Republic of the Philippines

UNIVERSITY OF EASTERN PHILIPPINES

University Town, Northern Samar

GE 4: READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

FIRST SEMESTER, S.Y. 2020-2021

Prepared and Compiled by:

JERICK A. BESALO
PAULA MAE M. CAPARIC
CAC, Part Time Lecturers

NAME OF STUDENT: _______________________________________________________

COURSE & YEAR: _________________________________________________________
PROFESSOR: _____________________________________________________________
 UNIT 2: CONTENT AND CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF
SELECTED PRIMARY SOURCES IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

UNIT 2: Content And Contextual Analysis Of Selected Primary Sources In Philippine

History ………………..……………………………………………………………… 3

Overview……………………………………………………………………………………….. 3

Learning Outcomes…………………………………………………………………………… 3

Module 3: A Glance at Selected Philippine Political Caricature in Alfred McCoy’s

Philippine Cartoons: Political Caricature of the American Era (1900 - 1941)……..…... 4

Figure 1. First Cartoon Published in The Independent..…………………………….... 4

Figure 2. Second Cartoon Published in The Independent……………………………. 5

Figure 3. Cartoon Published in Philippine Free Press………………………………… 5

Figure 4. Cartoon Depicts a Cinema………………………………………………….... 6

Figure 5. Third Cartoon Published by The Independent……………………………… 6

Figure 6. Cartoon Published by Lipang Kalabaw……………………………………… 7

Activity 6 ……………………………………………………………….……………………… 8

Feedback ……………………………………………………………………………………… 9

References …………………………………………………………………………………..... 9

Suggested Readings …………………………………………………………………………. 9

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 UNIT 2: CONTENT AND CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF
SELECTED PRIMARY SOURCES IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

2 : CONTENT AND CONTEXTUAL

ANALYSIS OF SELECTED
PRIMARY SOURCES IN
PHILIPPINE HISTORY

OVERVIEW
In this chapter, we are going to look into at a number of primary sources from
different historical periods and evaluate these documents’ content in terms of historical
value, and examine the context of their production. The primary sources that we are going to
examine are Antonio Pigafetta’s “First Voyage around the World”, Emilio Jacinto’s “Kartilya
ng Katipunan”, the 1898 Declaration of Philippine Independence, Political Cartoon’s Alfred
McCoys, Philippine Cartoons: Political Caricature of the American Era (1900-1941), and
Corazon Aquino’s Speech before the US Congress before the U. S Congress. These
primary sources range from chronicles, official documents, speeches and cartoons to visual
arts. These types of sources require different kinds of analysis and contain different levels of
importance.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this module, readers are expected to:
1. Familiarize oneself with the primary documents in different historical period of
the Philippines.
2. Learn history through sources.
3. Properly interpret and understand the primary sources through examining the
content and context of the documents.
4. Develop critical and analytical skills as they are exposed to primary sources

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 UNIT 2: CONTENT AND CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF
SELECTED PRIMARY SOURCES IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

Module 3: A Glance at Selected Philippine

Political Caricature in
Alfred McCoy’s Philippine Cartoons:
Political Caricature of the
American Era (1900-1941)

Political Caricature/Cartoon
Political Caricature or Caricature is a modern art form that turned away from classical
art by exaggerating human features and prodding fun at its subjects.
It is also known as Editorial Cartoon that contain a commentary that express the
artist opinion toward certain issues. An effective form of publicizing opinions through the use
of symbolism that is different from a verbose written and opinion pieces.
This art became part of the print media as a form of political and social commentary
that usually pin point the person’s power and authority. It is a unique way to present ideas
and capture the audience or readers’ imagination.
In Alfred McCoy’s book Philippine Cartoons: Political Caricature of the American Era
(19001941), with the help of Alfredo Roces, they complied some political cartoons that is
published in newspaper dailies and periodical in the aforementioned time period.
McCoy’s and Roces Book show the transition from the Spanish Colonial period to the
American Occupation period, it also demonstrated the different strands of changes and shift
in Philippine culture. Society, and politics.
In this part, we are going to look at selected cartoon or caricature and discuss its
content.

Figure 1. Cartoon Published in The Independent on May 20, 1916

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 UNIT 2: CONTENT AND CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF
SELECTED PRIMARY SOURCES IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

The example shown present politician from Tondo, as shown above it is Dr. Santos,
passing his crown to his brother-in-law, Dr. Barcelona. As you can see there is a Filipino guy
who is wearing a salakot and barong tagalog who’s trying to stop Santos.

Figure 2. Cartoon Published in The Independent on June 16, 1917

The second example shown was drawn by Fernando Amorsolo and it aimed as a
commentary to the workings of Manila Police at that period. As you can see there is a
Filipino child who is running because he stole a skinny chicken for he had nothing to eat.
The police officer was running after him then suddenly a man wearing a salakot and barong
tagalog, labeled as Juan de la Cruz was grabbing or stopping the officer, it seems like it was
telling him to leave the small-time pickpocket and thief and to turn at the great thieves
instead, he was also pointing at his back where in a huge warehouse containing bulk of rice,
milk, and some grocery product.

This caricature simply displays the grievances and disparity in handling between
small- and big-time thieves. That even in the past decades, authorities tend to look at the
things that almost does not matter to them yet turn blind eye to the real culprit. These
scenarios are not new to the eyes of the people for even up to this day, big time plays still
happening wherein some government authorities redirect the attention of the masses and
intentionally not fixing the real problem, that is, within their department and in some cases,
they themselves. Thus, it only became a cycle.

Figure 3. Cartoon Published in Philippine Free Press showing Colorum Car

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 UNIT 2: CONTENT AND CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF
SELECTED PRIMARY SOURCES IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

The third example shown was showing an illustration of commentary about the
unprecedented cases of colorum automobiles in some city street. This illustration shows fatal
accidents involving colorum automobiles such as taxis and jeepneys that occurred too often
already.

This caricature displays the scenario in the streets and highways in the Philippines.
Brought about by the urbanization, numbers of colorum vehicles increased. Transporting
from places to places around the city regardless of being unregistered somehow causes
problems in the road. Worst, involved in road rage and car accident resulting to fatalities.

Figure 4. Cartoon depicts a cinema

The fourth example shown was revealing a cinema scenario. There is a rigid police
officer that was flashed at the screen who was saying that couples are not allowed to neck,
make love and do something funny inside the cinema but seemed the older couple were
amused and the youngster couple were horrified.

This image illustrates what is called by McCoy “sexual revolution”. Young people
started to shift from conservative Filipino mind-set to a liberated one. Making daring sexual
activities in public places become normal to them, hence, deviating themselves from what is
the society’s norm. This caricature shows what the future in the Philippine society would
become. A transition from conservatisms to more of liberalism.

Figure 5. Cartoon Published by The Independent on November 27, 1915

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 UNIT 2: CONTENT AND CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF
SELECTED PRIMARY SOURCES IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

The fifth example shown was exemplifying the caricature of Uncle Sam who was
riding a chariot that was pulled by Filipinos who’s wearing school uniforms. As you can see
in the illustration the Filipino Boy who was wearing school uniform is also carrying American
objects such as baseball bats, whiskey, and boxing gloves. According to McCoy’s caption to
the said cartoon, stated that this cartoon was based on an event where in William Howard
Taft was conveyed to manila pier riding a chariot who was pulled by Liceo de Manila’s
students in 1907. It was condemned by the Nationalist at that time.

This picture displays how Americans controlled Filipinos through introducing them to
new things. Helpless and innocent Filipino mind got controlled by the foreigners in their own
land. This image also depicts Filipino nowadays. Fond of foreign ideas, become addicted to
things introduced by foreigners. These are nothing but an advantage for the Filipino to
become more educated with different ideas and the like. They only need to make sure that at
the end of the end, they are not unconsciously controlled by these things.

Figure 6. Cartoon Published by Lipang Kalabaw on August 24, 1907

The last example shown above was showing Uncle Sam rationing Porridge to the
politicians and members of the Progresista Party also known as Federalista Party while on
the other side was the Nacionalista Party member who were waiting and look on for their
turn. This cartoon portrays the patronage of the United States being coveted by politician
from either of the party.

This Caricature shows the political sphere in the Philippines during American regime,
where in political patronage became influential. Political parties that play a big role in
controlling the political arena became powerful and democracy that has been introduced was
actually became just an idea. This scenario didn’t change even up to the present, political
actors come and go depending on what party is the most influential, hence, no party loyalty.

ACTIVITY 6
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Are you ready to test what you have learned? LET’S DO THIS! Does the caricatures
 UNIT 2: CONTENT AND CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF
SELECTED PRIMARY SOURCES IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

FEEDBACK
“Hello my dear Students! Are you having fun reading this module?”

If you finished reading all the important information in this module I hope you fully
appreciate why we need to study this subject as part of our curriculum in the tertiary level. It
is a need for us to tackle this in order to know its implication to our present time and how
could we shape our society by instilling values and patriotism to the minds of our youth.

Do the required Learning Activities to test yourself on how much you have learned the
lesson. If you are able to answer all the learning tasks without any mistake, congrats you
may now proceed to the next module. If you get a score less than 75 percent of the total
number of items, I suggest reading again the lesson and try to answer the said activities. If
you get more than 76 percent of the total number of score try to review and focus to those
items that you fail to get the correct answer. Don’t worry, all is well, sooner or later you will
be able to get all the correct answer.

Congratulations! You did a great job! Rest and relax a while then move on to the next
Module. Good luck!

REFERENCES
 Antonio, Eleonor D., Dallo, Evangeline M. at et al... ; 2010; Kayamanan
(kasaysayan ng Pilipinas); Sampaloc, Manila; Rex Book Store, Inc.
 Agoncillo, Teodoro A.; 2010; Philippine History; South Triangle, Quezon City;
C & E Publishing, Inc.
 Candelaria, John Lee P., Alporha, Veronica C.: Reading in Philippine History;
Sampaloc Manila : REX Book Store, Inc.

SUGGESTED READINGS
 Agoncillo, Teodoro A.; 2010; Philippine History; South Triangle, Quezon City; C & E
Publishing, Inc.
 Candelaria, John Lee P., Alporha, Veronica C.: Reading in Philippine History;
Sampaloc Manila : REX Book Store, Inc.
 Torrentira (2020); Readings in Philippine History; accessed October
15,2020;https://www.researchgate.net/application.TemporarilyBlocked.html
 http://vccslitonline.vccs.edu/mrcte/intextcr.html

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