Before Bataan and after

Title

Language

English

Source

Philippines 3 (5) July 20, 1943

Year

1943

Subject

Philippines--History

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

BEFORE BATAAN AND AFTER. By Frederic S. Marquardt. Indianapolis. Bohhs-Merrill Company, 194x 315 pp. ’’ HEN Japan invaded the Philippines, something hap pened which was unparalleled in the Orient and in the history of colonial government. While the subject peoples of the neighboring countries did not fight nor resist the invader, in the Philippines the Filipinos rose as one man in defense of American sovereignty and the American flag, and fought the enemy to the bitter end in what is now known as the epic of Bataan. Many reasons have been advanced for this record performance. In fighting for the American flag, the Filipinos were also fighting for their own country and their own freedom. They were loyal to America because America had won their undying friend ship and affection. But this friendship certainly did not mushroom overnight. Behind it is a long story—a unique experiment in human relationships and government col laboration untried elsewhere in the history of the world. Before Bataan and After tells that story from a person alized viewpoint. In its fine presentation of PhihppineAmerican relationships, it explains the epic of Bataan. Mr. Marquardt’s thesis is that the American experiment in the Philippines paid high dividends when the final rest came in Bataan. Only an author with a fine perspective of contemporary Philippine history could hsre immodiMdy sensed such significance in the Philippine campaign. Mr. Marquardt was born in the Philippines; his parents were among the first American teachers to inaugurate the socalled Philippine experiment. As pioneer teachers, the older Marquardts came on the Sheridan, arriving in the Philippines two months ahead of the famous Thomas, considered the Mayflower of American teachers in the Philippines, which reached Manila on August 23, 1901. Young Marquardt spent his boyhood in the Philippines, got his education in this country, and returned to the islands to make his home. From 1928 to 1941 he was associate editor of the Philippines Free Press, a position which gave him excellent opportunities to view from the front seat the kaleidoscope of events in the Philippines and co mmingle with the participants both high and low. Luck ily-, when the war broke out, he was on vacation in this co untry. Of course, in any personalized account such as this, ex tending over four decades of contemporary history, involvin g a number of personalities, many of whom are still lining, and written at a considerable and forced distance fr-om the setting where the basic materials are to be found, a number of slips are likely to be made, obviously not beGLuse of ill intentions but because of natural limitations sv^cb as rhe difficulty of getting access to all the facts, particruiariy at a time like the present. Thus, it has come to imy attention recently that among other things, it should be noted that Teodoro Kalaw was the third member on (Quezon’s trip to Russia, not Ramon Avanex mi ( page 71 ); L leutenant Miller, commander of the garrison at Mnriveeles, received Quezon's surrender not Roy Squires (page 2 11). Elsewhere some statements assume rhe form of w hat properly may be called versions They n.imr dly call ft ir rhe other side <4 the story before rhe, be a^epted a=5 final. Thus, for example Justue Trank Murphv the k»st governor-general and the first h;-di tommtssinner. is p ictured as having btco bidh Lmbasrcd bi Amr.Tn.jns jznd Filipinos alike when he left rhe Philippines (pages 1 80-181 i While it is true th.it he lul .ktrunts. rhe F ihpino people through their leaders luxe never lost faith in him and they stdl regard him with respect and affection a nd as one of the best friends rhc\ haw cwr had Then, tc )O. in the matter of endian defense for the Philippines, [^resident Quezon is shown as having wanted co leave the KJ S.RT? 21?I. Other sidelights of the story, however, would point to the o ther direction. President Quezon was for organizing c ivilian defense, and bis insistence on this point, as the a uthor correctly surmises, brought about one of those ocC asions where rhe charge of dictatorship was levelled a gainst him. These details, however, do not detract at all f rom the intrinsic value of the book which remains so f ar the best explanation of what happened on Bataan. Projecting the Philippine experiment as a pattern in postwar planning for the rehabilitation of all colonial pos sessions in the Pacific, though likely to meet with opposit ion in its practical details, should nevertheless merit seri ous consideration, especially at this time when human walues, above all things, are at a premium. —S.V.A. Selected Current Literature Books and Pamphlets j The People’s Peace; by representatives of the United Nations. New York, George W. Stewart, Publisher, Inc., c!943. 271 pp. $2*50. (The Philippines is represented by a state ment from President Quezon and an address by Resident Commissioner Elizalde on "The Meaning of a Pacific Charter”.) , . , _ 2 Philippines (Commonwealth). Commission of the Census. ’ Census of the Philippines: 1939- Volume IV—Reports fTXnomic Census. Washington, D. G, 1943. 678 pp. $6.00 postpaid. a United Nations Information Office, N. Y. War and Peace Aims* extracts from statements of United Nations leaders. New York, U.N.J.O., 1943. 136 pp. 25c. July 20, 1943 Periodical Literature 1. American Library Association. The United Nations; a bib liography. The Booklist, June 1943, v. 39, no. 18, part II, pp. 398-417. 2. Kcyne-Gordon, Philip. The Lesson of Corregidor. (Comdensed from a broadcast over the Mutual Broadcasting System). Newsdigest, June 15,1943, v. 2, no. 9, pp. 77-78. 3. Os men a, Sergio. The United States (should be "United Nations”) and the Philippines. (Speech at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Political and Social Science in Philadelphia, on April 10, 1943.) The United Nations Review, May 15, 1943, v. 3, pp. 211-212. 4. Porter, Catherine. Japan’s Blue-print for the Philippines. Far Eastern Survey, May 31, 1943, v. 12, no, 11, pp. 109-112. 5. Quezon, Manuel L. The Pacific Situation. (Statement issued on April 15, 1942) The United Nations Review, May 15, 1943, v. 3, pp. 210-211. 7

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