Abstract

Who Bosses the Philippines?

The article discusses the emergence of leadership in Philippines. There were plots and deals and maneuvers of reaction, cry against liberals, collaborations against resisters, fascists against democrats, rich against poor. However, Andrés Soriano, a Spaniard, was probably the largest single economic power in the Philippines and wielded immense political influence. He was owner and operator of the huge San Miguel Brewery and had interests in breweries in the U.S. Moreover, before the war Soriano was an avowed fascist. He was the honorary consul in Manila of the French government. He was also president of the Casino Espa&numl;ol, the Falangist club, a position that made him the recognized leader of the Falangist movement in the Philippines.