Among the earliest tidbits of knowledge a student is instilled with in history class is how great and unparalleled a president Ramon Magsaysay was. His was a tough act to follow, so much so that no Philippine President came close to matching the approval he was afforded by the people. In retrospect, and considering we are at an age of historical distortion, one would wonder how and what made President Magsaysay so sensationally celebrated by the public at large.
What makes a leader great? Could it only be as simple as having the ability to listen to the people and providing their needs? Or could it be having the will to unite everyone from all walks of life and political beliefs? Could it only be by being one with the people? Or would it require being the most intellectually superior person to lead the nation?
Magsaysay a fervent Nationalists
Magsaysay was elected President on December 30, 1953 – just seven years after the Second World War and the liberation from Japanese occupation. The economy was not in good condition to say the least, many were living in poverty, and countless rebel soldiers from the war, or the Hukbalahap, who opposed and fought the Japanese, were not in favor of the newly constituted government. Magsaysay would not waver and would go on to fix what could be fixed in the best ways he knew.
According to popular culture, Magsaysay was an every-man. He famously wore a Barong Tagalog to his inauguration as President, and usually wore simple clothing. He was said to interact with all kinds of people and listened and asked what they needed. He rarely had security that escorted him. He reportedly opened the gates of Malacañang and allowed civilians to freely roam the palace, the first Philippine president to do so. He strongly opposed nepotism and the system of patronage so rampant in almost all branches of government that, in order to avoid any misconception of preferential treatment his family could be enjoying, he warned members of his own family to not transact with the government or run for office. It is almost as though he wasn’t a real person.
Filipino-First Policy
Ramon Magsaysay’s “Filipino First” policy was a nationalist economic agenda implemented during his presidency (1953-1957) in the Philippines. It aimed to prioritize Filipino interests over foreign influences, particularly in economic affairs. Magsaysay emphasized the development of local industries, agriculture, and trade to boost the nation’s self-reliance and economic growth. The policy restricted foreign businesses’ dominance and promoted indigenous entrepreneurship, encouraging the growth of Filipino-owned enterprises. Magsaysay’s approach fostered a sense of national pride and autonomy, laying the foundation for economic independence and empowering the Filipino people to actively participate in their country’s development.
Personal Life and Politics
While it could be said that certain details could possibly have been repeatedly told for so long to the point that some stories may have been exaggerated – as many stories in history tend to be, not many people know of Magsaysay’s life before his brief presidency, how he had entered into the realm of politics, or how he became so popular even before vying for the country’s highest position, which could be just as important or maybe even more, that his time as President.
After graduating, Magsaysay worked as a mechanic for a bus company, and later as the company’s superintendent. Shortly after, the second World War had broken out, leading to his enlisting with the Philippine Army. There he was proven to be a skilled tactician in guerilla warfare, that he was promoted in rank a number of times. President Roxas later urged that the reluctant Magsaysay run for Congress, and showed him a petition signed by some 11,000 soldiers, all asking to be represented by him in the House of Representatives. Magsaysay would later run for and was elected a Member of the House of Representatives, where he would be member of the Committee on National Defense.
President Roxas’ successor President Quirino appointed Magsaysay as Secretary of the Department of National Defense. At the time, communist Huks who opposed the government were a threat to national security. It was here were Magsaysay truly shined. During his term as Secretary, Magsaysay, realizing that the reason the Huks were succeeding was because the Armed Forces had become lax, caused for the army’s reorganization. He was reported to have visited military camps all over the country at random to check on the soldiers, and would even remove those whom he caught sleeping at their post. In an attempt to regain public confidence with the military, he encouraged civilians to report any wrongdoing committed by a member of the armed forces directly to him.
Later on, he would realize that the best way to suppress insurrection was to convince the rebels to give up arms and reenter civilian life. It was here where he asked that President Quirino authorize the distribution of agricultural lands to surrendering rebels in order to provide them with farmlands of their own and assist them in making their lands productive. He also asked that they be provided with proper housing. The Economic Development Corps (EDCOR), as it was called, surpassed expectations, and resulted in the surrender of an estimated 1,500 rebels over the course of five years.
Magsaysay’s skill in strategizing, as well as his move to be stricter with the military, combined with his compassion towards people from whatever background, had helped in making him popular enough to win the presidency. His bold and at times theatrical acts are a stuff of old politics that is often imitated but usually for show. But during his time, it was exactly what the country had needed.
Perhaps Magsaysay remains to be regarded as the best Philippine President of all time because he was exactly what was needed at the time. The country needed someone who listened to them and truly understood them after years of being governed by elite leaders. It needed someone who knew how to solve the root causes of insurrection and rebellion. And it needed someone who was fearless in doing so. It’s easy to romanticize about key political figures as our country’s champions. While it is just as important that we honor our heroes’ contributions, it must also be realized that we should also aspire to become our own catalysts for change.
Reference:
Maj. Greensberg, Lawrence M. 1987. The HUKBALAHAP Insurrection: A Case Study of a Successful Anti-Insurgency Operation in the Philippines, 1946-1955. U.S. Army Center of Military History.