The American Period and Political Cartoons, 1899 – 1941: Caricatures on Colonialism
The United States of America, following Spain, occupied the Philippines between 1899 and 1946. The archipelago
was the largest among the territories that the US took over from Spain, including Puerto Rico and Cuba. In spite of
the dominance of American imperialistic acts, the development of publishing industry and newspapers brought out
innovative expressions of protest from liberal-minded Filipinos. The period saw the rise of editorial cartoons in many
newspapers, magazines, and other publications, making caricature of the political and social conditions of the
times.
Even in the United States at the time, American satirical cartoonists were unforgiving. Criticizing the American
acquisition of the Philippines at the turn of the 20th century, some satirical magazines denigrated the new colony
but some also exposed the hypocrisy of the American political establishment in its policy toward the Philippines.
A dictatorial teacher (Uncle Sam – or U.S.) instructing his new students (representing the new colonies that included
the Philippines and acquired by the United States in 1898 with its war against Spain. (From Puck magazine).
An early cartoon was from the Chicago Chronicle, in an issue of January, 1900. Entitled “The Forbidden Book”, it
caricatures how the U.S. military, through President William McKinley, banned the American media in the covering
and reportage of Filipinos’ activities, especially rebellion and insurgency, during the protracted Philippine-American
War. For the American government, actually, what was transpiring then was not war but insurgency.
Cartoons In the Philippine Colony
Philippine political cartoons gained full expression during the American era. Filipino artists recorded national
attitudes toward the coming of the Americans as well as the changing mores and times.
Among the early Philippine periodicals that made use of satire through cartoons were from Lipang Kalabaw, during
its maiden issue of July 27, 1907. “Lipang Kalabaw” is the counterpart of poison ivy, a plant which irritates the skin
upon contact. Entitled “Progresista Voters,” it shows how the Progresista Party (formerly Federalista Party that
advocated for Philippine statehood under the U.S.) changed stance when rural voters (seen in the back row) tipped
the vote for the party to support eventual Philippine independence.
Source: Indio Bravo, “Ang Pikon, Talo”: Satire as Impulse to Freedom accessed at
[Link]
Socio-Cultural Transformations
Satirical cartoon making fun of Dominador Gomez, a leading figure in the Nacionalista Party until a scandal in 1906-
1907, as featured in Lipang Kalabaw, April 4, 1908.
In High Stakes satirical cartoon, Manuel L. Quezon is portrayed as if in a poker game, alluding his maneuverings in
Congress for Hare-Hawes-Cutting Act (for Philippine Independence from the U.S.) to be rejected, opposing Sergio
Osmeña. The maneuvering ends with Osmeña agreeing to the rejection of HHC, as Quezon accepts responsibility of
its rejection, and promising to get an even more beneficial independence bill from the U.S. As it turned out, after 4
months, Quezon gets Tydings-McDuffie Law passed, almost the same as HHC. From the Philippines Free Press,
August 5, 1933.
Editorial cartoon of The Independent, Jan. 13, 1917. Source: Alfred McCoy and Alfredo Roces, Philippine Cartoons
(Vera-Reyes, Inc., Philippines, 1985), p. 124.
