Japanese Occupation

Japan invaded Philippines on December 8, 1941. Clark Airbase in Pampanga was the first to be attacked. On December 22, the Japanese forces landed at the Lingayen Gulf and continued to Manila. General Douglas MacArthur declared Manila an open city as advised by commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon to avoid it's destruction. The Japanese occupied Manila in January 2, 1942.

MacArthur retreated his troops to Bataan while the commonwealth government withdrew to Corregidor island before proceeding to the United States. The joint American and Filipino soldiers in Bataan finally surrendered on April 9, 1942. MacArthur escaped to Corregidor then proceeded to Australia. The 75,000 captured soldiers were forced to endure the infamous Bataan Death March on which an estimated 10,000 died or were murdered.

The farmers of Pampanga banded together and created local brigades for their protection. Luis Taruc, Juan Feleo, Castro Alejandrino, and other leaders of organized farmers held a meeting in February 1942 in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija. In that meeting, they agreed ti fight the Japanese as a unified guerrilla army. Another meeting was held the following month, where in representatives from Tarlac, Pampanga and Nueva Ecija threshed out various details regarding their organization, which they agreed to call "Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa mga Hapon" or HUKBALAHAP. Taruc was chosen to be the Leader of the group, with Alejandro as his right hand man.

When MacArthur returned to the Philippines in October 1944, it was as commander of a massive invasion force. The ensuing naval battle of Leyte Gulf was one of the largest ever fought. In February 1945 U.S. troops reached Manila, which was devastated in fighting that continued until July. World War II ended with the Japanese surrender to the Allies on September 2.