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2. According to the document, what do the symbols in the Philippine flag represent?
The white triangle signifies the distinctive emblem of the famous society of the
Katipunan which by means of blood compact inspired the masses to rise in
revolution. The three stars represented Luzon, Mindanao and Panay, the three
principal islands. The sun represented the gigantic steps made by the sons of the
country along the path of Progress and Civilization. The eight rays signify: Manila,
Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Laguna and Batangas, the eight
provinces that declared themselves in a state of war as soon as the first revolt was
initiated. The colors: Red, Blue and White commemorates the flag of the United
States of America, as a form of gratitude towards this great nation that lent
protection.
3. How did the Filipinos regard the United States of America based on the document?
What is your stand on this? Do you agree with the Filipinos the way they looked at
the Americans?
Filipinos regarded the United States of America with respect and gratitude believing
that they were “heroes” and freed them from the period of darkness from Spain. No,
I do not agree with the way Filipinos viewed Americans. Unknowingly, Americans
were negotiating with Spain to obtain the archipelago. They exploited and tricked the
Philippines under the guise of ‘helping’ us. Americans were only after the resources
Philippines had, they looked down on Filipinos and described them as uncivilized
and barbaric. As means of pacifying, the used education and a taste of governance
through the commonwealth, which they controlled.
A seemingly American man is ‘enlightening’ another man who looks like he might be
a Filipino, showing books, a lamp with light, emitting the word ‘civilization’ and where
the American flag is attached to.
An American man (Possibly the President of the United states at that time, President
William McKinley, a Filipino man, an oil lamp, American flag and books with the
words: Freedom, Education, Justice and Commerce written on the bottom.
The United States giving ‘hope’ and ‘light’ to the abused and maltreated Filipinos
The books, oil lamp and the American flag represents the ‘hope’, light’ and ‘support’
as well as the tempting proposal of civilization that Americans were offering to the
Filipinos. The American man with an outstretched hand and a man on the back of
the other man represents the President William McKinley, this gesture represents
his willingness to support and ‘help’ the man who looked worn out and abused,
which represented the Filipinos.
c. What is the main idea of the cartoon? List two parts (words or objects from the
cartoon) that support the main idea.
The main idea of this cartoon was how the United States of America was able to
control and pacify the Philippines, how they tricked the maltreated and abused
Filipinos. This was under the guise of education (books in the cartoon with the
words, freedom, education, justice, commerce) and supposedly helping the Filipino
gain civilization by means of Western culture and Technology (the oil lamp, giving off
the word” Enlightenment” and the American flag attached to it)