The Fighting Filipinos - Philippine War Relief

In 1942, Japan invaded the Philippines as part of their expansion efforts in the Pacific during WWII. The Philippines had been on a path to independence, but were still technically a protectorate of America at the time. Long conquered by Spain and the United States, the fight for liberty and freedom was a hallmark of Filipino identity. This strong conviction is on full display in this dramatic 1943 poster. The Philippines would gain full independence in 1946, and all who fought for the USA were given the right to full American citizenship; over 10,000 people did so. Manuel Rey Isip (1904 - 1987) was born in the Philippines, just around the time the island nation became a protectorate of the United States as an outcome of the Spanish-American War of 1898. In 1925, Manuel worked his passage to Canada by boat, eventually traveling to Seattle and settling in New York City. He began his art career as a portraitist for newspapers and the movie industry. He created movie posters for 20th Ce