CHAPTER 17CHAPTER 17

TRAINING FOR SELF-TRAINING FOR SELF-GOVERNMENTGOVERNMENT

(1907-9121)(1907-9121)

With theWith the existence of general peace existence of general peace and order, the Americans had the and order, the Americans had the

opportunity to put into practice what opportunity to put into practice what their leaders in Washington, D.C. their leaders in Washington, D.C.

had PROMISED:had PROMISED:

1. To give the Filipinos the benefit of wise 1. To give the Filipinos the benefit of wise and just administration;and just administration;

2. To give the Filipinos civil liberties they 2. To give the Filipinos civil liberties they never enjoy under the Spanish never enjoy under the Spanish colonial rule and;colonial rule and;

3. To train the Filipinos in self-government as 3. To train the Filipinos in self-government as preparation for independence, a concept unheard of preparation for independence, a concept unheard of

under Spain.under Spain.

But like other colonial pronouncements, such But like other colonial pronouncements, such promises could mean TWO THINGS. promises could mean TWO THINGS.

First, The American policy in the training of First, The American policy in the training of Filipinos in self-government meant that the Filipinos in self-government meant that the Americans did not believe that the Filipinos Americans did not believe that the Filipinos were ready for independence.were ready for independence.

Second, it also meant that the Americans were Second, it also meant that the Americans were not yet willing to give up the Philippines as not yet willing to give up the Philippines as their colony. their colony.

Thus, the government established by the Thus, the government established by the Americans, by and large, was a government Americans, by and large, was a government

controlled by the Americans with the Filipinos IN controlled by the Americans with the Filipinos IN CHARGE of RUNNING OR OPERATING;CHARGE of RUNNING OR OPERATING;

Filipinos who were wealthy and educated,Filipinos who were wealthy and educated, Pro- Americans and westernized in their Pro- Americans and westernized in their

lifestyles. lifestyles.

The Americans took several steps to train in The Americans took several steps to train in Filipinos for self-government before the grant of Filipinos for self-government before the grant of

independence.independence.

First, they passed the COOPER LAW or the First, they passed the COOPER LAW or the Philippine Bill of 1902. this law was responsible for Philippine Bill of 1902. this law was responsible for the establishment of the Philippine Assembly, the establishment of the Philippine Assembly, which gave Filipinos the right to be represented in which gave Filipinos the right to be represented in the lawmaking body through their elected the lawmaking body through their elected delegates to the Assembly.delegates to the Assembly.

Second, the Americans passed the Jones Law in Second, the Americans passed the Jones Law in 1916, which handed over both houses of the 1916, which handed over both houses of the lawmaking body exclusively to the Filipinos. It also lawmaking body exclusively to the Filipinos. It also promised to grant independence to the Filipinos “ promised to grant independence to the Filipinos “ as soon as a stable government [could] be as soon as a stable government [could] be established therin. established therin.

* Third, the Americans under * Third, the Americans under Governor-General Governor-General FrancisFrancis Burton HarrisonBurton Harrison gave the Filipinos greater gave the Filipinos greater participation in the government. This was done by participation in the government. This was done by

employing trained Filipinos in low and high positions employing trained Filipinos in low and high positions in the government. This process was called in the government. This process was called

FILIPINIZATION.FILIPINIZATION. Fourth, the American Congress passed the Fourth, the American Congress passed the

Tydings-McDuffie Act in 1934Tydings-McDuffie Act in 1934 which provided which provided for the establishment of a transition for the establishment of a transition government called Commonwealth. At the government called Commonwealth. At the end of this transition period, the Philippines end of this transition period, the Philippines would finally be given her independence.would finally be given her independence.

The PHILIPPINE COMMISSION which was the The PHILIPPINE COMMISSION which was the lawmaking body during the early years of lawmaking body during the early years of

American occupation the Philippine, passed the American occupation the Philippine, passed the MUNICIPAL CODE ACT. MUNICIPAL CODE ACT.

The municipal government was to be The municipal government was to be administered by the following elected officials:administered by the following elected officials:

>> the municipal president the municipal president >> the municipal vice president and the municipal vice president and >> the municipal council. the municipal council. these officials were to be elected every these officials were to be elected every

two years.two years.

GOVERNMENT GOVERNMENT REORGANIZATIONREORGANIZATION

To make the reorganization of local To make the reorganization of local governments effective and systematic, a governments effective and systematic, a committee composed of two Filipino lawyers committee composed of two Filipino lawyers and three American military officers was and three American military officers was created. This committee formulated plans for created. This committee formulated plans for the reorganization of the municipal government the reorganization of the municipal government throughout the areas under American throughout the areas under American jurisdiction. jurisdiction.

The QUALIFIED VOTERS were males, twenty- three The QUALIFIED VOTERS were males, twenty- three years old and over, has resided in the municipality for at years old and over, has resided in the municipality for at

least six months, had held a position in the town least six months, had held a position in the town government during the Spanish period, or owned government during the Spanish period, or owned

property worth 500 pesos, or paid taxes worth 30 pesos property worth 500 pesos, or paid taxes worth 30 pesos a year, and who could speak and write in English or a year, and who could speak and write in English or

Spanish. This law was restrictive because it only granted Spanish. This law was restrictive because it only granted the highly- educated or propertied males the right to the highly- educated or propertied males the right to

vote. vote.

The women, the poor, and the less-educated people The women, the poor, and the less-educated people were not given the same right. The effect of such were not given the same right. The effect of such law to perpetuate the rule of the principalia or elite law to perpetuate the rule of the principalia or elite groups.groups.

The Philippine Commission also reorganized the The Philippine Commission also reorganized the provincial government by passing the PROVINCIAL provincial government by passing the PROVINCIAL

CODE ACT. According to this law, the provincial CODE ACT. According to this law, the provincial government was to be administered by a board government was to be administered by a board

composed of a governor, a treasurer, and a composed of a governor, a treasurer, and a supervisor.supervisor.

The governor was to be elected by the qualified The governor was to be elected by the qualified voters of the province for a term of two years.voters of the province for a term of two years.

The treasurer and the supervisor were to be The treasurer and the supervisor were to be appointed. These appointive officials were appointed. These appointive officials were Americans in the early years of the American Americans in the early years of the American rule.rule.

THE CIVIL SERVICETHE CIVIL SERVICE

In 1900, the Philippine Commission passed the In 1900, the Philippine Commission passed the CIVIL SERVICE ACT. According to this law, CIVIL SERVICE ACT. According to this law, all government, shall be placed under the all government, shall be placed under the administrative control of the bureau of civil administrative control of the bureau of civil service. The introduction of the civil also set service. The introduction of the civil also set up the MERIT SYSTEM in which individual up the MERIT SYSTEM in which individual positive qualities and abilities, and nothing positive qualities and abilities, and nothing else, counted when it came to promotions.else, counted when it came to promotions.

EMPLOYMENT OF FILIPINOSEMPLOYMENT OF FILIPINOS the American authorities in the Philippines gave highly-the American authorities in the Philippines gave highly-

educated and pro-American Filipinos seats in the Philippine educated and pro-American Filipinos seats in the Philippine Commission. In 1901, three Filipinos of known pro-Americans Commission. In 1901, three Filipinos of known pro-Americans stance were appointed to the Commission. stance were appointed to the Commission.

These Filipinos are: These Filipinos are: *Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera, the founder of the pro-American *Trinidad H. Pardo de Tavera, the founder of the pro-American

Federal Party.Federal Party.*Jose Luzuriaga, and *Jose Luzuriaga, and *Benito Legarda *Benito Legarda When FRANCIS BURTON HARRISON became governor-When FRANCIS BURTON HARRISON became governor-

general, he increased the number of Filipinos in the general, he increased the number of Filipinos in the Commission.Commission.

The FIRST CHIEF JUSTICE was CAYETANO ARELLANO.The FIRST CHIEF JUSTICE was CAYETANO ARELLANO.

THE HARRISON APPOINTMENTTHE HARRISON APPOINTMENT

During the presidential election of 1912, the Democratic During the presidential election of 1912, the Democratic Party candidate, WOODROW WILSON, announced Party candidate, WOODROW WILSON, announced an opposite view. He was in favor of granting an opposite view. He was in favor of granting independence to the Philippines. Wilson was elected independence to the Philippines. Wilson was elected president, and soon after he sent an investigator to the president, and soon after he sent an investigator to the Philippine to study condition of the country.Philippine to study condition of the country.

The investigator, HENRY FORD JONES, reported to The investigator, HENRY FORD JONES, reported to Wilson that the Filipinos had the capacity to govern Wilson that the Filipinos had the capacity to govern themselves.themselves.

Wilson, in order to show his good faith in favoring Wilson, in order to show his good faith in favoring independence for the Filipinos , appointed FRANCIS independence for the Filipinos , appointed FRANCIS BURTON HARRISON of New York as governor-BURTON HARRISON of New York as governor-general of the Philippines. Harrison was known to be general of the Philippines. Harrison was known to be sympathetic to Filipino aspirations.sympathetic to Filipino aspirations.

FILIPINIZATION UNDER HARRISONFILIPINIZATION UNDER HARRISONFilipinization, or the placing of the government in the hands of Filipinization, or the placing of the government in the hands of

Filipino administrators, was governor Taft’s idea. His policy of Filipino administrators, was governor Taft’s idea. His policy of the “ Philippines for the Filipinos ” was the beginning of the “ Philippines for the Filipinos ” was the beginning of Filinization.Filinization.

THE JONES LAWTHE JONES LAWJones Act of 1916, it started in the Preamble that the Philippines Jones Act of 1916, it started in the Preamble that the Philippines

would be granted independence “as soon as a stable would be granted independence “as soon as a stable government [could] be established therein.” Toward this end, government [could] be established therein.” Toward this end, the Jones Act provided that the domestic affairs of the the Jones Act provided that the domestic affairs of the Filipinos should be administrered by them so that “they may Filipinos should be administrered by them so that “they may be better prepared to fully assume the responsibilities and be better prepared to fully assume the responsibilities and enjoy the privileges of complete independence.” enjoy the privileges of complete independence.”

IMPORTANT PROVISIONSIMPORTANT PROVISIONS

The government was to have three branches – the The government was to have three branches – the executive, the legislative, and the judicial.executive, the legislative, and the judicial.

* the EXECUTIVE branch was headed by the * the EXECUTIVE branch was headed by the governor-general who was to be appointed by the governor-general who was to be appointed by the President of the united states with the approval of President of the united states with the approval of the American Senate. The vice governor, also an the American Senate. The vice governor, also an American, was to be appointed in the same manner American, was to be appointed in the same manner as the governor-general.as the governor-general.

* The LEGISLATIVE power or the power to make a * The LEGISLATIVE power or the power to make a laws was vested in the Philippine Legislature.laws was vested in the Philippine Legislature.

Legislative was composed of two houses: Legislative was composed of two houses: 1. the Upper House or the Senate and,1. the Upper House or the Senate and, 2. the Lower House or the house of 2. the Lower House or the house of

representatives.representatives. The JUDICIAL POWER, on the other hand, was The JUDICIAL POWER, on the other hand, was exercised by the Supreme Court and the lower exercised by the Supreme Court and the lower

courts of justice.courts of justice.The most important provision of the Jones Law was The most important provision of the Jones Law was

the BILL OF RIGHTS, this provision enumerated the the BILL OF RIGHTS, this provision enumerated the civil rights of the Filipino people. These include the civil rights of the Filipino people. These include the freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom from illegal search, freedom to assemble for the from illegal search, freedom to assemble for the redress of grievances, and other rights exercised by redress of grievances, and other rights exercised by people in democratic countries.people in democratic countries.

THE LEGISLATURETHE LEGISLATURE

The Philippine Legislature under the Jones Law was The Philippine Legislature under the Jones Law was inaugurated in Manila on October 16, 1916. they inaugurated in Manila on October 16, 1916. they could pass laws subject to the votoes of the could pass laws subject to the votoes of the American governor-general and the U.S President.American governor-general and the U.S President.

THE COUNCIL OF STATETHE COUNCIL OF STATE Acting on the suggestion of speaker Osmenia, he Acting on the suggestion of speaker Osmenia, he

created the council of state. This was composed of the created the council of state. This was composed of the governor-general acting as chairman, the speaker of governor-general acting as chairman, the speaker of the house, the senate president, and the members of the house, the senate president, and the members of the cabinet.the cabinet.

Gavilo, Geline L.Gavilo, Geline L.