Zamora Memorial College

College Department
St. Niṅo Street. Brgy. 9, Bacacay, Albay

READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

Module 2- Content and Contextual Analysis of

Selected Primary Sources ( Week 3 & 4 )

BCAED/FIRST YEAR/BLOCK A
First Semester Sy 2021-2022

Prepared by:

JOCELYN B. VARGAS
Instructor
I-Introduction:
According to De los Santos (2019 ) Good reading is about asking your
sources questions. When reading primary sources, you need to bear in mind
several factors. You need to use your historical imagination to read primary
sources. It will help you to use your understanding to imagine possible scenarios
to address your concerns. It’s all about your willingness and ability to ask
material questions, imagine possible answers, and explain your reasoning.
In this module, you will expose to several readings that are considered
primary sources from the different historical periods and evaluate these
documents content in terms of historical value & examine the context of their
production.
Several activities were prepared for you to developed critical analysis on
the readings provided for, in order to realized the objectives of the lessons.
II-Objectives:
At the end of the lessons in this module, you should be able to evaluate primary
sources for their credibility, authenticity, and provenance specifically;
➢ Analyze the context, content, and perspective of different kinds of
primary sources.
➢ Determine the contribution of different kinds of primary sources in
understanding Philippine history.
➢ Develop critical and analytical skills with exposure to primary sources.

TOPICS READINGS
1.First Voyage Around the World-
1.Content and contextual Antonio Pigafetta
analysis of selected primary 2.Kartillia ng Katipunan-Emilio
sources; Jacinto
2.Identification of the historical 3.Declaration of Independence-
importance of the text; Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista.
3.Examination of the author’s 4.A Glance at Selected Philippine
main argument and point of Caricature in Alfred McCoy’s
view. Philippine Cartoons: Political
Caricature of the
American Era (1900-1941 )

III- Discussion

LESSON 1: Readings about First Voyage Around the World by

Antonio Pigafetta

FERDINAND February 3, 1480-April 25, 1521. A Portuguese Explorer who

MAGELLAN organized the Spanish Expeditions to the East Indies from
1519-1522 to search for western route to the Maluku
Islands ( The Spice Island ) resulting in the first
circumnavigation of the Earth, completed by Juan Sebastian
Elcano.
ANTONIO 1491-1531.Italain scholar and explorer from the republic of
PIGAFETTA Venice. He traveled with the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand
Magellan and his crew by order of the King Charles I of Spain
on their Voyage around the world. His work became a classic
that prominent literary men in the west like William
Shakespeare & others. His travelogue is one the most
important primary sources in the study of precolonial
Philippines. His account was also a major referent to the
events leading to Magellan’s arrival in the Philippines, his
encounter with local leaders, his death in the hands of Lapu-
Lapu’s forces in the Battle of Mactan and in the departure of
what was left of Magellan’s fleet from the islands.

• The document reveals several insights not just in the character of the
Philippines during the pre-colonial period, but also o how the fresh eyes of
the European regard a deeply unfamiliar terrain, environment people and
culture.
• Published after Pigafetta returned to Italy.
• Antonio Pigafetta wrote his firsthand observation and general impression
of the Far East including their experiences in the Visayas.
In Pigafetta’s account, their fleet reached what he called the Ladrones Islands or
the “ Islands of the Thieves”. These people have no arms, but use sticks which
have a fishbone at the end. They are poor, but ingenious, and great thieves, and
for the sake of what we called these three islands the “Ladrones Island “.
LADRONES ISLAND
• Presently known as Marianas Islands.
• It is located southwest of Hawaii, north of New Guinea, and east of
Philippines.
March 16, 1521
• Pigafetta reported that they reach the isle of Zamal, now Samar, but
Magellan decided to land in another uninhabited island for great security
where they could rest for a few days.
• After few days, March 18, nine men came to them and show joy and
eagerness in seeing them and welcomed them with food, drinks, and gifts.
• The natives gave them: fish, palm wine, figs, 2 cochos, rice and cocos.
Pigafetta described what seemed like a coconut.
“This palm produces a fruit named cocho, which is as large as the head or
thereabouts: its first husk is green, and two fingers in thickness, in it they find
certain threads, with which they make cords for fastening their boats. Under this
husk there is another very hard, and thicker than that of a walnut. They burned
this second rind, and make with it a powder which is useful to them.. Under this
rind there is a white marrow of a fingers thickness, which they eat fresh with meat
and fish, as we do bread, and it has the taste of almond, and if anyone dried it he
might make bread of it. “
• Pigafetta characterized the people as very familiar and friendly.
• Willingly showed them different islands and the names of these islands.
• They went Humunu Island ( Homonhon ) ( Watering Place of Good Signs
where they found the first signs of gold in the island.
• They named the island with the nearby islands as the Archipelago of St.
Lazarus.
• March 25, they saw two ballangai ( balangay)-a long boat full of people in
Mazzava/ Mazaua.
• The leader (King 0 Raia Siagu sent his men to the ship of Magellan.
• The King offered to give Magellan a bar of gold and chest of ginger,
Magellan declined. Instead Magellan
• asked for money for the needs of his ships. The king responded by giving
them the needed provisions and food in chinaware.
• Magellan exchanged gifts of robes in Turkish fashions, red cap, knives and
mirrors.
• The two men expressed their desire to become brothers.
• Magellan also boasted of his men in an armor who could not struck with
swords and daggers. The king was fascinated and remarked that me in
such armor could not be worth one hundred of his men.
• Magellan showed other weapons, helmets and artilleries. He also shared
his charts and maps and how they found the islands.
• Magellan was introduced to the King’s brother who was also king of
another island.
• They went to this island and they saw mines of gold.
• The gold was abundant that the parts of the ship and the house of the
second king were made of gold.
RAIA CALAMBU
• King of Zuluan and Calagan ( Butuan and Caragua )
• Pigafetta described him as the most handsome of all men that he saw in
this place.
• He was adorned with stick and golden accessories like golden dagger which
he carried with him in a wooden polished sheath.
March 31, (Easter Sunday )
• Magellan ordered the chaplain to preside a Mass by the shore.
• The king sent two dead pigs and attended the Mass with the other king,
went to kiss the cross like us, but they offered nothing, and at the elevation
of the body of our LORD they were kneeling us, and adored our Lord with
joined hands.
• After the mass. Magellan ordered the cross, the nail, and crowned in place.
• Magellan explained that the cross, the nail, and the crown were the signs
of his emperor and that he was ordered to plant it in the places tat he
would reach and the cross would be beneficial for their people because
once the Spaniards saw this cross, then they would know that they had
been in this land and would not cause them troubles, and any person who
might be held captives by the would not be released.
April 7, 1521
• Magellan and his men reached the port of Cebu, the largest and the richest
of the islands with the helped of Raia Calambu.
• The King of Cebu (Rajah Humabon ) demanded that they pay tribute as it
customary but Magellan refused.
 • Magellan said that he was the captain himself and thus would not pay
tribute to the other king.
• Magellan’s interpreter explained to the King of Cebu that Magellan’s king
was the emperor of the great empire and that it would do them better to
make friends with them than to forge enmity.
• The king consulted his council and the next day, together with the other
principal men of Cebu, they met in an pen space and the king offered a
bit of hos blood demanded that Magellan do the same.
‘Then the king said that he was content, and as a greater sign of affection he sent
him a little of his bold from his right arm, and wished he should do the like. Our
people answered that he would do it.. Besides that, he said that all the captains
who came to his country had been accustomed to make a present to him, and he
to them, and therefore they should ask their captain if he would observe the
custom. Our people answered that he would; but as the king wished to keep up
the custom, let him begin and make a present, and then the captain would do his
duty.
• Magellan spoke about peace and God People took pleasure in his speech.
• Magellan asked the people who would succeed the king after his reign and
the people responded that the eldest child of the king, who happened to be
a daughter, would be the next in line.
• Parents were no longer taken inti account and has to follow the orders of
their children as the new leaders of the land.
• People wished to become Christians through their free will and not
because they were forced or intimidated.
April 14
• The people gathered with the king and other principal men of the island.
• Magellan spoke and encouraged the king to be a good Christian by burning
all the idols and worship the cross instead.
• The king of Cebu was baptized as Christians.
“ To that the king and all his people answered that thy would obey the commands
of the captain and do all that he told them. The captain took the king by the hand,
and they walk about on the scaffolding, and when he was baptized he said that
he would name him Don Charles Carlos, as the emperor his sovereign was named:
and he named the Prince Don Fernand (Fernando ),after the brother of the emperor,
and the king of Mazavva Jehan; to the Moor he gave the name of Christopher, and
to the others each a name of his fancy”.
• After 8 days, all of the islands inhabitant were already baptized.
• Pigafetta admitted that they burned a village down for obeying neither the
king nor Magellan.
• The Mass was conducted by the shore everyday.
• When the queen (Hara Amihan ) came to the Mass one day, Magellan gave
her an image of the Infant Jesus made by Pigafetta himself.
APRIL 26
• Zula , a principal man from the island of Matan (Mactan) went to see
Magellan and ask him a boat full of men si that he could fight the chief
name Silalapulapu ( Lapu-Lapu ).
 • According to Zula, Lapulapu refused to obey the king and was also
preventing him from doing so.
• Magellan offered three boats and went to Mactan himself to fight Lapu-
Lapu
• They arrived in Mactan in daylight with 49 in numbers while the islanders
of Mactan were estimated to number 1500.
“ When we reached land we found the islanders fifteen hundred in number, drawn
up in three squadrons; they came down upon us with terrible shouts, two
squadrons attacking us on the flanks, and the third in front. The captain then
divided his men in two bands. Our musketeers and crossbow-men fired for half
an hour from a distance, but did nothing, since the bullets and arrows, though
their shields made of thin wood, and perhaps wounded their arms, yet did not
stop them.
The captain shouted not to fire, but he was not listened to. The islanders seeing
that the shots of our guns id them little or no harm would retire, but shouted more
loudly, and springing from side to the other to avoid our shots, they at the same
time drew nearer to us, throwing arrows, javelins, spears, hardened in fire, stones
and even mud, so that we could hardly defend ourselves. Some of them cast lances
pointed with iron at the captain-general”
• Magellan, died in the battle,
• The natives perceiving that the bodies of the enemies were protected with
armors, aimed for their legs instead.
• Magellan was pierced with a poisoned arrow in his right leg.
• A few of their men charges at the natives and tried to intimidate them by
burning an entire village but this only enraged the natives further.
• Magellan was specifically targeted because the native knew he was the
captain general.
• Magellan was hit with a lance in the face. Magellan retaliated and pierced
the same native with his lance in the breast and tried to draw his sword
but could not lift it because of his wounded arms. One native with a great
sword delivered a blow in Magellan’s left leg, ceaselessly attacked Magellan
with lances, swords and even their bare hands.
“ Whilst the Indians were thus overpowering him, several times he turned round
towards us to see if we were all in safety, as though his obstinate fight had no
other object than to give an opportunity for the retreat of his men “ .
• The king of Cebu who was baptized who was baptized could have sent help
but Magellan instructed him not to join the battle and stay in the balangay
so that he would see how they fought.
• The king offered the people of Mactan’s gifts of any value and amount in
exchange of Magellan’s body as a momento of their victory.
• Duarte de Barbosa is elected a the new captain.
• Henry, Magellan’s slave and interpreter betrayed them and old the king of
Cebu that they intended to leave as quickly as possible. The slave allegedly
told the king that if he followed his advice, the king would acquire the
ships and the goods of Magellan’s fleet.
• The two conspired and betrayed what was left of Magellan’s men.
• The king invited these men to a gathering where he said he would send for
the King of Spain.
 • Twenty-four men attended while Pigafetta was not able to joined because
he was nursing his battle wounds.
• The natives has stain all the men except the interpreter and Juan Serrano
who was already wounded.
• The fleet departed and abandoned Serrano.
• They left Cebu and continued their journey around the world.
• From the original five ships set to sail (San Antonio, Conception, Victoria,
Trinidad and Santiago ) only Victoria Returned to Spain
• And from the original 237 men only 18 men survived.
•
Lesson 2: Readings on Kartilla ng Katipunan -Emilio Jacinto

BACKGROUND OF THE AUTHOR

Historians regard Emilio Jacinto as the” Brains of

the Katipunan “. Artemio Ricarte called him the ‘Moses
of the Filipino people”. While Epifanio de los Santos
considered him as the ” Soul of the Revolution” and the “
Eyes of the Katipunan “. Emilio Jacinto was born in
Trozo, Manila on December 15, 1875.His father was
Mariano Jacinto, according to Zaide, was a bookkeeper
but according to E. de los Santos, was a merchant. His
mother Josefa Dizon was a manghihilot or midwife.

He studied at the private school of Maestro Ferrer

and later, at the private school of Jose Dizon. He was
enrolled by his uncle at the Colegio de San Juan de
Letran for his Bachelor’s degree and he later transferred
to the University of Santo Tomas to study law. He used
the pennames Pingkian, Dimasilaw and Ka Ilyong. He
joined the Katipunan in 1894 and was the youngest
member at 19 yrs. old. He was the fiscal, secretary, editor
and later general of the Katipunan. The library contained
written works on tactics and weaponry, the French
EMILIO JACINTO Revolution, and works of demagogues.
Jacinto was proclaimed generalissimo of the North
(Punong Hukbo sa Hilagaan). Became the adviser of the
Supremo,and furnished Bonifacio with weapons, money,
printing materials and musical compositions. He was
also the editor of the newspaper Kalayaan. He died of
malaria on April 16, 1899 at 23 year old.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF KARTILYA

The Kataas-taasan, Kagalang-galangan ng Katipunan ng mga Anak ng
Bayan or KKK developed a set of rule known as the Kartilya, to introduce new
recruits to the Katipunan to the set of principles, values, they have to observe as
members.
Andres Bonifacio long wanted to have codified document listing the duties
and responsibilities of every member of the Katipunan. Incidentally, as Bonifacio
was drafting the said document. Emilio Jacinto was writing one as well. By the
time that Bonifacio was about to consult Jacinto for comments on the draft, the
latter presented his work to Supremo. After seeing the draft of Kartilya ng
Katipunan by Emilio Jacinto, Bonifacio was impressed with Jacinto’s style of
writing and decided to adopt the Kartilya as the guidebook for the rules and
regulations of the Katipunan.
Aside from the maltreatment experienced by Filipinos from the Spaniards,
the following are the other factors that were influential in the forming of the
Katipunan and that of Kartilya.
1.The Age of Enlightenment gave way to Liberalism and Classicism and
in the 20th century, Modernism. In this period, secret societies like the
Freemasons were established, coffeehouses, newspapers, and literary salons
flourished as new places for ideas to circulate and transfer.
2.The French Revolution was a period of social upheaval in France. It
became the focal point for the development of all modern political ideologies. This
led to the spread of radicalism, liberalism and nationalism which greatly
influenced the Illustrados in the Philippines and Europe.
3.Masonry- was introduced to the Philippines in 1856 when a Spanish
naval officer organized a lodge in Cavite under the auspices of the Portuguese
Gran Oriente Lusitano. However, the true roots of Philippine Masonry sprouted
in 1899 when Graciano Lopez -Jaena organized the Logia Revolution in
Barcelona under the auspices of Grande Oriente Espaἠol. Through Filipino
students studying in Spain, masonry further spread in Philippine circles, among
Marcelo H. del Pillar, brothers Antonio and Juan Luna, Jose Rizal and more.
. Masonry as a civic movement promoting fraternity, evidently influenced
the dynamics of the Katipunan. The Spanish friars believed that the Masonry
was the root of the problems and the establishment of the Katipunan. Jesuit
Francisco Foradada, wrote that Filipino filibusterism (subversion) was against
the righteousness, morality, or justice, and that Masonry was the enemy of God.
4.The propaganda Movement-was propelled by the excecution of the three
priests,GOMBURZA, in 1872 which left a profound effect effect of many Filipinos
including Jose Rizal.After the execution,many Filipinos started questioning
Spanish authorities and asked for reforms. The illustrados demanded for reforms
through a systematic and peaceful movement later called Propaganda
Movement,This movement helped Anders Bonifacio and other nationalists to
relalize that a peaceful way of asking reforms was not enough, leading to the
establishment of the Katipunan and the staging of an armed rebellion against he
Spanish colonial administration.
5.The La Liga Filipina-was established by Dr. Jose Rizal when he decided
to return to the Philippines to continue to call for reforms through legal means,
However, the operations of La Liga Filipina were cut short when Rizal was
arrested and exiled to Dapitan.Left without a leader,La Liga Filipina split into
two factions-the Katipunan led by Andres Bonifacio and the Cuerpo de
Compromisarios led by Numeriano Adriano.The former was known to be
composed of the radicals while the latter was composed of
conservatives,adhering to the originl aspirations of Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio
saw Rizal’s exile to Dapitan as a sign that asking for reforms through legal means
was futile. This prompted him to formally establish the secret revolutionary
organization, the Katipunan.
The Katipunan Code of Conduct

1. The life that is not consecrated to a lofty and reasonable purpose is a tree without a shade, if not
a poisonous weed.

2. To do good for personal gain and not for its own sake is not virtue.

3. It is rational to be charitable and love one's fellow creature, and to adjust one's conduct, acts and
words to what is in itself reasonable.

4. Whether our skin be black or white, we are all born equal: superiority in knowledge, wealth and
beauty are to be understood, but not superiority by nature.

5. The honorable man prefers honor to personal gain; the scoundrel, gain to honor.

6. To the honorable man, his word is sacred.

7. Do not waste thy time: wealth can be recovered but not time lost.

8. Defend the oppressed and fight the oppressor before the law or in the field.

9. The prudent man is sparing in words and faithful in keeping secrets.

10. On the thorny path of life, man is the guide of woman and the children, and if the guide leads to
the precipice, those whom he guides will also go there.

11. Thou must not look upon woman as a mere plaything, but as a faithful companion who will
share with thee the penalties of life; her (physical) weakness will increase thy interest in her and she
will remind thee of the mother who bore thee and reared thee.

12. What thou dost not desire done unto thy wife, children, brothers and sisters, that do not unto
the wife, children, brothers and sisters of thy neighbor.

13. Man is not worth more because he is a king, because his nose is aquiline, and his color white,
not because he is a *priest, a servant of God, nor because of the high prerogative that he enjoys
upon earth, but he is worth most who is a man of proven and real value, who does good, keeps his
words, is worthy and honest; he who does not oppress nor consent to being oppressed, he who
loves and cherishes his fatherland, though he be born in the wilderness and know no tongue but his
own.

14. When these rules of conduct shall be known to all, the longed-for sun of Liberty shall rise
brilliant over this most unhappy portion of the globe and its rays shall diffuse everlasting joy among
the confederated brethren of the same rays, the lives of those who have gone before, the fatigues
and the well-paid sufferings will remain. If he who desires to enter (the Katipunan) has informed
himself of all this and believes he will be able to perform what will be his duties, he may fill out the
application for admission.
[translation by Gregorio Nieva, 1918]

Lesson 3-Readings on Declaration of Philippine Independence-Ambrosio

Rianzares Bautista

• Every year, the country commemorates the anniversary of the Philippine

Independence
• Proclaimed on June 12, 1898, in the province of Cavite.
• Indeed, such event is a significant turning point in the history of the country .
• it signaled the end of the 333 years of Spanish colonization. There have been
numerous studies done on the events had the chance to read the actual document
of the declaration.
 • This is in spite done on the events leading to the independence of the country but
very few students had the chance to read the actual document of the declaration.
This is in spite of the historical day in Cavite.
• Interestingly, reading the details of the said document in hindsight, reading the
details is telling of the kind of government that was created republic.
• The declaration was a short 2,000-word document, which summarized the reason
behind the revolution against Spain, the war for independence, and the future of
the new republic under Emilio Aguinaldo.
• The proclamation commenced with a characterization of the conditions in the
Philippines during the Spanish colonial period.
• The document specially mentioned abuses and inequalities in the colony. The
declaration says;

‘…taking into consideration, that their inhabitants being already weary of bearing the
ominous yoke of Spanish domination, on account of the arbitrary arrests and harsh
treatment practiced by the Civil Guard to the extent of causing death with the connivance
and even with the express orders of their commanders, who sometimes went to the
extreme of ordering the shooting of prisoners under the pretext that they were attempting
to escape, in violation of the provisions of the Regulations o their Corps, which abuses
were unpunished decreed by General Blanco, of eminent personages and friars interested
in keeping them out of the way for their own selfish and avaricious purpose, deportations
which are quickly brought about by a method of procedure more execrable than that of
the Inquisition and which every civilized nation rejects on account of a decision being
rendered without a hearing of the persons accused.

• The above passage demonstrates the justifications behind the revolution against
Spain. Specifically cited are the abuse by the Civil Guards and the unlawful
shooting of prisoners whom they alleged as attempting to escape.
• The passage also condemns the unequal protection of the law between the Filipino
people and the eminent personages.
• Moreover, the line mentions the avarice and greed of the clergy like the friars and
the Archbishop himself.
• Lastly, the passage also condemns what they saw as the unjust deportation and
rendering of other decision without proper hearing of other decision without proper
hearing, expected of any civilized nation.
• From here, the proclamation proceeded with a brief historical overview of the
Spanish occupation since Magellan’s arrival in Visayas until the Philippine
Revolution, with specific details about the latter, especially after the Pact of Biak-
na-Bato had collapses.
• The document narrates the spread of the movement ‘ like an electric spark’
through different towns and provinces like Bataan, Pampanga, Batangas, Bulacan,
Laguna, and Morong and the quick decline of Spanish forces in the same provinces.
The revolt also reached Visayas, thus the independence of the country was
ensured.
• The document also mention’s Rizal’s execution, calling it unjust.
• The execution as written in the document, was done to “please the greedy body
of friars in their insatiable desire to seek revenge upon and exterminate all those
who are opposed to their Machiavellian purposes which tramples upon the penal
code prescribed for these islands.”
• The documents also narrates the Cavity Mutiny in January 1872 that caused the
infamous execution of the martyred native priests Jose Burgos, Mariano Gomez,
and Jacinto Zamora. “whose innocent blood was shed through the intrigues of
 those so-called religious orders” that incited the three secular priests in the said
mutiny.
• The proclamation of independence also invokes that the established republic would
be led under the dictatorship of Emilio Aguinaldo. The first mention was at the
very beginning of the proclamation. It stated:
“ In the town of Cavite Viejo, in this province of Cavite, on the twelfth day of June
eighteen hundred and ninety-eight, before me, Don Ambosio Rianzares Bautista, Auditor
of War and Special Commissioner appointed to proclaim and solemnize this act by the
Dictatorial Government of these Philippine Islands, for the purposes and by virtue of the
Circular addressed by the eminent director of the same Don Emilio Aguinaldo y’ Famy” .
The same was repeated toward the last part of the proclamation. It states:

“ We acknowledge, approve and confirm together with the orders that have been issued
therefrom, the Dictatorship established by Don Emilio Aguinaldo, whom we honor as the
Supreme Chief of this Nation, which tis day commences to have a life of its own, in the
belief that he is the instrument selected by God, in spite of his humble origin, to effect
the redemption of this unfortunate people, as foretold by Dr. Jose Rizal in the magnificent
verses which he composed when he was preparing to be shot, liberating them from the
yoke of Spanish domination in punishment of the impunity with which their Government
allowed the commission of abuses by its subordinates.”

Another detail in the proclamation that is worth looking at is its explanation on he

Philippine flag was first waved on the same day. The document explained:

“ And finally, it was unanimously resolved that this nation, independent from his day,
must use the same flag used heretofore, whose design and colors and described in the
accompanying drawing, with design representing in natural colors the three arms referred
to. The white triangle represents the distinctive emblem of the famous Katipunan society,
which by means of its compact of blood if blood urged on the masses of the people to
insurrection; the three stars represent the three principal islands of this archipelago,
Luzon, Mindanao and Panay, in which this insurrectionary movement broke out; the sun
represents the gigantic strides that have been made by the sons of this land on the road
of progress and civilization, its eight rays symbolizing the eight provinces of Manila,
Cavite, Bulacan , Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bataan , Laguna and Batangas which were
declared in a state of war almost as soon as the first insurrectionary movement was
initiated; and the colors blue, red, and white, commemorate those of the flag of the USA
in manifestation of our profound gratitude towards the great nation for the disinterested
protection she is extending to us and will continue to extend to us.”

This often overlooked detail reveals much about the historically accurate meaning behind
he most widely known national symbol in the Philippines. It is not known by many for
example, that the white triangle was derived from the symbol of the Katipunan.. The red
and blue colors of the flag are often associated with courage and peace, respectively. Our
basic education omits the fact that these colors were taken from the flag of the United
States. While it can always be argued that symbolic meaning of something presents us
several historical truths that can explain the subsequent events, which unfolded after the
declaration of independence on the 12th day of June 1898.
Lesson 4: A GLance of Selected Philippine Political Caricature in Alfred McCoys
Philippine Cartoons: Political Caricature of the American Era (1900-1941)

Political cartoons and caricature are a rather recent art form, which veered away
from the classical art but exaggerating human features and poking fun at its subjects.
Such art genre and technique became a part of the print media as a form of social and
political commentary, which usually target persons of power and authority. Cartoons
became an effective tool of publishing opinions through heavy use of symbolism, which
is different from a verbose written editorial 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 cartoons. Commentaries in mass media inevitably
shape public opinion and such kind of opinion is worthy by historical examination.
In his book Philippine Cartoons: Political Caricature of the American Era 91900-
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 fist example shown was published in The

Independent on May 20, 1916. The cartoon shows a
politician from Tondo, named Dr. Santos, passing his
crown to his brother-in-law, Dr. Barcelona. A Filipino
guy ( as depicted wearing salakot and barong
Tagalog) was trying stop Santos, telling the latter to
stop giving Barcelona the crown because it is not to
begin with.

The second cartoon was also published by the

Independent 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 chicken 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 the
small-time pickpockets and thieves and to turn
at the great thieves instead. He awas pointing
to buge warehouses containing bulks of rice,
milk, and grocery products.

This third cartoon was a commentary on the

unprecedented cases of colorum automobiles
in the city streets. The Philippine Free Press
published this commentary when fatal
accidents involving colorum vehicles and taxis
occurred too often already.
This fourth cartoon depects a cinema. A
blown-up police officer was at the screen
saying that couples are not allowed to
neck and make love in the theater. Two
youngsters looked horrified while an
older couple seemed amused.

This cartoon was published by The

Independent on 27 November 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 basketball
bats, whiskey, and boxing gloves.
McCoy, in his caption to the said
cartoon, 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 commented by
the nationalists at that time

This cartoon was published by Lipang

Kalabaw on 24 August 1907. In the
picture, we can see Uncle Sam
rationing porridge to the politicians
and members of the Progresista Party
( sometimes known as the Federalista
Party ) which members of the
Nacionalista Party look on and wait
for their turn. This cartoon depicts
the patronage of the United States
being coveted y politicians from either
of the party.
IV- References:

https://www.coursehero.com/file/40720292/a4PDF/

http://www.philippinemasonry.org/kartilya-ng-katipunan.html
https://pdfcoffee.com/first-voyage-around-the-world-4-pdf-free.html

https://pdfcoffee.com/first-voyage-around-the-world-5-pdf-free.html

https://fampeople.com/cat-antonio-pigafetta

www.scribd.com
Andres et al., ” Readings in Philippihne History “ ( 2019 ) Books Atbp Publishing Corp. Mandaluyong City, Philippines

. Asuncion, N. M., & Cruz, G. R., “ Readings in Philippine History “ ( 2019 ) C & E Publishing Corp. Quezon, City

.Candelaria, J.L., & Alporha V. C,.” Readings in Philippine History First Edition” ( 2018 ) Rex Bookstore, Sampaloc Manila

De Viana, A.V., & Picadizo, M.V., “ A Guide for Understanding Philippine History “ ( 2018 ) Book Atbp. Publishimg Corp. ,
Mandaluyong City

.Rosales et al, “ Understanding Philippine History “ Readings & Disclosure (2020 ) Lorimar Publishing Inc., Quezon, City

ACTIVITY 1
Instruction: Study the crossword puzzle below. List down at least 15 words (
terms & concepts, names of persons, & places ) related to the readings/topics
presented )
K A T I P U N A N S A M E
A M I N B A L I W A G N P
R B V C Z M I E V M U M I
T O O E A A T L E C I A G
I B Y B M L A C N C N R A
L A A U A U L A I O A I F
Y U G N L K Y N C Y L A E
A T E O A U A O E S D N T
R I P E J A C I N T O A T
A S O L A M A K A M I S A
L T R I M U C A V I T E I
E A R N M A G E L L A N N

ACTIVITY 2
Instruction: Supply the needed data in the table below. Use extra sheet of
coupon bond ( landscape ) if necessary.
Readings/ Brief analysis of Identify the Author’s main
Documents the historical argument &
content/context importance of point of view.
of the document the document
1.First Voyage
Around the
World-Antonio
Pigafetta
 2.Kartillia ng
Katipunan-
Emilio Jacinto
3.Declaration of
Independence-
Ambrosio
Rianzares
Bautista.

4.A Glance at
Selected
Philippine
Caricature in
Alfred McCoy’s
Philippine
Cartoons:
Political
Caricature of the
American Era
(1900-1941 )

ACTIVITY 3
CRITICAL ANALYSIS ESSAY
Select at least one (1) readings presented in this module. Write an essay
discussing 1) the importance of the text, 2) background of text’s author. 3) the
context of the document, and 4) the text’s contribution to understanding
Philippine history.