A Glance at Selected Philippine

Political

Caricatu
Alfred McCoy’s Philippine Cartoons:
 Learning
Objectives:
• gain a deeper understanding of the historical context of the
American Era in the Philippines (1900 – 1941) through
analyzing political caricatures ;
• analyze and interpret political cartoons through the
presentation of analyses , and findings , improving
communication skills ; and
• be exposed to the perspectives , values , and struggles of the
Philippine people during the American Era to lead to a more
emphatic understanding of historical events .
 Philippine
Independence
Political Dynasty
Graft/Corruption
Colorum Vehicle
Conservatism
Monopolization
Political Cartoons
(Caricatures)
caricature exist? Why do
an art form by exaggerating human features and poking
fun at its subjects.
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THE AMERICAN COLONIZATION IN THE PHILIPPINES

 1898
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 How did the American
Colonization of the
Philippines begin?
Treaty of Paris

 after the United States  was an agreement signed

defeated Spain in the between Spain and the
Spanish-American War United States of America
regarding the ownership of
the Philippine Islands and
other Spanish colonies in
South America.
 Treaty of Paris
10 December Philippines Americans
1898
Treaty was signed, six was sold to the United occupied the
months after the States at $20 million Philippines
revolutionary and effectively immediately which
government declared undermined the resulted in the
the Philippine sovereignty of the Philippine-American
Independence. Filipinos after their War that lasted until
revolutionary victory the earliest years of
the 20th century.
 William McKinley
President of the United States

 American He believed that it

politician who was America’s duty
served as the 25th to:
president of the
United States from  civilize and
1897 until his Christianize the
assassination in people of the
1901. Philippines
 Emilio Aguinaldo
1 President of the Philippines
st

 was a Filipino • declared independence

revolutionary, statesman, from Spain on June 12,
and military leader who 1898, and established
is the youngest president the First Philippine
of the Philippines (1899– Republic
1901) and became the
first president of the
Philippines
 1899
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The Philippine-American War
 1902
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 Filipinos
fought valiantly against
the American forces, but
they were eventually
defeated.
 Balangiga Massacre
 Balangiga Encounter, Balangiga Incident or Balangiga Conflict
 was an incident during the latter stages of the Philippine–
American War in which the residents of the town of Balangiga
on the island of Samar conducted a surprise attack on an
occupying unit of the U.S. 9th Infantry, killing 54.
 resulted in an estimated 2,000 Filipino civilians (women and
children) killed and over 200 homes burned, which they see as
retaliation by American soldiers.
 1901
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 William Howard Taft
1 American Governor-General
st

of the Philippines
 He implemented policies • was the 27th president of
to modernize the the United States,
Philippines, including serving from 1909 to
building roads, schools, 1913, and the tenth chief
and hospitals. justice of the United
States, serving from
1921 to 1930, the only
person to have held both
offices.
 1916
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Jones Act
granted the Philippines
greater autonomy and
promised eventual
independence
 1935
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 Manuel Quezon
1 President of the Commonwealth
st

in the Philippines
 The Commonwealth of • The Commonwealth era
the Philippines was is the 10-year
the administrative body transitional period in
that governed the Philippine history from
Philippines from 1935 to 1935 to 1945
1946 • was created in
preparation for
independence from the
United States.
 1941
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 World
War II
The Philippines’ path to
independence was
interrupted.
 World
War II
Japanese invaded the
Philippines and occupied
the country for three
years.
 General Douglas
Commander of the U.S. Army
MacArthur
Forces
 an American military
in the Far East
• famously vowed to
leader who served as return to the Philippines
General of the Army of to liberate it from the
the U.S., as well as field Japanese
marshal to the Philippine
Army.
 1944
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 General Douglas
Commander of the U.S. Army
MacArthur
Forces
 an American military
in the Far East
• famously vowed to
leader who served as return to the Philippines
General of the Army of to liberate it from the
the U.S., as well as field Japanese
marshal to the Philippine • he made good on his
Army. promise and led the
allied forces to victory.
 1946
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 July 4, 1946
Philippine Independence Day

 The United States

granted the Philippine
Independence.
8:00
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THE AMERICAN COLONIZATION IN THE PHILIPPINES

 THE AMERICAN COLONIZATION IN THE PHILIPPINES

 lasted for almost 50 years

 The Philippines underwent significant changes, both positive and negative
 Filipinos learned English and were introduced to modern technology, but
they also suffered through war and colonial oppression.
 ISAIAH 1:17
“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the
oppressed. Take up the cause of the
fatherless; plead to case of the widow.”
 caricature exist? Why do
 Such art genre and technique became part of the print media as a
form of social and political commentary, which usually targets
persons of power and authority.
 Cartoons became an effective tool for publicizing opinions through
the heavy use of symbolism, which is different from a verbose
written editorial and opinion pieces.
 Alfred McCoy & Alfredo Roces
 Philippine Cartoons: Political Caricature of the American Era
(1900 – 1941), compiled political cartoons published in the
newspaper dailies and periodicals in the American Era.
 The Independent on May 20, 1916
 A politician from Tondo (Dr. Santos), passing his crown to his
brother-in-law (Dr. Barcelona)
 A Filipino guy (as depicted wearing salakot and barong
tagalog) was trying to stop Santos, telling the latter to stop
giving Barcelona the crown because it is not his to begin with.
 The Independent on June 16, 1917
 was drawn by Fernando Amorsolo
 aimed as a commentary to the workings of Manila Police
during that period
 Filipino child who stole a skinny chicken because he had
nothing to eat, while the police officer relentlessly pursuing the
said child.
 The Independent on June 16, 1917
 was drawn by Fernando Amorsolo
 aimed as a commentary to the workings of Manila Police during that
period
 Filipino child who stole a skinny chicken because he had nothing to eat,
while the police officer relentlessly pursuing the said child.
 A man wearing a salakot (Juan de la Cruz) was grabbing the officer, telling
him to leave the small-time pickpockets and thieves and to turn to the great
thieves instead. He was pointing to a huge warehouse containing bulks of
rice, milk, and grocery products.
 Philippine Free Press
 a commentary on the unprecedented cases of colorum
automobiles in the city streets.

 was published when fatal accidents involving colorum

vehicles and taxis occurred too often already.
 depicts a cinema.
 a blown-up police officer was on the screen saying that
couples are not allowed to neck and make love in the
theater.
 Two youngsters looked horrified while an older couple
seemed amused.
The Independent on November 27, 1915
 Uncle Sam riding a chariot pulled by Filipinos wearing school uniforms.
 The Filipino boys were carrying American objects like baseball bats,
whiskey, and boxing gloves.
 this cartoon was based on an event in 1907 when William Howard Taft was
brought to the Manila pier riding a chariot pulled by students of Liceo de
Manila. Such was condemned by the nationalists at that time.
 Lipang Kalabaw on August 24, 1907
 Uncle Sam rationing porridge to the politicians and members
of the Progresista Party (sometimes known as Federalista
Party) while members of the Nacionalista Party looked on and
waited for their turn.
 This cartoon depicts the patronage of the United States being
coveted by politicians from either of party.
 How do you personally value the role of political
caricatures, as presented in Alfred McCoy’s work, in
preserving and conveying historical perspectives from the
American Era in the Philippines?
Analysis of the Political Caricatures during the American
Period
Collaboration - 10 points
Delivery (communication) - 10 points
Reflection & Learning - 10 points
TOTAL: - 30 points
 How do political caricatures contribute to the
preservation of cultural heritage, and in what ways can
the study of these cartoons influence discussions about
national identity and cultural pride in the Philippines?
How can the selected political caricatures be utilized as
visual teaching aids to enhance educational pedagogy,
particularly in history or social studies classrooms?
Thank
You!