Pinoy Rock

"Bands in the 50s were not called band – they were called combo. A combo was usually a group of singers and musicians, without minimum or maximum number of members, who all contribute their vocal cords and lungs in belting out their numbers and renditions. Having a soloist within the group was the norm. If there was a soloist in a combo, the other members were called pap-pa-ra-rap! Meaning, they were the background vocals. At other times, they were also called chu-wa-ri-wa-ri-wap! --depending on the rhyme and meter of the song."
- "PAP-PA-RA-RAP!" by Dr. Peter Q. Teodoro, Jr.


A new musical genre called Pinoy Rock emerged from this time of newly gained independence from the United States. This was defined as a brand of Rock music that was produced by Filipinos and had Filipino cultural sensibilities. Many Filipinos referred to these Pinoy Rock bands as “combos”, which used nontraditional instruments such maracas, gas tanks, and bongos. During the 1950s, Rock music was gaining popularity internationally through American artists like Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, and much more. On radio stations in the Philippines, Rock and Roll music was heard continuously especially Elvis’s songs. Many Filipinos imitated his style and covered many of his songs; however, the one who became known as “the Elvis Presley of the Philippines” was the musical sensation and teen idol Eddie Mesa who was the leader of the band called The Trippers.


Eddie Mesa always loved to sing, but hadn’t heard any of Elvis’s songs until he was in Arellano High School in Pasay. As many other aspiring musicians did, he dropped out of high school and followed his dream. He joined competitions and auditioned for shows such as the dzMB show Oras ng Pananghalian, La Tondeña hosted by Rosa Rosal, and for Don Jose Zarah. He won here and there singing songs by Mario Lanza, Jerry Vale, Vic Damone and Sammy Davis Jr. However, he never attempted to sing Elvis’s songs until he was asked to join a group of brothers who called themselves The Trippers. Eddie explains “the Donato brothers got in touch with me and we formed a band called The Trippers, so called not because we were tripping on drugs but because we always went on trips — to fiestas, funerals, etc.”


He recalls that he auditioned for Don Jose Zarah alone not singing an Elvis Presley song and didn’t get the job because Zarah thought of him as another Bobby Gonzales, who was the other Pinoy Rock icon during that time. However, when Eddie sang an Elvis song with The Trippers they were taken in. Eddie decided that he’d imitate Elvis as much as he can through his vocal style, hair style, and his wardrobe. This is significant because it shows how the imitation of an American pop star is more accepted and favored over the imitation of another Filipino rock star. During this time and throughout history, American brand, music, and culture are what capture Filipinos attention and liking. Towards the end of the 1950s, Eddie Mesa was auditioned to sing in a movie and was given a contract to Premiere Productions where he started not only singing in movies, but also became an actor in many films such as Hawaiian Boy, Aawitan Kita, and Diyes Isang Kanta.

Eddie Mesa along with Bobby Gonzales were the first Pinoy Rock icons. They mirrored American rock style, but Pinoy Rock became a genre of its own as it added its own “Pinoy twist” and is now known internationally. Pinoy Rock started in the 1950s with these legendary icons, continued into the 1970s which became known as the “Golden Age of Pinoy Rock” with the emergence of artists like Freddy Aguilar, and became the music of Filipino protestors in the 1980s such as Aguilar’s song “Bayan Ko”. Pinoy Rock sprung out of a need of a Filipino cultural identity after the Philippines’ independence from the United States; however, this Filipino expression also became an example of the Western influence on the archipelago.



Jailhouse Rock sung by Eddie Mesa
- V Chavez

2nd President Elpidio Quirino

Following the unexpected death of President Manuel Roxas on April 15, 1948, Elpidio Quirino took over as the president of the Republic of the Philippines. President Quirino was the second president under the newly independent Republic of the Philippines. Before he became the second president, Elpidio Quirino was the vice-president under his predecessor. As his first official act, President Quirino proclaimed a state of mourning for their formerly deceased President, Manuel Roxas. Following the state of mourning, President Quirino launched his agenda of economic reconstruction and the restoration of faith into the government.

In order for President Quirino to bring about economic reconstruction to the Philippines, he created the President’s Action Committee on Social Amelioration (PACSA). PACSA’s responsibility was to help resolve the problems of poor families. He also had the Labor Management Advisory Board help by providing assistance on the human capital in the nation of the Philippines. In addition, President Quirino provided aid to the farmers through the education of farmers to market their crops as well as preventing them from relying on loan sharks. Everything President Quirino did in terms of economics was to try to build a stronger and more reliable economic infrastructure. Realizing what needed to be done, President Quirino focused more on the rural areas because that is the basis of any economy.



After helping to obtain independence for the Philippines, President Quirino knew that he had to bring about support for the government. There is no way a government can function, even if it is sovereign, without the support of the general population. Following the example set by U.S President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, President Quirino held fireside chats to try to boost morale in his nation. He held the fireside chats Malacañang Palace, which is the official residency of the president. In these chats, he would provide the people of the Philippines with the activities of the government and what they were planning to do. These chats were a way for the president to communicate to the people directly and keep them involved in the government.



Despite his efforts, President Quirino faced social unrest, especially coming from the Hukbalahap movement. In an effort to quell the Communist movement, President Quirino negotiated with the Huk commander Luis Taruc. However, the negotiations failed as the commander called for an overthrow of the government. President Quirino, during his reign as the President of the Philippines was able to create economic growth, but was unable to resolve the social problems that plagued the Philippines. As Elpidio Quirino ran for re-election in 1953, he faced staunch opposition from the Nationalist Party. With a combination of Elpidio Quirino’s failing health and social unrest; he was defeated by Ramon Magsaysay. After this failed re-election attempt, Quirino retired to Quezon City and died of a heart attack on February 29, 1956.

-H.Du

U.S Grants Philippines "Independence"

On July 3rd, 1946, the United States granted independence to the United States. President Harry Truman signed the Treaty of General Relations, also known as the Treaty of Manila, which recognized the Republic of the Philippines as its own sovereign nation.


The picture depicted above shows President Truman signing treaty on July 3rd. As a display of American symbolism, the treaty came into effect the next day on July 4th, the same day in which the United States announced the Declaration of Independence. In a similar respect, the United States was declaring independence for the Philippines when President Truman signed this treaty.
Unfortunately, many Filipinos recognized this day as the Independence Day that wasn’t. The United States created a veil of kindness when it signed the treaty, but when looking at the fine print of the treaty; it is obvious that the Philippines were not truly free. The price of freedom came with many chains attached to it. Specifically, there are two aspects of the independence that has turned this act of kindness into a display of American might.


Although the Americans granted the Philippines independence, the United States still kept its presence in the Philippines. After this treaty was passed, the United States still claimed dozens of military bases in the Philippines. These bases included major bases, which were the basis of U.S operation in the Asian region. With the United States holding onto their military bases, this was a display which showed that the United States still had control of the Philippines. Even though the Philippines were granted independence on paper, they were still under the watchful eye of the United States military. The Philippines were granted independence in name only, but they were still the little brown brother to the United States.

The second aspect that is important to look at is the Bell Trade Act. The Bell Trade Act is also known as the Philippine Trade Act because it specifically focuses on the Philippines. The Bell Trade Act specified the economic conditions in which the Philippines had to meet if they wanted independence. Specifically, the act created a system of tariffs which was favorable to the United States. It also measured the Peso to the U.S dollar. The Philippines government also could not place restrictions on currency transfers from the Philippines to the United States. And the act gave the United States equal access to the natural resources of the Philippines. The Bell Trade Act effectively traded Filipino independence for the economic growth of the United States. The restrictions placed on the Philippines were indicative that the United States still had a hold of power in the Philippines. The Bell Trade Act made sure that the Philippines would never eclipse the United States as an economic might.



The date July 4th, 1946 might be the day that the United States recognized the Republic of the Philippines as a sovereign nation, but it is a date that most Philippines recognize as a reinforcement of United States’ colonial might. With numerous provisions to their independence; it is difficult to recognize this treaty as a victory for the Filipinos. If the United States truly wanted to grant the Philippines independence; they would not have retained their military bases and limit the economic growth of the Philippines with their restrictions. Unfortunately for the Philippines, the United States were able to flex their proverbial muscles while acting kind at the same time.

-H. Du

Sports and Recreation

1954 Philippine National Basketball Team

The International Basketball federation was founded in 1950 where the first tournament happen in Argentina as the world competed to win the medal just like in the Olympics. The Philippines did no play in this first tournament. However in the 1954 FIBA World Championship, which was the second tournament, the greatest moment happen in Asian basketball history. In a surprising fashion, the Philippines men’s national team won the bronze metal in this world competition. The United States came in first place and Brazil came right behind them. This event took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as twelve nations competed for the gold metal. This was an important victory because it was the first time an Asian team ever won a metal in a world sporting event. No other Asian team finished higher until recently in 2006.


Carlos Loyzaga was the star of the team as this event made him the greatest of all time in Philippine Basketball History. He was given the nickname of “the Great/Big Difference” because he had played the center position on the team. He was born to a Basque Family on August 29, 1930 in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, Philippines. His dad was also an athlete as he played in the Philippine National football team. In San Beda College, he led his team to two consecutive championships which fortunately led to the start of his stardom. His stated to played pro basketball in 1942 playing for the Santa Mesa Aces. Other than this championship, he led the national basketball team to winning four Asian Games gold medals and two straight FIBA Asia Championships. His 15 year career from 1951-1964 made him an all-star and even made the Philippines to be a prominent contender for world recognition. Other world class Filipino players on the team included Mariano Tolentino, Edgardo Ocampo, and Lauro Mumar.

In 1963, the Philippine National Team was suspended of play because the current President, Diosdado Macapagal, declined to let communist countries like Yugoslavia in the Philippines as the country was to host this world event. This led the event took place in Rio de Janeiro again but without the Philippines playing this time.


10th World Scout Jamboree
In 1959, the 10th World Scout Jamboree happened at Mount Makiling in Los Banos, Laguna. This was the first ever Scout Jamboree in the Far East and was called the “Bamboo Jamboree”. The theme of the event was “Building Tomorrow Today”. Scouts from 44 nations came to this event as many cultures mixed. There were 12.203 scouts in attendance at this event. Many nations won’t forget about the classic Filipino Smile exhibited by the hosting country.

-R. Andal

The Huks

*Image borrowed from watawat.net

Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa mga Hap, the “People’s Army Against the Japanese” was a Communist-led guerrilla group formed during World War II to fight Japanese soldiers. The Huks, as they are most commonly known, consisted of countryside peasants mainly from central Luzon. The group of peasants formed not just a result of the Japanese occupation-- the peasants were descendants from lines of farmers who have had their lands taken from the Spanish. Now that they were suffering the same treatment from the Japanese, they have finally organized into a collective group. Their leaders educated and enlightened their followers and supporters, and the Huks grew to be an educated and aware group.

During the war it is estimated the Huks had 70,000 men and women fighters and supporters. They stole weapons and supplies to fight the Japanese troops, intercepted supplies enroute to the Japanese, and continued to educate their fighters not only on Marxist-based warfare and military tactics, but social issues. Their guerilla tactics proved successful against the Japanese.

After the war the Huks continued to grow in number and power, now recognized as an anti-government rebel group. Their focus remained on land reform, an issue they felt the Filipino government was failing poor Filipinos on, especially after the government had basically signed over plenty of their resources to the United States government. Throughout the Philippines the Huks acted as a Robin Hood group, often killing powerful landlords and dividing large pieces of land amongst the poor.

The Huks began to post members in political positions of power. However they were unseated by members of the Liberal Party. The Huks then began the Huk Rebellion, which lasted from 1946-1954, an attempt at overturning the Filipino government. As President Manuel Roxas took office and signed over many Filipino freedoms and power to the US government, political unrest stirred more Filipinos towards the Huks. They especially targeted his leadership, as his prior involvement with the Japanese puppet government painted him a possible traitor to the Filipinos. They changed their name in 1948 to Hukbong Mapagpalaya ng Bayan (Liberation Army Movement) shifting their focus from the Japanese.

As the popularity of the Filipino government began to falter, the Huks continued to gain supporters, and they began making their way to Manila. However, their headquarters were raided and their most important leaders were taken in that single raid. At this time, the Second Red Scare (a period of strong anti-communism) had taken over the world, and President S. Truman sent over large amounts of weapons in order for the Filipino government to fight the Huks.




*Image borrowed from asiaobserver.com

The election of Ramon Magsaysay in 1953 brought back the trust of the Filipino people. The power of the Huks further faltered, and a year later Huk leader Luis Taruc surrendered. The end of the Rebellion had come, and soon afterwards remaining Huks had been reduced to bandits.

Today some Huk followers have joined other anti-government groups, others still remain in hopes to push for land reform. All in all, the Huks no longer pose as a threat to the Filipino government.

-c simpliciano

Carlos Bulosan

*Image borrowed from Literary History

Carlos Bulosan was a Filipino American writer and poet, whose semi-autobiographical book, America is in the Heart describes his childhood in the Philippines, his immigration to America, and the racial discrimination against Filipinos.

Carlos Bulosan was born in the Philippines between the years of 1911 and 1913, where he grew up in the countryside with his family as a farmer. During his childhood he received an American-style education, ingrained in the Filipino culture since the Thomasites and Pensionado program years before. Bulosan believed he could receive the same kind of opportunities in the United States. Bulosan’s older brothers left the Philippines for America, and to afford their fare the family began selling their farmland. Bulosan followed their footsteps at the age of 17, and arrived in Seattle, Washington in 1930.

Bulosan was told tales of the land of opportunity, and believed he could reach success doing menial jobs. However, the Depression and market crash had left the country in economical turmoil, and the status of Filipinos as “aliens” further distanced the Filipino immigrants from white Americans. Jobs were scarce, and Filipinos were limited in their choice of job opportunities. He worked as a field laborer and followed the seasons to earn money, as well as at an Alaskan fish cannery. His experiences led him to join the labor movement, organizing Filipino labor unions between 1935 and 1941.

Bulosan’s experiences with racism and economic turmoil became the social inequalities he began to write about. He wrote poetry and short stories, getting published in literary magazines and newspapers. One bimonthly Filipino magazine, “The New Tide”, introduced Bulosan to other writers and thus a wider circle of readers.

Through his writing and labor union involvements, Bulosan was a well versed and widely recognized leader amongst Filipino immigrants. His activities got him blacklisted as a radical from anti-Communist leaders and the FBI. Bulosan, however, continued to advocate for Filipino American immigrants.

In the 1950s Bulosan had returned to Seattle. An earlier case of tuberculosis finally caught up with him and he died in 1956.


*Image borrowed from Ilokano Literary Portal

His book America in the Heart is one of the most crucial Filipino American literary works, as it is one of the few published works documenting the racial discrimination against Filipino immigrants. It is an important tool in learning about Filipino identity of early Filipino immigrants. Today it continues to be used in classrooms as an important teaching material for Filipino American and Asian American studies.

Bulosan’s works include:
-Letter from America, a book of poems published in 1942
-Chorus for America: Six Philippine Poets
-Voice of Bataan, a book of poems published in 1943
-Laughter of My Father, a bestselling novel published in 1944

-c simpliciano

Manuel Acuna Roxas

*Image taken from: http://www.philippine-history.org/presidents.htm

Manuel A. Roxas served as the third and final President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines from May 28, 1946 to July 4, 1946. On July 4, 1946, the scheduled date for the American recognition of the independence of the Philippines, Roxas became the first president of the Third Republic of the Philippines. He served for barely two years until a heart attack on April 15, 1948.

Manuel A. Roxas was born on January 1, 1892 in Capiz City (later renamed Roxas City). He received a law degree from the University of the Philippines in 1913.

Roxas’s early political career began in 1917, where he became a member of the municipal city council of Capiz. He became their governor two years later. Three years later he was elected to the Philippine House of Representatives as Speaker of the House. In 1941 he was elected to the Senate, but due to Japanese occupation, did not begin his term for another four years.


*Image taken from http://forum.philboxing.com/

During World War II, Roxas served in the Filipino military as a reserves officer. In 1942 he was captured by Japanese forces and imprisoned. There he became commanding officer of the camp’s prisoners of war. He initiated programs for the prisoners and his leadership impressed his captors. This is when they became interested in Roxas heading a Japanese-sponsored puppet government in an attempt to gain Filipino support for the occupation.

There is speculation as to Roxas’s allegiance. He never served in outright support of the occupation, however did participate underneath the puppet government, leading some to later criticize him as a traitor. He helped with drafting a Constitution in hopes to include Philippine democracy in the document. He also headed Bigasang Bayan (BIBA), responsible for controlling rice prices and distributing rice amongst civilians and Japanese soldiers. While Roxas saw the position as an opportunity to help his countrymen, some saw his involvement as aiding the enemy.

Roxas was freed by General MacArthur and his troops. While he was arrested and tried for cooperating with Japanese troops, he was later pardoned. His political career was reinstated and he beat Sergio Osmena in 1946.

During his term under the Commonwealth, Roxas was preparing the country for independence as well as recovery from the war by passing two important laws: the Philippine Rehabilitation Act and the Philippine Trade Act AKA the Bell Act. Both laws were accepted by Congress and drastically changed the economic and political landscape of the Philippines, as well as the relationship between the two countries.

Other important laws and acts passed under Roxas and his cabinet:
-the Parity Amendment in the Constitution
-the 1947 Military Bases Agreement
-declared amnesty for Japanese allies during World War II (unless they committed violent acts)

-c. simpliciano