Intro

Jose P. Laurel made decisions about multiple negotiations with the Japanese government and his fellow
citizens that demonstrate how important his socio-political beliefs were to his ideals and diplomatic
practice. Laurel, as president, was able to uphold nationalism and Filipinism ideals even when defending
Filipino interests from imperial government demands. His philosophy of putting Filipinos first served as
the most important cornerstone for his strategies against foreign invaders.

Body

Laurel was deeply connected to both nationalism and Filipinism. People only saw Laurel engaged in
negotiations with the Japanese; they had no idea what motivated her. Laurel is unable to control the
Japanese during the war due to their true strength, particularly in the military sector. The Japanese took
advantage of the opportunity to control Laurel and his government by sending him to Tokyo University to
study. The Japanese expected Laurel to use what he had learned as a guide for the government to make
the Philippine government like theirs, from the constitution to bring in an Emperor. Laurel used everything
that the Japanese wanted him to do against them while remaining democratic.

By keeping everything as democratic as he could, Laurel used everything the Japanese wanted him to do
against them. He also persisted in turning down many of their requests. During the Japanese Occupation,
Laurel did not hesitate to put the Filipinos first in all his decisions and strategies.

According to Dr. Jose, maintaining Filipino culture and language is important because when Laurel was
accepted as a scholar at Tokyo University under Japanese sponsorship, the Japanese officers believed they
would be able to control him. Instead, Laurel used the tactics he had learned to his advantage, using
Filipino in his speeches to make them difficult for the Japanese to understand and for the benefit of his
fellow countrymen.

Laurel's political and moral views have evolved since then, based on his religious convictions. "Man knows
that he could not have created himself and that as a creature, he must acknowledge the existence of his
Creator," Laurel once said. Laurel also believes that a good government and international peace must be
founded on faith in God. As a result, he expresses his political and moral philosophy, as well as his belief
in God's existence.

Conclusion

Three years before his death, Laurel expressed his admiration for assertive nationalism, or "Filipinism," in
the sense that we Filipinos should practice it to foster a sense of national integrity and a national soul.
Most importantly, no Filipino should ever regard his or her own welfare and interests as superior to or
more important than those of another. This shows how Laurel cared for all Filipinos equally and in such a
way that no Filipino would be excluded or fail to benefit from the things that Laurel did for them.

Laurel always took the initiative to make contact with his followers while also demonstrating his leadership
skills. Laurel had a strong desire to stand up for his people, to fight for them, to do everything in his power
to help them, and he truly believed that he was destined to love his people and his country from then.
Since that time, Laurel has devoted his entire public career to Filipinos, which has made him a pro-Filipino.