While the indigenous Filipinos tried repeatedly to overthrow the Spanish, their efforts were ineffective until the Americans came to their aid in 1898. The Spanish Filipino Revolution was celebrated as an indigenous revolution, but the Americans and their powerful warships were really the decisive factor. "The Filipinos seized their chance to strike against the Spanish and fought on the side of the USA . . . the Americans, however, ignored the role the Filipinos had played in the war and paid the Spanish US$20 million for the latter's ex-possession . . . The Filipinos had to begin the struggle against foreign domination once again - this time against the formidable USA" (The Lonely Planet Guide To The Philippines). For the next 100 years the USA used the Philippines for their strategic military bases and for the "rest and recuperation" of their troops (prostitution of Filipinas, for example). It can be argued that both good and bad came out of the American occupation.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese landed in Luzon and captured Manila. They controlled the Philippines from 1942 to 1945, but the Americans gradually drove the Japanese northward through the archipelago. One of the last Japanese strongholds was on Fuga itself. According to Fuga's Elders, some 1200 Japanese were staked out on the island, and because the natives supported the Americans, the Japanese never hesitated to beat or shoot the natives. Walberto Agarpao, born on Fuga in 1922, says the Japanese arrived on Fuga in 1943 and scattered throughout the island. One day in 1945 Walberto risked his life by saving the lives of two American airmen whose plane crashed on Fuga in a ball of fire. Walberto quickly rescued the Americans, took them into hiding with his family in Bubog, gave them food and lodging, then by night, relocated the airmen to a safe spot on Fuga's north shore. Walberto helped flag down an American sea plane. Before the seaplane took off with the airmen, one of them named James Aces, dashed back to shore with a special gift for Walberto, saying, "You saved my life. Here's my air force ring for good luck. Don't worry, I'll be back!" As the story goes, James Aces never came back, but Walberto still wears his ring.