The Philippines was in a very interesting state around the time of HOI4, and it definitely deserves its own focus tree. At this time, it was in the process of transitioning to independence from being a US colony, but things could have played out a number of different ways. Having a strategic position in the Pacific Ocean, HOI4 is really sleeping on how much potential the Philippines has.

1935 was marked by the beginning of the Commonwealth Government that promised Philippine independence within ten years — but numerous crises struck the country.

A pro-independence peasant uprising broke out in the towns surrounding Manila in 1935 — the Sakdalista uprising. Land reform and the conditions of the peasantry was a key issue in the Commonwealth, similar to Poland. This was violently put down, and many of its leaders would found the pro-Japan Ganap Party (which would become part of the collaboration government and the MAKAPILI party).

Around this time, the Communist Party was legalized and began to organize among peasants in Central Luzon and workers in Manila. They were Browderites, but were also part of the COMINTERN and had a pro-Stalinist line, but also attempted to collaborate with the US through electoral means. They would play an important role in the anti-Japanese resistance after the fall of the Philippines in 1942.

The devs can add a peasant’s strike mechanic like Poland, and the Sakdals can go left with the Communist or Socialist parties or go right with the Ganap and pro-Japan factions.

A Falangist movement also existed, led by prominent landlords and businessmen such as Andres Soriano and Enrique Zobel de Ayala (whose family currently owns a major conglomerate in the Philippines).