Notre Dame of Midsayap College

Quezon Avenue, 9410 Midsayap

Cotabato, Philippines

READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

Political Caricature during the American Period

Political cartoons and caricature are a rather recent art form, which veered away from the
classical art by exaggerating human features and poking fun at its subjects. Such 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 a reason enough for
historians to examine these political cartoons. Commentaries in mass media inevitably
shape public opinion and such kind of opinion is worthy of historical examination. In his
book Philippine Cartoons: Political Caricature of the American Era (1900-1941), Alfred
McCoy, together with Alfredo Roces, compiled political cartoons published in newspaper
dailies and periodicals in the aforementioned time period. For this part, we are going to
look at selected cartoons and explain the context of each one.

Political cartoons are an integral component in the framework of political journalism.

They offer a brightly colored alternative to formal news reporting, providing light relief
from the ever-increasingly gloomy political discourse. With the ability to distil news and
opinion into a caricature, cartoons present accessible and instant commentary and
analysis of current affairs.
Philippine Cartoons: Political Caricatures of the American Era is a book authored by
Alfred William McCoy, an American professor of history and award-winning writer who
dedicated his professional career on the research of Southeast Asian history, especially
that of the Philippines, as well as the study of US Foreign Policy. One of his dissertations
tackled the factional conflict in the colonial economy of Iloilo, Philippines from 1937 to
1955. His interest in Filipino history allowed him to master the Hiligaynon dialect and
understand the political situation, not just of the region of Iloilo, but of the entire country,
The book of Alfred McCoy has 377 cartoons were compiled in the book, including the
extensive research of McCoy in the Philippine and American archives providing a
comprehensive background not only to the cartoons but to the turbulent period as well.
With the help Alfredo Roces, who designed the book and contributed an essay on
Philippine graphic satire during the American era, Alfred McCoy was able to publish
Philippine Cartoons as a secondary source of different political caricatures drawn during
the said period. Their main purpose, though, is not to amuse you but to persuade you. A
good political cartoon makes you think about current events, but it also tries to sway your
opinion toward the cartoonist's point of view.

Studying the caricatures of the American period made me see the relevance of discussing
political and
social issues to the understanding of the national situation. It also moved me to
understand the views and opinions
of others which may differ from what I believe in to create a peaceful discourse
which could lead to the
development of social relationships and the betterment of the country.
Studying the caricatures of the American period made me see the relevance of discussing
political and social issues to the understanding of the national situation. It also moved me
to understand the views and opinions of others which may differ from what I believe in to
create a peaceful discourse which could lead to the development of social relationships
and the betterment of the country. This book is the one that will give each person a voice
to convey what we want to say to the government or to the politicians themselves, also
because of this we have revealed the truth during the arrival of the Americans in our
country and how the government run our country.

The Independent on May 20, 1916.

This shows that Filipinos do not want America to entrust our country to the Spaniards
because of how they rule our country.

The Independent on June 16, 1917.

It just shows that justice is only for the rich and the law is only for the poor, there are
many corrupt people in the government but why haven't they been caught and the simple
mistake of a poor person is immediately acted upon by the law