Plans for independence over the next decade were interrupted by World War II when the Japanese Empire invaded and the Second Philippine Republic of José P. Laurel was established as a collaborator state . Many atrocities and war crimes were committed during the war such as the Bataan Death March and the Manila massacre that culminated with the Battle of Manila . In 1944 , Quezon died in exile in the United States and Sergio Osmeña succeeded him . The Allied Forces then employed a strategy of island hopping towards the Philippine archipelago , in the process , retaking territory conquered by Imperial Japan
Manila massacre
Manila massacre
Philippines