Gen 004 module 13

• Philippine-American War


  One of the major factors that propelled the United States of America to become a major global power
• The Philippine-American War sent a signal to the international community that the US had the capability to expend military might to different parts of the world
• In the eyes of the Filipinos, the Philippine-American War was the second phase of the revolution which started in 1896, it was the first test of the newly established nation and it failed
• The Philippine-American War was noted for the number of lives it took and the brutality of its conduct
• According to the Philippine-American War Centennial Initiative (PAWCI), around 22,000 Filipino soldiers and half a million civilians in Luzon and Visayas were killed. In Mindanao, it is estimated that around 100,000 Muslims were killed
• After the defeat of the Filipinos in the Philippine-American War, the Americans immediately sought to establish administrative control over the country
• The Americans initially faced the problem of shortage of capable personnel to assist in establishing administrative control over the Philippines
• The individuals who had expertise in managing a government were based in the United States and were reluctant to work in the Philippines
• In order to take control of the country, the Americans needed the support of the Filipino elites
• The Filipino elites, seeing the possible opportunities brought by the Americans to their economic and political interests, immediately collaborated with them
• The Filipino elites helped the Americans in reorganizing the local government, even before Aguinaldo was captured
• As early as 1900, the Filipino elites formed the Asociacion de Paz, an organisation which aimed to support the Americans in defeating fellow Filipinos
• The Asociacion de Paz later became the Partido Federal which sought to promote the annexation of the Philippines as one of the states of the United States
• The Filipino elites who advocated only for reforms under Spain, hesitated to support the Katipunan when the revolution broke out
• Seeing the prospects of the revolution against Spain succeeding, the Filipino elites switched sides and supported the revolutionaries
• Under Aguinaldo and the Malolos Republic, these elites became cabinet officials and top advisors to Aguinaldo
• When the Americans became the apparent victors of the Philippine-American War, the Filipino elites switched sides again, this time supporting the arrival of the United States
• Mabini: 'Those who tire after a few months of struggle do not serve for anything except to carry the yoke of slavery'
• Aguinaldo's army attempted to arrest and punish these traitors, but the attempts failed
• Even Aguinaldo himself tolerated the treachery of the Filipino elites
• The Partido Federal expanded its influence on the entire country and was able to gather the support of other local elites and former revolutionaries to assist the United States in its colonization campaign
• As a reward for their cooperation, the elites were branded by the Americans as the "genuine leaders" of the Filipino people
• Government offices were given to the collaborators, who were either elected or appointed to various municipal, provincial, and national political positions
• This enabled the elites to protect their economic interests and to preserve their position in society
• Elite cooperation with the Americans created an impression that the war was already over and peace reigned over the archipelago
• However, for the masses the war was far from over
• While the Americans generally thought that the war was over after Aguinaldo was captured, some Filipinos continued to fight the Americans
• Various groups initiated their own resistance movements, utilizing guerrilla tactics and supported by the Filipino masses
• There was no unified leader that centralized the operations of these resistance movements
• Some of these movements had religious and mystical themes to support their struggle
• Some of these movements were led by former Katipunan leaders who sought to continue the original Katipunan spirit
• Miguel Malvar


  One of the most influential revolutionaries who aimed to continue Katipunan's revolution
• After Aguinaldo was captured, General Miguel Malvar took control of the government for a short period of time
• Malvar came from a wealthy family in Batangas, and he became one of the members of the Katipunan when it was founded
• During the fight against Spain, Malvar led the resistance against Spaniards in his hometown
• During the Philippine-American War, Malvar became one of the leading military leaders to fight the Americans
• Malvar became the highest-ranking officer in the military after Aguinaldo's capture in 1901, implying that he was the president of the Philippine Republic
• By July 31 of the same year, Malvar took full command of the government and its remaining forces to fight against the Americans
• The American victory was inevitable, and Malvar's officers and soldiers slowly surrendered to the enemy
• Malvar's wife convinced him to surrender, and on April 16, 1902, Miguel Malvar finally surrendered to the Americans