This must also be viewed not only in pragmatic and utilitarian perspective but most importantly socio-cultural dimensions.
We start thinking what happened in the treaty of paris of december 10, 1898? Article III says"Spain cedes to the United States the archipelago known as the Philippine Islands, and comprehending the islands lying within the following line: ... geographic description elided ... The United States will pay to Spain the sum of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) within three months after the exchange of the ratifications of the present treaty. The country was bought at a price and that includes the right to exploit her natural resources.
We try also to recall history during the commonwealth period, what were the kinds of benefits the Philippines has enjoyed? During the Commonwealth years, Philippines sent one elected Resident Commissioner to the United States House of Representatives, as Puerto Rico currently does today.
The american occupation showed positive results to the country as a state as well:
Benevolent Assimilation
• By President Mckinley
• A regime was introduced by the United States, the Filipinos played the role of junior partner
Progress in education
• The best contribution of the Americans was Public Education
• Emphasized democratic traditions and the practical application of laws and principles
• The regulation of religion to the optional category was based on the principle separation of the church and state, under which the church had no say in running the public school system
• Compeled Filipinos to stud English language.
• Enrollment of students in the public school was compulsory..
• They gave students free books, pencils and other school supplies.
• “thomasites†–teachers, who came to the Philippines on board the S.S. Thomas and who replaced American soldiers.
• “Pensionadosâ€-filipino who were sent to the United Sates because they showed aptudes in some branches of learning. When they return, they teach or work for the government.University of Sto. Tomas, the Escuela de Derecho, the Instituto Burgos-still used Spanish as a medium of their instruction but they were forced to abandon it.
• The system increased Filipinos literacy.
Public Wealth and Welfare
• When the Americans came they minimized the spread of diseases and to improve, the health of the people.
• Epidemics were prevented or minimized by the establishment of the quarantine service.
• Educated the people with hygiene and sanitation.
• Filipinos that time were ignorant with the power of minute germs to cause death. They believed in superstitions.
• The board of public health was created on 1901 which became a bureau at later date.
• In 1917-1918, cholera and small pox epidemics broke out, the mortality per 1000 persons progressively diminished in the succeeding years.
• The vocational training given to the orphans and the juvenile delinquents resulted in their moral and physical rehabilitation.
• At the turn of the century, the average Filipino height measured 5’2 and 5’4 but with improved diet, exercise and sports the height increased to between 5’4 and 5’6.
Trade and Commerce Industry
• In 1909, when the American Congress passed the Payne-Aldrich Tariff Act, that the partial free trade relations between the Philippines and the United States were established. All Philippine exports were allowed to enter American markets except rice.
• To correct the inequality in the law, American congress passed the Simmons-Underwood Tariff act in 1913, which abolished the quota limitations on Philippine export products like hemp, sugar and tobacco.
• The development of domestic trade under the Americans was, therefore, not actually a boon to the Filipinos, who had to play second fiddle to the aliens.
• In the industry, the Philippines developed in the sense that factories, such as textile and cigar and cigarette factories, multiplied.
• Mining, one of the backbone of Philippine economy.
• Other foreign markets were neglected so that the closure to thundutiable Philippine exports resulted in economic dislocation. That is why Speaker Osmena and Resident Commisioner Quezon opposed free trade relation.
• Tydings of Mcduffie Independence Act of 1934 was about the restriction of the exportation of Philippine sugar, tobacco, hemp and coconut.
• The over-all effect of the Phlippine-American free trade relation was, therefore, the placing of Philippine economy at the mercy of the Americans.
Transportation and Communication
• The means of transportation vastly improved, for while the ancient bull carts, carretellas and calesas existed, the cars, trucks and railways speeded up the means of transportation.
• Rail road transportation was preceded by government’s acquisition of the Manila-Dagupan Railway Company, which became the Manila railroad Company.
• The inter-island shipping by the Americans in 1902 opened a hundred ports to domestic shipping. Ships owned locally were allowed to engage in inter-island shipping.
• Progress in communication was notable. Telephone lines, radio-telephone service, ordinary mails, money orders, air mail letters and packages were available.
• The improvement and building of roads, railways and bridges meant transportation of American tools, equipments and materials.
• As the history of the Philippines under the United States eloquently testifies, American altruism was engrafted with profit motive.
Individual Freedom
• McKinley’s “Benevolent Assimilation†Proclamation and his “Instructions†to the second or Taft Commission laid the bases of American policy in the Philippines.
• Filipinos were not allowed to enjoy full measure of freedom during the American tutelage.
• The Sedition Law of 1901, passed by the Philippine Commission, considered it seditious of any Filipino to advocate independence.
• The “flag†law of 1907, prohibited the display of Philippine flag.
• During the American regime, Filipinos were able to exercise their freedom.
• The pages of the nationalistic periodical El Renacimiento and its tagalog section, the Muling Pagsilang, were full of vitriolic attacks on the Americans, culturing in the most famous “Aves de Rapina†(birds of prey) libel case.
• Nationalistic plays were staged to remind the people of their freedom and independence.
• As the condition of peace and order improved, the repression of civil liberties was removed.
Political Consciousness
• Colonization implies the bringing over of American practices and institutions.
• Partisans politics was brought by the Americans.
• The Filipinos were as yet too politically naïve to understand the intricacies of modern politics.
• After the creation of bicameral legislature in 1916, Philippine politics followed the American groove.
• Thus, many American political practices finally found a rich soil in the Philippines.
• Despite the negative effects of imported brand of politics, Filipinos learned intricate machinery of government.
Language and Literature
• One of the most lasting American influences in the Philippines.
• English became the medium of instruction in schools and creative expression.
• Writers wrote, poems, essay, short story, novels and dramas
• The drama and the novel were the most neglected branches of literature, although few novels and plays were written.
• Adaptation of American words and phrases in the national language is a lasting influence. Some examples are, bulakbol(black ball) and paul (foul)
• In the third decade Filipinos started to translate English phrases to the national language.
• Over enthusiasm and ignorance of the tagalog idioms compelled some writers to translate English phrases indiscriminately.
It is important to reflect much on this period because it is during this time that we have experienced a de facto government under the american regime.
Filipinos born during this time were not american citizens and still were filipinos who needed visa to enter the any american territory. Puerto Ricans right now are also not americans by nationality and by citizenship. Since the summer of 2007, the Puerto Rico State Department has developed the protocol to grant Puerto Rican citizenship to Puerto Ricans.
Filipinos during the commonwealth era "enjoyed" american control on governmental and fiscal administration.
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