Political

Caricatures
of the
American Era
 Caricature
a picture, description, or imitation of a person in which certain
striking characteristics are exaggerated in order to create a
comic or grotesque effect.
 Narratives
Philippine political cartoons gained full expression during the American
era. Filipino artists recorded national attitudes toward the coming of the
Americans as well as the changing times. While the cartoons compiled
in this book speak for themselves, historian Alfred McCoy’s extensive
research in Philippine and American archives provides a
comprehensive background not only to the cartoons but to the
turbulent period as well. Artist-writer Alfredo Roces, who designed the
book, contributes an essay on Philippine graphic satire of the period.
 •
Alfred McCoy
“Historian of the Southeast Asia”
• Born on June 8, 1945 in Massachusetts, USA
• McCoy graduated from the Kent School In 1964
• He learned his BA in European Studies from Columba
College in 1968.
• He earned his M.A. Asian Studies in University of
California at Berkeley in 1969.
• He earned his PhD in Southeast Asian history from
Yale University in 1977
• McCoy served on the faculty of the University of New
South Wales for eleven years
• In 1989, he joined University of Wisconsin-Madison.

• Used the Philippine political caricatures to understand the social and political context of the
Philippines during the American period.
• Worked with Alfredo Roces. his co-Author of Philippine Cartoons: Political Caricatures of
the American Era
• In 2001, the Association for Asan Studies awarded McCoy the Grant Goodman Prize for his
career contributions to the study of the Philippines.
• In October 2012, Yale University's Graduate School Alumni Association awarded McCoy the
Wilbur Lucius Cross Medal.
 The Newspapers In The
Philippine Cartoons

• Founded in 1915 by the Father of Cebuano letters Vicente

Sotto, one of the militant and aggressive advocates of Immediate
independence
• A weekly newspaper and published in English and Spanish
• A forum for its publishers for political crusades
• Discussed questions tenancy, urban poverty. and political issues
• Where Fernando Amorsolo began his career as the “angriest of
Manila's political cartoonists”
The transition from Spanish Colonial period to American Occupation
shows different changes as well as in culture, society, and politics.
The drastic introduction of democracy to a nation are not properly
oriented about it and its consequences are far from ideal. Thus, it
ushered free press. The rich remained affluent and powerful, while
the poor people remained poor, desperate, and victims of state
repression.
Caricature 1

Depicts the first of Manila’s periodic police

scandals. The author, Fernando Amorsolo,
gives the illustration a usual racist edge.
Caricature 2
The cartoon's caption, "New Bird of
Prey" is an allusion to the most famous
libel case in the history of Philippine
Journalism.
Caricature 3
In 1906, the Philippine Supreme Court
had ruled that the Roman Catholic
Church was the legal owner of all
disputed properties, thus stripping the
nationalistic Aglipayan Church of the
properties it had occupied right after
the revolution.
Caricature 4
It is implied in this illustration that
Handing control of the board health to
Filipinos, a public health risk!
Caricature 5
The editorial depicts the superiority of
the legislators, because of the passage
of law authorizing all legislators
to bear firearms.
Caricature 6
The philippine free press published this
commentary when fatal accidents
including colorum vehicles and taxis
occured too.
Caricature 7
The editorial expressed their rage at
the City’s degeneracy, and on how the
gangsters/terrorists carry far more
political influence than an honest man.
Caricature 8
The free press questioned the
government “what’s going to be done
about it now?”
Caricature 9
It depicts the results of the
introduction of American education in
the Philippine system.
Caricature 10
Brothers under the skin urges filipinos
to end social conflict and deal with
each other fairly.
Caricature 11
In 1902, the Philippine Commission
awarded transport to Charles M. Swift
Caricature 12
This cartoon illustrates discrimination
or racism.
Caricature 13
Shows the political practice in the
country especially during election.
Caricature 14
The cartoon caption summarized the
nationalist view "how the imperialists
are provoking and pitting us against
each other"
Caricature 15
This cartoon illustrates the hardships of
Juan carrying load of taxes and
jobholders.
Caricature 16
"The Result of Co-Education" satirizes
the co-education at UP.
 Contribution and Relevance

• Editorial Cartoons play an important role in understanding the

Filipinos' sentiments concerning the transition of governance
from Spain to the Americans.
• Pressing issues are clearly illustrated in the caricature of
characters and satirized situations in the Philippine Society
during the American era.
 Learning Experience

• Media influence can be an actual force resulting change in

audience or individual beliefs. These effects can be positive or
negative, abrupt or gradual, short-term or long-lasting.
• However, not all effects result in change: some media
messages reinforce an existing belief, attitudes, as well as
behavior of the populace.
• Cartoon editorials compiled by McCoy as a print media, surely
have made an impact among the Filipino readers during the
American period until today.
Thank you
 ACTIVITY
INSTRUCTIONS:
• Each group will be given a political caricature.
• Give your own interpretation and analysis.
• Please collaborate with your group members and combine
your ideas/interpretation together!
• A 1 to 2 members from your group to discuss your analysis of
the assigned caricature for next meeting.
GROUP 1
GROUP 2
GROUP 3
GROUP 4
GROUP 6
GROUP 7
GROUP 8
GROUP 9
GROUP 10
GROUP 11
GROUP 12
GROUP 13
GROUP 14
GROUP 15
GROUP 16
GROUP 17
GROUP 18
GROUP 19