Kevin F.

Asio RPH Score:_____

BSAG-1101 (ANSCI MAJOR) Date:_____

Template: Rating an Event’s Significance

Event : Indendence day of the Philippines from United States (July 4, 1946)

Criteria Not at all significant Very significant

Level of significance 1 2 3 4 5
How notable it was at the time: Evidence:
Was it noticed at the time as having importance?  The road to July 4, 1946 was long and tenuous.
How long did it exist or operate? At the time, Quezon, the dominant political
leader in the Philippines believed he could
influence the new American president, Franklin
D. Roosevelt, and the Democratic congress to
rectify his main objections in a new Philippine
independence bill. Roosevelt and the congress
were busy with New Deal policies and were only
willing to resuscitate the HHC with very minor
changes. Quezon accepted these and returned
to Manila. The ensuing act, the Tydings-McDuffie
Law, was accepted by the Philippine legislature
in May 1934, thus setting the stage for Philippine
independence in 1946.
 At the break of the Spanish-American war, the
Filipino leaders saw the war between Spain and
America as an opportunity to free the Philippines
from the claws of the Spanish colony; hence,
supported the United States with military forces
including indispensable intelligence. Emilio
AguinaldoAmerica summoned Aguinaldo to
return to the Philippines from exile and with
confidence towards the pleasant US relations,
Aguinaldo anticipated independence from Spain
with the help of America.
 It exists until now, freedom is what we Filipinos
are now and how we are living our daily lives.
Level of significance 1 2 3 4 5
How widespread and lasting the consequences  It was a time of great rejoicing. But as the new
were? era dawned, there were numerous sticking
How deeply felt was it? points—the US bases, the Bell Trade Act,
How widespread was it? Philippine war damage claims, and
How lasting were its effects? discriminatory treatment of Filipino WWII
veterans.
 The Military Bases Agreement was to last for 99
years, during which period there was no clear cut
guarantee that these bases would protect the
Philippines. The bases agreement was
shortened in 1966, and finally lapsed in 1991.

Level of significance
How symbolic it is:
How has it been memoralized?
Does it represent a historical issue or trend?
The Bell Trade Act extended free trade and
required the granting of parity rights to American
nationals, which in turn required amending the
1935
 Constitution, which had reserved numerous
rights to only Filipino citizens. Free trade, with
quota limitations, would continue on until 1954,
after which gradual tariffs would be applied for a
period of 20 years, ending in 1974. Parity rights
were granted American citizens after stormy
debates which almost cost President Roxas his
life. The Bell Trade Act also tied the peso to the
US dollar until 1955.
 The event so many years ago was much
welcomed at the time and did see the end of
formal aspects of colonial rule. There was no
longer direct US oversight, no more American
High Commissioner, the Philippine flag flew
alone (except in the US bases) and the
Philippine National Anthem was played alone.
But critics argued that it ushered in a neo-
colonial relationship. Some trumpeted the
Philippine-American relationship as a “special
relationship,” but it did not seem so to others.
1 2 3 4 5
 July 4 became Republic Day, still a national
holiday, in 1964. During the period of Martial Law
under President Ferdinand Marcos, July 4 was
changed to Philippine-American Friendship Day,
and relegated to a working holiday. President
Corazon Aquino did away with Philippine-
American Friendship Day altogether, but
President Fidel V. Ramos restored it on the
occasion of the 50th anniversary.
 Commemorations of the 75th anniversary of key
WWII events were many and well publicized, but
were suddenly stymied by the Covid-19
pandemic. The 1946 independence ceremonies
have also been overtaken by rites
commemorating the 500th anniversary of
Magellan’s arrival—and the bringing in of
Christianity to the Philippines, which was given
full support by the Philippine Government and
the Spanish government. Given the importance
of July 4, 1946, however, it is sad to see the day
not recognized for what it was.
 July 4, 1946 was overshadowed by the events of
World War II.