On July 27, seasoned actress Perla Bautista recounted her experience during World War 2 and the Japanese Occupation of the Philippines.
At the story conference for ‘Apo Hapon,’ which LionhearTV covered, Bautista, born in 1940, narrated her family’s experience amid the Japanese Occupation of the country.
“Nakatira kami sa tapat ng Garrison. Garrison talaga, ‘yung University of Manila sa Balot, sa Tondo, ginawang Garrison ng mga Hapon. Nagtatanim sila sa likod ng building ng saging at tsaka kamote. ‘Yung mga hapon, binibigyan kami, pinapakain kami dahil wala na kami makain dahil panahon ng Hapon eh.”
She noted that her father was fighting against the invasion as a guerilla soldier.
“‘Yung tatay ko naman, siguro hinahanap nila, wala kaming tatay, nanay ko lang. Hindi nila alam. Ang tatay ko, Guerilla, nakikipaglaban sa Cavite. Kaya kami lang nandoon sa bahay. ‘Yun naaalagaan naman kami, pinapakain.”
When asked whether she encountered any atrocities during the Second World War, Bautista answered, ‘Wala naman, wala naman.’
The Japanese Occupation of the Philippines happened between 1941 to 1945.
As for their upcoming movie, ‘Apo Hapon’ stars JC De Vera, Lianne Valentine, Sakura Akiyoshi, Fumiya Sankai, Nella Dizon, Prince Clemente, Rico Barrera, Bautista, Jim Pebanco, and Marcus Madrigal.
The GK Productions film features a story of a Japanese soldier who fell in love with a Filipina and became a member of the local community in the Philippines amid the Second World War and the Japanese Occupation.
Under the direction of the award-winning director Joel Lamangan and the screenplay of Eric Ramos, ‘Apo Hapon’ opens in cinemas soon.
