The Philippines in the HoI map
It's such a shame that Bataan and Corregidor are not represented in the game. It would have been tons more logical to put THEM in instead of the island of Casigurian. The geography of the Philippines is always messed up and has been since EU1. I don't know why they can't just consult a decent map - if they can get Japan or Malaysia or India right, why not the Philippines? The problem is that Manila Bay, reputed to be the finest natural anchorage in Southeast Asia, can only be accessed if Bataan and Corregidor (a tiny island at the mouth of the bay) are held. This was a CRITICAL part of Japanese strategy and in its present state you CANNOT fight the almost six month stand made by the United States Army Forces Far East (USAFFE) - General Masaharu Homma, commander of the Japanese 14th Army, was torn between destroying the enemy's field forces (the USAFFE) and capturing the enemy's capital (Manila). He chose (or was made to choose) the latter and took Manila easily just after new years 1942. The problem was the USAFFE had slipped away to Bataan (which realistically should be a tiny Malta or London sized attachment to the so-called Baguio territory and Manila Bay should be a separate body of water) and 'corked the bottle' so to speak, denying Japan use of the bay and, more importantly, the well developed port, supply and repair facilities (no other Philippine city at the time had the necessary port facilities for extensive maritime use).
Mindanao was and still is the richest in terms of resources having abundant food, wood and metal supplies. It is however, the most under-developed, due to the seething Muslim-Christian conflict that continues to this day. Davao should be the most developed (relatively) region on the island, having the most important Christian city. Laoag area should be quite mountainous and home to numerous mining projects which should supply plenty of metal, while Baguio (actually should be called Pampanga or Central Luzon Plain) should be generally flatland, rich in food. All these areas should be underdeveloped infrastructurally and industrially (though Laoag should have those mines so that should count as maybe 1 or 2 Industrial Complex) Manila really doesn't have that many resources but it should have good industrial development and better infrastructure than the 'provinces'.
My grandfather served there during WW2 and was captured by the Japanese and held in a POW camp till 1945 so it's something personal for me.
Thanks,
Richmond