LESSON XI

TRANSITION TO INDEPENDENCE: THE

COMMONWEALTH REGIME
Prepared by: DR. ARNOLD O. ADANTE
EARLY AGITATIONS
FOR INDEPENDENCE
 Filipino manifested their desire to become independent from
American rule during the early years of the American occupation of
the country.

 As american colonial leaders viewed theese writings as a threat to

their imposition of soveriegnity in the country, the Philippine
Commission legislated two controversial laws to suppress Filipino
Nationalism at that time, namely; The Sedition law and Flag law.
The flag law, on the other hand, criminalized the dilsplay of the
Filipino flag.
SEDITION LAW:
Under the sedition law, Filipinos were prohibited from
Advocating independence orally or in writing and threatened
Filipinos with imprisonment and others stiff penalties for
Violating this law.

A number of plays written by Filipinos during this period were classified as

"seditious plays". Among them are Hindi Ako Patay written by Juan
Matapang Cruz, Tanikalang Guinto by Juan Abad, and Kahapon,
Ngayon at Bukas by Aurelio Tolentino. The authors, actors and spectators
of these "seditious plays" were arrested and imprisoned by the Americans.
FLAG LAW:
The Flag law, on the other hand, criminalized the display of
the Filipino Flag.

It was brought in view of the fact that in processions held in

Manila, Caloocan and Navotas for the purpose of celebrating
The triumph of one of the political parties occasion885
EARLY AGITATION
FOR INDEPENDENCE
 Nonetheless, Filipino nationalists continued expressing their anti-
American sentiments and aspiration for independence despite the
implementation of the sedition law and flag law.

 Some journalist, however, were sued and tried in court and

eventually convicted for publishing seditious and Anti-american
write ups.
EARLY AGITATIONS
FOR INDEPENDENCE
 Prior to the lifting of the ban on political parties, only the Federal
Party founded by Pardo de Tavera was allowed to exist in the
Philippines. This was because of the party’s advocacy of American
statehood for the country.

Pro-Independence parties, however, emerged when Governor

Henry Ide lifted the ban on these nationalist political parties.
FEDERAL PARTY:
After the cessation of hostilities in the
Philippine–American War (then known as
the "Philippine Insurrection"), political
parties were allowed to be formed for the
first time. The Partido Federalista (Federal
Party) was one of the first to be formed, on
December 23, 1900. By: Pardo de Tavera
NACIONALISTA PARTY
 The Nacionalista Party (Filipino: Partido Nacionalista; Spanish: Partido Nacionalista) is the
oldest political party in the Philippines today and was responsible for leading the country
throughout the majority of the 20th century since its founding in 1907.
 The Nacionalista Party was the ruling party from 1935–1944 (under President Manuel
Quezon), 1944–1946 (under President Sergio Osmeña), 1953–1957 (under President Ramon
Magsaysay), 1957–1961 (Under President Carlos P. Garcia), and 1965–1972 (under President
Ferdinand Marcos).
EARLY AGITATIONS FOR
INDEPENDENCE
 The establishment of Philippine Assembly, dominated by the members of the Nacionalista
party, further gave impetus for the call among Filipino lawmakers to work for independence
from the united states. This was even echoed by Filipino resident commissioners in the US
congress.
 One proof this was of this was during the time of Manuel L. Quezon’s stint as resident
commissioners in Washington D.C Quezon was able to have Jones Law enacted in 1916
which stated US commitment to grant the Philippines its independence as soon as a stable
government is establish therein.
PHILIPPINE
ASSEMBLY
 The first Philippine Assembly elections
were held on July 30, 1907. These were
the first nationwide elections ever held in
the Philippines. The Assembly was
inaugurated on October 16, 1907 with
Sergio Osmeña as Speaker of the
Assembly, Manuel L. Quezon as majority
leader, and Vicente Singson as minority
leader.
JONES LAW (1916)
EARLY AGITATIONS
FOR INDEPENDENCE
 The campaign for independence, however, was temporarily halted
owing to the American involvement in World war 1 on April 6,
1917. Filipino leaders set aside their independence agendum and
supported US was efforts against Germany. It organized a national
militia to be trained for service in the war. The people contributed
one million pesos to the funds of the US red cross and even
purchased about forty million US liberty bonds. A submarine and
destroyer were even donated by our people to the American
government.
WORLD WAR 1:
 The American entry into World War I came in
April 1917, after more than two and a half years of
efforts by President Woodrow Wilson to keep the
United States out of the war. Apart from an
Anglophile element urging early support for the
British, American public opinion reflected that of the
president: the sentiment for neutrality was
particularly strong among Irish Americans, German
Americans and Scandinavian Americans, as well as
among church leaders and among women in general.
EARLY AGITATIONS
FOR INDEPENDENCE
 Filipino nationalist leaders, however resumed their campaign for
Philippine Independence right after the end of World war 1. The
Philippine Legislature, therefore passed a resolution known as
Declaration of Purposes on March 17, 1919, pressing for the
granting of Philippines independence as the conditions set forth in
the Jones Law of 1916 had been satisfied. This resolution was even
officially certified by Governor General Burton Harrison.
FRANCIS BURTON
HARRISON
 Francis Burton Harrison (December 18, 1873 – November 21,
1957) was an American-born Filipino statesman who served in the
United States House of Representatives and was appointed
Governor-General of the Philippines by President of the United
States Woodrow Wilson. Harrison was a prominent adviser to the
president of the Philippine Commonwealth, as well as the next four
Presidents of the Republic of the Philippines. He is the only former
Governor-General of the Philippines to be awarded Philippine
citizenship.
EARLY AGITATIONS FOR
INDEPENDENCE
 The Wood-Forbes mission in 1921 made clear in this report to the President Warren Harding
that the Philippines was not ready for Independence. A similar mission was again sent to the
Philippines in 1926 by President Calvin Coolidge, which was headed by Colonel Carmi A.
Thompson. Colonel Thompson also asserted in his report that US should not grant the
Philippines its independence as the Filipinos were not yet prepared for it.
WOOD-FORBES
MISSION
 As a result of the victory of the republican
Party in elections of 1920, President
Wilson was succeeded by Warren G.
Harding. In his desire of knowing the
true state of the Philippines , Harding sent
the Wood-Forbes Mission to the country.
This special commission was constituted
by Major General Leonard Wood and W.
Cameron Forbes
EARLY AGITATIONS
FOR INDEPENDENCE
 To convince the American government that it was
timely to grant independence to the Philippines, a bill
was enacted by the Philippines legislature calling for
a plebiscite in 1927, on the independence issue. This
move was undertaken by Filipino legislators to the
believe the claim of anti-Philippine independence in
the US. President Calvin Coolidge, however, did not
put his stamp of approval on this bill.
PRESIDENT CALVIN
COOLIDGE
 John Calvin Coolidge Jr. (July 4, 1872 – January 5, 1933) was the
30th President of the United States (1923–29). A Republican lawyer
from Vermont, Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of
Massachusetts state politics, eventually becoming governor of that
state. His response to the Boston Police Strike of 1919 thrust him
into the national spotlight and gave him a reputation as a man of
decisive action.
EARLY AGITATIONS FOR
INDEPENDENCE
 An independence congress was called by Filipino nationalist leaders in Manila in 1930.
This convention was attended by about 2,000 delegated from the various sectors of Philippine
society. One concrete result of this assembly was the resolution manifesting the Filipino
aspiration to be independent from the United States.
THE INDEPENDENCE MISSION
 In order to attain the goal of attaining Philippine Independence in an efficient and effective
manner, a commission of independence was created by the Philippine Legislature. The
aforementioned commission recommended the sending of independence mission to the US.
THE
INDEPENDENCE
MISSION
 1st MISSION

 The first independence mission to the US

was sent to the US on February 28, 1919.
It was composed of 40 men representing
the various sectors of Philippine society.
THE
INDEPENDENCE
MISSION
 2ND MISSION

 Three years later, a second independence

mission was sent to the US. Heading this
mission were Quezon and Osmena. This
mission was sent by the Philippine
Legislature refute the report submitted by
the Wood-Forbes Mission to president
Harding and reaffirm the filipino clamor
for independence.
THE INDEPENDENCE
MISSION
 3rd mission

 A year later, the Philippine Legislature dispatched its third

independence mission to the United States. This time, the mission
was headed by Manuel A. Roxas. This mission taken also ended up
as a failure as President Calvin Coolidge just reiterated the position
taken by President Harding in 1922.
THE
INDEPENDENCE
MISSION
 4th mission
 This was followed by another
independence mission in 1927, with
Quezon as head. The mission was sent to
US by the Philippine Legislature for the
purpose of disproving the Thompson
report that the country should not be
granted independence at this time due to
the people’s lack of preparedness for it.
THE OSROX MISSION
 While Quezon was being treated for tuberculosis
in California, Osmena and Roxas led the ninth
independence mission to Washington in December
1931. Its main task was to secure and
independence law for the Philippines from the US
Congress. Osmena and Roxas were fortunate
enough to have an ally in the person of Senator
Harry B. Hawes who had been in Manila to probe
into the existing conditions of the Philippines.
Thus the Senator Hawes, together with Senator
Hare and Cutting, sponsored an independence bill
for the Philippines, which came to be known as
the Hare-Hawes-Cutting-Law.
HARE-HAWES-CUTTING-LAW.
 The Hare–Hawes–Cutting Act (ch. 11, 47 Stat. 761, enacted January 17, 1933) was the first
US law passed setting a process and a date for the Philippines to gain independence from the
United States. It was the result of the OsRox Mission led by Sergio Osmeña and Manuel
Roxas. The law promised Philippine independence after 10 years, but reserved several military
and naval bases for the United States, as well as imposed tariffs and quotas on Philippine
imports.
SENATOR HARRY B.
HAWES
 Harry Bartow Hawes (November 15, 1869 – July 31, 1947) was an
American lawyer, conservationist, and politician who served as a
Democratic member of the U.S. House and Senate from Missouri.
He is best known for the Hare–Hawes–Cutting Act, the first U.S. law
granting independence to the Philippines, and for earlier work
assisting the Republic of Hawaii become a U.S. territory.
THE OSROX MISSION
 The aforementioned bill was approved by the US Congress in December 1932. This bill was,
however, vetoed by President Hoover. Through the effective lobbying done by Osmena and
Roxas, US congress overrode the presidential veto and passed the bill on January 17,1933.
This independence law came be called the Hare-Hawes-Cutting-Act. The act was a fulfillment
of the vague pledge in the Jones Law of 1916. It was the American response to the demands of
a series of “independence missions” sent to Washington by the Philippine Legislature
THE OSROX MISSION
 The depression had caused American farm interest to look desperately of relief, and those who
suffered real or imaginary hurt from the competition of Philippine products sought to exclude
those products.
 They had already failed in a direct attempt to amend the tariff on the Philippine imports but
found that the respectable cloak of advocacy of independence increased the effectiveness of
their efforts.
THE OSROX MISSION
 In may 1933 President Franklin Roosevelt informed Quezon, Osmena, and Roxas that
Filipinos had to act on the Hare-Hawes-Cutting Act before he would consider changes.
Quezon wanted to maintain his leadership and therefore, accured Roxas and Osmena of
capitulating to unfair trade terms and accepting the American military and naval bases. The
revolutionaries Ricarte,Aguinaldo, and Bishop Maglipay also opposed this independence law.
PRESIDENT FRANKLIN
ROOSEVELT
 Franklin Delano Roosevelt (/ˈroʊzəvəlt/ his own pronunciation,
or /ˈroʊzəvɛlt/ January 30, 1882 – April 12, 1945), commonly known
as FDR, was an American statesman and political leader who served
as the 32nd President of the United States from 1933 until his death
in 1945. A Democrat, he won a record four presidential elections and
emerged as a central figure in world events during the mid-20th
century.
THE OSROX MISSION
 The Nacionalistas divided into those favoring (pros) and opposing (antis) the Hares-Hawes-
Cutting-Act. The bill was rejected on October 17, 1933. Quezon emerged victorious in the
controversy as majority of the members of the Philippine Legislature was convinced that the
Hare-Hawes-Cutting Act was unfair
TYDINGS
MCDUFFIE LAW
 After the defeat of the Hare-Haws-Cutting Act
in the Philippine legislature, Quezon himself
went to Washington and negotiated the passage
of a revised independence act, the Tydings-
Mcduffie Law, in March 1934.
 The Tydings-Mcduffie Act provided for a ten-
year transition period to independence.
 At the next few slides, you’ll know who are
the authors of this law.
  It was authored by Maryland Senator Millard
E. Tydings and Alabama Representative John
McDuffie, and signed into law by President
Franklin D. Roosevelt whom was discussed in
slide 32.

TYDINGS MCDUFFIE LAW

MILLARD E.
TYDINGS
 Millard E. Tydings was a World War I war
hero, later elected to Congress and
subsequently the Senate. He sought to
repeal prohibition, and sponsored
legislation that granted independence to
the Philippine Islands -- the first time in
known history that a colonial possession
was granted independence without a war.
JOHN MCDUFFIE
 McDuffie served in the U.S. House of
Representatives from 1919 to 1935 for
Alabama's First District and was a member
of the Flood Control and Patent
committees. He favored government
support for agriculture and thus voted in
favor of both the Grain Futures Act of
1922 and the Agricultural Credits Act of
1923. He faced Republican opposition in
1924 and 1926 but easily won both
elections.
THE PHILIPPINE
INDEPENDENCE ACT
(TYDINGS-MCDUFFIE LAW)
 Public Law 73-127 (24 March 1934)

An act to provide for the complete

independence of the Philippine Islands,
to provide for the adoption of a
constitution and a form of gov’t for the
islands, and or other purposes.
CONVENTION TO FRAME CONSTITUTION FOR
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

SECTION 1

 The Philippine Legislature is hereby authorized to provide for the

election of delegates to a constitutional convention, which shall
meet in the hall of the House of Representatives.
CHARACTER OF CONSTITUTIONS –
MANDATORY PROVISIONS
SECTION 2

a) The constitution formulated and drafted shall be

republican in form, shall contain a bill of rights, and
shall, either as a part of thereof or in an ordinance
appended thereto, contain provisions to the effect
that, pending the final and complete withdrawal of
the sovereignty of the United States over the
Philippines Islands
1) All Citizens of the Philippine Islands shall owe allegiance to
the United States
CHARACTER OF CONSTITUTIONS – MANDATORY
PROVISIONS
SECTION 2
2) Every officer of the government of the Commonwealth of the Philippine Islands shall, before entering upon
the discharge of his duties, take and subscribes an oath of office, declaring, among other things, that he
recognizes and accepts the supreme authority of and will maintain true faith and allegiance to the United
States.
CHARACTER OF
CONSTITUTIONS –
MANDATORY PROVISIONS

SECTION 2
3) Absolute toleration of religious
sentiment shall be secured and no
inhabitant or religious organization
shall be molested in person or
property on account of religious belief
or mode of worship
4) Property owned by the United States,
cemeteries, churches, and parsonages
or convents appurtenant thereto, and
all lands, buildings, and
improvements used exclusively for
religious, charitable, or educational
purposes shall be exempt from
taxation.
CHARACTER OF CONSTITUTIONS
– MANDATORY PROVISIONS
SECTION 2
5) Trade relations between the Philippine Islands and the United
States shall be upon the basis prescribed in section 6.
CHARACTER OF CONSTITUTIONS –
MANDATORY PROVISIONS
SECTION 2
6) The public debt of the Philippine Islands and its subordinate branches shall not exceed limits now or hereafter
fixed by the Congress of the United States; and no loans shall be contracted in foreign countries without the
approval of the President of the United States.
7) The debts, liabilities, and obligations of the present Philippine Gov’t., its provinces, municipalities , and
instrumentalities, valid and subsisting at the time of the adoption of the constitution, shall be assumed ad paid
by the new gov’t.
 CHARACTER OF CONSTITUTIONS –
MANDATORY PROVISIONS
SECTION 2
8) Provision shall be made for the establishment and maintenance of an adequate system of public schools,
primarily conducted in the English language.
CHARACTER OF CONSTITUTIONS
– MANDATORY PROVISIONS
SECTION 2
9) Acts affecting currency, coinage, imports, export, and
immigration shall not become law until approved by the
President of the United States.
10) Foreign affairs shall be under the direct supervision and
control of the United States.
11) All acts passed by the legislature of the Commonwealth of
the Philippine Islands shall be reported to the Congress of the
United States.
CHARACTER OF CONSTITUTIONS – MANDATORY
PROVISIONS
SECTION 2
12) The Philippine Islands recognizes the right of the United States to expropriate property for public uses, to
maintain military and other reservations and armed forces in the Philippines, and upon order of the President,
to call into the service of such the armed forces all military forces organized by the Philippine Gov’t.
13) The decisions of the courts of the Commonwealth of the Philippine Islands shall be subject to review by the
Supreme Court of the United States as provided in paragraph 6 of section 7.
CHARACTER OF CONSTITUTIONS – MANDATORY
PROVISIONS
SECTION 2
14) The United States may, by Presidential proclamation, exercise the right to intervene for the preservation of the
gov’t of the Commonwealth of the Philippine Islands and for the maintenance of the gov’t as provided in the
constitution thereof, and for the protection of life, property, an individual liberty and for discharge of gov’t
obligations under and in accordance with the provisions of the constitution.
CHARACTER OF CONSTITUTIONS – MANDATORY
PROVISIONS
SECTION 2
15) The authority of the United States High
Commissioner to the gov’t of the
Commonwealth of the Philippine Islands, as
provided in this Act, shall be recognized.
16) Citizens and corporations of the United
States shall enjoy in the Commonwealth of
the Philippine Islands all the civil rights of
the citizens and corporations, respectively,
thereof.
CHARACTER OF CONSTITUTIONS – MANDATORY
PROVISIONS
SECTION 2
b) The constitution shall also contain the following provisions, effective as of the date of the
proclamation of the President recognizing the independence of the Philippine Islands, as hereinafter
provided:
1) That the property rights of the United States and the Philippine Islands shall be promptly adjusted and settled,
and that all existing property rights of citizens or corporations of the United States shall be acknowledged,
respected, an safeguarded to the same extent as property rights of citizens of the Philippine Islands.
CHARACTER OF CONSTITUTIONS – MANDATORY
PROVISIONS
SECTION 2

2) That the officials elected and serving under the constitution adopted pursuant to the provisions of
this Act shall be constitutional officers of the free and independent Gov’t of the Philippine Islands
and qualified to function in all respects as if elected directly under such gov’t, and shall serve their
full terms of office as prescribed in the constitution.
CHARACTER OF CONSTITUTIONS –
MANDATORY PROVISIONS
SECTION 2
3) That the debts and liabilities of the Philippine Islands, its provinces, cities,
municipalities, and instrumentalities, which shall be valid and subsisting at
the time of the final and complete withdrawal of the sovereignty of the
United States, shall be assumed by the free and independent Gov’t of the
Philippine Islands.
4) That the Gov’t of the Philippine Islands on becoming independent of the
United States will assume all continuing obligations assumed by the United
States under the treaty of peace with Spain ceding said Philippine Islands to
the United States.
CHARACTER OF CONSTITUTIONS – MANDATORY
PROVISIONS
SECTION 2
5) That by way of the further assurance the Government of the Philippine Islands will embody the foregoing
provisions [except paragraph (2)] in a treaty with the United States.
 SUBMISSION OF CONSTITUTION TO
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES
SECTION 3

• Upon the drafting and approval of the constitution by the

constitutional convention in the Philippine Islands, the
constitution shall be submitted within two years after the
enactment of this Act to the President of the United States,
who shall determine whether or not it conforms with the
provisions of this Act.
SUBMISSION OF CONSTITUTION TO FILIPINO
PEOPLE
SECTION 4
• After the President of the United States has certified that the constitution conforms with the provisions of this
Act, it shall be submitted to the people of the Philippine Islands for their ratification or rejection at an election to
be held within four months after the date of such certification, on a date to be fixed by the Philippine
Legislature, at which election the qualified voters of the Philippine Islands shall have an opportunity to vote
directly for or against the proposed constitution and ordinances appended thereto.
• If a majority of the votes cast are against the constitution, the existing Gov’t of the Philippine Islands shall
continue without regard to the provisions of this Act.
• All the property and rights which may have been acquired in the
Philippine Islands by the United States under the treaties
mentioned in the first section of this Act, except such land or
other property has heretofore been designated by the President of
the United States for and otoher reservations of the Gov’t of the TRANSFER OF PROPERTY
United States.
AND RIGHTS TO
PHILIPPINE
COMMONWEALTH
SECTION 5
RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES PENDING
COMPLETE INDEPENDENCE
SECTION 6
After the date of the
inauguration of the gov’t
of the Commonwealth of
the Philippine Islands
trade relations between
the United States and the
Philippine Islands shall be
as of now provided by
law, subject to the
following exceptions:
• There shall be levied,
collected and paid on
all refined sugars in
excess of fifty
thousand long tons,
1 and on unrefined
sugars in excess of
eight hundred thousand
long tons, coming into
the United States from
the Philippine Islands
in any calendar year,
the same rates of duty
which are required by
the laws of the United
States to be levied,
collected , and paid
upon like articles
imported from foreign
countries.
RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES PENDING
COMPLETE INDEPENDENCE
SECTION 6
b) There shall be levied, collected, and paid on all coconut oil coming into the United States from the Philippine
Islands in any calendar year in excess of two hundred thousand long tons, the same rates of duty which are
required by the laws of the United States to be levied, collected, and paid upon like articles imported from
foreign countries.
RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES PENDING
COMPLETE INDEPENDENCE
SECTION 6
c) There shall be levied, collected, and paid on all yarn, twine, cord, cordage, rope and cable, tarred or untarred,
wholly or in chief value of Manila (abaca) or other hard fibres, coming in to the United States from the
Philippine Islands in any calendar year in excess of a collective total of three million pounds of all such
articles hereinbefore enumerated, the same rates of duty which are required by the laws of the United States to
be levied, collected, and paid upon like articles imported from foreign countries.
RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES PENDING
COMPLETE INDEPENDENCE
SECTION 6
d) In the event that in any year the limit in the case of any article which may be exported to the United States
free of duty shall be reached by the Philippine Islands, the amount or quantity of such articles produced or
manufactured in the Philippine Islands thereafter that may be so exported to the United States free of duty
shall be allocated, under export permits issued by the gov’t of the Commonwealth of the Philippine Islands.
RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES PENDING
COMPLETE INDEPENDENCE
SECTION 6
e) The gov’t of the Commonwealth of the Philippine Islands shall impose and collect an export tax on all articles
that may be exported to the United States from the articles that may be exported to the United States from the
Philippine Islands free of duty under the provisions of existing law as modified by the foregoing provisions of
this section including the articles enumerated in subdivisions (a), (b), (c ), within the limitations therein
specified, as follows in the next slides:
RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES PENDING
COMPLETE INDEPENDENCE
SECTION 6
1) During the sixth year after the inauguration of the new gov’t the export tax shall be 5 per centum of the rates
of duty which are required by the laws of the United States to be levied, collected, and paid on lie articles
imported from foreign countries;
RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES PENDING
COMPLETE INDEPENDENCE
SECTION 6
2) During the seventh year after the inauguration of the new gov’t the export tax shall be 10 per centum of the
rates of duty which are required by the laws of the United States to be levied, collected, and paid on like
articles imported from foreign countries;
RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES PENDING
COMPLETE INDEPENDENCE
SECTION 6
3) During the eighth year after the inauguration of the new gov’t the export tax shall be 20 per centum of the
rates of duty which are required by the laws of the United States to be levied, collected, and paid on like
articles imported from foreign countries;
RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES PENDING
COMPLETE INDEPENDENCE
SECTION 6
4) During the ninth year after the inauguration of the new gov’t the export tax shall be 20 per centum of the rates
of duty which are required by the laws of the United States to be levied, collected, and paid on like articles
imported from foreign countries;
RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES PENDING
COMPLETE INDEPENDENCE
SECTION 6
5) After the expiration of the ninth year of the inauguration of the new gov’t the export tax shall be 25 per
centum of the rates of duty which are required by the laws of the United States to be levied collected and paid
on like articles imported from foreign countries.
RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES PENDING
COMPLETE INDEPENDENCE
SECTION 6

• The government of the Commonwealth of the Philippine Islands shall place all funds received in such export
taxes in a sinking fund, and such funds shall, in addition to other moneys available for the purpose, be
applied solely to the payment of the principal interest on the bonded indebtedness of the Philippine Islands,
provinces, municipalities, and instrumentalities until such indebtedness has been fully discharged.
SECTION 7
• Until the final and complete withdrawal of
American Sovereignty over the Philippine
Islands:
 SECTION 7

1) Every duly adopted amendment to the constitution of the gov’t

of the Commonwealth of the Philippine Islands shall be
submitted to the President of the United States for approval.
 SECTION 7

2) The President of the United States shall have authority to

suspend the taking effect of or the operation of any law;
contract, or executive order of the gov’t of the Commonwealth
of the Philippine Islands, which in his judgment will result in a
failure of the gov’t of the Commonwealth of the Philippine
Islands to fulfill its contracts, or to meet its bonded
indebtedness and interest thereon or to provide for its sinking
funds, or which seems likely to impair reserves for the
protection of the currency of the Philippine Islands, or which
in his judgment will violate international obligations of the
United States.
 SECTION 7

3) The Chief Executive of the Commonwealth of the Philippine

Islands shall make an annual report to the President and
Congress of the United States of the proceedings and
operations of the gov’t of the Commonwealth of the Philippine
Islands and shall make such other reports as the President or
Congress may request.
 SECTION 7

4) The President shall appoint, by and with the advice and

consent of the Senate, a United States High Commissioner to
the gov’t of the Commonwealth of the Philippine Islands who
shall hold office at the pleasure of the President and until his
successor is appointed and qualified.
 SECTION 7

5) The gov’t of the Commonwealth of the Philippine Islands shall

provide for the selection of a Resident Commissioner to the
United States, and shall fix his term of office. He shall be the
representative of the gov’t of the Commonwealth of the
Philippine Islands and shall be entitled to official recognition
as such by all departments upon presentation to the President
of credentials signed by the Chief Executive of said gov’t.
 SECTION 7

6) Review by the Supreme Court of the United States of cases

from the Philippine Islands shall be as now provided by law;
and such review shall also extend to all cases involving the
constitution of the Commonwealth of the Philippine Islands.
 SECTION 8

 Effective upon the acceptance of this Act by concurrent resolution of the Philippine Legislature or by an
a convention called for that purpose, as provided in section 17:
 SECTION 8
1) For the purposes of the Immigration Act of 1917, the
Immigration Act of 1924 [except section 13 (c)], this
section, and all other laws of the United States relating to
the immigration, exclusion, or expulsion of aliens, citizens
of the Philippine Islands who are not citizens of the United
States shall be considered as if they were aliens.
SECTION 8
2) Citizens of the Philippine Islands who are not citizens of the
United States shall not be admitted to the continental United
States from the Territory of Hawaii (whether entering such
territory before or after the effective date of this section)
unless they belong to a class declared to be non-immigrants
by section 3 of the Immigration Act of 1924 or to a class
declared to be non-quota immigrants under the provisions of
section 4.
 SECTION 8

3) Any Foreign Service officer may be assigned to duty in the Philippine Islands, under a commission as a
consular officer, for such period as may be necessary and under such regulations as the Secretary of State
may prescribe, during which assignment such officer shall be considered as stationed in a foreign
country.
4) For the purposed of sections 18 and 20 of the Immigration Act of 1917, as amended, the Philippine
Islands shall be considered a foreign country.
SECTION 8

b) The provisions of this section are in

addition to the provisions of the
immigration laws now in force, and shall
be enforced as part of such laws, and all
the penal or other provisions of such laws
not applicable, shall apply to and be
enforced in connection with the provisions
of this section.
c) Terms defined in the Immigration Act of
1924 shall, when used in this section, have
the meaning assigned to such terms in the
Act.
 • There shall be no obligation on the part of the United States to meet
the interest or principal of bonds and other obligations of the Gov’t
of the Philippine Islands or of the provincial and municipal gov’t
thereof, hereafter issued during the continuance of United States
sovereignty in the Philippine Islands: Provided, That such bonds
and obligations hereafter issued shall not be exempt from taxation
SECTION 9 in the United States or by authority of the United States.
RECOGNITION OF PHILIPPINE
INDEPENDENCE AND
WITHDRAWAL OF AMERICAN
SOVEREIGNTY
SECTION 10
a) On the 4th, day of July immediately following the expiration
of a period of ten years from the date of the inauguration of
the new gov’t under the constitution provided for in this Act
the President of the United States shall by proclamation
withdraw and surrender all right of possession, supervision,
jurisdiction, control, or sovereignty, then existing and
exercised by the United States in and over the territory and
people of the Philippine Islands.
RECOGNITION OF PHILIPPINE
INDEPENDENCE AND
WITHDRAWAL OF AMERICAN
SOVEREIGNTY
SECTION 10
b) The President of the United States is hereby authorized and
empowered to enter into negotiations with the Gov’t of the
Philippine Islands, not later than two years after his
proclamation recognizing the independence of the Philippine
Islands for the adjustment and settlement of all questions
relating to naval reservations and fueling stations of the
United States in the Philippine Islands, and pending such
adjustment and settlement the matter of naval reservations
and fueling stations shall remain in its present status.
NEUTRALIZATION OF PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
SECTION 11
• The President is requested, at the earliest practicable date, to enter
into negotiations with foreign powers with a view to the conclusion
of a treaty for the perpetual neutralization of the Philippine Islands,
if and when the Philippine independence shall have been achieved.
NOTIFICATION TO FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS
SECTION 12
• Upon the proclamation and recognition of the independence of the
Philippine Islands, the President shall notify the gov’ts with which
the United States is in diplomatic correspondence thereof and invite
said gov’ts to recognize the independence of the Philippine Islands.
TARIFF DUTIES AFTER INDEPENDENCE
SECTION 13
• After the Philippine Islands have become a free and independent
nation there shall be levied, collected , and paid upon all articles
coming into the United States from the Philippine Islands the rates
of duty which are required to be levied, collected, and paid upon
like articles imported from other foreign countries.
IMMIGRATION AFTER INDEPENDENCE
SECTION 14
• Upon the final and complete withdrawal of American sovereignty
over the Philippine Islands the immigration laws of the United
States (including all the provisions hereof relating to persons
ineligible to citizenship) shall apply to persons who were born in
the Philippine Islands to the same extent as in the case of other
foreign countries.
CERTAIN STATUES CONTINUED IN
FORCE
SECTION 15
• Except as in this Act otherwise provided, the laws now or hereafter
in force in the Philippine Islands shall continue in force in the
Commonwealth of the Philippine Islands until altered, amended, or
repealed by the Legislature of the Commonwealth of the Philippine
Islands or by the Congress of the United States, and all references in
such laws to the gov’t or officials of the Philippines or Philippine
Islands shall be construed, insofar as applicable, to refer to the gov’t
and corresponding officials respectively of the Commonwealth of
the Philippine Islands.
• If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or the applicability thereof to any
person or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of
the remainder of the Act and the applicability of such
provisions to other persons and circumstances shall
not be affected thereby.
Section 16
 EFFECTIVE DATE
SECTION 17
• The foregoing provisions of this Act shall not take effect until
accepted by concurrent resolution of the Philippine Legislature or
by a convention called for the purpose of passing upon that question
as may be provided by the Philippine Legislature.
EFFECTIVE DATE
SECTION 17
• The salient provisions of the Tydings-McDuffie Law were the following:
 The calling of a constitutional convention to draw up the fundamental law of the land;
 Election of leaders of the Philippine Commonwealth;
 Recognition of Philippine independence on July 4, 1946;
 Recognition of the right of US to establish military bases in the country;
 Granting the US President the power to call on all military forces of the Philippines into service;
 Reclassification of all Filipinos as aliens and limiting immigration to US to 50 persons annually;
 The practice of neutrality on the part of the Philippines, except when it had to protect itself.
TYDINGS-MCDUFFIE LAW
 While tydings-mcduffie law marked a new

A new stage in Filipino-american partnership,

It remained a highly unequal one . Although
Only fifty Filipino immigrants were allowed into
The United States annually under the
Arrangement, American entry and resisdence
In the islands were unstricted.
TYDINGS-MCDUFFIE LAW
In december 1933, Manuel L. Quezon returned
To the Philippines from the United States with a
Slightly amended version of the
Hares-Hawe-Cutting bill authored by Senator
Millard Tydings and Representative Mcduffie.
This law was approved by t7he Philippines
Legislature on May 1, 1934. signaling the
Victory of the Philippines in its peaceful struggle
For independence.
THE FRAMING OF PHILIPPINE
CONSTITUTION
 Pursuant to the provisions of the Tydings-Mcduffie Law, a
constitutional convention was called to frame a constitution for the
Philippine Commonwealth. An election for the delegates of this
convention was held on July 10, 1934 by special proclamation of
Governor General Frank Murphy

 President……………………………… Claro M. Recto

 First Vice President…………………. RupertoMontinola

 Second Vice President……………… Teodoro Sandiko

 Secretary…………………………….. Narciso Pimentel and

 Sergeant at Arms……………………. Narciso Diokno

THE FRAMING OF PHILIPPINE
CONSTITUTION
The draft of the constitution was prepared by the so-called Seven Wise Men of the convention, a
sub committee of seven delegates chaired by Filemon Sotto. After Completing its task on
October 20, 1934. this committee submitted the draft constitution to the convention for
discussion and deliberation.
THE FRAMING OF PHILIPPINE
CONSTITUTION
 The proposed constitution was submitted
to President Roosevelt for his approval.
This was one the requirements set forth by
the Tydings-Mcduffie Law. A
constitutional mission was sent to the US
for this purpose, composed of Manuel L.
Quezon, Claro M. Recto and Delegate
Roxas. After the stamp of approval from
the US President waqs obtained on March
23, 1935. the contitution waws submitted
to the people for ratification in a plebiscite
held on May, 14 1935.
THE 1935 CONSTITUTION
The constitution was drafted not for the
Philippine Commonwealth alone but for the
Future republic of the philippines.
Three co-equal branches of government were
Created under the constitution of 1935 The
Executive power was vested in the President
Of the philippines to be elected directly by a
Unicameral National Assembly
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE
COMMONWEALTH OF THE
PHILLIPPINES
After the peoples ratification of the
Constituion of 1935, the first elections
Under this charter were held on
September 17, 1935 for the purpose of
Selecting the president, candidates
For the various elective positions task
then.: Coalition Party; National Socialist
Party and Republican Party.
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE
COMMONWEALTH OF THE
PHILLIPPINES
Political Party Presidential Candidate Vice presidential Candidate
Coalition Party Manuel L. Quezon Sergio Osmena
Nationalist Party Emilio Aguinaldo Reymundo Melliza
Republican Party Bishop Gregorio Aglipay Norberto Nabong
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF
THE COMMONWEALTH OF
THE PHILLIPPINES
 Quezon and Osmena won these elections overwhelmingly, Even
majority of the members of the National Assembly came from the
Coalition Pary of these two leaders

 The Commonwealth of the Philippines was formally inaugurated on

November 15,1935 President Elect Manuel L. Quezon and Vice
President elect- Sergio Osmena were sworn into office by the then
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Ramon Avencia
MANUEL L. QUEZON
 During his presidency, Quezon tackled the problem of

landless peasants in the countryside

His other major decisions include the reorganization
of the islands' military defense, approval of a
 recommendation for government reorganization,
 the promotion of settlement and development in Mindanao
SERGIO OSMENA
 Prior to his accession in 1944, Osmeña served as

Governor of Cebu from 1906 to 1907,

Member and first Speaker of the Philippine House
of Representatives from 1907 to 1922
and Senator from the 10th Senatorial District
 for thirteen years.
THE PHILIPPINE DURING THE
COMMONWEALTH ERA
Upon assumption into office, Quezon proceeded with his
Work of building the foundations of the future Republic
Of the Philippines. One of the problems confronted by the
Quezon was the peasant unrest in some parts of the
Country even before the inauguration of the Philippine
Commonwealth.
AGRARIAN UNREST IN
CENTRAL LUZON
 Tensions were highest in Central Luzon, where tenancy was most
widespread and population pressures were the greatest. The 1931
Tayug insurrection north of Manila was connected with a colorum
sect and had religious overtones, but traditionally messianic
movements gradually gave way to secular, and at times
revolutionary, ones
AGRARIAN UNREST IN
CENTRAL LUZON
 The Kapatiran Tangulan ng malayang Mamamayan or Association for an Offensive

for an offensive for our future Freedom movement founded in 1931 was both urban and rural
based and had as many as 40,000 followers
AGRARIAN UNREST IN
CENTRAL LUZON

 The most important movement, however, was that of the Sakdalistas.

Founded in 1933 by Benigno Ramos, a former Nacionalista Party
member and associate of Quezon who broke with him over the issue
of collaboration, the Sakdal Party fielded its candidates in the 1934
election on a platform of complete independence by the end of 1935,
redistribution of land legislature and to provincial posts, and by early
1935 the party may have had as many as 200,000 members.
AGRARIAN UNREST IN CENTRAL LUZON

 In 1938 the Socialist party joined in a united front with

The Communist Party of the Philippines (Partido

Komunista ng Pilipinas – PKP), which was prominent in
Supporting the demands of tenants for better contracts
And working conditions.
AGRARIAN UNREST IN
CENTRAL LUZON
In response to deteriorating conditions, commonwealth president Quezon launched the “Social
Justice” program, which included regulation of rents but achieved only meager results. There
were insufficient funds to carry out the Program, and implementation was sabotaged n the
local level by landlords and municipal officials. In 1919 and 1940 thousands of cultivators
were evicted by landlords because they insisted on enforcement the 1933 Rice Share Tenancy
Act, which guaranteed larger share for tenants.
1933 RICE SHARE TENANCY
ACT
 Rice Share Tenancy Act of 1933. When
the Philippine Commonwealth was
established, President Manuel L. Quezon
implemented the Rice Share Tenancy Act
of 1933. The purpose of this act was to
regulate the share-tenancy contracts by
establishing minimum standards. ...
However, contracts were good only for
one year.
THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF
THE COMMONWEALTH
 Reorganazation of the government. Government was reorganize through the creation of new
government departments and offices like the Department of National Defense; Institute of
National Language; the National Council of Educational, Census Commission; and
Commission of Mindanao and Sulu

 Filipinazation of the Judiciary. All Positions in the Judicial branch of government were given
to Filipino justices. In addition, two new courts were created, namely: the Court of Appeals
and the Court of Industrial Realtions.
THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF
THE COMMONWEALTH
 Granting of woman Suffrage. The 1935 Constitution provided that women suffrage or the right
to vote would be granted if no less than 300,000 qualified woman were to vote affirmatively
for the grant of the right of suffrage within two years after the adoption of the constitution. In
a plebiscite held on April 30, 1937 a total of 447, 725 women voted for the grant Thus, by
constitutional mandate, Filipino women acquired the right of suffrage to vote and be voted
upon.

 Condition of New Chartered Cities. Chartered cities created were Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod,
Davao, Zamboanga, San Pablo, Quezon City, Cavite, and Tagaytay
THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF
THE COMMONWEALTH
 The Adoption of National Language. In his desire to have a common language that would
identify the Filipino people after its independence from the US, Quezon proclaimed Filiipino
based on Tagalog as the national Language of the country by virtue of Executive Order No.
134 in June 1940

 Promotion of Social Justice. In recognition of the worth and dignity of the common, which to
Quezon was social justice, the following measures were inplemented: enactment of the Eight-
Hour Labor Law. The creation of the National Relief Administration; the democratization of
access to education; and the appointment of government lawyers to defend the rights of poor
workers in court.
THE ACCOMPLISHMENT
OF THE COMMONWEALTH
 Promotion of the Education of the Filipinos, To promote the
education
of the Filipinos, President Quezon created the National
Council of Education in 1936 as an advisory body on
educational matters. Its first chairman was
Dr. Rafael Palma
THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF
THE COMMONWEALTH
 Compulsory Military Training of Able Bodied
Filipino Youths. To ensure the National security of
the country in the event of war, Commonwealth
Act no. 1 or the national Defense Act was enacted
which drafted the defense system of the
Philippines

 Creation of the JPCA. The JPCA or the (joint

preparatory Committee on Philippine Affairs
recommended the granting of Philippine
independence on July 4, 1946. and the extension
of Philippine-American preferential trade to
December 31, 1960
THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF
THE COMMONWEALTH
 Agricultural Development. By the end of 1935, there were
4,017,880 hectares of land under cultivation. This Figure
increased 6,690,539 hectares in the end of 1939

 Enhancement of Domestic Trade. Domestic trade was enhanced

by the “Buy Philippines!” slogan of the National Economic
Protectionism Association(NEPA) in 1934.

 Passage of three Amendments to the 1935 Constitution. These

amendments, which were ratified by the Filipino people on June
18, 1940 were the following: change the tenure of the presidential
and vice president to 4 years with reelection for another term; the
establishment of a bicameral Congress of the Philippines, with the
Senate as upper and the House of Representatives as the lower
house.
THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
OF 1941
 Presidential, legislative and local elections were held on
November 11, 1941 in the Philippines. Incumbent
President Manuel Luis Quezon won an unprecedented
second partial term as President of the Philippines in a
landslide. His running mate, Vice President Sergio
Osmeña also won via landslide. The elected officials
however, did not serve their terms from 1942 to 1945 due
to World War II. In 1943, a Japanese-sponsored
Republic was established and appointed Jose P. Laurel as
president. From 1943 to 1945, the Philippines had two
presidents. Quezon died in 1944 due to tuberculosis and
was replaced by Sergio Osmeña.