THE POLITICAL

CARICATURE DURING THE

AMERICAN ERA
(1900-1941)
 Political cartoons and caricatures are a rather recent art
form, which veered away from the classical art by exaggerating
human features and poking fun at its subjects. Such as art
genre and technique became a part of the print media as a
form of social and political commentary, which usually targets
persons of power and authority. Cartoons became an effective
tool of publicizing opinions through heavy use of
symbolism, which is different from a verbose written
editorial and opinion pieces. The unique way that a
caricature represents opinion and captures the audience’s
imagination is reason enough for historians to examine these
political cartoons.
 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Birth: 8 June1945, Massachusetts,

U.S.A.
Citizenship: Unites States of America

Dr. Alfred W. McCoy is a professor

of the Southeast Asian History at the
University of Winson at Madison where
he also serves as director of the
Center of the SE Asian Studies. He’s
spent the past quarter century writing
about the politics and history of the
ALFRED MCCOY opium trade.
 BACKGROUND THE AUTHOR

McCoy has spent the past thirty years

writing about Southeast Asian history
and politics. His publications includes
The Philippine Cartoons (1985),
Anarchy of Families (1994), The Closer
Than Brothers: Manhood at the
Philippine military (2000) and Lives at
the Margin (2001).

ALFRED MCCOY
 Date
Produced
:1984
 BACKGROUND OF THE DOCUMENT
1990-1941
Philippine Philippine political caricatures gained full
political cartoons expression during the American colonial period.
gained full The caricatures are a graphic description of
expression
during the the events that went on under the American
American Era. colonial period: all the challenges, scandals and
Filipino artist influence brought to the Filipino by the
recorded
national Americans. Those pre-war caricatures that were
attitudes seen on the book entitled “Philippine Cartoons:
towards the Political Caricature of the American Era 1990-
coming of the
Americans as 1940” made a history that will never be forgotten
well as the by many.
changing mores
and times.
 POLITICAL
CARICATURE
S
 First Caricature

“Ang mapapalad, ang taong-bayan – kaya pala hindi matapos tapos ang
sinasabing paghihirap ng munisipyo ay may alaga siyang mga matabain,
kung ganito nga eh, hindi sa matapos ang paglilitis ko!”
 Ang Mapapalad

This caricatures explains that in the year 1907, Filipino

nationalist became more concentrates about the economic
issues. It is said that the revenues what were used for the vast
project or the AG&P came from the Filipino taxpayers that insult
the nationalist because the Filipinos were barred from any
participation of their own country.
This shows that the reasons why there are some projects or
infrastructure are not immediately done or finished are due to
those people who are working under the municipal of every
province. Thus, instead of using the budget intended for a
proposed project, some tend to use these on other unimportant
things and exploit the money which came from the Filipino
taxpayers.
Second Caricature
 Equal Work, Unequal Salary, Why?

Inequality comes in different forms, an example of this is the

low salary of the teachers here in the Philippines. There were
teachers who are complaining for having a low salary even if
they graduated from international universities and are qualified
in a high civil service examination.
The Filipino teachers compares the salary given to American
teachers who were only normal graduates wherein they
received or paid much ore than them.
Also another form of discrimination that was mentioned is
about the American who were given a chance to teach in an
Elite secondary school whereas Filipino teachers were assigned
to a crowded primary schools in remote areas.
 Third Caricature

The example shown above was published in The Independent on May 20,
1916. The cartoon shows a politician from Tondo, named Dr. Santos, passing
his crown to his brother-in-law, Dr. Barcelona. A Filipino guy (as depicted
wearing salakot and barong tagalog) was trying to stop Santos, telling the
latter to stop giving Barcelona the crown because it is not his to begin with.
 A public post is not heridatary Crown
It seemed that Filipino politicians at the time did not
understand well enough the essence of democracy and
accompanying democratic institutions and processes. This can
be seen in the rising dynastic politics in Tondo as depicted in
the cartoon published by The Independent. Patronage also
became influential and powerful, not only between clients and
patrons but also between the newly formed political parties
composed of the elite and the United States. This was depicted
in the cartoon where the United States, represented by Uncle
Sam, provided dole outs for members of the Federalista while
the Nationalista politicians looked on and waited for their turn.
Thus, the essence of competing political parties enforce
choices among the voters was cancelled out. The problem
continues up to the present where politicians transfer from one
party to another depending on which party was powerful in
specific periods of time.
 Fourth Caricature

This fourth cartoon depicts a cinema. A blown up police officer was at the
screen saying that couples are not allowed to neck and make love in the
theatre. Two youngsters horrified while an older couple seemed amused.
 Flaming Youth

McCoy called the “sexual revolution” that occurred

1930s. Young people, as early as that period,
disturbed the conservative Filipino mind-set. We can
see how that period was the meeting point between
the conservative past and the liberated future of the
Philippines.
 Why the Aparcero Rebels

It shows the form of landlord usury used to strip tenant farmers from their
rightful share of harvest.
 RELEVANCE OF THE DOCUMENT TO THE
HISTORY

NATIONALISM PATRIOTISM

DISCOVER
EYE - OPENER
OUR ROOTS
 CONTRIBUTION OF THE DOCUMENT TO THE
HISTORY

THROUGH THE
USE OF
FUTURE
IT ALSO POLITICAL
GENERATIONS
SERVES AS A CARTOONS, REPRESENT
WILL BE ABLE
STUDY AND PEOPLE GET THE FEELINGS
TO HAVE A
PREFERENCE TO VISUALIZE OF THE
GLIMPSE OF
TOOL FOR POLITICS AND PEOPLE. WAY
THE PAST
FURTHER APPRECIATE TO DISCUSS
PHILIPPINE
GENERATIONS THE POLITICAL AND
SOCIETY
AND CLARIFY REPRESENTATI SOCIAL ISSUES
THROUGH
HISTORICAL ONS WHICH USING ART.
THESE
INFORMATION. ARE WITHIN
CARTOONS.
THEIR
WORLDVIEW.