Political Caricatures: Philippine Cartoons (1900-1941) PDF

Political Caricat ures Group 2  A Glance at Selected Philippine Political Caricature in Alfred McCoy's Philippine Cartoons: Political cartoons are a modern Political art form that exaggerates Caricature...

Political Caricat ures Group 2  A Glance at Selected Philippine Political Caricature in Alfred McCoy's Philippine Cartoons: Political cartoons are a modern Political art form that exaggerates Caricature of the features to mock figures of American Era (1900-1941)power, using symbolism to convey social and political commentary. Unlike lengthy editorials, these cartoons provide concise opinions and influence public perception, making them valuable for historical study, as seen in Alfred McCoy’s examination of Philippine cartoons from the American era (1900-1941). 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. 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. The third cartoon was a commentary on the unprecedented cases of colorum automobiles in the city streets. This fourth cartoon depicts a cinema. Two youngsters looked horrified while an older couple seemed amused. 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. 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) ANALYSIS OF THE POLITICAL CARICATURES DURING THE AMERICAN PERIOD The shift from Spanish Colonial rule to American Occupation in the Philippines brought cultural and political changes, including the introduction of democracy and modern advancements like healthcare and media. However, social class disparities persisted: the upper principalia class prospered, while most poor Filipinos remained impoverished and faced state repression. The selected cartoons illustrates certain media opinions on Philippine society during the American period and depict the challenges of adopting American-style democracy. They highlight that Filipino politicians at that time struggled to understand the essence of democracy principles, leading to rising dynastic politics. Patronage became influential and powerful, with the U.S. favoring the Federalista party while Nacionalista politicians waited for support. This undermined genuine competition among political parties, an issue that persists today as politicians shift alliances based on which party holds power. The transition from a Catholic-centered, Spanish- Filipino society to an American-assimilated one brought significant changes, as shown in the cartoons. One major shift was the rapid increase in motorized vehicles, leading to the rise of taxis. However, weak enforcement of transportation laws resulted in many unlicensed vehicles operating without oversight, reflecting the chaos of urbanization in Philippine society. Another key change, referred to by McCoy as the "sexual revolution" of the 1930s, saw young people challenging conservative norms by engaging in bold sexual behaviors in public spaces like cinemas. This period marked a clash between traditional values and emerging ideas of liberation in the Philippines. The cartoons illustrated the conditions of poor Filipinos in the Philippines now governed by the United States, suggesting that nothing much has changed. One cartoon depicted police authorities oppressing petty Filipino criminals while turning a blind eye to hoarders who monopolize goods in their huge warehouses (presumably Chinese merchants). Another cartoon showed how Americans controlled Filipinos through seemingly harmless American objects. By controlling their consciousness and mentality, Americans were able to control and subjugate Filipinos. Thank MEMBERS: You!Aton, Aliya De la Cruz, Nico Co, Rachedine Grace Loyola,Precy May Macaraeg, Sean Tria, John Patrick Tupaz, Lebron James Simpao, Ricardo