The Postwar Economic Problems

Destruction of the Second World War wastremendous.

a. Loss of property; livelihood means reduces;poverty

b. Industries such as rice, sugar, and livestocksuffered heavy losses

c. Destruction of facilities, farming, transportation

Collaboration Issue

• US President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared that“those who had collaborated with the enemy mustbe removed from authority and influence over thepolitical and economic life of the country.

• The issue divided the country. It was a source ofintense disagreement between and among officials.

• When Roxas became the president in 1946, heproclaimed amnesty for all political prisoners

Philippines Economic Crisis

A. 1949

In 1949, the Philippines faces a financial crisis.

To address the crisis, the US allowed amodification of the free trade and the impositionof the Philippine government of import andexchange control.

B. Late 1960’s and Early 1970’s

• The Philippines was on the verge of anothereconomic crisis.

• To ensure his reelection in 1969, Marcos engagedin massive spending. After his reelection, hedevalued the peso and lifted controls imposed in1967. he also approved the Philippine ForeignInvestment Act, which provided incentives andprotection to foreign investors.

Elpidio Quirino

(1948-1952)

Due to the 1949 economic crisis, he implementedforeign exchange controls(with US permission.)

His foreign policy was aimed at continuing“friendly relations with the countries of the world.

Manuel Roxas(1946-1948)

President Roxas really wanted to rebuild thePhilippines economy even if it meant sacrificingnational patrimony. In return for Americansupport, the government went its way to amendthe 1935 Philippine Constitution to give parityrights to the Americans.

He opened Mindanao for agricultural expansion.

Ramon Magsaysay

(1953-1957)

Magsaysay’s vowed intent was “to bring freedom andprogress to the barrios.” He wanted to improve thelot of the tao.

He initiated programs to bring about ruralupliftment and development such as “land for thelandless.”

Diosdado Macapagal (1961-1965)

Macapagal called for “honesty, uprightness, and simple living.”

His socioeconomic policies included the restoration of economic stability, improvement of conditions of the common people by providing employment opportunities.

Carlos Garcia

(1957-1961)

In his inaugural address, Garcia called for austerity– “more work, more thrift, more productiveinvestment, less extravagant consumption.”

Ferdinand Marcos

(1965-1972)

Marcos aimed at attaining self-sufficiency in riceproduction and diversification programs of crops andintensifying the community development program.

One of his objectives was the implementation of the landreform program.

On September 21 1972, a year before he was to step down,Marcos declared martial law.

III-THE HUKBALAHAP MOVEMENT

A- Origin:

1. The HUKBALAHAP had its roots in the encomienda, the Filipinos were subjected to economic exploitation , oppression ,and cruelty.

2. Some Filipinos became Lessees, and in the 19th century, they became the native landed aristocracy.

3. Peasant life was characterized by poverty and degradation, a life that was independent on the landlords.

4. The peasantry remained an exploited during the American occupation. The landlords became the Americas partners and political allies.

5. Individual freedom introduced by the Americans, the development of political consciousness, and the influence of the socialistic novels encouraged the lower class to establish aggressive movements.

.

6. The Philippine Labor Congress became an affiliate of the Red International Organization of the Labor Unions and became a communist union in 1929.

7. A disagreement on matters of policy between the conservative and communist leaders led to a split of the organization. Crisanto Evangelista founded the Communist Party.

B. Growth 1. The peasants took over the lands of the landlords

who fled to Manila. This resulted in ill feelings towards the Huks. The peasants on the otherhand, already harbored negative sentiments towards the landlords whom they considered their oppressors.

2. The Huks were the most effective and efficient fighters against the Japanese who who feared them more than any other ressistance group.

3. The Huks liberated some towns in Tarlac , Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, and placed these areas under their administration.

4. The American authorities disarmed the Huks and order their mass arrest. One of those arrested was Luis Taruc who was later released.

5. When Roxas was elected president, he campaigned against theHuks.

a. The Democratic Alliance, a coalition of organization (guerilla groups, notably the huks, the Pambansang

kaisahan ng mga magbubukid or PKM, and four progressive groups) won six congressional seats in the 1946 elections thtough the support of peasant votes.

b. Because of this anti-parity stand, Roxas, through Congress, had Taruc and other members of democratic alliance unseated.

c. Roxas also outlawed the Huks and the PKM.

6. The Quirino administration granted amnesty to the Huks andPKM. However the amnesty brokedown as both sides accused each other of failure to comply with the agreement. As a result ,the Huks went back to field.

7. Ramon Magsaysay, Quirino’s secretary of National Defense ,adopted Military measures and policy of attraction to stamp out the Huk rebellion. In 1954, Tarucsurrendred to Magsaysay.

c. Effects1. The huk movement empowered the peasants and the

workers against degradation and poverty.

2. The movement is both lesson and warning to the government of the necesity to implement a genuine land reform program.

Iv- Neo Colonial Relations from Roxas to Marcos

A. Neo colonialism - coloniztion without an occupation force. It is also the alliance between the leading class or classes of two independent nations that facilitates their ability to maintain a dominant position over the rest of the population of the weaker of the two nations.

B. Historical Background1. The beginnings of the neo colonialism could be traced to the four decades of American rule.

A . American officials gradually granted political power to the colaborationist Filipino elite.

B . They also provided the elite access to American markets for their exports.

2. The Philippine Comonwealthwas dependent entity of the U.S.

3. When the commonwealth was reestablish and the Philippines was liberated , American officials adopted measures to restore the political and economic structures of prewar Philippines. They were assisstedby the native elite.

4. Legislations and agreement entered into by the newly independent Philippines with the americanscemented neo colonial realations between two countries.

C- The Nature of the Neo Colonilaism

1. The American officials assisted and supported Filipino leaders who were “friendly” to American interests i8n their bid for positions in the government.

2. The Americans work against the Filipino nationalists whom they considered anti- American or those who were poilitically unreliable they could not depend upon to protect the US interests.

3. Filipino leaders reciprocated American sponshorship by promoting and supporting American Interests in the philippines , Asia , and the World.

4. Philippine foreign policy often toed the anericanline as gleaned from its stand on international issues in the United Nations especially duringf the Cold War period.

5. US policies in the Philippines were aimed protecting, preserving , promoting American interests.

6. U.S. influence could also be seen in the presence of American speechwriters and advisers.

The CIA was involved in a number of covert activities.

The CIA was involved in a number of covert activities. 1.Countersubversion, counter guerilla, psychological

warfare school.

2. rural development.

3. invested in Manila Times

4. Estabished the National Movement for Free Elections

Thank You

By:

Cecil Tena

Clea Olitan

Michael Estaris