Henry Stimson & Philippine Commonwealth History

Henry Stimson & The Commonwealth Period

• After Governor General Leonard Wood's death, Henry Stimson took over.
• Stimson struggled to balance American colonial interests with Filipino desires for independence.
• The Commonwealth period followed World War I and global political shifts.
• The Great Depression in 1929 significantly impacted the Philippines.
• The economic downturn in the U.S. reduced support for the Philippines and influenced its push for independence.
• President Manuel L. Quezon opposed the Hare-Hawes-Cutting Bill, pushing for the Tydings-McDuffie Act of 1934.
• The Tydings-McDuffie Act promised gradual independence but faced economic challenges.
• The Philippine Commonwealth was established in 1935 with Quezon as President and Sergio Osmeña as Vice President.
• The goal was full independence by 1945, but World War II interrupted these plans.

Japanese Occupation

• General Douglas MacArthur anticipated conflict and prepared the Philippine Commonwealth Army.
• After Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, Manila was declared an "Open City" to avoid destruction.
• Quezon's government retreated to Corregidor Island.
• The surrender of Bataan in April 1942 led to the Bataan Death March.
• Guerrilla groups resisted Japanese occupation throughout the Philippines.
• Japan attempted to justify its occupation by offering quick independence, but Filipinos perceived it as propaganda.
• The creation of KALIBAPI and the installation of a puppet government under President Jose P. Laurel in 1943 aimed to legitimize Japanese control.

Liberation and Aftermath

• The tide of the war turned in 1944 with MacArthur's return to the Philippines.
• The landing in Leyte in October 1944 initiated the liberation campaign.
• President Quezon died in August 1944, unable to witness the return of freedom.
• The Battle for Manila in 1945 was destructive and left the city among the most devastated in World War II.
• General MacArthur declared the liberation of the Philippines on July 4, 1945.
• Japan's formal surrender on September 2, 1945, marked the end of hostilities.
• The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki led to Japan's surrender.
• The Philippines faced the immense challenge of rebuilding from the destruction caused by the war.

Fernando Amorsolo's Biography

• Born on May 30, 1892, in Daet, Camarines Norte.
• His artistic journey started early under the influence of his uncle, Fabian dela Rosa, a painter.
• He became an apprentice to his uncle at the University of the Philippines at the age of 13.
• His family faced hardships: the loss of his older brother during the revolution and his father's death at 11.
• They moved to Manila seeking better opportunities.

Fernando Amorsolo's Art

• Amorsolo's career took off after his painting "Leyendo el Periodico" won second place in 1908.
• He studied at Academia de San Fernando in Madrid, supported by Enrique Zobel de Ayala, enriching his techniques and artistic vision.
• He was known for romanticized depictions of rural Filipino life during the American period.
• His style evolved to reflect the darker realities of Japanese occupation and the aftermath of war.

Analysis of Amorsolo's Work

• "A Family Resting Under the Mango Shade" captures a typical provincial scene, representing a tranquil and simple life.
• The painting reflects the pre-war themes of peace and connection to nature.
• Amorsolo's art served as a visual documentation of hardship and suffering endured by the Filipino people.
• His works provide a visual contrast between the romanticized rural scenes of pre-war times and the harsh realities of the Japanese occupation.