RM: A Biographical Novel of Ramon Magsaysay

World War II had left the Philippines reeling from poverty, unrest, and lawlessness. Rampant graft and corruption characterized the government of President Elpidio Quirino. The farmers in Central Luzon, resentful and angry over agrarian problems, swelled the ranks of the Hukbalahap (a contraction of the name in the vernacular, Hukbong Bayan Laban sa Hapon, literally translated to National Army Fighting the Japanese). They were a rag-tag guerrilla force that fought the Japanese occupation in...