The Colonization Of Philippines After Philippine-American War

The Philippines was once colonized by the Spaniards and Americans. Before we became an independent country, the Philippines have a complicated and painful past. We Filipinos have one past, but many histories. What does it mean? Also, we have four primary sources and these are the Evolution Theory, Dasalan at Tocsohan, Benevolent Assimilation, and Parity Rights. Among these four, which struck you the most and why?

The Americans have a certain problem in Cuba, wherein they want to weaken the forces of Spaniards against them. Before the proclamation, Americans defeated the Spaniards during the war in Manila Bay. After the victory of Americans, they stayed in Manila. And since the Americans have no intention of colonizing the Philippine archipelago, Emilio Aguinaldo, later on, declared Philippine Independence on June 12, 1898, so that the other countries will acknowledge and respect its sovereignty. All that time, Aguinaldo thought that Americans were in the Philippines just to have a good time, but little he didn’t know that he was backstabbed, and the Spaniards together with the Americans went to Paris to sign the treaty. The Americans bought Philippine Archipelago from the Spaniards with the amount of Twenty Million Dollars that gives them the right and authority to claim our land. After that, President Mckinley issued the Benevolent Assimilation that indicates his colonizing policies in the Philippines. He manifested to the whole world that his intentions were pure and didn’t give any hint or hole that he has a secret agenda in colonizing the country. He said, “We come not as invaders, but as friends, to protect the natives in their homes, in their employment, and their personal and religious rights.” He said it for the show that portrays that he was colonizing the country not for their good, but for the good of Filipinos. Using benevolent assimilation, they are manipulating the Filipinos without them and the world knowing. And also, using benevolent assimilation as their tool, President Mckinley told the world that Filipinos were the first ones to fire against them that results in the Philippine-American War. By that Americans were able to colonize Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao even if an observer William Grayson reported that the Philippines was not the one who did the first shot but because of benevolent assimilation, the situation turned upside down. And this Philippine-American war lasted for many years. To make the story short, the strategy of President Mckinley almost blinded the world about their real intentions on colonizing the Philippines.

Benevolent Assimilation is colonizing countries with good intentions. Through benevolent assimilation, Filipinos embraced their culture and make them fall in love with their country which contradicts one’s nationalism. They colonized Philippines through education, by teaching Filipinos about their culture and traditions that made Filipino fall in love with them. Filipinos were caught by the Americans without them knowing. We can say that Americans were successful in colonizing the Philippines for they leave a legacy that is visible in our present time. Some of their legacies are their Lingua franca, traditions, consumerism which we feel that our life is miserable and incomplete without this product, food, dress, etc., and the great American dream or that mentality of thinking that for us to be successful or to measure if we are already successful is when we were able to fly to America or other places. And that is benevolent assimilation. It became proof that Americans tend that they have good intentions for the Filipinos. Even up to this day, we can say that American culture is still running in the country for you can see every side has fast-food chains, rich people were wearing American attire, and the English language which is a big deal in our country. It is okay to patronize other country’s products and culture, but what’s not okay is loving theirs instead of ours. That is the reason why benevolent assimilation struck me the most.

We cannot deny that the colonization of different countries affects one’s culture. Many Filipino civilians and leaders fought hard and die for our country’s freedom. We Filipinos of the present shouldn’t put their hardships to waste just to satisfy our cravings. It is indeed visible in one’s naked eye that every one of us was struck by their influences. But, we should not let our beloved Philippines die again just because of other countries' influences. We may have many histories, but we only have one past that functions as a lesson and guide in maintaining our present and building a great future ahead of us. We were once independent and what we need to do is to act like a tree that whatever flood and storm may come and hit us, it will stand taller, braver, and wiser. Remember, our future is in our hands.