READINGS IN

PHILIPPINE HISTORY
GROUP 8
“THE SUPPRESSION OF FILIPINO NATIONALISM AND THE FILIPINIZATION
OF THE GOVERNMENT”
 AMERICAN RULE AND PHILIPPINE
INDEPENDENCE

• The establishment of American rule was a challenge to Filipino nationalism and

independence
• As the Americans settled in to rule the islands, the Filipinos continued their fight
against U.S. sovereignty and the continuing oppression by the military
• In spite of McKinley’s instruction to the Taft Commission that “no law shall be passed abridging the freedom
of speech or the press or of the right of the people to peacefully assemble and petition the government for a
redress of grievance” the commission passed laws “for the safety of the sovereignty of the United States in the
Philippines”
• One of the laws passed was Act No. 492 or the Sedition Law
 ACT NO. 292 OR THE SEDITION LAW WAS
PASSED ON NOVEMBER 4, 1901
Act No. 292 or the Sedition Law was passed on November 4, Its pertinent portions are:
• Sec. 1: Every person, resident in the Philippine Islands, owing allegiance to the United States or the
Government of the Philippine Islands, who levies war against them, or adheres to their enemies, giving them
aid and comfort within the Philippine Islands or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and, upon conviction shall
suffer death or, at the discretion of the Court, shall be imprisoned at hard labor for not less than five years and
fined not less than ten thousand dollars.
• Sec. 8: Every person who shall utter seditious words or speeches, write, publish, or circulate, scurrilous libels
against the Government of the Philippine Islands or which tend to disturb or obstruct any lawful officer in
executing his office, of which suggest or incite rebellious conspiracies or riots or which tend to stir up the
people against the lawful authorities or to disturb the peace of the community, the safety and order of the
Government, or who shall knowingly conceal such evil practices, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding
two thousand dollars, or by imprisonment not exceeding two years, or both in the discretion of the Court.
•  Sec. 10: Until it has been officially proclaimed that a state of war or insurrection against the authority or
sovereignty of the United States no longer exists in the Philippine Islands, it shall be unlawful for any
person to advance orally or by writing or printing or like methods, the independence of the Philippines
Islands or their separation from the United States whether by peaceable or forcible means, or to print,
publish or circulate any handbill, newspaper or publication, advocating such independence or
separation.Members of the Taft Commission.
From left: Dean C. Worcester, Henry Clay Ide, William Howard Taft, Bernard Moses, and Luke Edward
Wright.
THE SEDITIOUS THEATER
• The theater was a form of entertainment for many Filipinos during the Spanish times.
In the period of suppressed nationalism, it became the means to express the anti-
American sentiments of the nationalists.In 1902, the seditious theater was born.
 The Staging of Severino Reyes
“Walang Sugat”

• In the seditious theater, playwrights spoke up on stage, disguising their anti-Spanish

and anti-American sentiments in the costumes, manners and scenography of traditional
theater.When they were discovered by American authorities, the cast and crew,
sometimes the audience were arrested.The staging of Severino Reyes’ Walang Sugat
• Using traditional stage methods, the actors and crew inserted bits of subversive stage
business: costumes would suddenly form the Philippine flag (the display of which was
forbidden by law); the unscheduled singing of the National Anthem (also forbidden by
law); the surprise appearance on stage of an underground hero, like General Artemio
Ricarte; or new stage business, like the trampling of the American flag, or, in the case
of Severino Reyes’ Walang Sugat (Unwounded), the replacement of the friar-villain by
Uncle Sam.
THE SEDITIOUS PLAYS AND THEIR AUTHORS

Juan Abad
• Tanikalang Guinto (Golden Chain) is about Ligaya (light; the spirit of independence), daughter of Dalita (extreme
poverty and suffering; the Mother Country), who is forbidden to see Kaulayaw (sweetheart; Filipino hero) by her
uncle Maimbot (greedy; the American insular government). Ligaya receives a golden bracelet from Maimbot that
becomes a chain to bind her to his control.
• First staged at the Teatro Libertad on July 7, 1902, and subsequently in other theaters in Manila, Laguna and
Cavite. On May 10, 1903, provincial authorities shut down its Batangas performance and indicted the author for
sedition. Abad was sentenced to two years imprisonment and a fine of $ The decision was later reversed by the
Supreme Court in 1906.
• While Abad was out under bail, he wrote Isang Punlo ng Kaaway (An Enemy Bullet) which was performed at the
Teatro Rizal in Malabon on May 8, The show was stopped by authorities which resulted in Abad’s second arrest.
Juan Matapang Cruz
• Hindi Aco Patay (I Am Not Dead) was presented at the Teatro Nueva Luna in Malabon on the night
of May 8, The play features the story of Karangalan (honor) who loves Tangulan (defender, patriot),
and resists Macamcam (one who usurps power; the American insular government). Tangulan is
thought killed in a duel with Macamcam, but he springs up and declares, “I am not dead!” The red
sun on a Katipunan flag rises behind the stage, representing freedom won, and the loyal Filipinos
take the villains and traitors captive. 
• A riot occurred when a drunken American soldier hurled an empty beer bottle at the Katipunan flag,
then climbed the stage with some others and tore the scenery apart. This led to the arrest of the
theater manager, the banning of the play, and the confiscation of “seditious” props, among them
Katipunan flags and revolutionary emblems. Ten of the actors were arrested a month later while Cruz
was arrested two months later.
• During the trial, Cruz denied he was the author of the play and even pointed to his wife as the one
who wrote the play. Nevertheless, Cruz was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, and apparently
served them in full.
 Aurelio Tolentino
• he was a revolutionary long before he concentrated on playwriting. He was a member of the Katipunan and
later wrote for various nationalist newspapers. In August 1900 he headed a secret society called Junta de
Amigos, “with authority from Aguinaldo to form and organize guerrillas” He became involved in various
revolutionary activities during the American period and was arrested a number of times. In his lifetime,
Tolentino suffered nine imprisonments.
• His most popular play was Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas. It was about attempts to
subjugate the Philippines in the past (by the Chinese), in the present (the Spanish
officials and friars) and the future (the Americans), and how Inangbayan (Mother
Country) and her son Tagailog (Tagalog; the Filipino) win over them.This was played
on May 14, 1903 at the Teatro Libertad in Manila.
• At one point, the script called for the actor playing Tagailog (the Tagalog provinces) to
haul down the American flag and to trample on it as a sign of victory. Since the actor
was reluctant to do this in full view of the Americans in the audience, Tolentino
reportedly took over the role himself. This angered the Americans in the audience,
who then rioted As a result, Tolentino and several other members of the company were
arrested
• Tolentino was charged with sedition and defended by a young lawyer, Manuel
Quezon. He was sentenced to two years imprisonment and a fine of $2000 gold. The
sentence was appealed but on March 6, 1906, the Supreme Court upheld the decision
and found Tolentino guilty as charged.
 OTHER SUPPRESSED PLAYS

• Ang Kalayaan Hindi Natupad (The Unattained Freedom) by an anonymous playwright

- Obando, Bulacan on May 15, 1903, cast and crew arrested.
• Pulong Pinaglahuan (Subjugated Island) by Mariano Martinez - Navotas, Rizal on
January 23, 1904; author and 20 performers arrested.
• Dahas na Pilak (Silver Force) by anonymous author - Teatro Nueva Luna in Malabon,
Rizal, May 1, 1904; manager and eleven actors arrested.
• Ang Katipunan (The Katipunan) by Gabriel Beato Francisco; February 21, 1905 in
Laoag, Ilocos Norte; the entire audience reportedly arrested.
 THE FLAG LAW
• Though the national flag was still displayed during political affairs, it soon became
noticeable by the Americans as a symbol of the aspirations of Philippine
independence. In 1907, as the elections for the First Philippine Assembly were to be
held, Fernando Ma. Guerrero, journalist and poet, decided to run as a candidate in
Manila for the newly-organized Liga Popular Nacionalista and won an overwhelming
victory.
• As Teodoro Kalaw narrates: "During the tumultuous celebration of his [Guerrero's]
victory, the Filipino Flag was very openly displayed, and with great emotion. In
contrast, the American flag received very little attention. Many American officers
considered this an aspersion cast on the American sovereignty of the Islands. As a
consequence, the Civil Commission, a few days later, declared illegal the display of
the Filipino flag, and, in general, the use of any emblem used in the Revolution."
• On 23 August 1907, the Philippine Commission passed Act No also known as the Flag
Law. It prohibited “the display of flags, banners, emblems, or devices used in the
Philippines for the purpose of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, and
of Katipunan flags, banners, emblems, or devices.” The law also covered the display
of the Philippine flag. For over 10 years, in spite of the Filipino control of the
legislature, the lawmakers failed to repeal the Flag Law
• On October 30, 1919, Governor General Francis Burton Harrison signed into law the
Philippine Legislature's Act repealing the Flag Law. The bill had been sponsored by
Senator Rafael Palma.
• Gov. Gen. Francis Burton Harrison with Senator Rafael Palma and businessman
Vicente Madrigal during the presentation of the Philippine flag in Malacanang after
the repeal of the Flag Law on October 30, 1919.
THE EL RENACIMIENTO LIBEL CASE
(1908-1914)
 EL RENACIMIENTO

• Was founded in 1901 by Rafael Palma and and fellow nationalist writers in Manila
• It’s meaning was “Rebirth”.
• the newspaper was put up as a result of a perceived growth by Filipino nationalists of
their countrymen’s inclination to accept American sovereignity
• Less than a year later, the Tagalog section Muling Pagsilang was added to the
newspaper.
• The newspaper became well-known for its anti-American stance and nationalist ideals
• It constantly drew threats of libel cases from American officials but cooler heads and
diplomacy intervened
• In 1903, Palma left the Renacimiento and he was replaced by his father-in-law Martin
Ocampo as publisher. In 1907, Teodoro M. Kalaw became director while Fidel Reyes
was appointed as editor-in-chief.
THE EL RENACIMIENTO ADMINISTRATION IN 1908

Martin Ocampo Fidel Reyes Teodoro M. Kalaw

THE AVES DE RAPIÑA EDITORIAL
OCTOBER 30, 1908
• The editorial came out on page 4 of
the October 30, 1907 issue of El
Renacimiento
• It was written by Fidel Reyes
• It was an editorial directed against
then Secretary of the Interior Dean C.
Worcester
 DEAN C. WORCESTER

• First arrived in the Philippines in 1887 as a junior member of a scientific expedition-

appointed to the First Philippine Commission (Schurman Commission) in 1899.
• Became a member of the civil administration in 1901 when, as a member of the
Second Philippine Commission (Taft Commission), he became Secretary of the
Interior.
• Scientist, Writer, Propagandist, Entrepreneur.
• The editorial was a reaction against Worcester for his racist and self-serving policies in
government
• This included the Special Government Province Act of 1905 which placed the ethnic
Filipinos under special administration by the Interior Department.
• His investments for commercial and economic ventures in tribal lands.
• what is not known in our history was that the editorial was an offshoot of an earlier
editorial cartoon that appeared in Lipang Kalabaw, a satirical magazine.
• The cartoon depicted Worcester as King Belshazzar of Babylonia who was warned by
God for his persecution of the Jews through the words “Mene Thekel Phares” written
on the walls of the palace.
• The cartoon itself showed that the oracle (the Filipino people) warning “King”
Worcester to “abdicate” his leadership over his subjects.
• It wasn’t surprising to note that the last words of the Aves de Rapina piece was the
same warning to Belshazzar by the Hand of God.
November 5, 1908

• The staff and officials of El Renacimiento were informed of their arrest for the charge
of libel filed by Worcester.

According to Muling Pagsilang:

“ang dahil ng sakdal ay isang salaysay na lumabas noong ika-30 ng Oktubre sa El

Renacimiento at pinamagatang Aves de Rapina. Ang nilalaman ng salaysay ay
pinaghanguan di umano’y pagsirang-puri kay Dean C. Worcester…”
Charged with Libel before the
sala of Judge Chas H. Smith at
the Manila Court of First
Instance were:
El Renacimiento
• Martin Ocampo –
administrator
• Teodoro M. Kalaw – director
• Fidel Reyes – editor-in-chief.
Muling Pagsilang
• Lope K. Santos – director
• Faustino Aguilar – editor-in
chief
• The defense team were composed of the best lawyers headed by Felipe Agoncillo.
• Their bail money was put up by friends and close contacts
 THE TRIAL

• the libel case would drag for six years and was a test run between American colonial
policies and the freedom of the press.
• The defendants became instant celebrities equal to the unpopularity of Worcester
• Filipino, Spanish, and even some American newspapers lent their support to El
Renacimiento and condemned the suit for its interference to press freedom.
• But the defense was not just fighting a libel suit, it was fighting a government
enforcing laws to supress the nationalism of a people
  THE VERDICT

• On January 9, 1907, Ocampo and Reyes were found guilty and sentence to six months
imprisonment and a P2000 fine plus payment of one-fifth of legal costs.
• On March 8, Kalaw was pronounced guilty and sentenced to nine months
imprisonment and a P3000 fine plus payment of one-fifth of the legal costs.
• Both Santos and Aguilar were found not guilty.
• on appeal to the Supreme Court, on 22 December 1910, Ocampo’s conviction was
upheld; Reyes was cleared for insufficient evidence and Kalaw’s penalty was raised
from nine to twelve months.
• But still not satisfied with the verdict, Worcester filed a civil suit against the
newspaper. In a letter to a friend, he said that he was intent on putting “this particular
mischievous newspaper out of business.”
The verdict on the civil suit put the El Renacimiento out of business. In a decision
penned on January 19, 1910, the defendants were ordered to pay the amount of P60,000
divided as follows:
• P35,000 “for damages on account of wounded feelings, mental suffering, and injuries”
on Worcester.
• P25,000 “for punitive damages- In order to pay the penalty, the equipment of the
newspaper was sold in public auction on January 28.
• The last issue of the Renacimiento was an issue of homage to the people who helped
them in their time of need.
• The editorial was a message of thanks from the editors and writers as well as a cry
against the continuing oppression by the Americans.
• In 1914, Governor-General Francis Burton Harrison issued pardons for both Ocampo
and Kalaw. Both didn’t spend a day in jail.
• But the Renacimiento libel case was not an entire victory for Worcester.
By the time, the case ended, Kalaw was a Batangas representative in the Second
Philippine Assembly while Ocampo and Reyes continued their careers as writers and
businessmen.
In 1910, Ocampo put out a new weekly magazine that again was nationalist in
nature. It was called Renacimiento Filipino.
 CONCLUSION

• The period of suppressed nationalism was more than a period of oppression for the
Filipinos. It was a time of challenge for the independence that they lost in the
American colonization. As self-rule was granted to them during the civil government,
the Filipinos took up the fight again, this time in the realm of politics.
THE END