Hukbalahap

Hukbalahap
LeadersLuis Taruc
Casto Alejandrino
Dates of operation1942–1954
HeadquartersPampanga
Active regionsCentral Luzon
Ideology
Political positionFar-left
AlliesPhilippines Commonwealth of the Philippines (1942–1946)
United States United States of America (during World War II recapture of the Philippines)
Opponents Empire of Japan (during World War II occupation)
Second Philippine Republic Second Philippine Republic (1943–1945)
Philippines Government of the Philippines
Battles and warsthe Philippine resistance against Japan during World War II and the Hukbalahap Rebellion
Succeeded by
New People's Army

The Hukbong Bayan Laban sa Hapon (lit.'People's Anti-Japanese Army'), better known by the acronym Hukbalahap, was a Filipino communist guerrilla movement formed by the farmers of Central Luzon. They were originally formed to fight the Japanese, but extended their fight into a rebellion against the Philippine government, known as the Hukbalahap Rebellion, in 1946. It was put down through a series of reforms and military victories by Defense Secretary, and later President, Ramon Magsaysay.[2]

A monument dedicated to the Huks[clarification needed] in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija, was constructed to honor their actions during World War II.[3]

On October 14, 2023, the Luis M. Taruc Hukbalahap Monument at Garden of Peace Memorial Park in Santa Monica, San Luis, Pampanga, was unveiled to honor about 400 guerrilla fighters (including Luis Taruc, the late Antonio Sumang and 96-year-old Praxedes Clarin, in the statue, one of the nine surviving Huks) including Olimpia Ingal, Narciso Garcia, Josefa Tolentino and Clemente Miranda, all 94, Dominga Sanchez, Anastacia Sali and Natalia Lacanlale, all 98 and Francisca Salas, 99).[4]

Constituted in March 1942, the Hukbalahap was to be part of a broad united front resistance to the Japanese occupation of the Philippines.[5]: 31  This original intent is reflected in its name.

By 1950, the Communist Party of the Philippines (PKP) had resolved to reconstitute the organization as the armed wing of a revolutionary party, prompting a change in the official name to Hukbong Mapagpalaya ng Bayan,[5]: 44  (HMB, lit. 'People's Liberation Army'), likely in emulation of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

Notwithstanding this name change, the HMB continued to be popularly known as the Hukbalahap, and the English-speaking press continued to refer to it and its members, interchangeably, as the Huks (Singular: Huk) during the whole period between 1945 and 1952.

Luis Taruc - Hukbalahap historical marker in San Luis, Pampanga
  1. ^ "The Huk Rebellion". Archived from the original on April 15, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  2. ^ Jeff Goodwin, No Other Way Out, Cambridge University Press, 2001, p.119, ISBN 0-521-62948-9, ISBN 978-0-521-62948-5
  3. ^ Orejas, Tonette (April 3, 2019). "Hukbalahap monument to rise in Ecija town". newsinfo.inquirer.net.
  4. ^ Orejas, Tonette (October 16, 2023). "Hukbalahap monument unveiled in Pampanga". newsinfo.inquirer.net.
  5. ^ a b Saulo, Alfredo (1990). Communism in the Philippines: An Introduction. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press. ISBN 971-550-403-5.

© MMXXIII Rich X Search. We shall prevail. All rights reserved. Rich X Search