One of America's most famous and enduring emblems is the figure of Uncle Sam.

Uncle Sam is a
popular symbol for both the United States and its colonial reign over the Philippines. In pre-war
cartoons of 1907-08 published in The Independent, Uncle Sam was portrayed as a demonic monster,
a caricature of a white man with a large nose, fangs, and a crooked smile. However, the Nationalist
newspaper The Independent's war and post-war cartoons portray him as a figure deserving of Filipino
love and respect. The Loyalty of the Filipinos was published on April 14, 1917, just ten days after the
U.S. Congress declared war on Germany and the United States entered the conflict. Artist Fernando
Amorsolo depicts a wise, attractive Uncle Sam leading a devoted and happy young Juan toward
battle. Speaker of the House of Representatives Sergio Osmeña accurately assessed the mood in
America and obtained unprecedented political concessions for time being to halt independence
movement for good measure; and provide the United States with 25,000 soldiers, destroyers, and
submarines. Osmeña successfully managed a nationwide loyalty drive despite poverty which resulted
in the sale of $20 million worth of American war bond sales and $50,000 in Red Cross donations.
The Loyalty of the Filipinos represents an important moment in Philippine history as well as U.S.-
Philippine relations. This work is also significant because it reflects Filipino nationalism during
World War I.

During the 1930s, Quezon was at the height of his power. The battle over the Hare-Hawes-Cutting
independence bill continued to divide Philippine Politics throughout 1933. Senator Osmeña and
Speaker Roxas had successfully lobbied Congress for passage of the bill, but then Quezon began to
fear for his leadership if Osmeña and Roxas returned home heroes. To prevent this from happening,
Quezon led a group that ousted Osmeña as House Speaker and installed Quintin Paredes as speaker.
The situation worsened when the University of the Philippines’ President Rafael Palma and Arts
Dean Maximo Kalaw supported Osmeña and H-H-C Bill. Quezon slashed their budgets by one third;
they resigned in protest, leaving Quezon free to install his protégé Jorge Bocobo as president. When
Vicente Madrigal’s Debate-Mabuhay-Herald chain came out in favor of H-H-C Bill, Quezon raised
₱300,000 among his cronies to buy out Vicente Madrigal’s newspaper chain, install Carlos P.
Romulo as editor in chief.
In the early 1930s, President Manuel L. Quezon sought to crush his opponents through ruthless
reprisals against them. He broke the opposition by creating a new legislature and voting in favor of
the H-H-C Bill, which was eventually rejected by the people. The H-H-C Bill was a compromise
between President Manuel L. Quezon and his rivals. In November 1933 Quezon led a new mission to
Washington, DC and returned with a bill that was almost identical to the one he had left behind five
months before. The bill was a compromise between Quezon's original draft and the H-H-C Bill,
which had been proposed by his political opponents. With this victory, he crushed his rivals in
legislative elections held in June 1934. As a hero of independence battles throughout the decade
preceding his presidency, Quezon’s leadership was assured for the remaining years of his presidency.
I think it's important to acknowledge the sacrifices of those who fought for independence, I have a
hard time celebrating the legacy of President Quezon. He is a hero of independence battles
throughout the decade preceding his presidency, but he was also a ruthless leader the opposition by
setting up a new legislature and supporting the H-H-C Bill, which the public ultimately rejected.