Tribune Editorial:

The Papal Brief proclaiming the Blessed Virgin of the Immaculate Conception patroness and protectress of the New Philippines ... bespeaks His Holiness' paternal thoughtfulness about the faith and welfare of the Philippines and implies his sympathy with the justice of Japan's cause.

Or maybe he thought we needed protecting from the Japanese?

Received partial confirmation that the Japanese blasted Iloilo towns by air and sea during their Visayan campaign. I had dismissed it as a rumor.