The Presidency of Jose P. Laurel: His Policies for Survival during the Japanese Occupation

Abstract

Governments ensure the welfare of the people, and this was the concern of Jose P. Laurel when he was chosen by the Japanese to lead the Second Philippine Republic. As president, Laurel was able to protect a number of persons from captivity, execution, and military conscription. He ordered the planting of food crops in available lands and distributed food among the hungry masses. Though branded as a "collaborator," his actions were vindicated when the people's trust in him manifested through the 1949 senatorial elections, where he gained the highest number of votes. This paper delves into how Laurel steered the Second Philippine Republic to promote the interest of the Filipinos through his policies. An examination of primary and secondary documents, in light of the Stewardship Theory, was made to assess Laurel's actions in securing the welfare of the people. Thus, a provided analysis would present a meaningful narrative supplying the historical methodology that links the situation of the country, the measures employed by Laurel, and the consequences of these responses.