BY: KASE BERNARDO/ BERNARDO N. FERNANDEZ, SR.

In my readings on the Dissertation for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy of Murdoch University, Western Australia, 1984 by HAYASE SHINZO, I discovered many historical information’s regarding The Economic Development done by the Japanese in Davao area, City and Province. Among them are the properties owned these Japanese Developers led by OHTA KYOSABURO and FURUKAWA, YOSHIZO. On pages 384-85 of this Dissertation we found.

APPENDIX 9
The following information with heading:
“A LIST OF PLANTATION COMPANIES IN THE DAVAO GULF REGION JAPANESE-SHOWN ON THE MAP IN THE CIRCLES.”

1. There were nine (9) Trading Centers of Ohta Development Co.
   2. Fifteen (15) purchased plantations with total area of 8,195 hectares.
   3. Fifty (50) leased plantations with a total area of 42, 926 hectares. These trading centers and plantations were established acquired between “1907-1918”, respectively.

One of these plantations is, THE PANGIT PLANTATION INC.,
Hijo Tagum, Davao, whose owner and major stockholder is our father, KASE MANJIRO. This was incorporated on 18th of December 1916, page 358.

This was granted to him by the Datu of Tagum, the uncle of our mother, ESPERANZA PANAMONGAN NAVARRO known in the community as “OGOI”. Thru her this plantation was granted to our father. To facilitate the ownership and cultivation of this property, “THE PANGIT PLANTATION CO., INC. was established with assistance of the OHTA DEVELOPMENT CO., Apart from the corporation our father and OHTA KYOSABURO had an INTERNAL AGREEMENT regarding the development of the plantation. I saw this AGREEMENT but I cannot read it because it was written in Nihongo. It was kept by our Japanese brothers-in-law YAMASHITA, KAKUZO who took over the management of the plantation after the death of our father. This Internal Agreement was lost during the war.

There are other plantations like that of our father and these Japanese owners have descendants like us who may not know this historical information.

There are also parcels of land developed by the Japanese thru “Pakiao” system. However, be it purchased or leased or Pakiao system, the properties were owned and developed by these Japanese developers; fruits of their toil and struggle.

I’m making this presentation addressed if it is worthy to be considered to the Japanese government through its appropriate Agency. Then, if this has its worth to consider, we request our PNJK legal counsel to assist us.

The ISSUE in this case is:

Our Japanese Ancestry came to Davao for economic development and progress, 1907-1941 which they succeeded.

The Japanese government declared war against the United States of America occupying the Philippines for three years and nine months December 1941 to August 1945. These Japanese developers had nothing to do with the WAR. It just happened that they are Japanese citizens. Japan lost the war. The Philippine government confiscated the properties owned and developed by the Japanese civilians.

These Japanese civilians have children by their Filipino wives and we are among them. We were destined to be the HEIRS of these properties.

Now, CAN WEM THE DESCENDANTS NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO CLAIM OUR INHERITANCE OWNED AND DEVELOPED by our Japanese Fathers?

I honestly believe that the rightful and legitimate Descendants of these Japanese Developers who own the cultivation of the Plantation either purchased, leased or PAKIAO system have the moral and legal right to CLAIM for COMPENSATION of the LOST INHERITANCE destined for them to receive from their Japanese Fathers/ Ancestors. They are VICTIMS of the WAR between the Japan and United States of America.

May I reiterate that they had NOTHING TO DO with the WAR. Their only FAULT if there is, is that they are Japanese citizens. Japan lost the WAR.

I’m requesting other Descendants whose fathers have property for them to inherit were it not for the WAR to come to our PNJK OFFICE so that we can verify your claim. I’m using the Plantation of our Father as an EXAMPLE.

MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS US ALL.