SURVIVING WORLD WAR II: THE RESIDENTS OF BARANGAY LAGAO, GENERAL SANTOS CITY

The study used qualitative methods that employed historical and descriptive methods of research. The researcher have done the ocular investigation, used key informant interviews, and documentary analysis to present the gathered data in a contemporary setting. Significantly, this paper is an attempt to picture out the struggles encountered by the surviving settler of Lagao Settlement District during World War II. The study attempts to revisit the sociocultural situation of the settlement by interpreting the narratives relayed by the still living settlers. This study found out that during World War II, the residents of Lagao district left the area and evacuated to the other far settlement district. Like any other affected places in the Philippines, the residents of Lagao district have suffered the effect of Japanese occupation. The occupation was not that hard compared to other places in the Philippines, but because the people were dependent from NLSA's ration at the time of the outbreak of the war, they were having difficulty in adjusting to the new system of life. They have to stand with their own feet and find solution to feed their family's starving stomach. The residents have experienced the fear in hiding, hunger, witnessed rape incident and even loss the life of their loved ones. On the other hand, the Japanese government have tried to maintain the status quo in the place. They introduced their system of education to all the local children, they allowed the local people to employ to their Japanese livelihoods and also they let themselves to socialize with the settlers after work by doing amusement activities such as playing cards, cockfighting and also Japanese embrace the indigenous delicacies of the people.

Keywords: World War Il, survivor, Lagao Settlement District, evacuation, Japanese.