‘I shall return’

Raul Ilogon .

“I SHALL Return” are three powerful words that touched and moved a generation of Filipinos to fight and resist the occupying Japanese Forces during World War II. Holding on to the promise of MacAthur’s return, fueled by Japanese cruelty and the Filipinos’ love for home and freedom, the people rose and formed guerrilla units against the enemy. What happened was a spontaneous uprising of guerrilla units all over the islands without a pre-arranged signal and central authority.

“I Shall Return” was printed in all propaganda materials like chocolates, chewing gum, cigarettes and matches. It all came in a submarine from Australia together with other war materials.

Two months prior to the total surrender of American and Filipino forces, Gen. MacArthur broke through Japanese lines in Corregidor and landed at the Macabalan Pier, Cagayan, Misamis Oriental. His convoy proceeded to Del Monte airstrip at Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, and flew to Australia four days later.

Upon arrival, he gave a statement that galvanized the whole Philippine Islands. It was a very short, only one paragraph — two sentences with 50 words. The last three words stuck and became the rallying battle cry of the occupied Philippines.

“The President of the United States ordered me to break through the Japanese lines and proceed from Corregidor to Australia for the purpose, as I understand it, of organizing the American offensive against Japan, a primary objective of which is the relief of the Philippines. I came through and I shall return.”

In fulfillment of his promise to the Filipino people, MacArthur landed in Leyte on Oct. 20, 1944 and started the eight-month battle for the liberation of the Philippines. On July 5, 1945, he declared the Philippines liberated from Japanese occupation. Five days after Japanese organized resistance in Mindanao was broken.

MacArthur almost did not make it back to the Philippines when plans to by-pass the Philippines was proposed by Admiral Nimitz.

MacArthur strongly objected to the idea. He reminded President Roosevelt, that it was “America’s moral obligation and responsibility to avenge the humiliating defeat of 1942, rescue the prisoners of war, and liberate the Filipinos who stood loyally by America.”

There were three phases of World War II in the Philippines. The first phase started with the bombing of the Philippines on Dec. 8, 1941 up to the total surrender of American and Filipino forces on May 10, 1942.

The second phase is from May 11, 1942 to Oct. 19, 1944. This is the start of the guerrilla movement up to the day before the the return and landing of MacArthur in Leyte.

The last and third phase started with the landing of American Liberation forces in Leyte on Oct. 20, 1944 up to the time the Philippines was declared liberated on July 5, 1945.

The American liberation forces landed with only 17 divisions against 23 divisions of the enemy. This was considered as rare instances in warfare history that well-entrenched (Japanese) ground forces outnumbered the attacking (American) forces.

The Battle of Leyte became the turning point of the war in the pacific. The naval battle badly battered the enemy’s navy. Its destruction and rout started the fulfillment of MacArthur’s pledge to drive the enemy out of the Philippines.

Subsequent deathblows to the enemy followed in rapid succession with the fall of Leyte, Samar, Luzon and the rest of the Visayas.

It was America’s strategy to land in Leyte to divide the Japanese forces. While the American forces battled their way to Luzon, the Guerrillas of Mindanao were tasked to hold the enemy in check, until their landing in Parang, Cotabato on April 17, 1945.

So, the rest of the Philippines was liberated one after the other but Mindanao was a different story. It was the last to be liberated in an operation code named “Operation Victor Five” which will be discussed in my next column.

In the meantime, I will leave you with a teaser: Cagayan, Misamis Oriental, was liberated by All-Filipino guerrilla soldiers with American war planes bombing enemy installations and softening enemy resistance. The battle took four days with only one wounded guerrilla.