A Glance at Selected

Philippine Caricature
in Alfred McCoy’s
Philippine Cartoons:
Political Caricature of
The American Era
( 1900-1941)
Philippine Cartoons: Political Caricature of The
American Era (1900-1941)

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Political cartoons and caricature are rather recent art form, which veered
away from the classical art by exaggerating human features and poking fun
at its subjects.

Such as Gene Art and technique became a 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 of publicizing opinions through heavy
use of symbolism, which is different from a verbose written editorial and
opinion pieces.

• The unique way that a caricature represents opinion and captures the
audience’s imagination is a reason enough for historians to examine these
political cartoons.

• Commentaries in mass media inevitably shape public opinion and such

kind of opinion is worthy of historical examination.
• The First Example shown was published in The Independent on May 20, 1916. The Cartoon
shows a politician from Tondo, named Dr. Santos, Passing his crown to his brother In law, Dr.
Barcelona. A Filipino guy was trying to stop Santos, telling the latter to stop giving the crown
to Barcelona because it is not his to begin with.
 Analysis

• We see the price that Filipinos paid for the democracy modeled after the
Americans. First, it seemed that Filipino politicians at that time did not understand
well enough the essence of democracy and the accompanying democratic
institutions and processes.

• This can be seen in the rising dynastic politics in Tondo as depicted in the cartoon
depicted in the cartoon published by The Independent.
• The Second Cartoon was also published by The Independent on June 16, 1917. This was drawn by
Fernando Amorsolo and was aimed as a commentary to the workings of manila Police at that period.
Here, we see a Filipino child who stole a skinny chicken because he had nothing to eat.

• The police officer was relentlessly pursuing the said child. A man wearing as salakot, labeled Juan
Dela Cruz was grabbing the officer, telling him to leave the small-time pickpockets and thieves and to
turn at the great thieves instead.

• He was pointing to huge warehouses containing bulks of rice, milk and grocery products.
 Analysis

• The cartoon also illustrated the conditions of poor Filipinos in the Philippines.

• From the looks of it, nothing much has changed. For example, a cartoon depicted how
police authorities oppress petty Filipino criminals while turning a blind eye on hoarders
who monopolize goods in their huge warehouses (Chinese Merchants).
• The third cartoon was a commentary on the unprecedented case of colorum automobiles in the city
streets. The Philippine Free Press published the commentary when fatal accidents involving
colorum vehicles and taxis occurred too often already.
 Analysis
• Automobiles became a popular mode of transportation in the city and led to the emergence of
taxis.

• However, the laws and policy implementation was mediocre.

• This resulted in the increasing colorum and unlicensed vehicles transporting people around the
city.

• The rules governing the issuance of driver’s license was loose and traffic police could not be
bothered by rampant violations of traffic rules.

• This is a direct consequence of the drastic urbanization of the Philippine Society.

• This fourth cartoon depicts a cinema. A blown-up police officer was at the screen saying that
couples are not allowed to neck and make-love in the theater. The two youngsters looked horrified
while an elder couple seemed amused.
 Analysis

• McCoy called it the “sexual revolution” that occurred in the 1930s.

• Young people as early, as early as that period, disturbed the conservative Filipino mindset
by engaging in daring sexual activities in public spaces like cinemas.

• Here, we can see how that period was the meeting point between the conservative past and
the liberated future of the Philippines.
• This was published by The Independent on November 27, 1915. We see the caricature of Uncle Sam riding a
chariot pulled by Filipinos wearing school uniform.

• The Filipino boys were carrying American objects like baseball bats, whiskey and boxing gloves.

• McCoy in his caption the said cartoons, says that 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.
 Analysis

• It depicts how American controlled Filipinos through seemingly harmless American objects.

• By controlling their consciousness and mentality, Americans got to control and subjugate
Filipinos.
• This was published by Lipang Kalabaw on August 24, 1907. In this picture we see Uncle Sam
rationing porridge to the politicians and members of Progresista Party ( sometimes known as the
Federalista Party) while members of the Nationalista Party look on and wait for their turn.
• This Cartoon depicts the patronage of The United States being coveted by politicians from either of
the party.
 Analysis
• Patronage also become influential and powerful, not only between clients and patrons but
also between the newly formed political parties composed of the elite and The U.S

• This was depicted in the cartoon where the U.S, represented by Uncle Sam, provided dole
outs for members of The Federalista while The Nacionalista politicians looked out and
waited for their turn.

• The Essence of competing political parties to enforce choices among the voters was
cancelled out.

• The problem continues up to the present where politicians transfer from one party to another
depending which party was powerful in specific periods of time.
ASSESSING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PRIMARY
SOURCES IN UNDERSTANDING THE GRAND
NARRATIVE OF PHILIPPINE HISTORY

INSTRUCTIONS: GIVE 5-6 REASONS WHY POLITICAL CARTOONS MADE BY FILIPINOS

DURING THE AMERICAN ERA ARE IMPORTANT TO THE GRAND NARRATIVE OF
PHILIPPINE HISTORY.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Thank You!