of pain and suffering. Recent

studies related to Japanese occupation during the past World War II was only focused in the

events that happened in Luzon. However with the accumulated stories of the participants of

the study such as the veterans in Eastern Samar, it provides more information and

awareness to the Filipinos that there are more unknown stories behind the Japanese

occupation in Eastern Samar.

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RECOMMENDATION

Based on the data gathered conclusion of the results of this study, recommended to

the future historical researchers to conduct intensive research on the history of Japanese

colonization in the Philippines specifically the Japanese occupation in Eastern Samar. It is

also recommended to gather more reliable scholarly articles and researches related to this

study. In addition, it is highly recommended to rely on primary sources in gathering data. The

future researchers may also include diaries and personal journals of their selected

participants to ensure a more productive and successful outcome in conducting historical

research.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY
Alfred W. McCoy, Politics by other means: World War II in the Western Visayas, Alfred W.
McCoy ed., Southeast Asia Under Japanese occupation, (New heaven: Yale
University Southeast asia Studies, 1980), pp. 158-203.

Carlito A. Cerbo Jr. PhD, Journey and Hardships during World War II under the book of War
Memories Vol.2: A collection of stories during World War II in the Philippine

Elmer Norton Lear, Collaboration, Resistance and Liberation: A Study of Society and
Education in Leyte, The Philippines, under Japanese Occupation, p.53.

Affidavit of Pelago Codilla, February 7, 1945. PCP, Peoples vs. Catalino Hermosilla; Lear,
p.394

A. Wahab Ali. Keterlibatan Penulis-Penulis Trengganu dalam Kesusasteran Malaysia

Selapas Perang Dunia II. Malaysia Dari Segi Sejarah 12 (1983): 128-142

Mochtar Lubis , Indonesian Literature Under the Japanese Military Occupation. Solidarity
133/134 (Jan-June 1992): 87-92

Garrison Report no. 16, in Dai 36 Dokuritsu Shubihohei Daitai jinchu Nisshi [War Diary of the
36th Independent Infantry Garrison Battalion]; call number 304 in the library of
National Institute of Defense Studies (NIDS), Tokyo, Japan.

New Diversion Road Named After Ormocano, The reporter, 24 March 1972

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 APPENDIX A
LETTER TO THE RESPONDENTS
LETTER OF CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE IN HISTORICAL RESERCH

Eastern Samar State University

College of Education
Bachelor in Secondary Education

GOOD DAY!

This consent form is intended for the historical study entitled: Japanese Saga: A

collection of Stories during Japanese Occupation in Eastern Samar. As part of our

study we would like to ask permission to have access to the names and related information

of the veterans during the Japanese occupation in Eastern Samar. We will only conduct

interview to gather data regarding to our study. We will ensure you the full confidentiality of

the veteran’s information that we will gather from the said interview.

We highly appreciate your participation.

CONSURCIA YUBAL
Veteran’s Secretary

DR. JOEL R. PANGILINAN

Instructor

RESEARCHERS:

ACOL, MARVIN ASADON, JOHN VIRGIL COLICO, ELSIE OLALIA, APRIL JOY

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 APPENDIX B

An interview Questionnaire of the research entitled Japanese Saga: A collection of

Stories during the Japanese Occupation in Eastern Samar

I. RESPONDENT PROFILE

A. NAME
B. AGE
C. GENDER
D. ADDRESS

II. IDENTIFYING SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

1. What are the stories that you know during the Japanese occupation here in
Eastern Samar? ( Ano an iyo mga aram nga panhitabo han panahon han
pananakop han mga hapones dinhi ha Eastern Samar? )
2. Do you have any experiences or what are your experiences during the
Japanese occupation in Eastern Samar? ( Mayda ba niyo mga eksperyensya
han pagdatong han mga hapones dinhi ha Eastern Samar or ha iyo lugar? )
3. Can you tell us when and where the specific year and places did the
Japanese stories or your experiences happened? ( Pwede ba niyo maistorya
kon ano nga tu-ig ngan diin nga lugar nanhitabo an ini nga mga eksperyensya
han panahon han pagdatong han mga hapones? )
4. How did the Japanese treat the Filipinos during their occupation? ( Ano an
kadak-an nga pinanmumuhat han mga hapones han mga Pilipino dinhi ha
Eastern Samar? )

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