Alfred Mccoy’s Philippine Caricature
The second cartoon was also published by The
Philippine political cartoons gained full Independent on June 16, 1917. This was drawn
expression during the American era. Filipino by Fernando Amorsolo and was aimed as a
artists recorded national attitudes toward the commentary to the workings of Manila Police at
coming of the Americans as well as the that period. We see a Filipino child who stole a
changing mores and times. In the book of Alfred skinny chicken because he had nothing to eat.
McCoy, 377 cartoons were compiled in the The police officer was relentlessly pursuing the
book, including the extensive research of McCoy said child. A man wearing a salakot, was
in the Philippine and American archives grabbing the officer, telling him to leave the
providing a comprehensive background not only small-time pickpockets and thieves and to turn
to the cartoons but to the turbulent period as at the great thieves instead.
well. Artist writer Alfredo Roces, who designed
the book cover, contributed an essay on the
Philippine graphic satire on the period.
Political cartoons and caricature are a rather
recent art form, which veered away from the
classical art by exaggerating human features
and poking fun at its subjects. Cartoon became
an effective tool of publicizing opinions through
heavy use of symbolism, which is different from
a verbose written editorial and opinion pieces.
Alfred McCoy, together with Alfred Roces,
compiled political cartoons published in
newspaper dailies and periodicals in his book
Philippine Cartoons: Political Caricature of the
American Era (1900 – 1941).
The third cartoon was a commentary on the
• The first example was published in The unprecedented cases of colorum automobiles in
Independent on May 20, 1916. • The cartoon the city streets. The Philippine Free Press
shows a politician from Tondo, named Dr. published this commentary when fatal accidents
Santos, passing his crown to his brother-in-law, involving colorum vehicles and taxis occurred
Dr. Barcelona. A Filipino guy was trying to stop too often already.
giving Barcelona the crown because it is not not
his to begin with.
The fourth cartoon depicts a cinema. A blown-up The last cartoon was published by Lipang
police officer was at the screen saying that Kalabaw on August 24, 1907. • We can see
couples are not allowed to neck and make love Uncle Sam rationing porridge to the politicians
in the theater. Two youngsters looked horrified and members of the Progresista Party
while an older couple seemed amused. (sometimes known as the Federalista Party)
while members of the Nacionalista Party look on
and wait for their turn. his cartoon depicts the
patronage of the United Stated being committed
to politicians from one party over the other.
The next cartoon was published by The
Independent on November 27. 1915. here, we
see 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, it 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
nationalists at that time.
