America Should Remember Its Philippine Experience
by Richard Bergeon
In May 1898, one month after the Spanish American War began, Commodore Dewey sailed into the Philippines' Manila Bay and sank the antiquated Spanish fleet resting at anchor there. This battle led to the island nation's U.S. occupation, and when the U.S. paid the Spanish government $20 million as part of the treaty ending the war, it became a U.S. possession.
Few American students are taught that, in order to vanquish the Spanish foe, Dewey had to call upon a man named Aquinaldo. Aquinaldo was a fugitive and rebel against Spanish rule, the leader of the Katipunan, an organization fighting for independence. He returned from sanctuary in Hong Kong at Dewey's invitation and issued a declaration of independence in June, 1898 and proceeded to subdue Spanish garrisons throughout the islands. Expectations of independence were dashed when president William McKinley issued a proclamation declaring a U.S. policy in the Philippines as one of “benevolent assimilation.” A fierce take-no-prisoners conflict broke out in February 1899. Ultimately more than 125,000 U.S. troops fought in the “Philippine-American War.” In March 1901 organized resistance to U.S. possession collapsed. More than 4,000 American and 16,000 Filipino soldiers died in the fighting, and there were thousands more Filipino civilian casualties - victims of fighting, famine and disease.
The U.S. justified its colonial rule as tutelage - preparing the Philippines for independence. A presidentially appointed governor-general held executive powers and headed the Philippine Commission, which was also appointed by the president. The Commission advised and held legislative powers. It laid down the framework for a national government that included a judicial system, legal code, civil service, and police force. Elections to political and bureaucratic positions were open to Filipinos. In 1907 an elected assembly became the lower house of a bicameral legislature. The Commission served as the upper house until 1916 when an elected senate replaced the commission. The U.S. Congress and president still controlled monetary, military, and foreign policies, but all other legislation became law upon approval by the governor-general.
The Tydings-McDuffie Act of 1934 formed a commonwealth government and set July 4, 1946 as when the Philippines would become independent with a constitution and an elected Filipino president. The government was inaugurated in November 1935 . With the exception of foreign policy, its government had autonomy in all affairs .
After Warsaw, Manila was the second most damaged city of World War II. The Philippines' infrastructure was totally devastated. The Republic of the Philippines was, nonetheless, formally proclaimed on July 4, 1946. The U.S. gave the Republic preferential trade relations and several hundred million dollars in damage and rehabilitation aid. As a condition, U.S. investors were given equal economic rights with Filipinos, and this included the right to exploit the country's natural resources. Trade agreements and contingencies tied the Philippine economy to the U.S., and allowed the U.S. to maintain a military presence, which lasted until 1984.
U.S. involvement in the Philippines established a legacy of democracy and freedom, but that legacy did not come without its costs and mistakes. Those lessons should be remembered as we formulate future international policy and try to extend U.S. power abroad.
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OCA - GREATER SEATTLE CHAPTER