Chapter 4 THE ARRIVAL OF THE AMERICANS

OVERVIEW

The Filipino - American war broke out due to the skirmish at the San Juan Bridge in February 1899. Despite the
effort to settle the conflict against Americans, they declared war. The Filipino troops tried their best to win against the
Americans but they failed because of the supremacy of the Americans in firearms and Filipino troops lacked military
training. With the successive defeats in battle and death of Filipino revolutionary generals, Aguinaldo has no other recourse
but to surrender to the Americans.

Americans had expressly informed the Filipinos about their intention of colonizing the archipelago that was to
teach self-governance. Truly, they fulfilled their promise. From the position of House of Representatives in 1907 to the
position of President in 1935, little little were occupied by Filipinos including Representatives in the American Congress.
The enactment of Tydings - Mcduffie act promised the granting of Philipines after a 10-year transition period until World
War II broke.

Benevolent Assimilation

On December 21, 1898, United States President William Mckinley announced his decision to keep the Philippines
as an American colonial possession. Referring to the Treaty of Paris, it said that as a result of the victories of American
arms, the future control, disposition, and government of the Philippine Islands were ceded to the United States. It enjoined
the military commander to make known to the natives of the Philippine Islands that it was succeeding the sovereignty of
Spain. It said that the authority of the United States was to be exerted for the securing of the persons and property of the
people of the islands and for the confirmation of all their private rights and relations. It would be the duty of the commander
of the forces of occupation to announce and proclaim in the most public manner that they come, not as invaders or
conquerors, but as friends, to protect the natives in their homes, in their employments, and in their personal and religious
rights. President William Mckinley described this mission as "Benevolent Assimilation".

On January 5, 1899, Emilio Aguinaldo issued a counter-proclamation. He cautioned that if the American would
attempt to forcibly take over the country, his government would have no other choice but to fight.

He warmed that his government was prepared to fight any Arrierican attempts forcibly take over the country. This
sounds like a declaration of war to the Un States although he had had no intention to get into a war with the United States.
W Anew that war would only cause sufferings to the Filipino people. However, bve w still optimistic that the situation could
be saved by negotiations between him and t American military leaders in the Philippines, And so, Aguinaldo wrote General
Ehe SOtis requesting for peaceful negotiations.

On January 9, 1899, Otis appointed three American officers to meet ww dưee Filipino military officials appointed
by Aguinaldo. However, nothine accomplished.

American Intention to the Philippines

There were controversies and oppositions regarding the American occupation the island. But the decision to keep
the island was attributed to three motives, fit military interest the Philippines was located at the heart of the Pacific, a
suitable to establish a naval base. Second, economic interest, the United States wanted to bring their goods to the island and
to other parts of Asia. And lastly, religious inter Americans wanted to spread the Protestant Movement.

Outbreak of the Filipino - American War

 Private William Grayson of the Nebraska Volunteers had been enlisted since May 1898, a month after the Spanish -
American War broke, and his unit had been deployed in the Philippines since June 1898. Grayson's unit was under the
command of Colone John M. Stotsenburg. had been encamped in Santa Mesa since two months before the outbreak of the
Filipino-American war. Since the time of their encampment, there had been some reports surrounding the San Juan Bridge,
located at the cast of their camp.

On the morning of February 4, 1899, Stotsenburg ordered Grayson to hold the village, if armed men came into their
lines, ordered them out, if they persisted, summon enough men to arrest them. In case an advance in force was made, to fall
back to the pipeline outpost and prevent occupation of the village by all means, to call all headquarters for assistance.

At 8 pm of the same day, Grayson together with Private Orville Miller and another man advanced to San Juan
Bridge, suddenly they encountered four armed men Grayson and Miller called "halt" but the four men responded by cocking
their guns, they fired at them and retreated to Santol Grayson claimed that he hit two of the four men while Miller got one,
but neither American nor Filipino reports mentioned that anyone was hit. Because of the incident, finally Filipino-American
war started.

Aguinaldo attempted to stop the war by sending an emissary to General Elwell Otis. But the general responded.
"Fighting, having begun, must go on to the grim end

War Preparations of Revolutionary Government

After knowing the response of the United States, Emilio Aguinaldo issued a proclamation:
“ I order and command:
That peace and frietilly relations with the American be broken and that the latter be troited as enenties, within the
loni prescribed by the laws of war.
That the Americans capture be held as prisoners of war.
That this proclamation be communicated to the consuls and that congress onler and accord a suspension of the
constitutional giuranlee, resulting from that declaration of war.

Early Defeat of Filipino Forces

In the early stage of Filipino-American war, the natives suffered successive setbacks. General Arthur MacArthur
immediately commanded the American troops to move toward Filipino positions in Manila and the suburbs. California and
Kansas brigade of United States Army captured Santa Ana and Makati Nebraska and Utah brigade occupied the San Juan
Bridge. On the other hand, soldiers from Idaho and Washington killed hundreds of Filipinos who were then trying to cross
the Pasig River. Admiral Dewey's naval guns bombarded the coastlines continuously capturing Manila and the suburbs.
Assassination of Antonio Luna Antonio Luna, a chemist by profession was also a good guitar player, swordsman, writer and
editor before he joined Aguinaldo's army. It was Jose Rizal, who even recommended Antonio Luna to lead the revolution
against Spain when Pio Valenzuela in Dapitan visited him Luna was a writer for La Solidaridad using the pen name * Taga-
llog" and later become editor of nationalistic newspaper la Indepedencia." But he had one defect that the members of Luna
family had in common: short or bad temper. His brother Juan Luna, the famous painter, allegedly killed his own wife (Paz.
Pardo De Tavera).

Aguinaldo recognized his brilliance and designated him to be the chief of the military zone that included many
provinces of Central Luzon. His short temper made many enemies for him. He also slapped soldiers when their efficiency
failed to meet his expectations. While in Bayambang, Pangasinan, he received a telegram from Cabanatuan saying that he
was needed there. On June 5, 1899 he went to Cabanatuan with his aide Colonel Francisco Romanand some soldiers. When
he reached Aguinaldo's headquarters, he got angry when he discovered that the President was not there. After several
minutes, a rifle shot was heard; he rushed downstairs and cursed the soldiers He even slapped one of them. Then a captain,
Pedrong Kastila from Cavite, drew his bolo and treacherously hacked him. Seeing him wounded, the other soldiers stabbed
him, while others shot him. He died with more than forty wounds in his body. He may not be a likeable person for others but
he was honored as the “Greatest General of the Philippines

Battle of Tirad Pass

In the morning of December 2, 1899, the young and brave general Gregorio De Pilar (Heneral Goyo as
affectionately called) while delaying the Americans at Tirad Pass so that Emilio Aguinaldo could escape capture, there
happened the famous Battle of Tirad Pass. Vicente Enriquez, Del Pilar's aide related the story on how the general was killed

"General was going from trench to trench, exerting his men to fight bravely. He heard gunfire and went to
investigate a spot with higit cogon where hr thought the Americans ere hiding; as le was about to mount his roselle (pinkish
white horse) which, incidentally, wae food to him by Aguinaldo, he Tas hit by a bullet from chindar tie nape of his neck, jusi
Icloud the letwel of his mouth. He covered his face nwith his lund, fell on his back andt died instantly."

The death of Del Pilar was another big loss to the revolutionary forces, after the assassination of Antonio Luna
although he was killed in the battle President Aguinaldo was able to get away from the Americans, preserving the fight for
independence Del Pilar may have died in his young age but he was honored now as the "Hero of the Battle of Tirad
Pass.”

Surrender of Aguinaldo

On March 23, 1901 at Palanan, Isabela was the place where President Aguinaldo had transferred his office,
far away from the Americans and unknown to them. On the other hand, Cecilio Segismundo, Aguinaldo's messenger
was captured and forced to reveal the location where Aguinaldo was hiding. One of the letters was confiscated from
the hands of Segismundo; the letter contained the request of Aguinaldo to send additional troops to Isabela. It was
General Frederick Funston, who made the plan of Aguinaldo's capture. Five Americans (including Funston) together
with Tal Placido and Lazaro Segovia and more than 80 Filipinos (most of them were Macabebes) proceeded to
Isabela. Americans pretended as prisoners of war and the Macabebes as the reinforcement troops requested by
Aguinaldo. A messenger was sent to inform Aguinaldo that they were arriving and carrying some American captives.
Upon their arrival to the house where Aguinaldo was hiding, Segovia signaled their men below to start firing. When
Aguinaldo rushed to the window to find out what was happening the enemies already surrounded the house. Funston
and his men told Aguinaldo to surrender. On April 01, 1901, he was brought to Manila and forced to take an oath of
allegiance to the government of United States. The ensuing Philippine-American War lasted three years and resulted
in the death of over 4,200 American and over 20,000 Filipino combatants. As many as 200,000 Filipino civilians died
from violence, famine, and disease
Wait a Minute Emilio indo hilo walo them when the American Dapur

Military Government

After the Mock Battle of Manila on August 1898, United States President William McKinley ordered for the
establishment of Military Government in the Philippines. The Meknginted military govermor was Major General Wesley
Merritt, the commander of United States forces in Manila. He left the Philippines for Paris, France to brief the Ole Spanish
Peace Commissioners; Major General Elwell Otis who served until Cn succeeded him The last appointed military governor
was Major General Arthur MacArthur who served until 1901.

The military governor ruled the Philippines in the name and by the authority United States President. During the
stay of military governors, the military government was able to accomplish, among other things, the following:
 1. It reorganized the courts in the country. It established a Supreme Court composed of six Filipinos and
three Americans. Cayetano Arellano, A Filipino, was appointed as the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
2 In the pacified areas, military government organized town and provincial governments. The first town to
hold local elections under American rule was Baliuag, Bulacan. It was held on May 6, 1899 The military government
introduced the public school system in the Philippines.
3 English was taught for the first time with American soldiers acting as the first English teachers of the
Filipinos.

First Philippine Commission

On January 20, 1899, President William McKinley created the First Philippine Commission otherwise known as
Schurman Commission, a group of five persons headed by Dr. Jacob Schurman, President of Cornell University, and its
members composed of Admiral George Dewey, Major General Elwell Otis, Charles Denby, former United States Minister to
China, and Dean C. Worcester, a professor of University of Michigan. They were tasked to investigate the conditions of the
islands and to make recommendations.

The Commission arrived in Manila on March 4, 1899. After completing its survey of the existing conditions in the
Philippines, the Commission submitted the report to President McKinley on January 31, 1900. The following were the
recommendations of the Commission:
1. The United States should remain in the Philippines, and that the Filipinos were not ready for
independence.
2. In all pacified areas, military rule should be lifted and replaced by a civil government.
3. A territorial government should be established with a bicameral legislature, The lower house would be
elective while the upper house would be half elective and half appointive.
4. The organization of town and provincial governments.

5. The protection of the civil nights of the Filipines and the promotion of theiame.

Second Philippine Commission

Joother c tion s created by the United States President, the Second 2hippne Com on otherwise known as the Taft
Commission in March 16, 1960 The communists was headed by wallam Howand Tait Its members were Lubu Wright Henry
C e, Dean Worcester and Bernard Moses. The commission was ed o esta a cni government in the Philippines and to train the
Filipino, is sell-ovemment.

The arrived on June 3, 1900 and began its legislative and executive face Between September 1900 to August 1902,
it enacted 499 laws, established z disc system, including the creation of Supreme Court, drew up legal cod pening he
antiquated Spanish ordinances and organized a civil service system. The first law that it passed appropriated $1,000,000 for
building and repairing of roads nd badges. The Municipal Code of 1901 provided for popularly elected presidents, Vice
presidents, and council on to serve as municipal boards. The municipal board membean were responsible for collecting
taxes, maintaining municipal properties, and undertaking necessary construction projects and they also elected provincial
govees In September 1901, the commission was expanded to include three pro American Filipinos as members They were
Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera, Benito Legends and Jose Arriaga.

Civil Government

Or March 2 1901, the United States Congress enacted the Army Appropriations Act providing for the end of
military government in the Philippines. The legislation puts an amendment sponsored by United States Senator Jon Spooner
of Wisconsin, riding for the establishment of civil government in the Philippines. The Spooner Amendment remoned to the
United States President the final authority to govern d Philippines. This power henceforth be exercised by the United States
Congress

On July 4, 1901, avil government was inaugurated in the Philippines with William Howard Taft being appointed as
the First Civil Govemor of the Philippines. The United States Congress changed the title of Civil Governor to Governor
General in 1905, Since he was also the bead of the Philippine Commission that served as the legislative body, Converse Toft
exercised both executive and legislative functions. His policy of "The Philippines for the Filipinos" made him popular
among the Filipinos and displeased ton Americans who wanted to take advantage of the country's natural resources Telt
served as gremor until December 1903.

Philippine Bill of 1902

On July 1, 1902, Philippine Bill of 1902 otherwise known as "Cooper Act" was passed. United States
Representative Henry A. Cooper of Wisconsin sponsored it, it was the first organic law for the Philippines enacted by the
United States Congress

Among the key provisions of the Philippine Bill of 1902 were:

1. A bill of rights for the Filipinos
2. The appointment of two Filipino resident commissioners to represent the Philippines in the US Congress but
without voting rights;
3. The establishment of a Philippine Assembly to be elected by two vears after the publication of a census and only
after peace has been completely restored in the country. The Philippine Assembly would be the lower house of the
legislature while the Philippine Commission would be the upper house.
4. The Civil Goveror who would have several executive departments under him such as Interior, Public
Information Finance and Justice and Commerce and Police would exercise executive power.
5. Conservation of the country's natural resources for the Filipinos.

The 1902 Philippine Organic Act removed the Catholicism as state religion. The United States government, in an
effort to resolve the status of the friars, negotiated with the Vatican. The church agreed to sell the friars estates and promised
gradual substitution of Filipino and other non-Spanish priests for the friars. It refused, however, to withdraw the religious
orders from the islands immediately, partly to vold offending Spain In 1904, the administration bought for US$7.2 million
the major part of the friars' holdings, amounting to some 166,000 hectares, of which one half was in the vicinity of Manila.
The land was eventually resold to Filipinos, some of them tenants but the majority of them estate owners.

Republika ng Katagalugan

In 1904, Macario Sakay established the Republika ng Katagalugan". The goverrunent had its own constitution and
a flag that resembled the Katipunan flag. Although called Tagalog Republic, it includes all the islands of Luzon, Visayas,
and Mindanao

Sakay issued a manifesto stating that Filipinos had the right to fight for their independence. But United States
considered him as a mere bandit By the late 1904, Sakay and his revolutionaries took to the offensive. They succeeded in
seizing ammunition and firearms. In Philippine Constabulary uniforms, they captured a military garrison in Parañaque.
Sakay used guerrilla warfare at night to take American forces by surprise. Sakay and his Republika ng Katagalugan had the
support of the common masses. Lower class Filipinos in the Batangas, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal provinces contributed food,
money, other supplies and information. The American forces began reconcentration in the towns of Taal, Tanauan, Santo
Tomas, and Nasugbu where Sakay's support was strongest. Many Filipinos died in the reconcentration as the result of
disease and lack of food. This cruel tactic began to weaken Sakay's republic.

In 1905, Governor-General Henry Ide sent Dominador Gomez to negotiate with Sakay. Gomez presented a letter
from Ide that if he surrendered, he and his men would not be punished. Gomez assured Sakay that a Philippine Assembly
comprising of Filipino lawmakers would be formed. In July 14, 1906, Macario Sakay and his men surrendered and went to
Manila and were followed by a brass band and hunda of Filipino supporters from the local towns. By July 17, 1906, the
Americans betterave Macario Sakay and his men. They disarmed and imprisoned him. Sakay was tried ana convicted.

Philippine Assembly
 Philippine Bill of 1902 calls for the establishment of all - Filipino lawmaking body On July 30, 1907, the election
for the Philippine Assembly was held. Several politica parties emerged, the Nacionalista Party, the Progressive Party and the
Independence Party. Nacionalista Party's main platform of government was for the immediate independence while
Progressive Party was pro-American. The Nationalista Party won 59 out of 80 elective seats in the Assembly. The
Progressive Party won only 16 seats. Independence candidates won five seats.

The first ever-Philippine Assembly was formally inaugurated at the Manila Grand Opera House on October 16,
1907. Sergio Osmeña was elected as the Speaker of the House while Manuel L. Quezon was chosen as Majority Floor
Leader. The first law passed by the Filipino legislators was the Gabaldon Act, which appropriated $1,000,000 for the
construction of barrio schools all over the archipelago.

Based on the provisions of Philippine Bill of 1902. Legislative power was both exercised by the Philippine
Assembly (composed of Filipinos) and Philippine Commission (composed of Americans). Thus, for the first time under
American rule, the Filipinos were given a share in making laws for the Philippines. The Philippine Assembly acted as the
lower chamber while the Philippine Commission as the upper chamber.

Resident Commissioners

The Philippine Bill of 1902 provided that two Filipino resident commissioners will represent the
country in the United States Congress. These commissioners were given the right to speak out or against any
proposed law in Congress affecting the interests of the Philippines. However, they had no right to vote.

The Philippine Assembly elected the first two resident commissioners. They were Pablo Ocampo and
Benito Legarda. One of the greatest resident commissioners was Manuel L. Quezon who served from 1909 to
1916. He was known for defending the interests of the Filipinos. Majority of the resident commissioners
worked for the passage of laws that were beneficial to the colony.

Payne-Aldrich Act

The Republican Party of the United States supported a downward reform of the tariff. For this reason, United States
President William Howard Taft called congress for a special session.

A tariff bill to reduce rates was sponsored by Sereno E. Payne, a congressman from New York, which the lower
house swiftly passed, however the Senate version sponsored by Nelson W. Aldrich, a Republican from Rhode Island
effected fewer downward revisions and stepped up many rates. Aldrich was confident that his bill dow be approved, but
Robert M. La Follette mounted a lengihy examination of the e exceedingly complex wordings. To the dismay of Aldrich and
other conservatives, D ablic learned of the protectionist nature of the proposal.

Following the conflict, a compromise bill was passed that moderated the bill's kith rates. The president signed it
immediately. This act was the first modification of eN laws since the Dingley Tariff of 1897, which it replaced. The former
president, Theodore Roosevelt, allegedly avoided the issue. The act lowered the general tariff rate from 46 to 41 percent
while it increased rates on items such as animal hides, iron are and coal. It lowered 650 tariff items, raised 220 and left
1,150 untouched.

Taft came to the act's defense against Democratic and progressive Republican charges that it was a token measure
offering precious little relief from the conservative Republicans' protectionist tactics. In fact, the new tariff bill made only
very small changes in the law. Some expected that Taft would disapprove it. A disappointed Taft believed it was
nevertheless better than the previous tarif. Therefore, he signed it into law. But the president drew the ire of many by
commending the act as the best tariff bill the Republican Party ever passed." The Payne-Aldrich Tariff was less protectionist
than the McKinley Tariff of 1890 and the Dingley Tariff of 1897. The tariff bill remained in effect until the Underwood
Tariff of 1913.

General Francis Burton Harrison

 Governor General Francis Burton Harrison (1913-21) administration was one classic example of harmonious
collaboration between Americans and Filipinos. Harrison's attitudes (he was described as a "constitutional monarch"
presiding over a "government of Filipinos") reflected the relatively liberal stance of Woodrow Wilson's Democratic Party
administration. In 1913 Wilson had appointed five Filipinos to the Philippine Commission of the legislature, giving it a
Filipino majority for the first time. Harrison undertook rapid "Filipinization of the civil service, much to the anger and
distress of Americans, including superannuated officials. In 1913, there had been 2,623 Americans and 6,363 Filipino
officials: 1921 there were 13,240 Filipino and 614 American administrators. Critics accused Harrison of transforming a
colonial government of Americans aided by Filipinos" into a government of Filipinos aided by Americans" and of being the
plaything and catspaw of the leaders of the Nacionalista Party."

Jones Law of 1916

One major step towards the attainment of Philippine Independence was the enactment of Jones Law of 1916. It
replaced the Philippine Bill of 1902. In the preamble of the law, it provided the intention of the United States to grant
Philippine independence as soon as a stable government was established. Philippine Senate as the upper house of the
legislature replaced the Philippine Commission, while Philippine Assembly was renamed as House of Representatives.
Unlike the Philippine Commission, all but two of the Senate's twenty-four members (and all but nine of the ninety
representatives in the lower house.) were popularly elected. The two senators and nine representatives were appointed by
the governor general to represent the non-Christian peoples The legislature's actions were subject to the velo of the governor
general, and it cola not pass laws affecting the rights of United States citizens The Jones Act brochu legislative branch under
Filipino control. The executive was still under the control of an appointed governor general, and most Supreme Court
justices who were appointed by the United States president, still were Americans in 1916.

Elections were held for both houses in 1916, and the Nacionalista Party made an almost clean sweep. All but one
elected seat in the Senate and eighty-three out n ninety elected seats in the House were won by their candidates leaving the
Nation Progressive Party (the former Federalista Party) a powerless opposition Manuel L Quezon was chosen president of
the Senate, and Sergio Osmena continued as speaker of the House.

The law remained the basic legislation for the administration of the Philippines tunt the United States Congress
passed new legislation in 1934, which became effective in 1935, establishing the Commonwealth of the Philippines. The
governor generals had different interpretations on the provisions of the Jones Law, however. Harrison rately challenged the
legislature by his use of the veto power. His successor, General Leonard Wood (1921-27), was convinced that United States
withdrawal from the islands would be as disastrous for the Filipinos as it would be for the interests of the United States in
the western Pacific. He aroused the intense opposition of the Nacionalistas by his use of the veto power 126 times in his six
years in office. The Nacionalista Party created a political deadlock when ranking Filipino officials resigned in 1923 leaving
their positions vacant until Wood's term ended with his death in 1927. His successors however, reversed Wood's policies and
reestablished effective working relations with Filipino politicians.

First Philippine Independence Mission (1919)

During the First World War. Filipinos temporarily stopped their independence campaign and supported the United
States against Germany. After the war they resumed their independence drive with great vigor. On March 17, 1919, the
Philippine Legislature passed the famous "Declaration of Purposes", which stated the inflexible desire of the Filipino people
to be free and sovereign. A Commission of Independence was formed to study the ways and means of attaining liberation
ideal. This commission recommended the sending of an independence mission to the United States.

On February 28, 1919, the First Philippine Independence Mission headed by Senate President Manuel L. Quezon,
left Manila for Washington. It consisted of 40 prominent Filipinos representing the political, educational, and economic
elements of the country. Secretary of War of the United States, who extended to them the courtesies of the American nation,
received the Filipinos. The case of the Filipinos were presented to the United States Congress, and then returned home.

In the farewell address of President Woodrow Wilson to the United States Congress on December 2, 1920, he
recommended the granting of the independence of the Philippines. Unfortunately, the Republican Party then controlled
Congress, so the recommendation of the outgoing Democratic president was not heeded.

Wood-Forbes Mission
 The Democratic Party lost in the United States presidential election. It was fortunate for the Filipinos to attain their
much - awaited independence. Warren G. unling was elected as President, a Republican Party. After its inauguration,
President Harding sent a special mission to the Philippines to study the political condition of the untry. The mission was
composed of General Leonard Wood and Governor General William Cameron Forbes

For four months, the Wood - Forbes Mission stayed in the Philippines, On October 1921, the mission submitted its
report to President Harding. The mission reported that the Filipinos were not prepared for independence and that
consequently the United States should not yet grant independence for the Filipinos.

Other Independence Missions

The failure of the First Independence Mission did nol discourage the Filipino people. In subsequent years other
independence missions were sent across the Pacific. The second mission was sent in 1922, the third in 1923, the fourth in
1924, the fifth in 1925, the sixth in 1927, the seventh in 1928, the eighth in 1930, the ninth (OSROX Mission in 1931, the
tenth (one-man mission consisting of Benigno Aquino) in 1932, the eleventh in 1933, and the twelith in November 1933

The funds needed to defray the expenses of these missions were first provided by legislative enactments. Later,
Insular Auditor Ben Wright ruled that the use of public funds for the independence campaign was illegal Voluntary
contributions were solicited. The Filipino people responded with donations to the independence missions.

Hare-Hawes-Cutting Act

Hare-Hawes-Cutting Act was the first United States legislation passed for the decolonization of the Philippines.
The United States Congress passed it on December 1932, however, it was vetoed by President Herbert Hoover. Congress
overrode the veto on January 17, 1933 during the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The act provided for
the following provisions:
1. The establishment of a ten-year Commonwealth to serve as a transition government before the
proclamation of independence on July 4, 1946
2. Imposition of limitation on the quota for duty-free sugar, coconut oil, and cordage
3. A graduated export tax would be imposed beginning the sixth year of the ten year transition period.
4. A constitutional convention would be called to draft a constitution which would have to provide for
certain stated limitations on autonomy where the President of the United States would have the power to approve or
disapprove all constitutional amendments and to control bonded indebtedness, currency and foreign affairs.
5. The United States President would call an election for the officials of the Commonwealth after the
constitution was approved.
6. Alter the tratuition period, independence would become effective but th United States would remove its
commercial military and naval bases in the Philippines

Tydings-McDuffie Act

Manuel L Quezon was against the Hare Hawes Cutting Law on the grounds that the provisions relating to trade and
excluding Filipino immigrants were too stringent and that the guarantee of United States base on Philippine soil and powers
granted United States high commissioner compromised independence After the bill wan delated in the Philippine
legislature, Quezon himsell went to Washington and negotiated the passage of a revised independence act, the Tydings
McDuffle Act, in March 1934

The Tydings-McDuffie Act provided for a ten-year transition period to independence, during which the
Commonwealth of the Philippines would be established. The economic provisions of the law stipulated the continuation of
free trade relations between the United States and the Philippines. It also authorized the Philippine legislature to create a
constitutional convention to draft the constitution providing for a republican form of government. It also highlighted the
fundamental concept on the rights of individuals embodied in the Bill of Rights. Salient provisions of the Tyding McDuffie
Act were:
1. The constitution formulated by the Filipino delegates was to be approved by the President of the United States
2 No foreign Philippine loans could be made without the approval of the United States President
 3 The United States retained control of Philippine foreign affairs, it could negotiate with foreign countries for the
neutralization of the islands.
4 The United States Supreme Court could review all decisions of the Philippine courts
5 American citizens were to have equal rights with Filipino citizens in the islands.
6. Filipino immigration to the United States was limited to the ntinimum quota o! fifty a year

If the Tydings-MeDuffie Act marked a new stage in Filipino-American partnership it remained a highly unequal
one. Although only fifty Filipino immigrants were allowed into the United States annually under the arrangement, American
entry and residence in the islands were unrestricted. Trade provisions of the act allowed for five years free entry of
Philippine goods during the transition period and five years of gradually steepening tariff duties thereafter, reaching 100
percent in 1946, whereas United States goods could enter the islands unrestricted and duty free during the full ten years.
Quezon had managed to obtain more favorable terms on the bases, the United States would retain orly a naval reservation
and fueling stations The United States would moreover, negotiate with foreign givements for the neutralization of the
islands

MANUEL. QUEZON. the president of the commonwealth November 15, 1935- August 1, 1944) was bom ort August 19,
1879 in Tayabas Baler. His boyhood experiences Came along with his common folk ode went to San Juan de Letran and at
the age of 16 finished the degree Bachelor of Arts At the city of Sto. Tomas he taok up law, which was temporarily
suspended, due to his participation in One ale for independence from the United States of America. Emea Aguinaldo led the
struggle. the is apture in 1901 Queen went bark to the university and finished the law degree in 1903.in the Petit years he
practiced law, He was remembered as "Father of the Filipino Language”

Fueled by his belief that the only way to obtain independence was to work well with the United he fan for governor
of Tayabas In 1905 he won and beld the office for Two years until he was elected representative to the Philippine assembly
in 1907

Among his achievements included the following, first appointment as resident commissioner for the Philippines in
Washington. He could speak but not to vote in America's House of Representative Second, he played a major role in the
passage of the clones Law of 1916: the law that promised independence to the Philippines although no specific date was
given, Third, after resigning as ident commissioner he went back to Manila to be elected senator and eventually became the
senate president.

He fought hard for the passing of the Tydings-McDuffle Act of 1936 that provide independence of the Philippines,
which was put into a transition period for ten years In 1935 he was elected president of the commonwealth government

Inauguration of the Commonwealth Government

On November 15, 1935, the Commonwealth of the Philippines was inaugurated amidst colorful ceremonies held on
the steps of the Legislative Building in Manila A huge crowd of around 300,000 people witnessed the historic event.
Archbishop Gabriel M. Reyes of Cebu read the invocation prayer. After the prayer, Secretary of War George H. Dern, as the
personal and official representative of President Roosevelt delivered an address in which he extolled the progress of
democracy in the Philippines. Governor-General Murphy, who read the proclamation of the President of the United States,
followed him. Chief Justice Ramon Avancena of the Philippine Supreme Court administered the oath of office to President-
elect Manuel Quezon, Vice President elect Sergio Osmena, and the Members-elect of the National Assembly. After the oath
taking ceremony the Secretary of War of the United States, on behalf of the President, proclaimed the termination of the
Government under the Jones Law and the birth of the Commonwealth of the Philippines. Thereupon President Quezon
delivered his inaugural address. A long parade ended the inaugural ceremonies.

Achievements of the Commonwealth Government

Immediately upon assuming the presidency of Commonwealth Government, Quezon undertook the task of laying
the foundations of the future Philippine Republic. According to President Quezon. I would rather have a government run
like hell by Filipinos than a government run like heaven by Americans." Among the accomplishments of the
Commonwealth were as follows:

1. Retirganization of the government by creating new office, including the Department of National Defense, the Institute of
Natiorul Language and the National Council of Education, the Filipinization of the judiciary from The Supreme Court down
to the municipal courts and the establishment two new courts, namely, the Court of Appeals and the Court of Industria
Relations
2. Genting of womansulfrage, after a special national plebiscite in which 447724 women voted in favor of woman
suffrage and 44307 against
3. Creation of new churtered cities - Cebu, lloilo, Bacolod, Davao, Zamboanga San Pablo, Quezon City, Cavite,
and Tagaytay
4. The adoption of the National Language based on Tagalog
5. Promotion of social justice, as shown by the Eight Hour Labor Act enacted by the National Assembly and the
appointment of the public defender government lawyers) to defend the rights of poor laborers in the courts
6. Compulsory military training of able-bodied Filipino youths (C.A.T and ROT.C.), under the supervision of
General Douglas MacArthur.
7. Taking of the 1939 official census of the Philippines,
8 The Improvement of the Philippine economy, as revealed by the growth agriculture, commerce and industries. of
9. Creation of the JPCPA (Joint Preparatory Committee on Philippine Affairs which recommended (1) the granting
of Philippine independence on July 4, 1946, as provided by the Tyding -McDuffie Law and (2) the extension of Philippine
American preferential trade to December 31, 1960,
10. Passage of three amendments to the 1935 Philippine Constitution, which were ratified by the national plebiscite on June
18, 1940. These amendments were (1) tenure of the office of the President and Vice President was four years with reelection
for another term; (2) establishment of a bicameral Congress of the Philippines, with Senate as upper Wall M house and the
House of Representatives as lower house and (3) creation of an composed of three members to supervise all elections
independent Commission on Elections

CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT UNDER AMERICAN PERIOD

Foods

American culinary arts are similar to those in other Western countries. Wheat is che primary ceral grain. Traditional
American cuísine uses ingredients such as turkey. potatoes, corn, squash, barbeque potato chips and chocolate cookies.
Characteristic dishes such as apple pie, fried chicken, pizza, hamburgers, hotdogs and French fries derived from the recipes
of various immigrants: Mexican dishes such as burritos and acts and pasta dishes adapted from Italian source were also
introduced by the American American generally prefer coffee or tea.

So far as the American legacy is concerned, English stands head and shoulder above surviving else that Americans
might have given to the Filipino way of life: America seems to have influenced the Philippines in much the same way as it
has induced Est of the world- through its fast-food chains. Fast-food joints are ubiquitous in the philippines. The Americans
to the land brought McDonald's, Burger King, Puza Hut. KFC, and many other
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the prvo

Clothing

Filipinos adopted the American mode of dressing. Pants with belt, polo shirts, coat and tie or Americana, straw or
felt hats and leather or tennis shoes as attire for men For women, they started to wear skirts, high-heeled shoes, fanciful hats,
stocking, make-ups, perfumes, lotions artificial eyelashes and cosmetics.

House

Americans have introduced three distinct types of buildings. The first was the bungalow type", a low one storey
house made of light wood sometimes with little stone and cement with low ceilings, smaller windows covered with wooden
jalousies, granolithic flooring on the living dining areas, a bedroom, a small kitchen off the dining room with the side door
leading to garage. The second type was the "split level type". a living dining area, floor splits four steps or more to the
bedroom area down to the den which could be opened to the backyard. The split affords a higher ceiling for the social areas,
which makes the houses a little more airy. Walls were either adobe stone, the floor with crazy-cut marble and the ceiling is
painted wood with some false beams as accents. Sometimes there are sliding doors tat opened to back garden. The living
areas, the colors are natural walnut, off white and beiges and for bedrooms, plans paint in pastel shades. The third type of
building is the "row of apartment house that sprouted in heavily populated areas, row upon row to storey residences sharin
common walls. One enters to see a living area, cut in the center by stairs leading the second floor. At the rear is the kitchen
and dining room combination and single bathroom in the apartment.

Architecture

During the American period, Manila and other major cities had modern building college theaters, hotels, stores, and
private homes, which were built along America architectural lines. Modern building contained elevators airconditioning
syster and electrical gadgets. Alongside these streamlined edifices were other building constructed of western architectural
design like Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, Grac Roman, Gothic, and Byzantine. Among the well-known Filipino architects were
Ju F Nakpil, Andres Luna de San Pedro, Juan M. Arellano and Pablo S. Antonio

Language

It has been the policy of the Americans to propagate the English language English was made the medium of
instruction from clementary grades to college. In business and government English was the medium of communication. In a
short period of time the Filipinos learned how to read, write and speak English.

But because of language diversity, a program for the development and adoption of a common national language
based on the existing native dialects was drafted in the 1935 Constitution of the Philippines. The Commonwealth
Government created the Surian ng Wikang Pambansa (National Language Institute), which was composed of President
Quezon and six other members from various ethnic groups.

American Names

Spanish-given names of religious in origin like Natividad. Concepcion, Pilar, Carmen Circumcision, Asuncion,
Milagros, Epifanio, Rosario, and Dolores that were used by the Filipinos to during Spanish period were all changed.
Americanized names like Michael. Joe, Bobby, Theodore, Tony, Bill, Tom, Mary, Nancy, Rose and Lily were adopted.

Emancipation of Women

Women empowerment and gender inequality was not a problem during American period. For the first
time, women were allowed to vote and elected in government positions. The conservative role of women, that
was for household activities only, was eliminated.
Literature

Poetry, sarswela, short story and novel flourished during American period. Poetry was written in three languages
Filipino, English and Spanish Some of the popular poets were Maximo Kalaw, Carlos P. Romulo, Maria Agoncillo, Paz
Marquez Benitez, Garcia Villa, Carlos Bulosan, and many others.

Remarkable sarswelas like the work of Severino Reyes, honored as "Father of Tagalog Drama" (Walang Sugat and
Patricio Mariano (Anak ng Dagat) entertained a lot of audiences Other noted persons actors in sarswelas were Aurelio
Tolentino, ana Abad, Juan Matapang Cruz, and Juan Crisostomo Sotto.

Short stories adopted the American style, with the founding of University of the Philippines Writers Club in 1926,
which aimed to enhance and propagate the language of Shakespeare Paz Marquez Benitez published "Dead Stars. Juan C.
Laya's Native Scil", and Manuel Arguilla's "How My Brother Leon Brought Home A Wife.

Another form of amusement was balagtasan, named after Francisco Balagtas, a debate in verse, a political joust
done almost spontaneously between protagonist who debated over pros and cons of a certain issue. The first ever balagtasan
was held in March 1924 at the Instituto de Mujeres, with Corazon de Jesus and Florentino Collantes as rivals. Jose Corazon
de Jesus, known as Huseng Batute, became the first King of the Balagtasan
 In the late stage of American period continued to produce great poets like Pedro Gatmaitan, Jose Corazon De Jesus,
Alejandro Abadilla Lope K. Santos and Florentino Collantes. They adopted the modem style of poetry, which is free verse
Fictionist writers like Liwayway Arceo and Genoveva Edroza Matute with their work "Uhaw ang Tigang na Lupa" and
"Ako'y Isang Tinig" became popular during American period using fine writing as their model

Newspapers

The first newspaper in English was the Bounding Billow. It was published at irregular interval on George Dewey's
flagship "Olympia". Its issue on June 1898 commemorates Dewey's memory at Battle of Manila Bay. Several newpapers
that followed among them were "The American Soldier" which was the first daily newspaper to be published in Manila and
the Manila Times. After several years, Vicente Sotto founded The Independent." The first Filipino daily newspaper The
Philippine Herald" came out in August 1920.

Entertainment

Americans introduced jazz, swing and electrified popular music, much of which was Sung in Tagalog. Filipinos
listened and danced to American music, went to theaters and watched American movies, and put posters of American actors
and actresses on their bedroom walls.

Although some Filipinos still continue the love kundiman, sonatas for plans and playing violin

Games

Outdoor games such as baseball, softball, calisthenicS, football and valleyball, and Indoor games like billiards,
table tennis, poker and other card games became popular Americans have emphasized the value of sports to improve
physical fitness, body figure and ease tension arising from work. They also introduced the spis por mancup in the minds of
players
Religion

Americans introduced the Protestant Movement. Several protestant sectrearie the Philippines during the early years
of American occupation. These included Presbyterians in 1899, Baptist in 1900, Disciples of Christ in 1905 and the
Methode 1908. Other sectors like Seventh day Adventist. Episcopalian and Lutheran arriv The various protestant groups
sent missionaries all over the archipelago. They die not just indoctrinate but also rendered community service. They
established schools churches and hospital

Filipinos were free to choose their religion. The principle of separation of church and state was observed, unlike
during Spanish period where Roman Catholicism w the official religion.

Holidays

Traditional American holidays such as Washington's Birthday, Halloween Thanksgiving Day, Valentines Day and
Filipino-American Friendship Day became part of Filipino celebration. We also started to commemorate the National
Heroes Day, Rizal Day and Bonifacio Day during American occupation

Educational Development

Under American Period American government gave priority to education in the Philippines. Education became
very important for the Filipinos. The focus of American education was to spread democracy, duties, rights and
responsibilities of the people. Education allowed the Americans to spread their culture. By their impartial treatment of rich
and poor the American teachers showed the real meaning of equality. They taught their pupils not just to memorize but also
to think, enabling them to voice their opinions and manifest their inherent worth as individuals.

Education is a right. Americans wanted to give everyone the chance to study Filipino soldiers acted as first teachers
offering their services without receiving compensation. Also included in their mission was to build classrooms. In Augus!
1901, a group of teachers arrived, they were called Thomasites, because they boarded from the ship SS Thomas.
 Every child from age 7 was required to enroll in schools nearest to their towns School supplies were given for free.
The levels of education were three levels namely, elementary level consisted of four primary years and 3 intermediate years.
The condary level consisted of four years; and the third was the college or tertiary level.

Many elementary and secondary schools were opened in provinces and cities Nonnal, vocational, agriculture, and
business schools were also opened. There were Colleges opened like Philippine Normal School (1901): National University
(1901), university of the Philippines (1908), University of Manila (1914), Philippine Women Oersity (1919); and Far
Eastern University (1933). Vocational schools also opened He Philippine Nautical School, Philippine School of Arts and
Trades and the Central uconn Agriculture School. Schools were also built in non-Catholic areas like Sulu, Mindanao, and
the Mountain Provinces

Education for the Americans opens the door for upward social mobility. For the tilininos, calming a diploma ensure
a good job and acceptance in society with a chance for a better future.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UNDER AMERICAN OCCUPATION

Trade and Agriculture

The Second Philippine Commission (Taft Commission viewed economic development, along with education and
the establishment of democratic institutions, as one of the three pillars of the United States program of tutelage. The
commission planned to build railroads and highways improve harbor facilities, open greater markets for Philippine goods
through the lowering or elimination of tariffs, and stimulate foreign investment in mining, forestry, and cash crop
cultivation. In 1901, some 93 percent of the islands' total land area was public land, and it was hoped that a portion of this
area could be sold to American investors Those plans were frustrated, however, by powerful agricultural interests in the
United States Congress who feared competition from Philippine sugar, coconut oil, tobacco, and exports. Although Taft
argued for more liberal terms, the United States Congress passed the Public Land Act of 1902, which set a limit of 16
hectares of Philippine public land to be sold or leased to American individuals and 1,024 hectares to American corporations.
This act and tight financial markets in the United States discouraged the development of large scale, foreign-owned
plantations such as were being established in British Malaya, the Dutch East Indies, and French Indochina. The Commission
argued that tariff relief was essential if the islands were to be developed.

In August 1909, Congress enacted the Payne Aldrich Tariff Act, which provided for free entry to the United States
of all Philippine products except rice, sugar, and tobacco. Rice imports were subjected to regular tariffs, and quotas were
established for sugar and tobacco.

In 1913 the Underwood Tariff Act removed all restrictions. The principal result of these acts was to make the
islands increasingly dependent on American markets, between 1914 and 1920, the portion of Philippine exports going to the
United States rose from 50 to 70 percent. By 1939 it had reached 85 percent, and 65 percent of imports came from the
United States.

In 1931, there were between 80,000 and 100,000 Chinese in the islands active in local economy many of them has
arrived after United States rifle had been establish Some 16,000 Japanese were concentrated largely in the Mindanao
province of Day (the incorporated city of Davao was labeled by local boosters the "Little Tokyo of South") and were
predominant in the abaca industry, Yet the immigration of foreign laborers never reached a volume sufficient tn threaten
indigenous control or to economy or the traditional social structure as it did in British Malaya and BurmA.

In 1935, because of the Free Trade Act, the foreign trade was increased in a high value from Php 10,000,000 in
1899, arose to Php 258.000.000,

Medium of Exchange
 At the beginning of American colonization, United States coins and banknote were introduced but these were used
at less than their real value and banks weni generally afraid to hold accounts of the United States currency.

The peso was chosen as the official currency and the value of the peso was fixed a half of the value of the United
States dollar. Finally, in 1903, Philippine Coinage Act was passed.

Tenancy Problem

The landlord and tenant relationship remained unchanged with the limited intervention of the United States and the
continuing dominance of the Nacionalista Party, where most of them were owners of huge tracts of lands. Despite the
attempt to establish homesteads modeled in American West in 1903, different regions had their own specific arrangements,
different proportions of tenants and small proprietors The "Kasama System became the most popular, particularly in Central
Luzon and Visayan region

Under this arrangement, the landowners supplied the seed and cash necessary to tide cultivators over during the
planting season, whereas the cultivators provided tools and work animals and were responsible for one-half the expense of
crop production Usually, owner and sharecropper each took one-half of the harvest, although only after the former deducted
a portion for expenses. Terms might be more liberal in frontier areas where owners needed to attract cultivators to clear the
land. Sometimes land tenancy arrangements were three tiered, An original owner would lease land to an "inquilino" who
would then sublet it to "kasamas"

Cultivators usually were in debt, for they were dependent on advances made by the Landowner or "inquilino" and
they needed to pay steep interest rates. Principal and interest accumulated rapidly, becoming an impossible burden. The
"Kasama System" brought a class of peons or serfs; children inherited the debts of their fathers, and generation-to-
generation, families were tied in bondage to their estates. Contracts usually were not written and landowners could change
conditions to their own advantage

There were two factors that worsened the cultivator's position. First, rapid population increase (from 7.6 million on
1905 to 16 million in 1939) brought about through improvements in health programs, which added pressure on the land,
lowered The standard of living, and increased the number of unemployed. Closely tied to the population increase was the
erosion of traditional patron-client ties. The landlord-tenant relationship was becoming more impersonal. The landlord's
interest in the tenants welfare was waning Landlords stopped providing services and used profits from the sale of cash crops
to support their lifestyle in urban area or to invest in other kinds of business. Cultivators accused landowners of being
shameless and forgetting the principle of "utang na loob", demanding services from tenants without pay and giving nothing
in return.

The area under cultivation increased from 13 million hectares in 1903 to 4 lien hectares in 1935 stimulated by the
United States demand for cash crops and increasing population tenancy, In 1918, there were 2 million farms, of which 15
tilion were managed by their owners, By 1939 farms had declined to 1.6 million HS00.000 respectively, as individual
owners became tenants and migrant laborers and cities in the distribution of wealth grew. In 1939 also, the wealthiest 10
percent she population received 40 percent of the country's income.

The elite and the cultivators were separated culturally and geographically, as well as economically, as new urban
centers increase, often with an Americanized culture, the elite left the country to become absentee landlords, leaving estate
management in the hands of frequently abusive overseers. The Philippine Constabulary played a central role in suppressing
antilandlord resistance.

Public Health and Sanitation

One of the priorities of the Americans was the promotion of public health and unitation. They were successful in
curing and minimizing the spread of deadly diseases like cholera, smallpox, dysentery, and tuberculosis. Several agencies
were created to promote public health, among them are Bureau of Health and the Quarantine Service Many hospitals, clinics
and health centers were established all over the Philippines. By 1935, there were more than 1,000 hospitals, clinics and
health centers in the country both government-owned and private. As a result, there was a decline in death rate and increase
in birth rate. During American period also that the Philippine General Hospital was established.
Infrastructure, Transportation and Communication

More roads and bridges were also constructed. Americans had improved the buildings constructed by the
Spaniards. They also brought the first motor vehicle to the country. By 1934 there were already more than 40,000 motor
vehicles, cars, trucks and motorcycle in the country. In 1911, airplane was introduced for the first time in the Philippines.
But it was not until 1930 when commercial air transportation began in the country with the organization of the Philippine
Aerial Taxi Company. As early as November 20, 1931, Philippine Legislative created an office under the Department of
Commerce and Communications to handle aviation matters, particularly the enforcement of rules and regulations governing
commercial aviation as well as private flying.

Telephone lines were introduced in Manila in 1905 and radio-relationship Towns and provincial capitals were
linked together by telephones, telegraph lines and radio. Mail offices throughout the country, numbering more than a
thousand in 1935, handled ordinary mails, telegrams, money orders and airmail letter and packages. The Philippine Long
Distance Telephone or PLDT, the largest in terms of telecommunications in the country was sold by General Telephone and
Electronics Corporation (a major stockholder since PLDT's incorporation) to a group of Filipino businessmen on November
1928.

In the shipping industry, it likewise prospered; more ports and port facilities were built. By 1934, a thousand ships
of all kinds were found in th fluvial domains of the country