The Pearl of the Orient

Prologue

"Nobody knows and feels as intensely as I do your sufferings and your sacrifices, how fiercely the flame of hate and anger against the invader burns in your hearts, how bravely you have accepted the bitter fact of Japanese occupation. I know your hearts are full of sorrow, but I also know your faith is whole.

I ask you to keep that faith unimpaired. Freedom is worth all our trials, tears and bloodshed. We are suffering today for our future generations that they may be spared the anguish and the agony of a repetition of what we are now undergoing. We are also building for them from the ruins of today and thus guarantee their economic security. For the freedom, peace, and well-being of our generations yet unborn, we are now paying the price."

- MANUEL QUEZON, 15 November 1943

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The Cabinet Room, Cebu Provincial Capitol, Cebu

10 April 1942​

After the capital city of Manila fell into the hands of the Japanese on the 26th of December 1941. Cebu became the temporary capital of the Philippine Commonwealth.

The last person to arrive was Quezon. He gave a sharp, single knock before entering. Shadows grew longer over the Provincial Capitol as the rainy season dwindled through the high windows and the summer months approached quickly. The Vice President, Sergio Osmena, a Cebuano/Visayan, and Senate President Manuel Roxas were seated at the opposite end of the long, coffin-shaped table that took up most of the Cabinet Room with the High Commissioner, Harold Ickes. In his gorgeous black morning coat, Ickes stood up as Quezon arrived, formal as always.

"Quezon."

Given that Ickes is a white American, Quezon nodded at the High Commissioner while giving him a stern look. Despite this, Quezon had no issues with him because Ickes assisted the President in providing Jews with a safe haven in the Philippines. After all, Ickes is a staunch advocate for both civil rights and personal freedoms.

He turned to face the senate president, Roxas, and Osmeña, the Vice President of the Philippine Commonwealth. Both men looked unappealing when he said, "Sergio. Roxas."

Manuel Quezon, who is known for his habitual half-sneer and snappy arrogance, was not present at the National Assembly during yesterday's debate over the military defeat in Bataan. Ninety Nationalists had voted with the opposition on the approval of the Philippine government in exile, to join forces with MacArthur. With that, Quezon had left the assembly followed by the shouts of "Tara na!" and "Adto na ta!" at the same time.

The President's eyes were red, possibly from lack of sleep or tears. Though it was difficult to imagine Manuel Quezon sobbing.

Last night, rumors circulated in a feverish National Assembly that his leadership could not survive, and that he was a dying man.

However, Roxas appeared to be in better shape. The liberal Senator maintained his average height, a medium-built body appeared as erect as ever, but his face appeared to be dead, brown skin stretched over his long, slightly chubby features. The rumor was that he was hesitant to take over because he did not want to be president under the Japanese puppet government. He literally had agonizing pains in his gut during times of stress.

Quezon addressed Osmeña, his deep voice solemn, his lips audible. "What is the latest news?"

"The Japanese forces are preparing for an amphibious assault here in Cebu, and an attack could happen at any time."

There was a brief moment of silence before the tick of a carriage clock on the marble mantelpiece became audible.

"Please take a seat," Quezon said.

Osmeña sat on a chair. Quezon continued in hushed tones of sadness.

"We have discussed yesterday's remaining [remnant] Assembly vote at length. We feel there are grave difficulties in my remaining time as President. I had made up my mind that I must go with MacArthur's forces. Support for me within the Assembly is excruciating." If there is a vote of confidence, yesterday's abstainers may vote against the government. And Liberal Party soundings indicate they would only join a coalition under a new President.

Quezon returned his gaze to Ickes, almost as if seeking assistance, but the High Commissioner only nodded sadly and said, "I may be an American, but..." Ickes paused for a moment, "If we are to have a coalition now, which we must, then national unity is essential."

Looking at Quezon, Osmeña might feel sorry for him. He had lost everything; before everything went south, Quezon had appealed to Washington that the Philippines should become independent, which President Franklin D. Roosevelt agreed to. FDR received approval from the US Senate, and their independence date was set for July 4, 1945. The Japanese then attacked Pearl Harbor, followed by an attack on the Philippines via Formosa Island the next day.

After the Japanese took over Manila, there had been several months of military inaction, and communication within the Commonwealth forces had broken down. The Commonwealth's largest forces were pinned down at Bataan, where the battle lasted four months.

Quezon turned to face Osmeña and Roxas. Then he spoke again, his voice emotionless.

"How about you two? Would you stay here in the Philippines? My decision to join the exile government with the Americans is final."

Osmeña leaned back in his chair and nodded. He looked at Roxas, who returned his stare with a cold, probing look. Osmena knew Roxas held nearly all of the cards, and that despite being a member of the Liberal Party, the majority of the Nacionalista Party wanted him to be the next President.

Quezon, Ickes, and the majority of the Cabinet all wanted Roxas. Quezon despised the Empire, but Roxas held a patrician contempt for the Japanese; he once stated that the Japanese were liberating Asians from Western colonial rule.

Osmeña, on the other hand, has had the public on his side since the Japanese invaded the Philippine archipelago in December.

"Sergio," Quezon began, his tone now skeptical. "You were very harsh on Liberals in yesterday's debate, and you have always been their fierce opponent; do you think this will be an issue for you?"

Osmeña did not respond, but instead stood abruptly and walked over to the window, where she gazed out into the bright spring afternoon.

Don't respond, Osmeña thought. Roxas should be flushed.

A high longing sound was made by the carriage clock striking five. The Provincial Capitol began booming out the hour as it finished. Osmeña finally spoke as the last note faded away.

"I believe I would be better suited to deal with the Liberal men," he said.

Roxas turned to face him, his face suddenly fierce. "The trials ahead, Sergio, will be very terrible." Roxas looked tired and unhappy, but he had a determined look on his face now. After all, he had discovered steel within himself.

"That is why, Sergio, I would like you to join me in a new, smaller War Cabinet, as Minister of Defense, with overall responsibility for the conduct of the war."

Osmeña considered the offer, moving his light jaw slowly from side to side. If he oversaw the war effort, perhaps he could dominate Roxas, become President in all but name. It all depended on who else Roxas put in place.

He asked, "And the others? Who will you appoint?"

"From the Nacionalista, you and Fernando Lopez; I believe that best reflects the balance of opinion within the party. Quirino for Liberals and to represent the Liberal interest, and as a national figure, the man who led us to autonomy in 1935," Roxas said, turning to face Quezon.

"I believe you could be most useful now, Señor Presidente, as the leader of the National Assembly."

"Are you even listening, Roxas? I'm leaving the Philippines for the sake of our freedom and to preserve Philippine independence." Quezon said sternly.

Then a contingent of American soldiers marched into the provincial capital.

"Mister President, we are now the last boat to leave Cebu, and you are required to accompany us by General MacArthur's orders."

Quezon gave a nod. He took one last look at the two and said,

"It's up to you whether you come with me or not," Quezon said, going to his room to get his suitcase and leaving Cebu with Ickes.

Osmeña, on the other hand, left the provincial capitol to return to his family at home, since he is from Cebu, and decided to swear fealty to the Empire to aid the Second Republic because he had no other choice. It's either principle or death. Out of necessity, the Osmeña family, one of the major political families that supported Philippine independence, had now joined the Empire. Roxas also returned to Manila to swear allegiance to the Empire.

The dream of Philippine independence has been shattered once more. Just like when the United States defeated the First Republic forty years ago.

Quezon died as a result of tuberculosis years later. The exiled government vanished after the Japanese atom bombed Pearl Harbor, resulting in a humiliating defeat for the Americans in 1945. As part of the Akagi Accords, the United States of America is obligated to recognize the Philippines as a satellite state of the Japanese Empire and to acknowledge that their possessions in the Philippines and its Pacific territories now belongs to the Empire.

The Philippines and its people have entered a new era. New era but same conditions; being a slave to another master.

TENNO HEIKA BANZAI!