Hukbalahap | |
---|---|
Leaders | Luis Taruc Casto Alejandrino |
Dates of operation | 1942–1954 |
Headquarters | Pampanga |
Active regions | Central Luzon |
Ideology | |
Political position | Far-left |
Allies | Commonwealth of the Philippines (1942–1946) United States of America (during World War II recapture of the Philippines) |
Opponents | Empire of Japan (during World War II occupation) Second Philippine Republic (1943–1945) Government of the Philippines |
Battles and wars | Philippine resistance against Japan during World War II and Hukbalahap rebellion |
The Hukbong Bayan Laban sa Hapon (lit. 'People's Army Against The Japanese'), 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 eventually 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 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.