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Unit‌‌5:‌‌The‌‌Evolution‌‌of‌‌Philippine‌‌Politics‌ ‌
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Lesson‌‌5.3‌ ‌
The‌‌American‌‌Colonial‌‌Government‌‌in‌‌the‌‌Philippines‌ ‌
‌
Contents‌ ‌
Introduction‌ 1‌ ‌

Learning‌‌Objectives‌ 2‌ ‌

Explore‌ 2‌ ‌

Discover‌ 4‌ ‌
Transition‌‌from‌‌Spanish‌‌Colonial‌‌Rule‌ 4‌ ‌
Philippine‌‌Commission‌ 5‌ ‌
Civil‌‌Government‌ 6‌ ‌
Philippine‌‌Organic‌‌Act‌‌of‌‌1902‌ 7‌ ‌
Philippine‌‌Assembly‌ 8‌ ‌
The‌‌Commonwealth‌‌Government‌ 9‌ ‌
Jones‌‌Law‌ 9‌ ‌
Independence‌‌Missions‌ 11‌ ‌
Transitional‌‌Government‌ 12‌ ‌

Wrap-Up‌ 14‌ ‌

Try‌‌This!‌ 14‌ ‌

Challenge‌‌Yourself‌ 16‌ ‌

Reflect‌‌on‌‌This‌ 18‌ ‌

Bibliography‌ 18‌ ‌
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Unit‌‌5:‌‌The‌‌Evolution‌‌of‌‌Philippine‌‌Politics‌ ‌
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Lesson‌‌5.3‌ ‌

The‌‌American‌‌Colonial‌‌Government‌‌
in‌‌the‌‌Philippines‌ ‌

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Introduction‌ ‌
The‌ ‌Philippines‌ ‌is‌ ‌a‌ ‌republic‌ ‌with‌ ‌three‌ ‌main‌ ‌branches‌ ‌of‌ ‌government:‌ ‌the‌ ‌executive,‌‌
legislature,‌‌and‌‌judiciary.‌‌An‌‌institution‌‌represents‌‌each‌‌branch.‌‌For‌‌the‌‌legislature,‌‌we‌‌have‌‌
the‌ ‌Congress‌ ‌composed‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌Senate‌ ‌and‌‌the‌‌House‌‌of‌‌Representatives,‌‌whose‌‌role‌‌is‌‌to‌‌
create‌ ‌laws.‌ ‌For‌ ‌the‌ ‌judiciary,‌ ‌we‌ ‌have‌ ‌the‌ ‌Supreme‌ ‌Court‌ ‌and‌ ‌its‌‌lower‌‌courts‌‌that‌‌settle‌‌
disputes‌‌regarding‌‌the‌‌law.‌‌Finally,‌‌the‌‌executive‌‌branch‌‌is‌‌headed‌‌by‌‌the‌‌president‌‌and‌‌the‌‌
vice‌ ‌president.‌ ‌Together‌ ‌with‌ ‌the‌ ‌cabinet,‌ ‌they‌ ‌implement‌ ‌and‌ ‌enforce‌ ‌the‌ ‌laws‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌‌
country.‌ ‌
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Unit‌‌5:‌‌The‌‌Evolution‌‌of‌‌Philippine‌‌Politics‌ ‌
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How‌ ‌did‌ ‌we‌ ‌come‌ ‌to‌‌have‌‌this‌‌form‌‌of‌‌government?‌‌What‌‌events‌‌in‌‌history‌‌contributed‌‌to‌‌
the‌ ‌formation‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌republic‌ ‌that‌ ‌we‌ ‌have‌ ‌now?‌ ‌To‌ ‌answer‌ ‌these‌ ‌questions,‌ ‌this‌ ‌lesson‌‌
tackles‌ ‌the‌ ‌history‌ ‌and‌ ‌legacy‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌American‌ ‌colonial‌ ‌government‌ ‌and‌ ‌its‌ ‌influence‌ ‌on‌‌
contemporary‌‌Philippine‌‌government‌‌and‌‌politics.‌‌ ‌
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Learning‌‌Objectives‌ ‌ DepEd‌‌Learning‌‌Competencies‌ ‌
At‌t‌ he‌e
‌ nd‌o
‌ f‌t‌ his‌l‌esson,‌y
‌ ou‌s‌ hould‌b
‌ e‌a
‌ ble‌t‌ o‌d
‌ o‌‌
In‌‌this‌‌lesson,‌‌you‌‌should‌‌be‌‌able‌‌to‌‌do‌‌the‌‌ the‌f‌ ollowing:‌ ‌
following:‌ ‌ ● Relate‌t‌ he‌e
‌ volution‌o
‌ f‌P
‌ hilippine‌p
‌ olitics‌‌
and‌g
‌ overnance‌(‌ HUMSS_PG12-If-g-19).‌ ‌
● Explain‌‌the‌‌history‌‌and‌‌legacy‌‌of‌‌
● Describe‌t‌ he‌d
‌ ifferent‌s‌ tages‌i‌n‌t‌ he‌‌
the‌‌American‌‌colonial‌‌ evolution‌o
‌ f‌t‌ he‌P
‌ hilippine‌p
‌ olitics‌a
‌ nd‌‌
government‌‌in‌‌the‌‌Philippines.‌ ‌ governance‌(‌ HUMSS_PG12-If-g-20).‌ ‌
● Analyze‌t‌ he‌e
‌ volution‌o
‌ f‌P
‌ hilippine‌p
‌ olitics‌‌
● Explain‌‌the‌‌structure‌‌of‌‌the‌‌ and‌g
‌ overnance‌(‌ HUMSS_PG12-If-g-21).‌ ‌
government‌‌during‌‌this‌‌period.‌ ‌ ‌

● Analyze‌‌the‌‌development‌‌of‌‌
Philippine‌‌politics‌‌and‌‌
governance.‌ ‌

Explore‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌
‌ Ten‌‌Thousand‌‌Miles‌‌from‌‌Tip‌‌to‌‌Tip‌ ‌ 10‌‌minutes‌

Instructions‌ ‌
1. Examine‌‌the‌‌political‌‌cartoon‌‌entitled‌‌‌Ten‌‌Thousand‌‌Miles‌‌from‌‌Tip‌‌to‌‌Tip‌‌attributed‌‌to‌‌
Philadelphia‌‌Press.‌‌How‌‌would‌‌you‌‌interpret‌‌the‌‌political‌‌cartoon?‌ ‌
2. Find‌‌a‌‌pair‌‌and‌‌share‌‌your‌‌answers‌‌with‌‌your‌‌partner.‌ ‌
3. Share‌‌your‌‌ideas‌‌with‌‌at‌‌least‌‌two‌‌other‌‌pairs‌‌in‌‌class.‌ ‌
4. Use‌‌the‌‌table‌‌for‌‌your‌‌answers.‌ ‌
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Unit‌‌5:‌‌The‌‌Evolution‌‌of‌‌Philippine‌‌Politics‌ ‌
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‌ On‌‌your‌‌own,‌‌write‌‌three‌‌ideas‌‌you‌‌have‌‌about‌‌this‌‌political‌‌cartoon.‌ ‌
‌ 1.‌ ‌
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Think‌ ‌ 2.‌ ‌
3.‌ ‌
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‌ Discuss‌ ‌your‌ ‌ideas‌ ‌with‌ ‌a‌ ‌partner.‌ ‌Identify‌ ‌the‌ ‌similarities‌ ‌and‌ ‌differences‌‌
‌ between‌‌your‌‌ideas.‌‌ ‌
‌
Pair‌ ‌ ‌
‌
‌

‌ Share‌‌your‌‌ideas‌‌with‌‌other‌‌pairs‌‌in‌‌class.‌‌List‌‌down‌‌your‌‌insights‌‌from‌‌the‌‌
‌ ideas‌‌of‌‌other‌‌pairs.‌ ‌
‌
Share‌ ‌ 1.‌ ‌
2.‌ ‌
3.‌ ‌

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Unit‌‌5:‌‌The‌‌Evolution‌‌of‌‌Philippine‌‌Politics‌ ‌
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Discover‌ ‌
‌

In‌ ‌the‌ ‌previous‌ ‌lesson,‌ ‌you‌ ‌have‌ ‌learned‌ ‌about‌ ‌the‌‌

W
‌ ords‌‌to‌‌Remember‌
structure‌‌and‌‌features‌‌of‌‌the‌‌government‌‌under‌‌Spanish‌‌
● pertinent‌‌‌–‌ ‌
colonial‌ ‌rule.‌ ‌After‌ ‌independence‌ ‌from‌ ‌Spain,‌ ‌the‌‌
relevant‌‌and‌‌
Philippines‌ ‌also‌ ‌had‌ ‌its‌ ‌independent‌ ‌government‌ ‌with‌‌
important‌ ‌
the‌ ‌establishment‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌Biak-na-Bato‌ ‌Republic‌ ‌and,‌‌
● bicameral‌–‌ ‌‌having‌‌
subsequently,‌ ‌the‌ ‌Malolos‌ ‌Republic.‌ ‌However,‌‌the‌‌gains‌‌
two‌‌parts‌‌or‌‌
of‌ ‌the‌ ‌Malolos‌ ‌Republic‌ ‌were‌ ‌not‌ ‌fully‌ ‌realized‌‌because‌‌
branches‌ ‌
of‌ ‌the‌ ‌onset‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌American‌ ‌colonial‌ ‌rule.‌ ‌The‌
● sovereignty‌‌‌–‌‌
Americans‌ ‌steered‌ ‌the‌ ‌development‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌Philippine‌‌
power,‌‌autonomy,‌‌
government‌ ‌into‌ ‌the‌ ‌form‌ ‌that‌ ‌it‌ ‌has‌ ‌right‌ ‌now.‌ ‌In‌ ‌this‌‌
or‌‌supremacy‌ ‌
lesson,‌ ‌you‌ ‌will‌‌learn‌‌about‌‌the‌‌different‌‌evolutions‌‌and‌‌
transitions‌‌of‌‌government‌‌under‌‌American‌‌colonial‌‌rule.‌‌

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How‌ ‌did‌ ‌the‌ ‌Americans‌ ‌influence‌ ‌the‌ ‌transition‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌‌
Philippines‌‌from‌‌colonial‌‌rule‌‌to‌‌self-governance?‌ ‌

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Transition‌‌from‌‌Spanish‌‌Colonial‌‌Rule‌ ‌
The‌ ‌surrender‌ ‌of‌ ‌General‌ ‌Emilio‌ ‌Aguinaldo‌ ‌in‌ ‌Palanan,‌ ‌Isabela‌ ‌in‌ ‌1901‌ ‌marked‌ ‌the‌ ‌early‌‌
beginnings‌ ‌of‌ ‌American‌ ‌colonial‌ ‌rule‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌Philippines.‌ ‌It‌ ‌began‌ ‌with‌ ‌the‌ ‌governorship‌‌of‌‌
the‌ ‌American‌ ‌military‌ ‌government‌ ‌in‌ ‌response‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌continuing‌ ‌resistance‌ ‌occurring‌ ‌in‌‌
various‌ ‌parts‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌archipelago.‌ ‌One‌ ‌way‌‌the‌‌Americans‌‌sought‌‌to‌‌govern‌‌the‌‌Philippines‌‌
was‌ ‌to‌ ‌seek‌ ‌the‌ ‌cooperation‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌ruling‌ ‌class‌.‌ ‌To‌ ‌do‌ ‌this,‌ ‌the‌ ‌Americans‌ ‌offered‌ ‌them‌‌
opportunities‌ ‌to‌ ‌participate‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌colonial‌ ‌government,‌ ‌which‌ ‌they‌ ‌readily‌ ‌accepted‌‌
(Agoncillo‌ ‌1969).‌ ‌Thus,‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌early‌ ‌days‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌American‌ ‌civil‌ ‌government,‌ ‌some‌ ‌of‌ ‌its‌‌
members‌‌came‌‌from‌‌the‌‌Filipino‌‌elite.‌‌ ‌

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In‌‌understanding‌‌the‌‌process‌‌and‌‌evolution‌‌of‌‌the‌‌American‌‌government‌‌in‌‌the‌‌Philippines,‌‌
it‌ ‌is‌ ‌vital‌ ‌to‌ ‌examine‌ ‌the‌ ‌motives‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌Americans‌ ‌in‌ ‌keeping‌ ‌the‌ ‌Philippines‌ ‌under‌ ‌its‌‌
power.‌ ‌As‌ ‌a‌ ‌rising‌ ‌world‌ ‌power,‌ ‌the‌ ‌United‌ ‌States‌ ‌had‌ ‌its‌ ‌first‌ ‌taste‌ ‌of‌ ‌colonial‌ ‌authority‌‌
when‌‌it‌‌acquired‌‌the‌‌Philippines‌‌from‌‌Spain‌‌at‌‌the‌‌price‌‌of‌‌$20‌‌million.‌‌To‌‌justify‌‌its‌‌control‌‌
over‌ ‌the‌ ‌Philippines,‌ ‌President‌ ‌William‌ ‌McKinley‌ ‌declared‌ ‌the‌ ‌policy‌ ‌of‌ ‌benevolent‌‌
assimilation‌.‌ ‌This‌ ‌policy‌ ‌claimed‌ ‌that‌ ‌the‌ ‌purpose‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌United‌ ‌States‌‌in‌‌taking‌‌over‌‌the‌‌
Philippines‌ ‌was‌ ‌to‌‌protect‌‌Filipinos'‌‌rights‌‌and‌‌improve‌‌their‌‌welfare‌‌through‌‌American-led‌‌
infrastructure‌ ‌and‌ ‌education.‌ ‌Moreover,‌ ‌they‌ ‌argued‌ ‌that‌‌the‌‌United‌‌States'‌‌presence‌‌was‌‌
needed‌ ‌to‌ ‌guide‌ ‌the‌ ‌Filipinos‌ ‌toward‌ ‌self-governance.‌ ‌It‌ ‌was‌ ‌eventually‌ ‌done‌ ‌by‌ ‌allowing‌‌
increased‌‌participation‌‌of‌‌Filipinos‌‌in‌‌positions‌‌under‌‌the‌‌American‌‌colonial‌‌government.‌ ‌
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Philippine‌C
‌ ommissions‌ ‌
On‌‌January‌‌20,‌‌1899,‌‌the‌‌‌Schurman‌‌Commission‌‌‌(or‌‌the‌‌‌First‌‌Philippine‌‌Commission‌)‌‌led‌‌
by‌ ‌Jacob‌ ‌Schurman‌ ‌was‌ ‌tasked‌ ‌by‌ ‌President‌ ‌McKinley‌ ‌to‌ ‌investigate‌ ‌the‌ ‌situation‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌‌
Philippines‌ ‌and‌ ‌to‌ ‌recommend‌ ‌how‌‌the‌‌United‌‌States‌‌should‌‌handle‌‌the‌‌administration‌‌of‌‌
the‌‌country.‌‌ ‌
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Fig.‌‌1.‌T
‌ he‌‌Schurman‌‌Commission‌‌was‌‌composed‌‌of‌‌Dean‌‌Worcester,‌‌Charles‌‌Denby,‌‌Jacob‌‌
Schurman,‌‌John‌‌MacArthur‌‌(as‌‌secretary),‌‌Admiral‌‌George‌‌Dewey,‌‌and‌‌Military‌‌governor‌‌
Elwell‌‌Otis‌‌(left‌‌to‌‌right).‌ ‌
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The‌‌Schurman‌‌Commission‌‌recommended‌‌that‌‌a‌‌civil‌‌government‌‌must‌‌replace‌‌the‌‌military‌‌
government.‌‌Moreover,‌‌they‌‌proposed‌‌that‌‌a‌‌‌bicameral‌‌legislature‌‌must‌‌be‌‌established.‌‌It‌‌
is‌ ‌different‌ ‌from‌ ‌the‌‌unicameral‌‌legislature‌‌(a‌‌legislative‌‌body‌‌with‌‌only‌‌one‌‌chamber)‌‌that‌‌
briefly‌‌existed‌‌during‌‌the‌‌Malolos‌‌Republic.‌ ‌
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As‌‌Filipinos‌‌continued‌‌to‌‌resist‌‌American‌‌rule‌‌across‌‌the‌‌country,‌‌President‌‌McKinley‌‌formed‌‌
the‌ ‌Taft‌ ‌Commission‌ ‌(or‌ ‌the‌ ‌Second‌ ‌Philippine‌ ‌Commission‌)‌ ‌on‌ ‌March‌ ‌16,‌ ‌1900.‌ ‌It‌‌
facilitated‌ ‌the‌ ‌transition‌ ‌from‌ ‌military‌ ‌to‌ ‌civil‌ ‌government‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌Philippines.‌ ‌It‌ ‌was‌‌led‌‌by‌‌
Judge‌ ‌William‌ ‌Howard‌ ‌Taft,‌ ‌who‌ ‌also‌ ‌served‌ ‌as‌ ‌its‌ ‌first‌ ‌chairman.‌ ‌The‌ ‌Taft‌ ‌Commission‌‌
served‌‌as‌‌a‌‌civil‌‌government‌‌with‌‌limited‌‌executive‌‌and‌‌legislative‌‌powers.‌ ‌
‌
Civil‌G
‌ overnment‌ ‌
The‌ ‌Taft‌ ‌Commission‌ ‌served‌ ‌as‌ ‌the‌‌civil‌‌government‌‌in‌‌the‌‌Philippines.‌‌It‌‌was‌‌inaugurated‌‌
on‌‌July‌‌4,‌‌1901,‌‌and‌‌Taft‌‌was‌‌declared‌‌the‌‌first‌‌civil‌‌governor.‌ ‌
‌
Primarily,‌‌the‌‌objective‌‌of‌‌the‌‌Taft‌‌Commission‌‌was‌‌to‌‌train‌‌Filipinos‌‌in‌‌self-governance.‌‌To‌‌
do‌ ‌so,‌ ‌Taft‌ ‌exercised‌ ‌both‌ ‌executive‌ ‌and‌ ‌legislative‌ ‌functions‌‌in‌‌the‌‌civil‌‌government,‌‌with‌‌
the‌‌Taft‌‌Commission‌‌as‌‌the‌‌primary‌‌legislative‌‌body.‌‌ ‌
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Fig.‌‌2.‌‌‌Portrait‌‌of‌‌William‌‌Howard‌‌Taft‌ ‌
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Taft‌ ‌became‌ ‌popular‌ ‌among‌ ‌the‌ ‌Filipinos‌ ‌because‌ ‌of‌ ‌his‌ ‌“the‌ ‌Philippines‌‌for‌‌the‌‌Filipinos”‌‌
policy.‌‌He‌‌explained‌‌in‌‌a‌‌speech‌‌that‌‌this‌‌policy‌‌fundamentally‌‌ensured‌‌that‌‌every‌‌legislation‌‌
was‌‌made‌‌with‌‌the‌‌welfare‌‌of‌‌the‌‌Filipinos‌‌as‌‌the‌‌primary‌‌consideration.‌‌In‌‌September‌‌1901,‌
Taft‌‌included‌‌pro-American‌‌Filipinos‌‌as‌‌new‌‌members‌‌of‌‌the‌‌commission—namely:‌‌Trinidad‌‌
H.‌‌Pardo‌‌de‌‌Tavera,‌‌Benito‌‌Legarda,‌‌and‌‌Jose‌‌de‌‌Luzuriaga.‌ ‌
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Philippine‌O
‌ rganic‌A
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One‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌pertinent‌ ‌pieces‌ ‌of‌ ‌legislation‌ ‌made‌ ‌during‌ ‌Taft’s‌ ‌administration‌ ‌was‌ ‌the‌‌
Philippine‌ ‌Organic‌ ‌Act‌ ‌of‌ ‌1902‌ ‌(or‌ ‌the‌ ‌Cooper‌ ‌Act‌ ‌of‌ ‌1902‌).‌ ‌US‌ ‌Representative‌ ‌Henry‌‌
Cooper‌ ‌of‌ ‌Wisconsin‌ ‌authored‌ ‌the‌ ‌law,‌ ‌which‌ ‌provided‌‌the‌‌extension‌‌of‌‌the‌‌United‌‌States‌‌
Bill‌‌of‌‌Rights‌‌to‌‌Filipinos.‌‌The‌‌key‌‌provisions‌‌of‌‌the‌‌law‌‌were‌‌the‌‌following:‌ ‌
● extension‌‌of‌‌the‌‌bill‌‌of‌‌rights‌‌to‌‌the‌‌Filipinos‌ ‌
● appointment‌‌of‌‌two‌‌non-voting‌‌Filipino‌‌resident‌‌commissioners‌‌to‌‌represent‌‌the‌‌
Philippines‌‌in‌‌the‌‌US‌‌Congress‌ ‌
● establishment‌‌of‌‌the‌‌Philippine‌‌Assembly‌‌to‌‌be‌‌elected‌‌by‌‌the‌‌Filipinos‌‌two‌‌years‌‌
after‌‌the‌‌publication‌‌of‌‌a‌‌census‌‌and‌‌complete‌‌restoration‌‌of‌‌peace‌ ‌
● establishment‌‌of‌‌several‌‌executive‌‌departments‌‌like‌‌interior,‌‌public‌‌information,‌‌
finance‌‌and‌‌justice,‌‌commerce,‌‌and‌‌police‌ ‌
‌
The‌ ‌Philippine‌ ‌Organic‌ ‌Act‌ ‌saw‌ ‌the‌ ‌appointment‌ ‌of‌ ‌Filipinos‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌US‌ ‌Congress.‌ ‌As‌‌
representatives,‌‌Filipino‌‌commissioners‌‌could‌‌speak‌‌out‌‌for‌‌or‌‌against‌‌any‌‌bill‌‌being‌‌passed‌‌
in‌ ‌the‌ ‌US‌ ‌Congress‌ ‌that‌ ‌might‌ ‌affect‌ ‌the‌ ‌Philippines.‌ ‌The‌ ‌first‌ ‌Filipino‌ ‌resident‌‌
commissioners‌ ‌were‌ ‌Benito‌ ‌Legarda‌ ‌and‌ ‌Pablo‌ ‌Ocampo.‌ ‌However,‌ ‌the‌ ‌most‌ ‌notable‌‌
resident‌ ‌commissioner‌ ‌was‌ ‌Manuel‌ ‌L.‌ ‌Quezon,‌ ‌who‌ ‌served‌ ‌as‌ ‌the‌ ‌resident‌ ‌commissioner‌‌
from‌‌1909‌‌to‌‌1916.‌‌During‌‌his‌‌term,‌‌Quezon‌‌spoke‌‌out‌‌very‌‌strongly‌‌against‌‌those‌‌pieces‌‌of‌‌
legislation‌‌that‌‌were‌‌harmful‌‌to‌‌the‌‌interests‌‌of‌‌Filipinos.‌ ‌
‌
Another‌‌essential‌‌provision‌‌of‌‌the‌‌Philippine‌‌Organic‌‌Act‌‌was‌‌establishing‌‌a‌‌lower‌‌legislative‌‌
chamber‌ ‌called‌ ‌the‌ ‌Philippine‌ ‌Assembly‌ ‌composed‌ ‌of‌ ‌officials‌ ‌that‌ ‌Filipinos‌ ‌themselves‌‌
elected.‌ ‌The‌ ‌creation‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌Philippine‌ ‌Assembly‌ ‌marked‌ ‌the‌ ‌first‌ ‌exercise‌ ‌of‌ ‌suffrage‌ ‌or‌‌
right‌‌to‌‌vote‌‌among‌‌Filipinos‌‌with‌‌the‌‌election‌‌of‌‌Filipino‌‌legislators‌‌in‌‌the‌‌American‌‌colonial‌‌
government.‌ ‌
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Unit‌‌5:‌‌The‌‌Evolution‌‌of‌‌Philippine‌‌Politics‌ ‌
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Check‌‌Your‌‌Progress‌ ‌
What‌ ‌are‌ ‌the‌ ‌significant‌ ‌legacies‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌Philippine‌ ‌Organic‌ ‌Act‌ ‌of‌‌
‌
1902?‌ ‌
______________________________________________________________________‌
______________________________________________________________________‌
______________________________________________________________________‌ ‌

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Philippine‌‌Assembly‌ ‌
As‌ ‌part‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌provisions‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌‌Philippine‌‌Organic‌‌Act,‌‌a‌‌general‌‌census‌‌was‌‌conducted‌‌in‌‌
the‌ ‌Philippines.‌ ‌It‌ ‌reported‌ ‌a‌ ‌total‌ ‌of‌ ‌7,635,426‌ ‌Filipinos.‌ ‌The‌ ‌national‌ ‌election‌ ‌to‌ ‌fill‌‌
positions‌‌in‌‌the‌‌Philippine‌‌Assembly‌‌was‌‌held‌‌two‌‌years‌‌after‌‌the‌‌census.‌‌ ‌
‌
Various‌‌political‌‌parties‌‌organized‌‌and‌‌campaigned‌‌for‌‌positions‌‌in‌‌the‌‌Philippine‌‌Assembly.‌‌
On‌ ‌July‌ ‌30,‌ ‌1907,‌ ‌the‌ ‌first‌ ‌free‌ ‌national‌ ‌elections‌ ‌were‌ ‌held.‌ ‌Out‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌80‌ ‌seats‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌‌
Philippine‌ ‌Assembly,‌ ‌59‌ ‌seats‌ ‌were‌ ‌won‌ ‌by‌ ‌Partido‌ ‌Nacionalista,‌ ‌16‌ ‌seats‌ ‌by‌ ‌Partido‌‌
Progresista,‌ ‌and‌ ‌five‌ ‌seats‌ ‌by‌ ‌independent‌ ‌candidates.‌ ‌Sergio‌ ‌Osmeña‌ ‌served‌ ‌as‌ ‌the‌‌
speaker,‌‌while‌‌Manuel‌‌L.‌‌Quezon‌‌served‌‌as‌‌the‌‌majority‌‌floor‌‌leader.‌ ‌
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Fig.‌‌3.‌W
‌ illiam‌‌Howard‌‌Taft‌‌addresses‌‌the‌‌members‌‌of‌‌the‌‌First‌‌Philippine‌‌Assembly.‌ ‌
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The‌ ‌Philippine‌ ‌Assembly‌ ‌became‌ ‌the‌ ‌lower‌ ‌house‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌‌legislature.‌‌It‌‌is‌‌equivalent‌‌to‌‌the‌‌
House‌‌of‌‌Representatives‌‌today.‌‌On‌‌the‌‌other‌‌hand,‌‌the‌‌Philippine‌‌Commission‌‌became‌‌the‌‌
upper‌‌house‌‌of‌‌the‌‌legislature.‌‌It‌‌is‌‌identical‌‌to‌‌the‌‌Senate‌‌today.‌ ‌
‌
Aside‌‌from‌‌the‌‌Philippine‌‌Assembly‌‌that‌‌was‌‌purely‌‌composed‌‌of‌‌Filipinos,‌‌more‌‌and‌‌more‌‌
Filipinos‌ ‌held‌‌positions‌‌in‌‌the‌‌government.‌‌In‌‌1903,‌‌there‌‌were‌‌2,777‌‌Americans‌‌appointed‌‌
to‌ ‌government‌ ‌positions,‌ ‌while‌ ‌2,697‌ ‌were‌ ‌Filipinos.‌ ‌However,‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌‌following‌‌year,‌‌there‌‌
were‌ ‌more‌ ‌Filipinos‌ ‌appointed‌ ‌to‌ ‌government‌ ‌positions‌ ‌at‌ ‌3,377‌ ‌compared‌ ‌to‌ ‌3,228‌‌
Americans.‌‌The‌‌following‌‌Filipinos‌‌held‌‌notable‌‌positions:‌ ‌
● Cayetano‌‌Arellano‌‌‌as‌‌the‌‌chief‌‌justice‌‌of‌‌the‌‌Philippine‌‌Supreme‌‌Court‌‌ ‌
● Florentino‌‌Torres‌‌‌as‌‌attorney‌‌general‌ ‌
● Gregorio‌‌Araneta‌‌‌as‌‌secretary‌‌of‌‌Finance‌‌and‌‌Justice‌ ‌
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Check‌‌Your‌‌Progress‌ ‌
How‌ ‌instrumental‌ ‌was‌ ‌the‌ ‌establishment‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌Philippine‌‌
Assembly‌ ‌in‌ ‌attaining‌ ‌the‌ ‌independence‌ ‌the‌ ‌Americans‌ ‌had‌‌
‌

promised?‌ ‌
______________________________________________________________________‌
______________________________________________________________________‌
______________________________________________________________________‌ ‌

‌
‌
‌
The‌‌Commonwealth‌‌Government‌ ‌
‌
Jones‌L
‌ aw‌‌ ‌
The‌‌US‌‌Congress‌‌passed‌‌the‌‌‌Jones‌‌Law‌‌of‌‌1916‌‌on‌‌August‌‌29,‌‌1916.‌‌It‌‌is‌‌also‌‌known‌‌as‌‌the‌‌
Philippine‌ ‌Autonomy‌ ‌Act‌,‌ ‌and‌ ‌President‌ ‌Woodrow‌ ‌Wilson‌ ‌signed‌ ‌it.‌ ‌The‌ ‌law‌ ‌stated‌ ‌that‌‌
independence‌ ‌would‌‌be‌‌granted‌‌unto‌‌the‌‌Philippines‌‌when‌‌a‌‌stable‌‌government‌‌had‌‌been‌
established.‌ ‌The‌ ‌passage‌ ‌of‌ ‌this‌ ‌law‌ ‌signaled‌ ‌the‌ ‌beginning‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌‌American‌‌fulfillment‌‌of‌‌
the‌‌promise‌‌of‌‌independence.‌ ‌

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‌
More‌‌specifically,‌‌the‌‌law‌‌also‌‌provided‌‌for‌‌the‌‌structure‌‌of‌‌the‌‌government‌‌and‌‌the‌‌powers‌‌
and‌ ‌duties‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌officials.‌ ‌The‌ ‌executive‌ ‌branch‌ ‌was‌ ‌to‌ ‌be‌ ‌headed‌ ‌by‌ ‌an‌ ‌American‌‌
governor-general‌ ‌appointed‌ ‌by‌ ‌the‌ ‌US‌‌president‌‌and‌‌approved‌‌by‌‌the‌‌US‌‌Senate.‌‌Filipinos‌‌
would‌ ‌exclusively‌ ‌run‌ ‌the‌ ‌bicameral‌ ‌legislative‌ ‌branch.‌ ‌The‌ ‌law‌ ‌provided‌ ‌a‌ ‌bicameral‌‌
legislature:‌ ‌the‌ ‌Upper‌ ‌House‌ ‌called‌ ‌the‌ ‌Senate‌ ‌and‌ ‌the‌‌Lower‌‌House‌‌called‌‌the‌‌‌House‌‌of‌‌
Representatives‌.‌ ‌These‌ ‌houses‌ ‌replaced‌ ‌the‌ ‌Philippine‌ ‌Commission‌ ‌and‌ ‌the‌ ‌Philippine‌‌
Assembly,‌‌respectively.‌‌Lastly,‌‌the‌‌judicial‌‌branch‌‌was‌‌to‌‌be‌‌headed‌‌by‌‌a‌‌Filipino‌‌as‌‌the‌‌chief‌‌
justice‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌Supreme‌ ‌Court‌ ‌with‌ ‌a‌ ‌combination‌ ‌of‌ ‌Filipinos‌ ‌and‌‌Americans‌‌as‌‌associate‌‌
justices.‌ ‌
‌

‌
Fig.‌‌4.‌T
‌ he‌‌Philippine‌‌Congress‌‌in‌‌1916‌ ‌
‌
The‌ ‌election‌ ‌for‌ ‌the‌ ‌new‌ ‌legislative‌ ‌branch‌ ‌was‌ ‌held‌ ‌on‌ ‌October‌ ‌3,‌ ‌1916.‌ ‌Sergio‌ ‌Osmeña‌‌
became‌‌the‌‌speaker‌‌of‌‌the‌‌House‌‌of‌‌Representatives,‌‌while‌‌Manuel‌‌L.‌‌Quezon‌‌became‌‌the‌‌
Senate‌‌president.‌ ‌
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Pursuant‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌Jones‌ ‌Law,‌ ‌a‌ ‌bill‌ ‌of‌ ‌rights‌ ‌for‌ ‌Filipinos‌ ‌was‌ ‌also‌ ‌established.‌ ‌Among‌ ‌the‌‌
rights‌‌included‌‌were‌‌the‌‌following:‌ ‌
● freedom‌‌of‌‌speech‌ ‌
● freedom‌‌of‌‌the‌‌press‌ ‌
● freedom‌‌from‌‌illegal‌‌search‌ ‌
● the‌‌right‌‌to‌‌assemble‌ ‌
● other‌‌rights‌‌that‌‌are‌‌usually‌‌exercised‌‌in‌‌other‌‌democratic‌‌countries‌ ‌

Check‌‌Your‌‌Progress‌ ‌
How‌ ‌similar‌ ‌is‌ ‌the‌ ‌structure‌ ‌of‌ ‌government‌ ‌during‌ ‌the‌ ‌American‌‌
‌
colonial‌‌rule‌‌to‌‌the‌‌present-day‌‌structure?‌ ‌
______________________________________________________________________‌
______________________________________________________________________‌
______________________________________________________________________‌ ‌

‌
‌
Independence‌M
‌ issions‌ ‌
Despite‌ ‌these‌ ‌opportunities‌ ‌for‌ ‌self-governance‌ ‌provided‌ ‌to‌ ‌Filipinos,‌ ‌General‌ ‌Leonard‌‌
Wood‌ ‌and‌ ‌Governor-General‌ ‌W.‌ ‌Cameron‌ ‌Forbes‌ ‌reported‌ ‌that‌ ‌Filipinos‌ ‌were‌ ‌still‌‌
unprepared‌‌for‌‌complete‌‌independence‌‌from‌‌the‌‌United‌‌States.‌ ‌
‌
Hence,‌ ‌twelve‌ ‌independence‌ ‌missions‌ ‌were‌ ‌sent‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌US‌ ‌Congress‌ ‌to‌ ‌campaign‌ ‌to‌‌
recognize‌ ‌Philippine‌ ‌independence.‌ ‌The‌ ‌OsRox‌ ‌Mission‌,‌ ‌the‌ ‌ninth‌ ‌mission‌ ‌led‌ ‌by‌ ‌Sergio‌‌
Osmeña‌ ‌and‌ ‌Manuel‌ ‌A.‌ ‌Roxas,‌ ‌persuaded‌ ‌several‌ ‌groups‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌US‌ ‌Congress‌ ‌to‌ ‌grant‌‌
independence‌‌to‌‌the‌‌Philippines.‌ ‌
‌
Due‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌success‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌OsRox‌ ‌Mission,‌ ‌the‌ ‌US‌ ‌Congress‌ ‌enacted‌ ‌the‌‌
Hare-Hawes-Cutting‌ ‌Act‌,‌ ‌which‌ ‌provided‌ ‌the‌ ‌specific‌ ‌process‌ ‌and‌ ‌date‌ ‌when‌ ‌the‌‌
Philippines‌ ‌could‌ ‌gain‌ ‌its‌ ‌independence.‌ ‌However,‌ ‌the‌ ‌Philippine‌ ‌legislature‌ ‌was‌ ‌divided.‌‌
Those‌‌who‌‌opposed‌‌it,‌‌led‌‌by‌‌Senate‌‌President‌‌Quezon,‌‌rejected‌‌it‌‌because‌‌of‌‌the‌‌following‌‌
questionable‌‌provisions:‌ ‌

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● It‌‌provided‌‌for‌‌a‌‌ten-year‌‌commonwealth‌‌period‌‌before‌‌independence‌‌could‌‌be‌‌
granted.‌ ‌
● American‌‌military‌‌and‌‌naval‌‌bases‌‌in‌‌the‌‌Philippines‌‌would‌‌be‌‌retained‌‌indefinitely.‌
● The‌‌US‌‌president‌‌could‌‌control‌‌the‌‌currency‌‌system‌‌and‌‌the‌‌foreign‌‌affairs‌‌of‌‌the‌‌
Philippines.‌ ‌
● Americans‌‌would‌‌be‌‌given‌‌equal‌‌rights‌‌in‌‌the‌‌exploitation‌‌of‌‌the‌‌country’s‌‌natural‌‌
resources.‌ ‌
● American‌‌products‌‌would‌‌be‌‌given‌‌free‌‌entry‌‌into‌‌the‌‌country.‌ ‌
‌
Meanwhile,‌‌those‌‌in‌‌favor‌‌of‌‌it‌‌were‌‌led‌‌by‌‌Osmeña‌‌and‌‌Roxas,‌‌and‌‌they‌‌argued‌‌that‌‌it‌‌was‌‌
the‌‌best‌‌thing‌‌they‌‌could‌‌get‌‌to‌‌gain‌‌independence‌‌despite‌‌the‌‌above‌‌provisions.‌‌In‌‌its‌‌12th‌‌
mission,‌ ‌Quezon‌ ‌personally‌ ‌led‌ ‌the‌ ‌negotiation‌ ‌to‌ ‌strike‌ ‌a‌ ‌better‌ ‌deal.‌ ‌The‌ ‌US‌ ‌Congress‌‌
amended‌ ‌and‌ ‌removed‌ ‌the‌ ‌objectionable‌ ‌provisions‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌Hare-Hawes-Cutting‌ ‌Act‌ ‌and‌‌
called‌‌it‌‌the‌T
‌ ydings-McDuffie‌‌Act‌.‌‌ ‌
‌
Transitional‌G
‌ overnment‌ ‌
Following‌ ‌the‌ ‌new‌ ‌independence‌ ‌law‌ ‌provisions,‌ ‌Filipinos‌ ‌formed‌ ‌a‌ ‌constitutional‌‌
convention‌ ‌to‌ ‌draft‌ ‌a‌ ‌constitution‌ ‌to‌ ‌be‌ ‌used‌ ‌as‌ ‌the‌ ‌legal‌ ‌basis‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌transitional‌‌
Commonwealth‌ ‌period.‌ ‌US‌ ‌President‌ ‌Franklin‌ ‌Roosevelt‌ ‌approved‌ ‌the‌ ‌1935‌ ‌Constitution.‌‌
The‌‌Filipinos‌‌then‌‌ratified‌‌it‌‌in‌‌a‌‌plebiscite‌‌on‌‌May‌‌14,‌‌1935.‌ ‌
‌
The‌‌most‌‌pertinent‌‌provision‌‌of‌‌the‌‌1935‌‌Constitution‌‌is‌‌found‌‌in‌‌Article‌‌17,‌‌Section‌‌1:‌‌“The‌‌
government‌ ‌established‌ ‌by‌ ‌this‌ ‌Constitution‌ ‌shall‌ ‌be‌ ‌known‌ ‌as‌‌the‌‌Commonwealth‌‌of‌‌the‌‌
Philippines.‌‌Upon‌‌the‌‌final‌‌and‌‌complete‌‌withdrawal‌‌of‌‌the‌‌sovereignty‌‌of‌‌the‌‌United‌‌States‌‌
and‌ ‌the‌ ‌proclamation‌ ‌of‌ ‌Philippine‌ ‌independence,‌ ‌the‌ ‌Commonwealth‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌Philippines‌‌
shall‌‌henceforth‌‌be‌‌known‌‌as‌‌the‌‌Republic‌‌of‌‌the‌‌Philippines.”‌‌The‌‌provision‌‌clearly‌‌defined‌‌
when‌‌the‌‌Philippines‌‌could‌‌be‌‌considered‌‌as‌‌an‌‌independent‌‌republic‌‌with‌‌full‌‌sovereignty.‌ ‌
‌
On‌ ‌September‌ ‌17,‌ ‌1935,‌ ‌the‌ ‌first‌ ‌national‌ ‌election‌ ‌was‌ ‌held‌ ‌under‌ ‌the‌ ‌1935‌ ‌Constitution.‌‌
The‌‌presidential‌‌candidates‌‌were‌‌Manuel‌‌L.‌‌Quezon,‌‌Emilio‌‌Aguinaldo,‌‌and‌‌Bishop‌‌Gregorio‌‌
Aglipay.‌ ‌The‌ ‌candidates‌ ‌for‌ ‌the‌‌position‌‌of‌‌vice-president‌‌were‌‌Sergio‌‌Osmeña,‌‌Raymundo‌‌
Melliza,‌‌and‌‌Norberto‌‌Nabong.‌‌Quezon‌‌and‌‌Osmeña‌‌won‌‌by‌‌majority‌‌vote.‌‌ ‌
‌
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‌
Fig.‌‌5.‌M
‌ anuel‌‌L.‌‌Quezon‌‌was‌‌inaugurated‌‌as‌‌president‌‌in‌‌1935.‌ ‌
‌
During‌‌the‌‌Commonwealth‌‌period,‌‌the‌‌United‌‌States‌‌continued‌‌to‌‌“guide”‌‌the‌‌Philippines‌‌in‌‌
its‌ ‌transitional‌ ‌government‌ ‌in‌ ‌preparation‌ ‌for‌ ‌Philippine‌ ‌independence.‌ ‌However,‌ ‌the‌‌
promised‌‌independence‌‌did‌‌not‌‌come‌‌into‌‌full‌‌fruition‌‌as‌‌the‌‌Second‌‌World‌‌War‌‌broke‌‌out‌‌
and‌‌the‌‌Japanese‌‌occupied‌‌the‌‌Philippines‌‌in‌‌December‌‌1941.‌ ‌
‌

Check‌‌Your‌‌Progress‌ ‌
What‌ ‌were‌ ‌the‌ ‌difficulties‌ ‌faced‌ ‌by‌ ‌Filipinos‌ ‌in‌ ‌achieving‌ ‌full‌‌
‌
independence‌‌from‌‌the‌‌United‌‌States?‌ ‌
______________________________________________________________________‌
______________________________________________________________________‌
______________________________________________________________________‌ ‌

‌
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‌

‌Wrap-Up‌ ‌
_____________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
● After‌‌the‌‌Spanish-American‌‌War,‌‌the‌‌Americans‌‌put‌‌the‌‌Philippines‌‌under‌‌military‌‌
control.‌‌This‌‌marked‌‌the‌‌beginning‌‌of‌‌the‌‌American‌‌occupation.‌ ‌
● The‌ ‌Taft‌ ‌Commission‌ ‌implemented‌ ‌the‌ ‌transition‌ ‌from‌ ‌military‌ ‌to‌ ‌civil‌‌
government.‌ ‌The‌ ‌objective‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌civil‌ ‌government‌ ‌was‌ ‌to‌ ‌train‌ ‌and‌ ‌prepare‌‌
Filipinos‌‌for‌‌self-governance.‌‌ ‌
● The‌‌‌Philippine‌‌Organic‌‌Act‌‌of‌‌1902‌‌extended‌‌the‌‌US‌‌Bill‌‌of‌‌Rights‌‌to‌‌the‌‌Filipinos‌
and‌ ‌increased‌ ‌the‌ ‌participation‌ ‌of‌ ‌Filipinos‌ ‌in‌ ‌government‌ ‌affairs‌ ‌through‌ ‌the‌‌
creation‌‌of‌‌the‌P
‌ hilippine‌‌Assembly‌.‌ ‌
● After‌ ‌several‌ ‌independence‌ ‌missions‌ ‌to‌‌the‌‌United‌‌States,‌‌‌the‌‌Tydings-McDuffie‌‌
Act‌ ‌was‌ ‌passed‌ ‌through‌ ‌the‌ ‌leadership‌ ‌of‌ ‌Manuel‌ ‌Quezon.‌ ‌This‌ ‌provided‌ ‌the‌‌
establishment‌ ‌of‌ ‌a‌ ‌commonwealth‌ ‌government,‌ ‌after‌ ‌which‌ ‌full‌ ‌independence‌‌
was‌‌to‌‌be‌‌given‌‌to‌‌the‌‌Philippines.‌ ‌
● During‌ ‌the‌ ‌American‌ ‌colonial‌ ‌period,‌ ‌other‌ ‌relevant‌ ‌legislation‌ ‌included‌ ‌the‌ ‌Jones‌‌
Law‌ ‌of‌ ‌1916‌ ‌and‌ ‌the‌ ‌Hare-Hawes-Cutting‌ ‌Act‌.‌ ‌The‌ ‌latter‌ ‌was‌ ‌a‌ ‌product‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌‌
OsRox‌ ‌Mission‌ ‌led‌ ‌by‌ ‌Sergio‌ ‌Osmeña‌ ‌and‌ ‌Manuel‌ ‌Roxas‌ ‌and‌ ‌was‌ ‌the‌‌precursor‌‌of‌‌
the‌‌Tydings-McDuffie‌‌Act.‌‌ ‌
● The‌ ‌Philippines'‌ ‌Commonwealth‌ ‌government‌ ‌and‌ ‌eventual‌ ‌independence‌ ‌were‌ ‌put‌‌
on‌ ‌hold‌ ‌when‌ ‌the‌ ‌Japanese‌ ‌invaded‌ ‌the‌ ‌country‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌early‌ ‌years‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌Second‌‌
World‌‌War.‌‌ ‌
_____________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
‌

Try‌‌This!‌ ‌
True‌‌or‌‌False.‌‌‌Write‌‌‌true‌‌‌if‌‌the‌‌statement‌‌is‌‌correct.‌‌Otherwise,‌‌write‌f‌ alse‌.‌‌ ‌
‌

________________‌ 1. President‌‌McKinley‌‌sent‌‌two‌‌Philippine‌‌Commissions‌‌in‌‌order‌‌
to‌‌establish‌‌a‌‌civil‌‌government.‌ ‌

________________‌ 2. General‌ ‌Wood‌ ‌and‌ ‌Governor-General‌ ‌Forbes‌ ‌reported‌ ‌that‌‌

Filipinos‌‌were‌‌already‌‌prepared‌‌for‌‌self-governance.‌ ‌

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________________‌ 3. The‌ ‌Commonwealth‌ ‌government‌ ‌was‌ ‌in‌ ‌full‌‌operation‌‌in‌‌the‌‌

Philippines‌‌even‌‌during‌‌the‌‌Japanese‌‌occupation.‌ ‌

________________‌ 4. The‌ ‌resident‌ ‌commissioners‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌US‌‌Congress‌‌could‌‌speak‌‌

out‌ ‌for‌ ‌or‌ ‌against‌ ‌any‌ ‌bill‌‌being‌‌passed‌‌that‌‌might‌‌affect‌‌the‌‌
Philippines.‌ ‌

________________‌ 5. The‌ ‌Philippine‌ ‌Organic‌ ‌Act‌ ‌of‌ ‌1902‌ ‌provided‌ ‌that‌‌

independence‌ ‌would‌ ‌be‌ ‌granted‌ ‌when‌ ‌a‌ ‌stable‌ ‌government‌‌
had‌‌been‌‌established.‌ ‌

________________‌ 6. The‌ ‌Tydings-McDuffie‌ ‌Act‌ ‌lobbied‌ ‌by‌ ‌Manuel‌ ‌Quezon‌ ‌was‌‌

exactly‌‌the‌‌same‌‌as‌‌the‌‌Hare-Hawes-Cutting‌‌Act‌‌of‌‌the‌‌OsRox‌‌
‌ Mission.‌

________________‌ 7. The‌ ‌three‌ ‌branches‌ ‌of‌ ‌government‌ ‌established‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌‌

‌ Philippines‌‌during‌‌the‌‌American‌‌colonial‌‌period‌‌were‌‌identical‌‌
‌ to‌‌the‌‌three‌‌branches‌‌of‌‌government‌‌of‌‌the‌‌United‌‌States.‌ ‌

________________‌ 8. Qualified‌ ‌Filipinos‌ ‌exercised‌ ‌their‌ ‌right‌ ‌to‌ ‌vote‌ ‌during‌ ‌the‌‌
American‌‌colonial‌‌period.‌ ‌

________________‌ 9. The‌ ‌policy‌ ‌of‌ ‌benevolent‌ ‌assimilation‌ ‌justified‌ ‌American‌‌

influence‌‌over‌‌Filipinos’‌‌path‌‌to‌‌self-governance.‌ ‌ ‌

________________‌ 10. The‌ ‌Philippine‌ ‌Assembly‌ ‌was‌ ‌composed‌ ‌of‌ ‌a‌ ‌combination‌‌of‌‌
American‌‌and‌‌Filipino‌‌lawmakers.‌‌ ‌

‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌

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Challenge‌‌Yourself‌ ‌
Answer‌‌the‌‌following‌‌questions‌‌briefly.‌ ‌
‌

1. How‌ ‌does‌ ‌the‌ ‌government‌ ‌structure‌ ‌during‌ ‌the‌ ‌American‌ ‌colonial‌ ‌government‌‌
reflect‌‌the‌‌present-day‌‌government‌‌structure‌‌of‌‌the‌‌Philippines?‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌

________________________________________________________________________________________‌

________________________________________________________________________________________‌

________________________________________________________________________________________‌

________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
‌

2. Is‌‌the‌‌Philippines‌‌truly‌‌independent‌‌from‌‌the‌‌influence‌‌of‌‌the‌‌United‌‌States?‌‌Why‌‌or‌‌
why‌‌not?‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌

________________________________________________________________________________________‌

________________________________________________________________________________________‌

________________________________________________________________________________________‌

________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌

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‌
Suggested‌‌Rubric‌‌for‌‌Grading‌ ‌
The‌ ‌rubric‌ ‌below‌ ‌is‌ ‌a‌ ‌suggested‌ ‌one.‌ ‌Your‌ ‌teacher‌ ‌may‌ ‌modify‌ ‌it‌ ‌based‌ ‌on‌ ‌your‌ ‌needs.‌‌
Consult‌‌your‌‌teacher‌‌for‌‌the‌‌final‌‌rubric.‌‌ ‌
‌

Performance‌L
‌ evels‌ ‌

1‌ ‌ 2‌ ‌ 3‌ ‌ Suggested‌‌
Criteria‌ ‌ Score‌ ‌
Weight‌ ‌
Beginning‌‌ Proficient‌ ‌ Advanced‌‌
Proficiency‌ ‌ Proficiency‌ ‌

The‌‌answers‌‌were‌‌ The‌‌answers‌‌were‌‌ The‌‌answers‌‌were‌‌

Content‌ ‌
unclear‌‌and‌‌were‌‌
insufficient.‌‌There‌
were‌‌major‌‌flaws‌‌in‌‌
the‌‌explanations.‌ ‌
somewhat‌‌clear‌‌but‌‌
barely‌‌sufficient.‌‌
There‌‌were‌‌minor‌‌
flaws‌‌in‌‌the‌‌
explanations.‌ ‌
‌
clear‌‌and‌‌sufficient.‌‌
The‌‌explanations‌‌
×‌‌3‌ ‌
were‌‌excellent.‌‌ ‌

The‌‌answers‌‌did‌‌not‌‌ The‌‌answers‌‌flowed‌‌ The‌‌answers‌‌flowed‌‌

Organization‌ ‌ ‌
flow‌‌logically,‌‌and‌‌the‌‌ logically,‌‌but‌‌the‌‌parts‌‌ logically,‌‌and‌‌the‌‌
×‌‌2‌ ‌
parts‌‌were‌‌not‌‌clearly‌‌ were‌‌not‌‌clearly‌‌ parts‌‌were‌‌clearly‌‌
structured.‌‌ ‌ structured.‌‌ ‌ structured.‌ ‌

There‌‌were‌‌many‌‌ There‌‌were‌‌a‌‌few‌‌ There‌‌were‌‌no‌‌

Syntax‌ ‌ ‌
errors‌‌in‌‌sentence‌‌ errors‌‌in‌‌sentence‌‌ errors‌‌in‌‌sentence‌‌
construction,‌‌ construction,‌‌ construction,‌‌ ×‌‌1‌ ‌
grammar,‌‌or‌‌spelling.‌‌ ‌ grammar,‌‌or‌‌spelling.‌‌ ‌ grammar,‌‌and‌‌
spelling.‌‌ ‌

Total‌‌Possible‌‌Score‌ ‌ 18‌ ‌ ‌

‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌

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Reflect‌‌on‌‌This‌ ‌
Answer‌‌the‌‌following‌‌question‌‌briefly.‌ ‌
‌
During‌ ‌the‌ ‌debate‌ ‌on‌‌the‌‌provisions‌‌of‌‌the‌‌Hare-Hawes-Cutting‌‌Act,‌‌whom‌‌would‌‌you‌‌side‌‌
with:‌‌Manuel‌‌Quezon‌‌or‌‌Sergio‌‌Osmeña?‌‌Why?‌ ‌
‌
_______________________________________________________________________________________________‌

_______________________________________________________________________________________________‌

_______________________________________________________________________________________________‌

_______________________________________________________________________________________________‌

_______________________________________________________________________________________________‌

_______________________________________________________________________________________________‌

_______________________________________________________________________________________________‌

_______________________________________________________________________________________________‌

_______________________________________________________________________________________________‌

_______________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌

Bibliography‌ ‌
‌
Agoncillo,‌‌Teodoro‌‌A.‌‌‌History‌‌of‌‌the‌‌Filipino‌‌People.‌‌8th‌‌ed.‌‌Quezon‌‌City:‌‌Garotech‌‌Publishing,‌‌
1990.‌ ‌
‌
Barrows,‌‌David‌‌P.‌A
‌ ‌‌History‌‌of‌‌the‌‌Philippines.‌‌‌Manila:‌‌American‌‌Book‌‌Company,‌‌1905.‌ ‌
‌
Constantino,‌‌Renato.‌T‌ he‌‌Philippines:‌‌A‌‌Past‌‌Revisited.‌‌‌Quezon‌‌City:‌‌Tala‌‌Pub.‌‌Services,‌‌1975.‌ ‌
‌
‌

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