Sakdalista
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2010) |
The Sakdalista (coming from the Tagalog word sakdal, meaning "to accuse") movement was founded in 1930 by a right wing leader, Benigno Ramos, a writer and discontented former government clerk. The name of the movement was based on Émile Zola's 1898 letter criticising the French government, J'accuse.
Sakdal began as a fortnightly populist tabloid, with articles tackling issues which were of interest to the Philippine masses: corruption and mismanagement under the American-sponsored Nacionalista administration, immediate independence for the Philippines, and the land reform problem. Its radical populist stance on such issues won it a large following in the Manila hinterland, such that by 1933, subscribers of the newspaper met in a convention in Manila to form the Sakdal Party. They did unexpectedly well in the Philippine election of 1934, although still unable to pose a challenge to Nacionalista dominance.[1]
The Sakdal Party advocated independence from the United States of America, which later led them to collaborate with Japan because, they believe Japan can liberate the Philippines and gain its true independence. The movement advocated tax reductions, land reforms, the breakup of the large estates or haciendas, and the severing of American ties, which gained them a measure[vague] of popular support.
The passage of the Tydings-McDuffie Law created the Philippine Commonwealth. Sakdal voiced its opposition to the law, demanding that the Philippines be given "complete and absolute independence" on or before December 31, 1935. Senate President Manuel Quezon and the Nacionalista machine, however, were able to secure popular backing for the new law; driving Sakdal into a crisis. The party splintered into advocates of peaceful political struggle on one hand, and radical advocates of popular uprising. Eventually, Benigno Ramos lent his support to the radical wing, and clandestine preparations were sketched out for the planned uprising.[2]
On the night of May 1, 1935, partially armed mobs seized municipal buildings in 14 towns in provinces such as Bulacan and Laguna. The uprising was crushed the next day, with the loss of about 100 lives. Ramos fled to Tokyo and the Sakdalistas were nearly disbanded, and rural conditions remained a source of frustration and dissension and led to numerous other such peasant rebellions. Benigno Ramos drew support to Japan[clarification needed]}, until he returned during the Japanese Occupied Philippines. Its remnants became the right wing Japanese collaborationist Ganap Party, led by the same leader.
[edit] References
- ^ Sturtevant, D. (1976). Popular uprisings in the Philippines, 1840-1940. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press.
- ^ Sturtevant, op.cit.
