Primary Source 4

“Philippine Cartoons: Political Caricature of the American Era (1900-1941)”

Alfred McCoy
Political cartoons and caricature

A form of editorial cartoon, is a cartoon graphic with caricatures of

public figures, expressing the artist's opinion.

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.

Commentaries in mass media inevitable shape public opinion and

such kind of opinion is worthy of historical examination.
 Philippine Cartoons: Political Caricature of the American Era (1900- 1941)

Alfred McCoy is
Alfredo Roces is
an American
a Filipino
historian and
Postwar &
educator. Contemporary
painter who was
born in 1932.

He specializes in the
award-winning
history of the
veteran
Philippines, foreign
journalist who
policy of the United
has worked in
States, European
newspapers,
colonisation of
magazines and
Southeast Asia, illegal
also authored
drug trade, and Central
Alfred McCoy, together with Alfredo Roces, compiled several books
Intelligence Agency
political cartoons published in newspaper dailies and on the
covert operations. Philippines and
periodicals in the American era
its art.
Newspaper: The Independent, 20 May 1916

Politician from Tondo, Dr. Santos passing his crown to his

brother-in-law, Dr. Barcelona.
A Filipino guy (as depicted wearing salakot and barong tagalog)
was trying to stop Santos, telling the latter to stop giving
Barcelona the crown because it is not his to begin with
Newspaper: The Independent, 16 June 1917

Drawn by Fernando Amorsolo and was aimed as a commentary to the workings of Manila Police at
that period.
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 a salakot, labeled Juan de la 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 warehouse containing bulks of rice, milk, and grocery products.
Newspaper: The Philippine Free Press

Commentary on the unprecedented cases of colorum automobiles in the city streets.

Fatal accidents involving colorum vehicles and taxis occurred too often already.
Cinema.
A blown-up police officer was at the screen saying that couples are not allowed to neck and
make love in the theater. Two youngsters looked horrified while an older couple seemed
amused.
Newspaper: The Independent, 27 November 1915

The caricature of Uncle Sam riding a chariot pulled by Filipinos wearing school uniforms.
The Filipino boys were carrying american objects like baseball bats, whiskey, and boxing gloves.
McCoy, in his caption to the said cartoon, 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 nationalist at that time.
Newspaper: Lipang Kalabaw, 24 August 1907

Uncle Sam rationing porridge to the politicians and members of the Progresista Party (sometimes
known as the Federalista Party) while members of the Nacionalista 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 of the Political Caricatures during the American Period

The post-Filipino-American period in the

Philippines were experienced differently
by Filipinos coming from different
classes– the upper principalia class
experienced economic prosperity with the

Transition from the Americans It was in the American opening up of the Philippine economy to
the United States but the majority of the
Spanish Colonial period drastically period that the Filipinos poor Filipino remained poor, desperate,
and victims of state repression.
to the American were introduced to
introduced
Occupation period – different manifestations
democracy to the of modernity like
demonstrated different
strands of changes and nascent nation and healthcare, modern The selected cartoons
shifts in culture, society, the consequences transportation, and illustrate not only the opinion
media. of certain media outfits about
and politics. were far from ideal.
the Philippine society during
the American period but also
paint a broad image of
society and politics under the
United States.
Analysis of the Political Caricatures during the American Period

Filipino politicians at that time did not

understand well enough the essence of
democracy and the accompanying
democratic institutions and processes.
(The rising dynastic politics in Tondo)

Politics
Nacionalista and Federalista –
competing political parties. The
problem continues up to the
Patronage also became influential and present where politicians transfer
powerful, not only between clients and from one party to another
patrons but also between the newly depending to which party was
formed political parties composed of the powerful in specific periods of
elite and the United States. time.
Analysis of the Political Caricatures during the American Period

Society

“Sexual revolution” in the 1930s –

Unprecedented increase of motorized young people disturbed the
vehicles in the city– automobiles became a conservative Filipino mindset by
Catholic- centered, popular mode of transportation in the city and engaging in daring sexual
Spanish-Filipino society to an led to the emergence of taxis. However, the
activities in public places like
laws and policy implementation was
imperial cinemas. This period was a
mediocre. Resulted in the increasing colorum
American-assimilated one. and unlicensed vehicles transporting people meeting point between the
around the city. conservative past and the
liberated future of the Philippines.
Analysis of the Political Caricatures during the American Period

● The cartoons also illustrated the poor conditions of the Filipinos in the
Philippines now governed by the United States.

Ex. a cartoon depicted how police authorities oppress petty Filipino criminals
while turning a blind eye on hoarders who monopolize goods in their huge
warehouses (presumably Chinese merchants)

The other cartoon depicts how American controlled Filipinos through

seemingly harmless American objects. By controlling their consciousness and
mentality, Americans got to control and subjugate Filipinos.
Americans in the Philippines
United States entered the
1898 picture
How can Spain
Spain ceding it's colonies to give what she
the United States including the
Philippines does not
Treaty of Paris
have?
Controversial because the
Philippines already declared
its independence
Americans in the Philippines Result:

A new colonial rule was

The United States find
unfolding
it difficult to justify their
colonization on the
For the United States, this period was actually hard
Philippines in an age
to launch an imperial campaign during this period
where people were
because many Europeans had done it many
profound change in trying to break colonial
centuries before
economic, political, social, chains.
18th century (latter part) “Age of Revolution” and cultural thought were
also already unfolding
 Americans in the Philippines
Americans insidiously found a way to work
around it → “American exceptionalism”

18th century (latter part) “Age of Revolution”

Under this discourse tactic, the
Americans sought to present
themselves as exceptional
profound change in (unlike the Europeans)
economic, political, social,
and cultural thought were Pronouncement of Pres.
Result:
also already unfolding William McKinley
The United States find “Benevolent
it difficult to justify their Assimilation”
colonization on the
Philippines in an age
where people were
trying to break colonial
chains.
The underside of American “Civilizing” Mission

Assuring Filipinos of full

individual rights and Paano mo masasabing
Benevolent Assimilation liberties pagmamahal ang
pang-aalipin?

Prof. Ma. Sereno Diokno → “colonialism with a heart”

“Mahal kita kaya hindi ka
pwedeng lumaya.”
Under this benevolence, the United States tactically
used pronouncements of kindness and altruism,
“Mahal kita kaya kita
whiteman’s burden, civilizing mission, etc. to mask
sinasaktan.”
the brutality and violence of their imperial surge.

“Tutelary Mission”
HOW? WHEN?
Efforts to call out the United States.

Ex.
North American Review, 1899
Semper Vigilans
Brutality of the Americans in the Philippines
“I want no prisoners, I
wish you to kill and burn.
The Balangiga Massacre
The more you kill and
burn the better it will
please me. The interior of
Samar must be made a
howling wilderness”

1906 Bilibid Prison

Americans destroyed the Philippines forest cover

“Progressive” image of the United States

Who can vote?

Male
DEMOCRACY Landowners
Speaks English and Spanish
Elite
=Elite Democracy

Public EDUCATION
Agenda
Pensionado program

It was still colonialism.

Violence
Was it really BENEVOLENT? Extraction
Subjugation
Exploitation