The invasion of the Philippines started on December , ten hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor. As at Pearl Harbor, American aircraft were severely damaged in the initial Japanese attack. Lacking air cover, the American Asiatic Fleet in the Philippines withdrew to Java on December . Ver ms. The Japanese occupation of the Philippines Filipino Pananakop ng mga Japones sa Filipinas Japanese , romanized Nihon no Firipin Senry occurred between and , when Ver ms. Japan launched an attack on the Philippines on December , just ten hours after their attack on Pearl Harbor. Initial aerial bombardment was followed by landings of ground troops both north and south of Manila. The defending Philippine and United States Ver ms. Emergency circulating notes Escape to the Hills Heritage Towns and Cities of the Philippines Hunters ROTC Japanese government-issued Philippine fiat peso Ver ms. The Japanese military authorities immediately began organizing a new government structure in the Philippines. Although the Japanes