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The Huk Rebellion: A Study of Peasant Revolt in the Philippines
Huk Rebellion, A Study of Peasant Revolt in the Philippines by Kerkvliet, Benedict J.. 8vo.
305 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1977
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 10, 2007
This tries to set the record straight on a peasant rebellion which occurred after WWII in the Philippines. Instead of relying, as previous historians did, on U.S. and Philippine govt documents and the writings of Communists loosely associated with the rebellion, Kerkvliet interviews members at all levels of the rebellion.
While his prose is tremendously flat, Kerkvliet ethos as a chronicler seems rather unimpeachable. He goes to show us that the rebellion was not, as previously asserted, something planned and lead by the Commies, but something which occurred as a result of pre-WWII peasant organizing and post-WWII abuses by landlords and the Philippine military. Of course because there were a few communists at the upper-levels of the rebellion (which rank and file members often flat-out ignored), the whole thing was linked to the international Communist conspiracy and the U.S. happily pumped the Philippines full of arms and military know how in order to crush a rebellion that started because landlords were asking their tenants to choose between starving and going into massive debt.
Real economic hardship and injustice usually lies at the heart of mass resistance movements. Portraying these movements as created and driven by a distasteful ideology is an easy way to perpetuate these injustices.j
Also, mad props to Kerkvliet for heavily quoting his sources--so one gets, loosely, the texture of what people are saying.
While his prose is tremendously flat, Kerkvliet ethos as a chronicler seems rather unimpeachable. He goes to show us that the rebellion was not, as previously asserted, something planned and lead by the Commies, but something which occurred as a result of pre-WWII peasant organizing and post-WWII abuses by landlords and the Philippine military. Of course because there were a few communists at the upper-levels of the rebellion (which rank and file members often flat-out ignored), the whole thing was linked to the international Communist conspiracy and the U.S. happily pumped the Philippines full of arms and military know how in order to crush a rebellion that started because landlords were asking their tenants to choose between starving and going into massive debt.
Real economic hardship and injustice usually lies at the heart of mass resistance movements. Portraying these movements as created and driven by a distasteful ideology is an easy way to perpetuate these injustices.j
Also, mad props to Kerkvliet for heavily quoting his sources--so one gets, loosely, the texture of what people are saying.
November 29, 2025
An amazing review of the history of peasant struggle in the Philippines. With interviews from various Huk veterans, peasant leaders, as well as sources from various PKP documents, the book clearly and comprehensively discussed the history of the Huks and the overall peasant movement through the lens of those who actually took part of it.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews