CLARO M. RECTO

In the early 1950s, Nationalism resurfaced. Recto, a senator, fired the first volley in a speech in 1951. He said that the Philippine government had a "mendicant foreign policy," and allowed Americans to continue their dominant pre-war interests in the financial, commercial, and industrial life of the country. His nationalist sentiments derived from his long-time experience as a member of the House of Representatives in the Batangas district. For a short time, he served as an associative justice in the Supreme Court; a position he gave up to go into private law practice. During the Japanese occupation, he was recruited to serve in the Laurel War Cabinet and, after the war, he was accused of collaboration. From his Senate seat, he denounced legislation that allowed the encroachment of American business and political elements into the domestic and foreign affairs of the Philippines. One piece of legislation was the parity rights clause in the Bell Trade Act, which he described as a surrender of the Philippine birthright. In later years, his speeches continued to emphasize themes of political and economic nationalism for which he was branded anti-American. He died of a heart attack in Rome, while on a cultural mission to Europe and Latin America.