TRANSITION TO

INDEPENDENCE: COMMONWEALTH

Chapter 19
&
RESULTS OF THE AMERICAN

OCCUPATION
CHAPTER 20

CHAPTER 19:
TRANSITION TO INDEPENDENCE:
THE COMMONWEALTH
On May 1, 1934, when the Philippine Legislature unanimously accepted the Tydings
McDuffie Act, Manuel L. Quezon had a sobering admonition to his people. He said: We have
taken one more step forward in our onward March to the realization of our National ideal.In
this solemn moment, let there be no exultation of victory. Let it be a moment of consecration.

THE FRAMING OF THE CONSTITUTION

July 10, 2934 202 delegates elected to a constitutional convention tasked with
thedrafting of a Philippine Constitution.
July 30 meeting in inaugural convention and the following were elected as
officials of the constitutional convention:
Claro M. Recto President
Ruperto Montinola First Vice President
Teodoro Sandiko Second Vice President
Narciso Pimental Secretary

Forty Committees were organized to study and report on the provision of the
constitution. A subcommittee of seven The seven wise men Prepared a
Draft of
the constitution.
Seven Wise Men

Filemon Sotto Chairman

Noberto Romualdez
Manuel Roxas
Vicente Singson Encarnacion
Manueal C. Biones
Miguel Cuaderno
Conrado Benitez (Who replaced Jose P. Laurel)

The constitutional convention approved the constitution on February 8, 1935 and

President Roosevelt did the same on March 23. A plebiscite held on May 14, 1935 notified
the constitution. In September, A reunited Nacionalista Party (composed of the Quezon and
Osmea Roxas factions) won overwhelmingly over its rivals General Emilio Aguinaldo
and Bishop Gregorio Aglipay.
November 15, 1935 The commonwealth of the Philippines was inaugurated
with Manuel L.Quezon as President and Sergio Osmea as
Vice President.
THE SAKDAL UPRISING
On the night of May 2 3, 1935 65,000 partially armed peasants shattered the
tranquility of the countryside surroundings Manila.
Benigno Ramos Become the persecuted spokesman for the oppressed
masses.
sakladistas fiery leader
November 7, 1930 Communist Party of the Philippines was formally
established.
1932 it had been declared an illegal organizations.

NATIONAL SECURITY & NATIONAL DEFENSE

General Douglas MacArthur retired Chief of staff of the US Army.

He conferred the title of Field Marshal of the Philippine
Army
The defense plan envisioned organization of a citizens army to consist of two
components:
A regular force of about 10,000 men, including the Philippine Constabulary
(PC)
A reserve force to number 400,000 by the end of the ten year period
through a continuous program of training 21 year old able bodied men for
period of 5 months.
Constitution of 1935 mandated that the promotion of social justice to insure the well
being and economic security of all the people should be the
concern of the state.
*Two important fronts, reforms were instituted:
Labor
Tenancy
Commonwealth Act No. 211 established a minimum wage for laborers employed in the
public works projects.

National Relief Administration was created on January 1938

to coordinate under its sole management the different relief
activities of the government with those being
undertaken by
private relief institutions.
1936 National Council of Education was created
- Chaired by Rafael Palma
Vice President Osmea headed the Department of Education.

THE NATIONAL LANGUAGE

November 13, 1937 The National Assembly enacted Commonwealth Act. No. 184
establishing the Institute of National Language tasked to study the
different Philippine languages for the purpose of involving
and adopting a
national language.

November 9, 1937 the institute of National Language recommended the adoption of tagalog
as the basis of the National Language.

December 30, 1937 Quezon proclaimed the language based of Tagalog as the countrys
National Language.
April 1940 Quezon authorized the printing of dictionary and grammar prepared by the
institute.
June 19, 1940 The National Language was ordered taught in all schools in the Philippines.
Commonwealth Act. No. 570 National Assembly declared that the tagalog based national
language would become one of the official languages of
the
country effective upon independence on July 4, 1946.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Economic development other major concern of the commonwealth Government.
Agriculture was the most important sector of the Philippine economy.
Under the Tydings Mcduffie Act of 1934 This arrangement was to continue for 5 years then

each
the last

5% of the appropriate tarrifs would be levied

year against Philippine products so that in
year of the commonwealth.

August 1940 the Philippine Economic Adjustment Act (also called the Tydings
Koscialkowski Act) was passed.

PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE RE-EXAMINED

1937 Quezon stated that he wanted the date of Philippine independence advances to
late 1938 or early 1939.
May 1939 Anti dummy law was passed.
Anti-Dummy- Law Punished Filipinos who allowed themselves to be used as
dummies or fronts by alien businessmen and inventors.
NEPA National Economic Protection Association
KENA Key to Economic Nationalism
March 1936 Nationalism Economic Council was created to direct the economic
activities of the commonwealth.

PARTYLESS DEMOCRACY
The Philippine Commonwealth was a Quezon Government.
Quezon was clearly the most dynamic personality of the prewar era and exemplified
the modern lawyer Politician so characteristic of the political
leadership of
contemporary Philippines.

CHAPTER 20:
RESULTS OF THE AMERICAN OCCUPATION
United States introduced in the Philippines a regime of democratic partnership under
the Filipinos played the role of junior partner.

The negative results:

The general economic dependence on the United States.

The partial loss of racial heritage.
The continuance of colonial mentality
A distorted sense of values

PROGRESS IN EDUCATION
System of Public Education The greatest contribution of the United States to
Philippine Civilization.
American Educational System Emphasized the democratic traditions and the practical

application of laws and principles.

American Soldiers The first public schools teachers.
Thomasites Who replaced American soldiers as teachers.
American teachers who came to the Philippines on board the S.S.
Thomas.
Pensionados Filipino students who showed aptitudes in some branches of learning
were sent to the United States.
Adult Education was experimented by American missionaries in the non Christians
area from the early years of the American occupation.

PUBLIC HEALTH & WELFARE

Board of Public Health Signaled the intensified campaign not only for improved public

Health but also for the eradication of superstition and

ignorance.
Field Men were sent to the Provinces to explain the workings of modern sanitation
and hygiene.
Dispensaries
Leprosaria
Hospitals

were established to take care of sick and infected people.

TRADE, COMMERCE, & INDUSTRY

American exports to the Philippines were unlimited and duty free.
In Industry, the Philippines developed in the sense that factories such as textile & cigar
& cigarette factories.
Sawmills
Coconut oil mills
Cordage factories
Fishing and Fish Canning

were established beyond the wildest dreams of the

Filipinos during the Spanish period.

Alcohol distilleries
Sugar centrals
Mining one of the most important industries.
become the backbone of Philippine economy.

TRANSPORTATION & COMMUNICATION

Telephone Lines were introduced in Manila in 1905 and Radio Telephone service in

1933

INDIVIDUAL FREEDOMS
McKinlys Benevolent assimilation Proclamation and his Instruction to the second or
Taft Commission laid the bases of American policy in the Philippines. This policy was rooted in
the recognition of the individual freedoms.
The sedition Law of 1901 passed by the Philippine Commission, considered it seditions of
any Filipino to advocate independence.
Flag Law of 1907 prohibited the display of the Filipino Flag.
-

Filipinos enjoyed the era of freedom:

Freedom of religious worship
Freedom of the press
Freedom of assemble peaceably for the redress of grievances
Freedom to change domicile
Freedom of speech.