PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE

● End of Spanish-American War

A. Treaty of Paris
B. Benevolent Assimilation (military governor)
● Philippine-American War
A. Significant events of the war
B. Antonio Luna
C. Gregorio del Pilar
● Schurman and Taft Commissions
A. Dr. Jacob Schurman
B. William Howard Taft
C. Establishment of civil government (civil governor)
D. Philippine Constabulary
E. USS Thomas (Thomasites)
● Philippine Organic Act
A. Installed the Insular Government.
B. Structure of the Insular Government
● Philippine Legislature during the American Period
A. Philippine Assembly (Lower house)
B. Philippine Commission (Upper house)
● Jones Act (Philippine Autonomy Act)
A. Reinstatement of the governor-general
B. Elected upper house replacing the Philippine Commission
C. Promised Philippine independence.
● Philippine Independence Missions to the United States
A. OsRox mission
B. Manuel L. Quezon
● Hare-Hawes-Cutting Act
A. The first US law passed setting a process and a date for the Philippines to gain
independence from the United States.
● Tydings-McDuffie Act (Philippine Independence Law)
A. 10-year transitional period as the Commonwealth of the Philippines before
granting independence.

End of the Spanish-American War

Treaty of Paris
● Spain ceded the Philippines (Luzon only) to the United States, together with Puerto Rico
and Guam, for $20 million.
● Annexation of the Philippines: Gift from the gods - US President William McKinley
● Treaty of Washington (the whole Philippine archipelago)

Benevolent Assimilation
● Refers to the policy of the United States towards the cessation and control of the
Philippine archipelago through the implementation of a military government.

Philippine American War

● Lasted for three years and resulted in the death of over 4,200 American and over 20,000
Filipino combatants. As many as 200,000 Filipino civilians died from violence, famine,
and disease.
● A war between Filipino freedom fighters led by Emilio Aguinaldo and the government of
the United States.
● The Americans had several motivations such as the desire for commercial opportunities
in Asia, the concern that the Filipinos were incapable of self-rule, and fear that if the
United States did not take control of the islands, another power (such as Germany or
Japan) might do so.
● The Battle at Manila Bay - the first and largest battle of the Philippine–American War;
Americans drive Filipino forces away from Manila.
● McKinley also recommended annexing the Philippines rather than giving the Filipinos
outright independence.
● The Battle at Tirad Pass - a battle in the Philippine–American War fought on December 2,
1899, in northern Luzon in the Philippines, in which a 60-man Filipino rear guard
commanded by Brigadier General Gregorio del Pilar succumbed to more than 500
Americans, most of the 33rd Volunteer Infantry Regiment under Major Peyton C. March,
while delaying the American advance to ensure that President Emilio Aguinaldo and his
troops escaped.
● US government control ended on June 16, 1902. It then proceeded to Roosevelt
granting amnesty to Filipinos who had participated in the conflict.

Schurman and Taft Commissions

Schurman Commission - known as the First Philippine Commission

● The commission, headed by Dr. Jacob Schurman, asked to study the situation in the
Philippines and make recommendations on how the U.S. should proceed after the
sovereignty of the Philippines was ceded to the U.S. by Spain.
● In the final report that they issued, the commissioners acknowledged Filipino aspirations
for independence. They declared, however, that the Philippines was not ready for it.
 ● Specific recommendations included the establishment of civilian government as rapidly
as possible (the American chief executive in the islands at that time was the military
governor), including the establishment of a bicameral legislature, autonomous
governments on the provincial and municipal levels, and a system of free public
elementary schools.

Taft Commission - known as the Second Philippine Commission

● Headed by William Howard Taft, the first civil governor of the Philippines.
● The implementation of the findings from the Schurman Commission.
● The first batch of American teachers arrived in the Philippines through USAT Thomas,
these teachers are referred to as Thomasites, in pursuit of implementing educational
reforms in the Philippines.
● The Philippine Constabulary was also established to replace the Spanish Guardia Civil.

Philippine Organic Act of 1902

This law is also known as the Philippine Bill of 1902 or the Cooper Act, named after its’
author Henry A. Cooper. It was enacted by the United States government on July 1, 1902 and
it coincided the end of the Philippine-American war. It was the first law that was passed by
the government of the United States in their regime. This act protected the rights of the Filipino
people. This includes: the right to live, the right to freedom of speech, the right to acquire
property and more. It also disestablished the Catholic Church. This law basically organized the
US government and also served as its’ basic law.

● Insular Government
This type of territorial government that was established by the United States. This
basically meant that the government operated under the authority of the US Bureau of
Insular Affairs. This division oversaw the civil affairs of the territories of the United
States. At this point, the Philippines was not considered a country but instead was called
the Philippine Islands.

● Structure of the Insular Government

The government is a bicameral (divided into two) Philippine legislature. The first
division is the Philippine Commission as the upper house headed by the appointed
governor-general (appointed by the US president) and the Philippine Assembly, the
fully elected, and fully Filipino lower house. The Philippine assembly needed to be
comprised of not less than 50 Filipinos but not more than 100.

Philippine Legislature during the American Period

Upon the arrival of William Howard Taft in the country, he openly suggested for the
strengthening of the relationship between the US and the Philippines. To do this, he pointed out
that Filipino must be given a chance to amend laws that are appropriate for the country. Thus,
this became a ground for the establishment of the Philippine Legislature which was comprised
of the Philippine Assembly or the Lower House and the Philippine Commission or the Upper
House.

Philippine Assembly (Lower house)

● The first Philippine Assembly was established on October 16, 1907, which was
comprised of 80 Filipino members and are chosen by Filipinos qualified to vote.
● Most of the seats were occupied by the Nacionalista Party, followed by the Progresistas,
Immediatists, and then by minor political parties.
● The creation of the lower house gave Filipinos a chance to participate in political affairs
and create laws that are essential for the country. More so, the house has not only
focused on gaining independence but it has also implemented numerous improvement
on the educational system.

Philippine Commission (Upper house)

● The first Philippine Commission was established by President William McKinley on

January 20, 1899, and was also known as the Schurman Commission.
● Its main goal was to prepare the Filipino politicians for the turnover of full independence
of the country. This preparation consisted of establishing the government and its
services.
● The commission has also focused on the general development of the country through its
transportation, communication, agriculture, and even education.
● Responsible for laws concerning the Moros and Non-Christian citizens.

Jones Act (Philippine Autonomy Act)

The Act was created on August 29, 1916, to establish the purpose of the occupation of the
American Occupation of the Philippines. Generally, the act consisted of instructions and
regulations to help establish the government upon the withdrawal of American power. This
would assure for the return of the sovereignty of the Philippines and for its fast rehabilitation
from the war that occurred between Spain and America in the country.

1. Reinstatement of the governor-general

● The governor-general was given the autonomy to appoint and remove Senators
and Representatives he deems appropriate for the position,
● Also, he is given the power to veto any law signed by the Senate and House of
Representatives and have it returned to the concerning body.
 ● The governor-general has the supreme executive power and is appointed by the
President of the United States with the approval of the Senate of the United
States.

2. Elected upper house replacing the Philippine Commission

● Upon the Approval of the Jones Bill No. 2 by the US Congress, the Philippine
Commission was abolished and replaced by the Senate. This resulted in the
creation of 12 Senatorial Districts with 2 Senators being elected from each.
● Manuel L. Quezon became the first Senate President which was the highest
position any Filipino can hold at the time.
● The Senate became responsible for National Affairs of the Country.

3. Promised Philippine independence.

● The United States agreed that it would give the Philippines its sovereignty upon
the re-establishment of the country. This would mean that the country is able to
provide the necessary resources for its citizens, protect its sovereignty, and have
a working government.
● Before the Philippines will be granted its independence, the United States would
need to be updated regarding its condition and situation.

Philippine Independence Missions to the United States

On March 17, 1919, the Philippine Legislature passed a "Declaration of Purposes", which
stated the inflexible desire of the Filipino people to be free and sovereign. A Commission of
Independence was created to study ways and means of attaining liberation ideal. This
commission recommended the sending of an independence mission to the United States.

After the first independence mission, public funding of these missions was ruled illegal.
Subsequent independence missions were funded by voluntary contributions.

OsRox Mission
● The OsRox Mission (1931) was the 9th mission in a series of independence missions
lasting from 1919 to 1933 spearheaded by Sergio Osmena and Manuel Roxas.
● The mission was able to secure the Hare-Hawes-Cutting Act.

Manuel L. Quezon
● Quezon led the last independence mission to secure a better independence bill for the
Philippines.
● His mission was able to secure the Tydings-McDuffie Law.

Hare-Hawes Cutting Act

 ● It was the first US law passed setting a process and a date for the Philippines to gain
independence from the United States
● The result of the OsRox mission (a campaign for self-government) that was led by
Sergio Osmena and Manuel Roxas
● It promised Philippine independence at the cost of reserved several military and naval
bases for the United States, as well as imposed tariffs and quotas on Philippine imports.
● There are two direct benefactors to the Act: Great Depression-era American farmers
competing against tariff-free Filipino sugar and coconut oil; and Filipinos seeking
Philippine independence.
● The first version of the bill was denied by the Congress. Which is why, the Tydings–
McDuffie Act of 1934, was passed by the United States Government. This was ratified
by the Philippine Senate and resulted in the 1935 Philippine Constitution, the
establishment of the Philippine Commonwealth and ultimately Philippine Independence
on July 4, 1946.

Tydings-McDuffie Act (Philippine Independence Law)

● It was passed by the U.S. Congress on March 24, 1934

● Provided for the establishment of a ten-year interim government by Filipinos preparatory
to the granting of Philippine independence on July 4, 1946.
● The transition government, called the Philippine Commonwealth, was democratically-
elected and run by President Manuel Quezon and Vice President Sergio Osmena, Sr.
○ Operated on the basis of the 1935 Philippine Constitution that was created by the
constitutional convention called for by the Tydings-McDuffie Law.
○ The Law also restricted Filipino immigration to the U.S. by imposing a quota of
fifty a year. The economic provisions of the law stipulated the continuation of free
trade relations between the U.S. and the Philippines.
○ But this arrangement was unequal since quotas were imposed on the Philippine
products entering the U.S. free of duty while American products received no
restrictions in the Philippine market.

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