American Rule in the Philippines

American Rule in the Philippines

During the American regime, there was much progress in our country. The Filipinos enjoyed a better life under America than as a colony of Spain. The standard of living was raised. Agriculture and industry were developed. Transportation and communication were improved. Domestic and foreign trade expanded. Health and sanitation were promoted. Education and religion marched with the times. What Spain could not do in over 300 years, the United States did in less than 50 years.

Let us now talk about the positive results brought about by the American influence to our motherland.

America’s plans for the Philippines were truly a blessing! After the ratification of the Treaty of Paris, President William McKinley issued his Benevolent Assimilation policy towards our country. The policy stated that, “The Philippines is ours not to exploit but to develop, to civilize, to educate and to train in the science of self-government.” This was in preparation for eventual independence. Another was the laws passed by the Taft Commission which contained about 400 laws and one of which was the appropriation of 2,000,000 pesos for the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges. Next is the Philippine Bill of 1902 which permitted more Filipinos opportunity to occupy many government positions. And lastly the Jones Law of 1916 which was passed by the US Congress, the first organic law which provided for the granting of Philippine Independence and a bicameral assembly – the Senate and House of Representatives.

The agricultural sector showed remarkable development! In 1902, the Bureau of Agriculture was established. Our people were taught scientific methods of land cultivation. Modern tractors and other farm machinery were introduced. Pretty soon, the Filipinos had more food and farm animals. The agricultural increase during the American era was fantastic. Next is currency reform. At the end of Spanish rule, the silver currency was the medium of exchange in our country. The money of other nations, such as Spanish gold coins, Mexican silver pesos, and coins of the neighboring Oriental countries, circulated freely in our country. In 1903, Congress passed a currency law placing our money on gold standard. This law stabilized our currency and helped financial transactions.

Another positive result is free trade with America. To promote our trade with the United States, Congress passed a law in 1902 granting a discount of 25% from the American regular tariff rates in favor of Philippine exports. In 1909, Congress passed the Payne-Aldrich Act providing for partial free trade between the Philippines and the United States. In 1913, the Underwood-Simmons Act was passed, establishing full free trade. This was the most important economic change in the American era. This then caused foreign commerce expansion. The immediate effect of our free trade relations with America was the great expansion of our foreign commerce including domestic trade.

Then there was also growth of industries. Under America, greater attention was given to our industries, such as the manufacture of cigars and cigarettes, copra, hemp, sugar and embroideries; mining of gold, silver, asbestos, iron manganese, and other minerals, fishing and lumbering. Our household industries were promoted such as the cloth-weaving industry in the Ilocos and Capiz; the pottery and brick industries in Laguna and Rizal; the cutlery industry in Pampanga and Batangas; the shoe and slipper industry in Manila, Rizal and Laguna; and the furniture-making industry in Bulacan, Manila, Rizal and Pangasinan. Retail trade inside the Philippines doubled. He Philippines entered the Industrial Age. Moreover, during the later part of the American period, our people became imbued with the spirit of economic nationalism. They realized that to be worthy of political independence, which they were desiring, they should have economic stability.

America introduced in our country the modern telephones, radios, radiophone service, and wireless telegraph. Our communications facilities were improved. In 1935, Manila had more telephones and radio receiving sets than any other city in the Far East. Our mail service was improved by America. The Bureau of Posts was established. Post-offices were opened in municipalities. Through the mail service, the remotest barrio in our country came in contact with the outside world. Notable development was made in our transportation during American regime. In 1898, there were 990 miles of roads and 2,000 bridges in the Philippines. For the first time, the Filipinos enjoyed the automobile, electric street car (tranvia), and many others. Water transportation was also developed. Port facilities, like piers and breakwaters were built, and inter-island hoping was promoted. The native boats and sailing vessels remained but better water crafts were introduced such as steamboats, motor launches, and ocean going streamers. Manila became a busy shipping center of the orient. Of recent development was air transportation. The first airplane reached Manila in 1911. Our commercial aviation began in 1930 when the PATCO (Philippine Aerial Taxi Company) was organized.

Another great achievement of America in the Philippines was the improvement of public health and sanitation. The epidemics of cholera, smallpox and plague were wiped out. The Bureau of Health and Quarantine Service were established. Modern methods of medicine were introduced. Health clinics and puericulture centers were opened in cities and towns. Our people were taught good hygiene and sanitation. The death rate fell and the population grew.

The good work of Spain in social service was continued by the United States. The government extended relief to typhoon and fire victims. Delinquent children were housed and trained in Welfarville. The Bureau of Welfare was established to help the poor and the needy families. Our people imbibed the American way of life. To a large extent, they became Americanized in their tastes and habits. They learned the English language and began to read American books and see American movies. They came to play American games, to sing American songs, and to dance American dances. They patronized American products. They also adopted American customs and the American way of life.

One of America’s great achievements in the Philippines was the establishment of the popular system of public education. English was made the medium of instruction. The American soldiers were the first teachers in English of our people. For the first time in Philippine history, education was no longer the privilege of just a few rich families. There was free education which helped the country because it enabled bright but poor students to become professionals and leaders.

On the other hand, the negative results brought about the American regime are discussed below.

From the Americans we learned good habits but we also got some bad habits like materialism, ruthlessness, drunkenness and selfishness. Colonial mentality, a lack of patriotism, became worse. Moreover, we sold our raw materials cheap and bought expensive manufactured goods from America. American capitalists and businessmen controlled the new companies. Domestic trade was controlled by foreigners. In 1935, Chinese controlled 50% of our domestic trade, the Filipinos 25%, the Japanese 20%, and other foreigners 5%. There was also population explosion because of improved sanitary and health services. Some American officials gave better treatment to Americans doing business in the Philippines. We could not break loose and make our own policies. And lastly, some provisions of the Tydings-McDuffie Law specifically limitation of Filipino immigrants to the US to 50 a year, gradual abolition of free trade with the Americans and right of the US president to suspend the operation of any law in the Philippines were some negative results that occurred during the American occupation in the Philippines.