SOCIAL SCIENCE 1

THE COMMONWEALTH PERIOD IN THE PHILIPPINES | MODULE 1 | LESSON 7

At the end of this module, the student should be able to:

1. describe the social and cultural, economic, and political changes introduced by
the Americans in the Philippines, particularly in Mindanao; and
2. examine the impact of these changes on the lives of the Filipino people,
particularly among the Mindanaoans.

Suggested Time: 1 min | Actual Time Spent: ___ min(s)

MAPPING EXERCISE: (NON-GRADED)

Instructions:
● Draw an outline map of the territories part of the Philippines during the Commonwealth Period.

Habits of Mind: Questioning and Problem Posing

● Pose a constructive criticism and ask questions, doubts, or gaps that you think will challenge
or strengthen your map.
● Share your constructive criticism on your map with any of your family members.
● Listen to their perspectives and let them challenge your assumptions.
● Share the outcome of the conversation with your classmates and teacher.

Suggested Time: 5 mins | Actual Time Spent: ____min(s)

Last quarter you were able to analyze and examine an excerpt of a long-standing primary source
entitled Sucesos de Las Islas Filipinas by Antonio de Morga, which was published in 1609 in Mexico
using the HIPP Analysis Tool. Similar to that learning strategy, this learning guide aims to stimulate
your analytical thinking skills and to challenge your perspectives beyond memorization of historical
narratives and facts on the social and cultural, economic, and political changes during the
Commonwealth Period.
The historical account that you are about to analyze and examine is the speech of Manuel Luis
Quezon delivered on June 6, 1936 at Camp Keithley, Lanao, which is currently located in Marawi City,
Lanao del Sur. Read the Speech of His Excellency Manuel L. Quezon, President of the Philippines at
Camp Keithley, Lanao, June 6, 1936, which can be accessed in the Official Gazette Website of the
Philippines. Read and analyze the document. Contextualize the motive behind this document and the
role of the Philippine government under the Commonwealth era in Mindanao’s political, socio-cultural,
and economic identity.

PSHS Social Science 1: Philippine History | Page 1 of 5

“Speech of His Excellency Manuel L. Quezon
President of the Philippines At Camp Keithley, Lanao
[delivered on June 6, 1936]

People of Lanao:
We have come to visit you for two purposes—one is to inform you of what the
National Government has in mind with reference to you, and the other is to find
out what your situation is. With me have come the Vice-President, the Speaker, the
Floor Leader, and almost a majority of the membership of the National Assembly.
Also, a few provincial governors are accompanying us on this trip.
You must know that a change in the Government of the Philippine Islands has taken
place since last November. The powers of government, insofar as our domestic
affairs are concerned, are entirely in the hands of the people of our country. You
took part—you, the people of this province—in the election of the President of the
Philippines in the same way that you took part in the election of the man who now
represents you in the National Assembly.
I have invited these members of the National Assembly to visit Mindanao because
it is the purpose of your Government to bring to realization the so-much-talked-of
development of Mindanao. The National Assembly, not the Chief Executive, is
vested with the power of determining our national policies. While it is my duty as
Executive to make recommendations to the National Assembly, the last word rests
with that body.
Mindanao is one of the most important components of the Philippine Archipelago.
In many respects, this island excels every other island of the Philippines. You have
here the highest mountain in the Philippines as well as a scenery as beautiful as
that which one can find not only in any other part of the Archipelago but also
anywhere in the world; and above all, you have here a soil which is of the richest
this country can offer, with the added advantage that you do not have the frequent
typhoons that visit our other islands. You have abundant hydraulic power, and all
that is needed is to harness your rivers and waterfalls to utilize that power.
So, our Government is more than justified in giving impetus to the development of
Mindanao, and the time has come for action and not for talk. Already I have
authorized the expenditure of a fund placed in my hands by the National Assembly
in its last session for the purpose of completing some of your road systems here.
Next year it will be possible for people residing in Cagayan to go by automobile
through Davao, Lanao, Cotabato, and Bukidnon, and if the National Assembly will
appropriate the necessary money, I expect to have all these projects completed
during my administration. I hope from now on that the responsible officials of the
Philippine Government who have the power to determine the policies of this
Government will look into the development of Mindanao from a more realistic
point of view.
It is with this object in mind that I asked the Speaker and the members of the
National Assembly to make this trip with me. I want the members of the Assembly
to realize the great responsibility on their shoulders with regard to Mindanao. I
want them to see how vast the resources of this country are, and in that way
realized the importance of the work placed in their hands. I want them to bear in
mind that they are not merely administering the affairs of their districts, of the
municipalities comprising those districts, or the barrios constituting those
municipalities, but that their responsibility far transcends their particular
communities. Indeed, their people expect of them the wise disposition of this vast
domain given by God to the inhabitants of this country.

PSHS Social Science 1: Philippine History | Page 2 of 5

 I am sure that every member of the National Assembly has been thrilled by the
beautiful sight that has been before his eyes since he landed in Iligan. Now, as for
you, you must feel and act from now on as the constituents of one great nation. Let
us have no more of that fiction that Moros and Christians cannot get along
together; no more of that nonsense that Christian Filipinos cannot govern their
non-Christian brothers. You, the Mohammedans, and you, the Christians,
constitute one people, and over you preside a Chief Executive and a National
Assembly elected by you, and you alone. Mohammedan Filipinos will receive
exactly the same consideration, the same protection, the same treatments as the
Christian Filipinos. In this country Mohammedan Filipinos will feel the weight of
the hand of justice as much as the Christian Filipinos, if they violate our laws. The
first and most important duty of every government is to maintain peace and order,
and this duty will be performed by the Government of this Commonwealth. The
first and most important duty of every citizen is to be peaceful and law-abiding,
and I hope that this duty in turn will be performed by our people.
If you have complaints to make, present them to the proper authorities. If you have
grievances, go to the courts when it is a matter of judicial adjudication, or go to
your provincial authorities if it is a matter of administration. But never try to use
force when you want redress of your supposed or real grievances. For no matter
how right you may be, the moment you use force you are in the wrong. Now, my
friends, I hope that hereafter, no news will report the disturbance of public order
in the Province of Lanao. You have one of the most beautiful spots in the world
right here. You have also a very rich country. You can live here in peace, comfort,
and happiness. Life is very dear even when the country is not as beautiful as Lanao.
It ought to be, therefore, doubly dear in Lanao—and I ask you to try to conserve
your own life here.
We are considering just now whether the National Assembly should resolve to
develop Dansalan into one of the principal cities of the Archipelago. Not only will
you be connected with the other end of the Island of Mindanao, which, as I said
before, is an accomplished fact, but also, if the National Assembly will approve it,
we are going to build a road around Lake Lanao so that the land there may be
properly cultivated, and you may be sure that its yield will increase your
prosperity. All that we ask of you is peace and cooperation with the Government.
Don’t quarrel among yourselves. Now, my friends, I am very happy to have come
here. I am sure I express the sentiments of the Vice-President, and of the Speaker,
the Floor Leader, and the members of the National Assembly, when I say that we
are grateful to you for the opportunity you have afforded us of seeing you.”
Suggested Time: 5 mins | Actual Time Spent: ____min(s)

Instructions: (GRADED, 20 POINTS)

● Research on the past (Commonwealth Period) and present situation or development of a
specific city in Mindanao.
● Choose among the societal aspects that your research will focus on: political, economic, or
socio-cultural.
● Write at least a 10-sentence comparative analysis essay on the present situation, changes, or
development occurred in the chosen city based on Quezon’s speech.
● Justify if the Commonwealth government’s vision on Mindanao has materialized or better than
expected.
● Refer to the rubric on the next page for your guidance.

PSHS Social Science 1: Philippine History | Page 3 of 5

 Criteria Excellent Satisfactory Poor

Content 15 10 5
Context is well- There is evidence of a The context is not clear.
developed; Ideas are well- developed context but Ideas may have
supported and are accurate there is a need to add questionable factuality.
and relevant. more details for a strong Confusion of the reader is
support. a possible outcome.

Organization of Ideas 5 3 1
There is evidence of Ideas are organized. Disorganized content.
clear, effective, graceful, However, minimal
coherent transition of inclusions of irrelevant
ideas are evident. They
ideas in the essay. The
do not affect the essence
organization aids the of the essay.
reader to understand the
connections of the ideas
clearly and easily to each
other.

Modified Rubric adopted from Sir Erin Dela Cruz, Soc Sci Teacher, PSHS Main Campus

Suggested Time: 18 mins | Actual Time Spent: ____min(s)

Most of the historical writings about the Commonwealth Period discussed the societal changes in
the northern part of the archipelago such as women suffrage, setting Filipino as the national language,
provisions of Philippine Constitution, establishing national defense, strengthening education system, and
positioning Filipinos in the national offices. However, there are few historical narratives on
Commonwealth efforts in extending its territorial control towards the southern part of the archipelago.
This primary source gave us an idea on how the Philippine government under the Commonwealth
Period enforced changes in Mindanao. The speech is addressed to the people of Lanao justifying the future
national efforts and developments in Mindanao. Aside from the infrastructural developments, the speech
also mentioned the natural resources present in the entire island, extension of the commonwealth laws
regardless of religious affiliation, and the acknowledgement of covert conflict among the people in
Mindanao.
After analyzing the historical account delivered by Manuel Luis Quezon, do you think this
historical writing helpful in understanding the formation of national identity enforced among Mindanao
people as part of the Filipino people during the Commonwealth Period? Why? Who are the Filipinos
during the Commonwealth Period?

Suggested Time: 1 min | Actual Time Spent: ____min(s)

References:

Agoncillo, Teodoro A. (2012). History of the Filipino People (8th ed.). Quezon City: C&E Publishing
Inc.
Albarico, J.M. (2013). THINK Framework. (Based on Ramos, E.G. and N. Apolinario. (n.d.) Science
LINKS. Rex Bookstore, Inc.)

PSHS Social Science 1: Philippine History | Page 4 of 5

Quezon, Manuel Luis. Speech of His Excellency Manuel L. Quezon, President of the Philippines At
Camp Keithley, Lanao. Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Accessed
December 30, 2020. https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1936/06/06/speech-of-his-excellency-
manuel-l-quezon-president-of-the-philippines-at-camp-keithley-lanao-june-6-1936/
Wheeler, Gerald E. The American Minority in The Philippines During the Prewar Commonwealth
Period. Accessed December 30, 2020. https://www.asj.upd.edu.ph/mediabox/archive/ASJ-04-
02-1966/wheeler-american-minority-philippines-prewar-commonwealth.pdf

Lay-out and Design of Learning Guide Credit:

Nneka B. Evangelista, Soc Sci Teacher, PSHS-CALABARZON Campus.

ANSWER KEY:

1. HOOK. (Non-graded)
A sample of the map of the Philippines during the Commonwealth Period

Image Source: https://gop.com.ph/philippine-clients/antique-maps/philippine-islands-5/

2. NAVIGATE
Answer of the students may vary.

Prepared by: ARIANE LOU M. SANCHEZ Reviewed by: DR. CHUCHI P. GARGANERA
Position: Special Science Teacher Position: Campus Director
Campus: PSHS-SMC Campus: PSHS-SRC

© 2020 Philippine Science High School System. All rights reserved. This document may contain proprietary information and may only be
released to third parties with approval of management. Documents are uncontrolled unless otherwise marked; uncontrolled documents
are not subject to update notification.
PSHS Social Science 1: Philippine History | Page 5 of 5