Malas in Depth

Notice the detail?  The author must have given this piece of work much thought before posting it on the internet.  Either he/she is a good researcher or he/she is a historian with a sense of humor.  This particular section is my favorite because for some reason, World War II is the part of Philippine History that is closest to my heart.  Probably because that's when the Philippines gained true independence, but didn't know it.  Too bad.

During the Commonwealth period (1901-1941), which followed, there were lots of learning on democratic principles, its structure and governance. Technology transfers were done on Constitutional Rights, Public Education, Transportation, Health, International Trade and Industrialization. The Americans turned out to be good tutors. Filipinos also went crazy over American brand products like Libby's corned beef and Portola sardines, Hershey's Kisses and Wrigley's chewing gum, Camel cigarettes and Model T Ford for the hacienderos of Pampanga and Iloilo .

Hollywood films made Pinoy males fantasize on Jean Harlow, Betty Grable, and Mae West. Thus, Filipino colonial mentality began. We fondly called this period Peace Time.. By the way, American troops massacred innocent people in Balangiga. Mga hayop din pala!

1941. Disaster! World War II! After attacking Pearl Harbor , the Japanese army invaded our country defeating the combined American and Filipino forces (USAFFE). General MacArthur, the proud and handsome Army chief, fled to Australia at the height of the battle. Then the Filipinos marched to Bataan as the prisoners in the Death March.

For four miserable years we suffered the sadism of the Japanese militarists rule. Torture, famine, and death were for us the order of the day.. Kawawa. Malas na malas!

The American forces returned in 1945 to liberate the country. MacArthur, General superiority complex himself, sporting Ray Ban sunglasses corncob pipe swaggered back to Manila . Piqued at his humiliation in 1941, MacArthur ordered the bombing and shelling of Manila till kingdom come. So he can get back at Japs for wrecking his R&R place in Asia. Malas na naman.

The whole-wide expanse South of Pasig - from Post Office to Vito Cruz, including all of Intramuros - was pulverized. Manila was the most destroyed city of World War II next to Tokyo. Our culture, our heritage, and historical assets (seven beautiful churches in Intramuros, hundreds of elegant Art Deco and neo-classical architecture in Paco) were sacrificed recklessly and completely erased from the face of the earth. Sayang na sayang!

In 1946, we gained our Independence from the Americans. We were a free nation at last! A true Independence day for us, July 4th 1946 not the June 12th that Aguinaldo declared and Marcos celebrated. We had enough exposure and lessons on how to govern a democratic country, the first in Asia . Our population was 17 million. The dollar exchange was US$1 to P2.

(to be continued, God willing...)