MODULE 2: ANALYZING THE SIGNFICANCE OF PRIMARY SOURCES TO THE HISTORY OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE
WEEK 10 as a form of social and political commentary, which usually
targets persons of power and authority. Cartoons became an
Section 7: Philippine Cartoons: Political Caricatures effective tool of publicizing opinions through heavy use of
of the American Era (1900-1941) by Alfred McCoy and symbolisms, which is different from a verbose written editorial
Alfredo Roces and opinion pieces. The unique way that a caricature
represents opinion and captures the audience’s imagination is
reason enough for historians to examine these political
Intended Learning Outcomes: cartoons.
At the end of this section, the students are expected to:
1. Identify the significance of political cartoons during the Background of the Authors
American period;
During the American era, political cartoons gained
2. Use political cartoons as a form of political
popularity as a form of expression. Many artists made use of
expressions;
cartoons as political commentaries to expose the ills of the
3. Explain the importance of political cartoons to the
American colonial government. Alfred McCoy provided an
grand narrative of Philip[pine history; and
analysis of the pressing problems and issues of American
4. Evaluate the relevance of Philippine cartoons to the
colonialism manifested in political cartoons. Together with
present time.
Alfredo Reyes Roces, an artist, they compiled many political
cartoons by Filipino artists depicting the Philippines during
American rule.
INTRODUCTION
Alfred McCoy was
Though the Philippines was in a better condition under born on June 8, 1945 in
the Americans compared to the Spaniards, freedom was not Massachusetts, USA. He
immediately accorded to the Filipinos. Some Americans and earned his BA in European
Filipinos used political cartoons to illustrate the changing Studies from Columbia College
mores under the American rule. The use of these cartoons in 1968. He finished his MA in
was a subtle way of expressing discontent with the American Asian Studies at the University
rule. of California in Berkeley in
Political cartoons and caricature are a rather recent art 1969 and his PhD in Southeast
form, which veered away from the classical art by Asian History at Yale
exaggerating human features and poking fun at its subjects. University in 1977. He studied
Such art genre and technique became a part of the print media Philippine political caricatures
1
Readings in Philippine History
MODULE 2: ANALYZING THE SIGNFICANCE OF PRIMARY SOURCES TO THE HISTORY OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE
to understand the social and political contexts of the served as a forum for the discussion of political issues. It was
Philippines during the American period and later worked with also where Fernando Amorsolo began his career as the
Alfredo Roces, his co-author of Philippine Cartoons: Political “angriest of Manila’s political cartoonists”.
Caricatures of the American Era. Though McCoy did not
In Cebu, one popular newspaper was the Bag-Ong
create any political caricatures, his interest in them urged him
Kusog which literally means “New Force”. Bag-Ong Kusog
to compile such caricatures from various sources to produce a
was known for highlighting the conditions in Cebu prior to the
single collection.
war. It often talked about the differences between the Spanish
Alfredo Reyes Roces was born on April 29, 1923. He and American colonial governments. This newspaper depicted
was a painter, an essayist, and a the breakdown of hallowed customs and social practices due
versatile artist who is considered to to American influence. It focused on criticism of co-education
be a prominent figure in Philippine introduced by the Americans, which endangered the virtue of
art. His paintings started with a women.
figurative style but soon began to
amalgamate expressionism,
fauvism, and impressionism. Historical Background of the Political Cartoons
Several newspapers in The Spanish colonial period in the Philippines was
Manila like The Independent and characterized by strict censorship resulting in a lack of political
The Philippines Free Press and Bag- liberty and minimal avenues for expressing political views.
Ong Kusog, leading periodical in Spanish censorship banned non-religious publications, thus
Cebu, included political cartoons in their editorials. compelling newspaper publications to be distributed
The Philippine Free Press was founded in 1906 by underground. However, the transition to the American colonial
Judge W.A Kincaid but and was taken over by McCullough period provided leeway in the publication of independent
Dick due to bankruptcy. The newspaper was published in both newspapers. Initially, newspapers were scrutinized by the
Spanish and English. It featured investigative articles government to ensure that they not contain anti-American
regarding the country’s development. It had a personal tone sentiments which were branded as a subversive and were
since it was not tied to a particular political party. It also confiscated. As such, the four decades of the American
advocated integrity, democracy, and Philippine national colonial rule became a formative period in Philippine history.
progress. Censorship was loosened when a civil government was
Lipang Kalabaw was founded in 1915 by the Father of established in 1901. This gave Filipinos the right to publish
Cebuano Letters, Vicente Sotto, one of the militant and the without prior censorship of the government. Two months after
aggressive advocates of immediate independence. It was strict censorship was removed, Rafael Palma launched El
Readings in Philippine History
MODULE 2: ANALYZING THE SIGNFICANCE OF PRIMARY SOURCES TO THE HISTORY OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE
Renacimiento (Rebirth) which became the most influential of
the early nationalist newspapers campaigning for the right to a
free press. Whenever the Americans felt offended with any
publication, they used libel and sedition laws to obstruct the
developing hostilities. After facing two libel suits, Ocampo and
Fernando Ma. Guerrero established a new publication, La
Vanguardia, in the same office and survived until World War II
as one of Manila’s leading newspapers.
In his book Philippine Cartoons: Political Caricature of
the American Era (1900-1941), Alfred McCoy together with
Alfredo Roces, compiled political cartoons published in
newspaper dailies and periodicals in the aforementioned time
period. For this part, we are going to look at selected cartoons
and explain the context of each one.
The second cartoon was also published by
The Indepent on 16 June 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 checken 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 a small-time pickpockets and thieves and to
turn at the great thieves instead. He was pointing
The first example shown above was published to huge warehouses containing bulks of rice, milk,
in The Independent on May 20, 1916. The cartoon and grocery products.
shows a politician from Tondo, named Dr. Santos,
passing his crown to his brother-in-law, Dr. Barcelona.
A Filipino guy (as 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.
Readings in Philippine History
MODULE 2: ANALYZING THE SIGNFICANCE OF PRIMARY SOURCES TO THE HISTORY OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE
The next cartoon was published by the
The third cartoon was a commentary on
Independent on 27 November 1915. Here, we see the
the unprecedented cases of colorum automobiles caricature of Uncle Sam riding a chariot pulled by
in the city streets. The Philippine Free Press Filipinos wearing school uniforms. The Filipino boys were
published this commentary when fatal accidents carrying American objects like baseball bats, whiskey,
and boxing gloves. McCoy, in his caption to the said
involving colorum vehicles and taxis occurred too
cartoon, says that this cartoon was based on an event in
often already. 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.
This fourth cartoon depicts a
cinema. A blown-up police officer was at
The last cartoon was published by Lipang Kalabaw on 24 August 1907. In the picture, we can see the
the screen saying that couples are not Uncle Sam rationing porridge to the politicians and members of the Progresista Party (somestimes known as
allowed to neck and make love in the Federalista Party) while members of the Nacionalista Party look on and wait for their turn. This cartoon depicts
theater. Two youngsters looked horrified the patronage of the United States being coveted by politicians from either of the party.
while an older couple seemed amused.
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MODULE 2: ANALYZING THE SIGNFICANCE OF PRIMARY SOURCES TO THE HISTORY OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE
CONTRIBUTION AND RELEVANCE OF THE
DOCUMENT
Serves as a mirror of the society’s colonial
condition. Positive and negative changes were mirrored
in the cartoons. (1) Conveys scandals, struggles, and
social changes of the American Colonial Period. (2)
Discovery of Filipino’s creativity in journalism and
cartoons. How they used it as an act of protest or
weapon in the struggle for social reform & independence.
(3) Shows an array of information and graphic images
which mainly focuses on the political aspect. (4) Filipino
politician did not understand the essence of democracy
and the accompanying democratic institution and
processes. Patronage became influential and powerful.
(6) Transition from a Catholic-centered, Spanish-Filipino
society to an imperial America assimilated one. (7)
“Sexual revolution” mindset. (8) Condition of the poor
Filipinos in the Philippines.
LEARNING RESOURCES:
1. Readings in Philippine History by Nestor M. Asuncion,
Geoffrey Rhoel C. Cruz p.p 130-134.
2. Readings in Philippine History, John Lee P.
Candelaria, Veronica C. Alporha. p.p 31-35.
Readings in Philippine History
