Hukbalahap

Hukbalahap, short for Hukbong Bayan Laban sa mga Hapon (People's Army Against the Japanese), was a Philippine guerrilla movement formed during World War II to resist the Japanese occupation in Central Luzon. It emerged from peasant-based organizations in the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and nearby areas and grew into one of the largest resistance forces in the archipelago. The movement was led by Luis Taruc, with other organizers coordinating regional units.

During the war, the Hukbalahap waged guerrilla warfare against Japanese troops and their collaborators, attacked supply lines, and established rural administration in liberated areas, providing services such as food security, education, and local governance. The group received some support from American guerrilla networks and engaged in intelligence and sabotage against occupying forces.

After Japan's surrender in 1945, the Hukbalahap reframed its aims as a peasant-based political movement seeking land reform and social justice. It became entangled in political conflict with the new Philippine government of Manuel Roxas, leading to the Huk Rebellion (1946–1954). The insurgency was suppressed through a combination of military campaigns and political repression; Luis Taruc surrendered in 1954, and many Huks were captured or disbanded. A portion of former Huk members joined or aligned with the broader Communist Party of the Philippines, contributing to later insurgent movements.

The Hukbalahap’s legacy lies in its role as a major anti-Japanese resistance force and as a catalyst for postwar debates over agrarian reform and peasant rights in the Philippines. It is also remembered as a precursor to later leftist insurgencies in the country.