Hukbalahap, also called Huk, was a Communist guerrilla movement that tried to overthrow the democratic government of the Philippines from 1945 to 1954. Its full name was Hukbong Magpapalayang Bayan (People’s Liberation Army). The Huk movement failed because the Philippine government offered the people land reform, helped the Huks resettle on the island of Mindanao, and defeated Communist guerrillas. Ramon Magsaysay, leader of the fight against the Huks, became president of the Philippines in 1953 and served until his death in 1957.
