Post-War Rehabilitation (PDF)

The Third Republic Module 4 Key Discussion Points Post-war Rehabilitation The Hukbalahap Rebellion Post-war Politics and Economics the Third Republic Presidents Manuel Roxas Ramon Magsaysay Diosdado Macapagal 1946-1948 1953-1957 1961-1965 1948-1953 1957-1961 1965-1972* Elpidio Quirino Carlos Garcia...

The Third Republic Module 4 Key Discussion Points Post-war Rehabilitation The Hukbalahap Rebellion Post-war Politics and Economics the Third Republic Presidents Manuel Roxas Ramon Magsaysay Diosdado Macapagal 1946-1948 1953-1957 1961-1965 1948-1953 1957-1961 1965-1972* Elpidio Quirino Carlos Garcia Ferdinand Marcos How did post-war conditions shape the nation as it assumes sovereignty? Post-war Rehabilitation Module 4.1 Our Sources Abinales, Patricio, and Donna Amoroso. “All Politics Is Local, 1946-1964.” In State and Society in the Philippines, Second Edition., 167–92. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press, 2017. Diokno, Maria Serena, ed. “The Price of Rehabilitation.” In Kasaysayan: The Story of the Filipino People, 27–35. Quezon City: Asia Publishing Company Limited, 1998. The source Kasaysayan: The Story of the Filipino People is a 10-volume work on Philippine history and culture with works from different distinguished historians and academics Volume 8: Up From the Ashes tackles the post-war rehabilitation of the country The volume was edited by Dr. Maria Serena Diokno, Professor Emeritus in the University of the Philippines Department of History and former chair of the National Historical Commission The Road to Independence August 29, 1916 March 24, 1934 July 4, 1946 Passage of the Jones Law formalizes the U.S. promise of Philippine independence The Tydings-McDuffie Act secures the date for Philippine Independence Target date for Philippine Independence December 1941 – February 1945 Japan occupies the Philippines The first Philippine “independence mission” is sent to the United States The Commonwealth Republic is inaugurated with Manuel L. Quezon as the first elected president 1919 November 1935 We are laying the foundations for a nation that will live not ten years, not a century, but as long as the world lasts, and I call upon every man and woman of my country on this first anniversary of the inauguration of the Commonwealth to cooperate with us in our efforts to bring about a situation that will insure the existence of this nation forever. -Speech of President Quezon on Social Justice, November 15, 1936 After the war: Impact on independence Reorganization of the Government President Manuel Roxas addressing the lawmakers of the Second Commonwealth Congress of the Philippines during his first State of the Nation Address, Official Gazette The Nacionalista party split into two factions Issues Sergio Osmeña Manuel Roxas Collaboration - - War damage compensation -  Backpay for government employees -  Peasant mobilization  X Some important endorsements The 1946 elections The Hukbalahap supported Osmeña even when Roxas tried to win them over The landed elite feared that Osmeña would revive Quezon’s Social Justice program MacArthur and Mrs. Aurora Quezon backed Roxas’ bid for the presidency Manuel Roxas becomes the First President of the Third Republic Osmeña was defeated by a mere 203,000 votes President Manuel Roxas, 1946-1948 Rehabilitation of Manila Battered edifice on Escolta looks ready to collapse any moment. Fierce street fighting took place along Escolta and Dasmariñas, Presidential Museum and Library archives Lyric Theater, 81-83 Escolta Street Manila, Philippines 1940-1941 (Photo by John Tewell), American Geographical Society Library, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries Battered edifice on Escolta looks ready to collapse any moment. Fierce street fighting took place along Escolta and Dasmariñas, Presidential Museum and Library archives Rehabilitation with conditions The Rehabilitation Act will grant $620,000,000 to those who have suffered during the war: $400,000,000 – property damage compensation $120,000,000 – reconstruction of roads, highways, and harbors $100,000,000 – (not as cash, but) surplus military property The Bell trade act Free trade relations between the Philippines and America for a period of eight years The granting of parity rights to Americans required amendments to the Philippine Constitution The disposition, exploitation, development, and utilization of all… natural resources of the Philippines, and the operation of public utilities, shall, if open to any person, be open to citizens of the United States and to all forms of business enterprise owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the United States citizens. - Message of President Roxas to the Congress on Amending the Constitution, September 11, 1946 Critics of parity Critics argued that parity reduces the Philippines and the Filipinos to factors of production for American industries “a decent term for economic prostitution” Parity rights threatens sovereignty With parity, “Americans will undoubtedly succeed in rehabilitating agriculture, industry, trade and commerce, but after the job is done, where will the Filipinos be? Frankly, we think outside looking in—in our own country. - Editorial in the Manila Chronicle, November 3, 1946 Supporters of Parity The immediate relief the Americans can provide through jobs and wages appealed to labor groups and their leaders Parity was meant to encourage American investment in the Philippines Let the few rich fight parity because they are selfish and they don’t want competition from the Americans, but you laborers must vote for parity because it would mean jobs and good wages. - Labor Secretary Pedro Magsalin Sentiments on the U.S. Supporters argued that it was a matter of faith and gratitude to the Americans The provision for the non-exploitation of foreigners of Philippine resources came from the Americans (House Speaker Eugenio Perez) The U.S. and the Philippines as parent and child “I refuse to be frightened by the ghost of imperialism. Americans have had equal rights—potentially more than equal rights― for 48 years in the Philippines… I look about me and see no evidence of outrageous exploitation. Instead of being made slaves we have been freed. Instead of teaching us obedience, America has taught us love of liberty. Instead of overseers, America has sent us teachers…” - President Manuel A. Roxas, June 21, 1946 President Manuel Roxas addressing the lawmakers of the Second Commonwealth Congress of the Philippines during his first State of the Nation Address, Official Gazette In these days of want and hunger, sentimental outbursts cannot help us a bit. The needs of the belly, the heart cannot fill. Severino Garcia of Bauan, Batangas Rehabilitation: Who did it benefit? Property damage compensation ($400,000,000) Wealthy Filipino families with vast investments in land and commerce Reconstruction of roads, highways, and harbors ($120,000,000) Benefited American-owned companies and Filipino exporters as a continued investment on the prewar export economy Surplus military property ($100,000,000) The Rehabilitation Finance Corporation tasked to sell material worth 200 million pesos, turned over only 28 million pesos to the government after three years of operation. Cronyism and the spoils system endure Released rehabilitation funds were distributed to Roxas allies, some of them Japanese collaborators Military back pay and related compensation was distributed to antiJapanese guerilla fighters—both genuine and fraudulent “Worst of all, this money, which should have been invested in the production of goods and services needed for economic recovery, went largely toward the consumption of imported goods.” (Abinales and Amoroso 2018, 172) Economic collapse and social unrest Capital flight, inflation, and 15% unemployment of the active workforce In urban areas, labor groups—including the Communist-controlled Congress of Labor Organizations—demanded increased support for the poor and criticized the heavy influence of the Americans in government policies In rural areas, peasants criticized Roxas’ ties with the landed elite Distribution of military back pay was irregular and no reforms were made in taxation Continuing ties with the U.S. The U.S. shall maintain control over bases needed for the mutual protection of both countries The U.S. would represent Philippine interests in areas where diplomatic relations are yet to be established How did post-war conditions shape the nation as it assumes sovereignty? For our next meeting Kerkvliet, Benedict. “Prelude to Rebellion.” In The Huk Rebellion: A Study of Peasant Revolt in the Philippines, 110–55. California: University of California Press, 1977.