Saro sa mga Nangaging Kumander nin Huk sa Philippine Veterans Legion (One of the Former Huk Commanders), 1950 US poster

Saro sa mga Nangaging Kumander nin Huk sa Philippine Veterans Legion (One of the Former Huk Commanders) (Bikol poster distributed in the Philippines)

A Philippine Veterans Legion broadside, Bikol version. A question-and-answer statement by an unnamed former Huk commander sits beside a ragged figure with a cartridge belt and vignettes of hammer-and-sickle banners, a family torn apart and a church struck by a hammer and sickle. It claims Huk leaders are communists serving Russia, while most Huks are not. The tell is testimonial, with fear-appeal icons tying the movement to Russia and to attacks on family and church.

Propaganda techniques used in this poster

Testimonial Fear appeal

Date: 1950
Period: Cold War
Made by: Philippine Veterans Legion; distributed by the U.S. Information Agency (Propaganda Posters Distributed in Asia series)
Region: North America
Country: United States
Medium: Poster
Issuer type: State
Regime: Truman Administration
Leader: Harry S. Truman
Audience: Foreign public
Purpose: Persuade or win support
Themes: War and the military, Security and surveillance
Event: Cold War
Source: Unidentified Source blurred: contractors, cutouts, buried disclosure
Source: U.S. National Archives (NARA), Record Group 306, Propaganda Posters Distributed in Asia, retrieved October 3, 2026
Rights: Public domain (U.S. government work; NARA RG 306)
U.S. Information Agency / Department of State, c. 1950-55. National Archives, Record Group 306 (NAID 5730076, 306-PPA-177).

Text on the object

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

Saro sa mga Nangaging KUMANDER nin HUK sa Philippine Veterans Legion

PHILIPPINE VETERANS LEGION

Hapot: Sa katotoohan, tadao ta uminiba ka sa magna Huk?
Simbag: Gusto kong pakarayon an magna kamogtakan can magna tauo.
Hapot: Pano kang nabuhay sa pagka-Huk?
Simbag: Sa sarong harong-harong sa bulod. An buhay mi mamumdoon sa marahay. Napabayaan ko ang sakuyang nobia, familia asin an sakong magna katood.
Hapot: Ano sinueldohan kamo sa pagka-Huk?
Simbag: Dai, dai lamang.
Hapot: Pano kamong naka kwa ning kakanon?
Simbag: Ang magna Huk nagkokua ning kakanon sa magna tao.
Hapot: Taano ta nag hali ka sa organisacion can Huks?
Simbag: Naaraman ko na magna Komunista an magna lider kan magna Huk. Totoo ini.
Hapot: Gusto mong sabihon an gabos na Huk magna Communista?
Simbag: Bako! An kadaklan sa magna Huk bakong Communista. An magna lider sana ninda an magna Communista na boot magpapabakal can Pilipinas sa Rusia.
Hapot: Kaya suminuko ka?
Simbag: Can uminaging guera saro akong Philippine Scout. Nakipaglaban ako para sa sarong Filipinas na libre. Ngunian pa dao kita ako para sa sarong Filipinas na itao niato an satong banuaan sa Rusia na Communista? Ako sarong Filipino, bakong sarong ESPIA nin Rusia.
Hapot: Dakol daw na magna Huk an nakakapaghona-hona kaini?
Simbag: Bako, ini an kasopganan! Dai ninda naiisip na dinadaya sinda kan magna lider na Communista.
Hapot: Ibubugtak nin Philippine Veterans Legion an patotoo mong ini sa magna 'poster' tagnaning maipahayag sa publico. Kaoyon ka kaini?
Simbag: Opo, huli ta gusto kong maaraman kan satuyang magna kahimannua na magna lider can magna Communista. Kaipuhan na maaraman na magna lider can magna Communista, ninda na an Comunismo tumang sa iglesia, tumang sa familia ta, tumang sa satong libertad, asin tumang sa satong banuaan. Dai niato pabayaan na madaya kita can magna lider na Communista.

[captions] AN MAGNA LIDER NING MAGNA COMMUNISTA / AN DOCTRINA NIN COMMUNISTA SARONG KAIWAL KAN SATONG FAMILIA / TUMANG SA SATONG BANUAAN ASIN LIBERTAD / ASIN TUMANG SA IGLESIA [on icons: PKM; IHS]

"AKO FILIPINO.... BAKONG RUSO NA TRAHEDOR..!"

(Ipinagtatao can Philippine Veterans Legion na sarong servicio sa satong banuaan)

English translation (machine translation by Claude, not verified by a fluent reader)

One of the Former Commanders of the Huk in the Philippine Veterans Legion

PHILIPPINE VETERANS LEGION

Question: In truth, why did you come down from the Huks?
Answer: I want to improve the condition of the people.
Question: How did you live as a Huk?
Answer: In a hut in the hills. Our life was poor. I left behind my sweetheart, my family and my friends.
Question: Were you paid a salary as a Huk?
Answer: No, none at all.
Question: How did you get food?
Answer: The Huks take food from the people.
Question: Why did you leave the Huk organisation?
Answer: I found out that the leaders of the Huks are Communists. This is true.
Question: Do you want to say that all Huks are Communists?
Answer: No! Most of the Huks are not Communists. Only their leaders are the Communists who want to sell the Philippines to Russia.
Question: Is that why you surrendered?
Answer: In the last war I was a Philippine Scout. I fought for a free Philippines. Now, shall we give our country to Communist Russia? I am a Filipino, not a spy of Russia.
Question: Do many Huks think about this?
Answer: No, that is the pity of it! They do not realise that they are being deceived by the Communist leaders.
Question: The Philippine Veterans Legion will put this testimony of yours on posters so that it may be announced to the public. Do you agree?
Answer: Yes, because I want our fellow countrymen to know about the Communist leaders. They need to know that Communism is against the church, against our family, against our liberty and against our country. We must not let ourselves be deceived by the Communist leaders.

[captions] The leaders of the Communists / The Communist doctrine is an enemy of our family / Against our country and liberty / And against the church [on icons: PKM; IHS]

"I AM A FILIPINO.... NOT A RUSSIAN TRAITOR..!"

(Given by the Philippine Veterans Legion as a service to our country)

A few words are hard to read at scan resolution, and the Bikol spelling is as printed, including inconsistencies; the reading of some words is uncertain. Translation is literal where legible.