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Filipino-American cultural encounter

Focus: American rule and the shaping of Philippine Democaracy

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1898-1946 – preparation of the Filipinos for self-government
Filipinos own appetite to receive a democratic self-government
Filipinos training in democracy & its legacy of working democratic institutions
1898-1899 – Filipinos complete self-government
- This was when they proclaimed independence from Spain
- Established the 1st Republic in Asia with a democratic institutions

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1901 – 3 Filipinos were appointed to the Philippine Commission which became the
Upper House of the Philippine Legislature in 1907
In the same year, Philippine Assembly was established as the Lower House of the
legislature
1916 – As stated in the Jones Law/ Philippine Autonomy Act the Philippine
Commission was replaced by the Philippine Senate while Philippine Assembly was
renamed the House of Representatives. This also pioneered the election of political
leaders (popularly elected)
1916 – Only the Governor-General, Vice Governor-general, insular auditor were the
only american participants in the formulation of board policies for the colonial gov’t
at the national level
However, these were superseded by Filipinos when the Philippinne commonwealth
was established in 1935

Judiciary – jusstices of peace were Filipinos however american majority in the

supreme court continued well into the commonwealth
Colonial Civil Service – Filipinos were appointed to responsible positions in the
bureaucracy
1903 – a Filipino became the director of labor another became director of civil
service (1908)
Later joined by another Filipino chief of the executive bureau
1916 – all the government departments were placed under Filipino secretaries except

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the department of public instruction wherein under the Jones Law was still under the
Vice Governor-General thus, only the gov-general & vice gov-gen were the remaining
American cabinet members after 1916
- Will be replaced by the President & Vice of the semi-sovereign Philippine
Commonwealth in 1935
- Americans regarded the participation of the Filipinos in politics as indispensable to
the democratic process

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The political system was probably closer to an oligarchy, instead if one-man rule

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social reform, vehicle to understand concept of individual freedom and liberty
- education was not enough -- social and economic underpinnings of democratic
order were never pursued

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PREVENTED AMERICAN EFFORTS TO CREATE CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO GROWTH
OF REAL DEMOCRACY
1. NO COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM FOR AGRARIAN REFORM
- americans wanted to create large body of independent landowners but the lack of
american participation in phil politics (supervision and advice), tenancy increased
-- friar lands went to rich filipinos and americans because tenants couldn't afford
resale price of farm lots

2.STRONG FILIAL TIES

-- homestead program failed becaue they resisted relocation (they wanted to stay
close to their friends and family) at the expense of owning their own 16 hectare land

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3.AMERICAN AMBIVALENCE ON THE ISSUE OF THE FUTURE POLITICAL STATUS OF THE
PHILIPPINES
- Filipino elite fought for independence from US
- Filipino leaders spent most of their time competing for political supremacy or
dominance, social economic reforms took a backseat

4. FREE TRADE MADE FILIPINO ELITE RICHER AND WORKERS POORER, FILIPINO ELITE
FORMED OLIGARCHY
- Free trade expanded sugar and tobacco, coconut and abaca industries
- The problem: Filipino elite controlled or owned these industries
- To protect their businesses, they formed an oligarchy