READINGS IN PHILIPPINE

HISTORY

Week 11: POST WAR REPUBLIC

General McArthur –
Military administrator
Organized the Cabinet and the
Council of State to address the
problems of the Filipino people.
Restoration Of The
Commonwealth
 In February 27, 1945, Mc Arthur turned the
civil government over to President
Osmeña.
 During his speech, he recalled the
contribution of Rizal, Bonifacio, Mabini,
and Quezon.
 Immediately after the restoration, he
proceeded rehabilitating the war ravaged
country and re organized the Cabinet and
Council of State to address the problems of
the Filipino then.
JUNE 9, 1945 – CONGRESS CONVENED
Election: November 11, 1941
• President:
• Manuel A. Roxas
• President Pro-Tempore:
• Elpidio Quirino
• Speaker, House of Representatives:
• Jose C. Zulueta
• Speaker Pro-Tempore:
• Prospero Sanidad
REPUBLICAN YEARS
POST WAR REHABILITATION

• As the war ended, the Philippines counted the cost. Over a million Filipinos had died or were
killed, out of a population of 18 million. Manila and most of the major cities were in ruins. Severe
inflation had set in as a result of the Japanese occupation, and farms were fallow; farm animals
too had died because of the war. Industries, transportation, and communication facilities were
destroyed.
• Apart from the physical destruction and the loss of lives, the Philippines was divided: there had
been those who had collaborated with the Japanese, while most had resisted either directly or
indirectly. The country was split on whether the collaborators were to be dealt with harshly or not.
Many key government officials from before the war had—willingly or not—served in the
Japanese-controlled administration.
• All the basic necessities were initially provided by the US Army—water, clothing, food, power,
communications, and jobs. Other assistance came in from the United States and the
United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration as the piers were restored, and ships
arrived.
PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE DAY 1946

• This was a big international event, but the Philippines did not yet have a Department of Foreign
Affairs. It had to rely on the US government for much of the preparations.
• May 1946 saw the start of a flurry of events to plan out the final days of the Commonwealth and
prepare for Independence Day. A joint Filipino-American committee was formed to iron out details.
The Manila Hotel, which had been gutted during the Battle of Manila, was cleaned up and prepared
for gala events. Invitations were issued to distinguished guests from the United States and various
countries. President Truman was invited, but he declined, owing to pressure of work. Independence
related contests were launched—for an appropriate poster, essay, poem, and hymn. A US flag was
to be hand-sewn by past and present Philippine first ladies, to be presented to President Truman.
Commemorative postage stamps, medals, and other souvenirs were issued.
• Thursday, July 4 1946, was a cloudy, sunless day. It was the rainy season in the Philippines, but
this did not dampen the excitement building up towards the Philippine independence ceremony.
Religious services were held in the various churches of Manila and provincial capitals, cities, and
towns. Guests began arriving at the venue shortly before 7:00 in the morning. Dignitaries arrived
from 7:20; the crowd craned their necks to get a glimpse of Gen. MacArthur. A bugle sounded,
and the audience rose to welcome President Roxas and his wife at 7:55. He was followed by Vice
President Elpidio Quirino and finally High Commissioner McNutt, accompanied by their
respective wives.
• The highlight of the program was McNutt’s reading of President Truman’s Proclamation of
Independence. As he began speaking, a heavy downpour drenched the audience, but they braved
the rain. The downpour lifted in time for McNutt to read the proclamation, which first laid out the
legal basis for the United States’ acquisition of the Philippines, the United States’ desire to grant
the Philippines independence, and the provisions of the Tydings McDuffie Act. Truman, as
president of the United States, then withdrew all “rights of possession, supervision, jurisdiction,
control or sovereignty” exercised by the United States over the territory and people of the
Philippines, and recognized the independence of the Philippines.
PAUL MCNUTT

• “A new nation is born. Long live the

Republic of the Philippines. May God
bless and prosper the Philippine
People, keep them safe and free.”
• Vice President Quirino then took his oath, followed by President Roxas. These were administered
by Chief Justice Manuel V. Moran of the Philippine Supreme Court. Roxas proceeded with his
inaugural address: “As we are masters of our own destiny, so too must we bear all the
consequences of our actions,” he announced. The Philippines was no longer protected by the
mantle of American sovereignty and thus “we must find our own way… [but in the atomic age] we
cannot retreat within ourselves… On all fronts the doctrine of absolute sovereignty is yielding
ground… But we have yet a greater bulwark today… the friendship and devotion of America…
Our safest course is in the glistening wake of America whose sure advance with mighty prow
breaks for smaller craft the waves of fear.”
PRESIDENTS OF THE PHILIPPINES