KALIBAPI
Encyclopedia
The Kapisanan ng Paglilingkod sa Bagong Pilipinas (Organization in the Service of the New Philippines), or KALIBAPI, was a Filipino
political party
that served as the sole party of state during the Japanese occupation
. It was intended to be a Filipino version of Japan
's governning party Taisei Yokusankai
.
Formed by the Philippine Executive Commission
(Komisyong Tagapagpaganap ng Pilipinas) under the leadership of Jorge Vargas
, the party was created by Proclamation No. 109 of the PEC, a piece of legislation passed on December 8, 1942 banning all existing political parties and creating the new governing alliance. The Japanese had already dissolved all political parties on the islands, including even the rabidly pro-Japanese Ganap Party
, and established KALIBAPI as a mass movement designed to support the occupation whilst taking advantage of nationalism
in the region. Established in December 1942, the party was headed by its Director-General Benigno Aquino
with Pio Duran as Secretary-General and effective second in command and Ganap leader Benigno Ramos
as a member of the executive. The three toured the Philippines, setting up local party organisations and promoting the Japanese "new order" at mass meetings.
For the Japanese KALIBAPI served as a labour recruitment service in its initial stages before taking on an expanded role in mid 1943. It was left to KALIBAPI to write the new constitution and establish the new National Assembly, resulting in Aquino's appointment as Speaker (as his replacement as Director-General by Camilo Osias
). All 54 members of the Assembly were KALIBAPI members, although 33 of them had held elected office before the invasion as well. Offering a version of fascism
, KALIBAPI soon claimed a membership that ran into the hundreds of thousands. The islands were declared officially independent
on 14 October 1943 under the Presidency of José P. Laurel
and his KALIBAPI government. This had been accomplished through the Preparatory Committee for Philippine Independence
, which KALIBAPI had established in mid 1943 under Japanese direction.
Taking a highly nationalistic standpoint, KALIBAPI was active in initiatives to promote the Tagalog language
as a central feature of Filipino identity. To this end a pared-down, 1000 word version of the language was promoted to be learned rapidly by those not yet versed in the language. The general nationalism of Laurel's government strained relations with Japan, particularly as Laurel had refused to declare war on the USA and UK. As such the Japanese instructed Ramos to form a new group, Makapili
, in November 1944 to give more tangible miitary support to the Japanese.
KALIBAPI disappeared after the Japanese surrender with some of its leaders tried for collaboration. No KALIBAPI candidates ran for office in the 1946 general election
.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
that served as the sole party of state during the Japanese occupation
Japanese occupation of the Philippines
The Japanese occupation of the Philippines was the period in the history of the Philippines between 1942 and 1945, when the Empire of Japan occupied the previously American-controlled Philippines during World War II....
. It was intended to be a Filipino version of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
's governning party Taisei Yokusankai
Taisei Yokusankai
The was Japan's para-fascist organization created by Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe on October 12, 1940 to promote the goals of his Shintaisei movement...
.
Formed by the Philippine Executive Commission
Philippine Executive Commission
The Philippine Executive Commission or PEC was established on January of 1942 with Jorge B. Vargas as its first Chairman. The PEC was created as the temporary care-taker government of the Greater Manila area and eventually of the whole Philippines during the Japanese occupation of the country...
(Komisyong Tagapagpaganap ng Pilipinas) under the leadership of Jorge Vargas
Jorge B. Vargas
Jorge B. Vargas was a lawyer and youth advocate born in Bago City, Negros Occidental, Philippines. He graduated valedictorian from Negros Occidental High School in 1909 and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1911 and a Bachelor of Law degree with honors in 1914, both from the University of the...
, the party was created by Proclamation No. 109 of the PEC, a piece of legislation passed on December 8, 1942 banning all existing political parties and creating the new governing alliance. The Japanese had already dissolved all political parties on the islands, including even the rabidly pro-Japanese Ganap Party
Ganap Party
The Ganap Party was a Filipino political party that grew from the Sakdalista movement. Benigno Ramos, who served as its leader, was also the founder of the Sakdalista movement...
, and established KALIBAPI as a mass movement designed to support the occupation whilst taking advantage of nationalism
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
in the region. Established in December 1942, the party was headed by its Director-General Benigno Aquino
Benigno Aquino
Benigno Aquino may refer to:*Benigno Aquino, Sr. , cabinet member, senator, and Speaker of the National Assembly of the Philippines*Benigno Aquino, Jr...
with Pio Duran as Secretary-General and effective second in command and Ganap leader Benigno Ramos
Benigno Ramos
Benigno Ramos was an advocate for the independence of the Philippines from the United States who collaborated with Japan.Educated in Bulacan, he went to work there as a teacher. Later, whilst based in Manila, he entered the civil service and by 1928 had risen to a high position with the Senate Staff...
as a member of the executive. The three toured the Philippines, setting up local party organisations and promoting the Japanese "new order" at mass meetings.
For the Japanese KALIBAPI served as a labour recruitment service in its initial stages before taking on an expanded role in mid 1943. It was left to KALIBAPI to write the new constitution and establish the new National Assembly, resulting in Aquino's appointment as Speaker (as his replacement as Director-General by Camilo Osias
Camilo Osías
Camilo Osías was a Filipino politician, twice for a short time President of the Senate of the Philippines....
). All 54 members of the Assembly were KALIBAPI members, although 33 of them had held elected office before the invasion as well. Offering a version of fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
, KALIBAPI soon claimed a membership that ran into the hundreds of thousands. The islands were declared officially independent
Second Philippine Republic
The Second Philippine Republic, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , was a state in the Philippines established on October 14, 1943 under Japanese occupation....
on 14 October 1943 under the Presidency of José P. Laurel
Jose P. Laurel
José Paciano Laurel y García was the president of the Republic of the Philippines, a Japanese-sponsored administration during World War II, from 1943 to 1945...
and his KALIBAPI government. This had been accomplished through the Preparatory Committee for Philippine Independence
Preparatory Committee for Philippine Independence
The Preparatory Committee for Philippine Independence or the PCPI was the drafting body of the 1943 Philippine Constitution which was signed and unanimously approved on September 4, 1943 by its members and was then ratified by a popular convention of the KALIBAPI in Manila on September 7,...
, which KALIBAPI had established in mid 1943 under Japanese direction.
Taking a highly nationalistic standpoint, KALIBAPI was active in initiatives to promote the Tagalog language
Tagalog language
Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a third of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by most of the rest. It is the first language of the Philippine region IV and of Metro Manila...
as a central feature of Filipino identity. To this end a pared-down, 1000 word version of the language was promoted to be learned rapidly by those not yet versed in the language. The general nationalism of Laurel's government strained relations with Japan, particularly as Laurel had refused to declare war on the USA and UK. As such the Japanese instructed Ramos to form a new group, Makapili
Makapili
Makapili was a militant group formed in the Philippines during World War II to give military aid to Japan. Organised by Benigno Ramos and Artemio Ricarte, they were born out of José P. Laurel's refusal to conscript Filipinos for Japan...
, in November 1944 to give more tangible miitary support to the Japanese.
KALIBAPI disappeared after the Japanese surrender with some of its leaders tried for collaboration. No KALIBAPI candidates ran for office in the 1946 general election
Philippine general election, 1946
The Elections for the members of the Senate held on April 23, 1946 .-Background:Soon after the reconstitution of the Commonwealth Government in 1945 Senators Manuel Roxas, Elpidio Quirino and their allies called for the holding on an early national election to choose the president and vice...
.