Radio Manila Tagalog talk 'look up for American planes' and the 'reorientation' campaign, as monitored by the OSS (1944)

Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

THE PROGRAMS OF JAPAN IN THE PHILIPPINES

POLITICAL

IDEOLOGIES

The launching of a nationwide campaign of reorientation was proposed by Speaker Benigno S. Aquino before the Provincial Governors and city Mayors during a conference this morning. The main objective of the movement is to eliminate from the public mind all ideas of dependence upon the West and implant in their place self-reliance and confidence in the ability of the East to progress...The principal object of the campaign is to make the population realize that the Filipinos cannot continue to depend on the West but must rely on themselves and their Oriental neighbors for the protection and stability of Philippine independence which has just been acquired after so many years of ceaseless struggle by our martyrs and heroes.(2/7/44 Manila Eng.)

"So, my countrymen, if it is true that there are Filipinos who think only of looking up in the sky with the hope of seeing the American planes which are expected to come to give us the happiness you are waiting for...,I am telling you that instead of looking for planes which may, instead of carrying food, bring to us bombs which will cause death to the Filipinos, you should bend your heads down, get hold of the farming tools and seriously concentrate on the cultivation of our lands, if you really want...which alone will give you the food and other necessities which you and all your fellow Filipinos need. Because it is hard for Filipinos to rely on other races. Nobody could love the Filipinos better than their fellow Filipinos. If you think that when the Americans returned,...they will love us better than their fellow Americans, you are mistaken! ...and if you think that the Japanese will love the Filipinos better than they love their fellow Japanese, you are mistaken. Only the Filipinos will love (sincerely) the Filipinos. Only the Filipinos can love, cooperate and help the Filipinos until the end. That is the reason, my countrymen (why this Government is doing its best for the sake of the people)." (3/9/44 Manila, Tagalo[g])

The war has brought out in bold relief one of the greatest short-comings of the Filipinos of today. We are not lacking in ability or in enterprise or in fortitude, but we lack a certain dominant quality that could harness all our virtues and produce the (toil) and energy that is necessary to hurdle all obstacles and steer the nation towards true prosperity and enduring happiness. What is this quality which we lack? Mr. Roberto Villanueva of the editorial staff of the TRIBUNE tells us that national discipline is the need of the hour. Our first contact with the new order demonstrated to...Filipinos our character, and proved our inherent abilities for adjustment. The war had driven more sense into the public mind and for a time we showed signs of becoming a wiser, more sober people. But instead of pressing our advantage, we slowly lapsed back to our old ways and today we find ourselves in the same mental and moral rut that nearly led us to disaster in the past. Common sense dictates that we present a solid and united front to overcome all obstacles in our path, and yet it is a fact that... is going about his own... has lured honest workers from their jobs. It has enticed farmers from the fields. For two years our efforts have been misdirected, for instead of looking to the future by producing the things essential to our existence we wasted our time in selfish endeavor of materialistic nature that has placed us in our present plight. We are in danger of being led to our doom by the money-mad among us and unless we change our course we shall fall victims to our folly. (3/23/44 Manila,Eng.)

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