Holy Angel University

Angeles City
College of Engineering and Architecture

Research Paper
On

The American Legacy to the Philippines

Submitted by: Gones Jr., Leo A.

Section: GE-107
Submitted to: Mr. Isabelito Sanchez
Date Submitted: October

I.

Introduction
Americans have lots of contributions in our country by helping with collaboration
and having unity. Giving us what every individual Filipinos need is one of the factors
why Filipinos liked Americans. They understood us and knew that Filipinos in that
time were controlled by what they wanted to do with them. But too much of giving
and supporting made the Filipinos to be independent to them.
A. Purpose
The purpose of this study is to know more what Americans did to us when
in the time that Filipinos were having severe troubles because of the Spanish
regime. We will know more about their legacy for us.
B. Significance
This will reveal the greatest and most memorable legacy which only
Americans allowed us in that time to grab with and to know more what is the
story behind why our economy from the most peak went to lowest state suddenly
during The American Regime.
C. Hypothesis
Filipinos and Americans had a covenant to have helped each other. Allow
each one of Filipinos have their own freedom and rights. After that, Americans
introduced some of their advanced technologies to Filipinos to help them to
become more productive and work with more ease. They did many things to
raise our economy. They started establishing public schools which increased the
literacy rate of the Filipinos. Women could do what men could do. They could
study and allowed to join the democratic administration. All of these are under the
Benevolent Assimilation Proclamation of President William McKinley. But these
are the factors where Filipinos started to become dependent, lazy and
irresponsible becoming to have racism, crab mentality and even partiality. Also
they denoted speaking English because of some institutions of Americans were
using their language to communicate with. If these were settled a little bit we
could have the control what we needed to be able not to mislead with the
Americans to be able to stand in our own hands. These characterized our
country kind of impurity.

II.

Body
Before Americans entered our country, they had battled against Spaniards to
advocate us from them in May 1898. After that, Andrew Carnegie made an
agreement to free Filipinos from them by buying the Philippines with the cost of $20
million. As expected, they gave the freedom that Filipinos wanted and had
collaboration to help economys development.

A. Democracy
This is one of the greatest Legacy of Americans. They establish a
democratic partnership to Filipinos allowing every Filipinos including women be

incorporated with the governance of the country. Other people throughout the
nation can do voting from local to the national level in a free and open election.
Consequently, the embodiment of church and government were untied giving
them individual freedom. Allowing women to join the government affairs, take
them towards education to know more about politics and its management.
Hence, the literacy rate of the Filipinos increased. The rigidity of women in social
and political inclusion was departed. Thus, equality was implemented.
B. Education
The introduction of education put Filipinos literacy rate to increase
because enrolments were compulsory. The American soldiers were the first
public school teachers that were opened in Corregidor Island and they were
called Thomasites. They used S.S. Thomas to board to the Philippines in August
23, 1901. That is why Filipinos called them Thomasites. The language they were
using is English and came to all instructions to teaching. This is the reason why
English is understood throughout the country. The emulative growth of education
was established by the increase of number of schools, teachers and students. In
1903, 104 bright young Filipinos were sent to the United States to study
government in American colleges and universities. After years of study, they
came back to the Philippines and contributed to the economy and cultural
development of the country.
C. Economic Progress
The American administration exerted all of their effort to revive and help to
improve the economy. Modern types of farm machinery and irrigation systems
were introduced and constructed. Consequently, Free trade relations with the
United States were established. Also 25% reduction of goods coming from the
Philippines was implemented. The money during this time was fixed. The
Philippine 1-peso is equivalent to a half-dollar. The first minted coins designed by
Melecio Figueroa were silver peso, half peso, 20 centavo and 10-centavo pieces.
D. Transportation and Communication
As developing the economy, the first act of the Philippine Commission was the
appropriation of 2,000,000 php for the construction of roads and bridges.
Governor W. Cameron Forbes came to known as the American road-Building
Governor-General because of the many fine roads constructed during his
administration. In 1903, Americans introduced the motor vehicles in the
Philippines. The Manila-Dagupan Railway was purchased by the Philippine
Government and became Manila Railroad Company. Another was the opening of
196 ports to shipping. Port works, break waters and lighthouses were built to
facilitate navigation.
MERALCO (Manila Electric Railroad and Light Company) was owned by an
American Mr. Charles M. Swift and introduced the first electric streetcars.
Americans also introduced air transportation in the Philippines. It appears in 1911
and was navigated and piloted named Lucky Baldwin during the Manila
Carnival. Commercial air transportation began in 1930 with the establishment of
the PATCO (Philippine Aerial Taxi Company). In 1933, INAEC (Iloilo-Negros Air
Express Company) was established. Manila later became the key-point of all
aviation routes
E. Individual Freedom

Americans promised that if they administrated the Philippines they would

give the freedom. As expected, they gave it in every individual revoking the
restrictions to every Filipinos. They free women from secluded rights like do no
work, no vote and to be voted, no education and etc. They could do what men
could do. They could join political governance. But individual should follow each
ones rights and obey the law.
F. Language and Literature
One of the most lasting influences of Americans is their language and
literature and the adaptation of American words and phrases in the Philippine
languages. Some Filipino writers were Juan F. Salazar, Justo Juliano, Bernardo
P. Garcia, Teodoro M. Kalaw, TarcillaMalabanan, Francisco Africa and etc. who
the propeller of poem and essay writing in reflection of national life.
G. The Negative Impacts behind Positives
The American Occupation doesnt only have positive results, but they
have also negative behind positive sides. Because we consistently expect
Americans to help us we dont build the ideal mentality of the individual for our
country. But our mind was to expect only the works of the Americans which lead
us to become lazy, dependent and irresponsible when the end of the occupation.

Summary:
Americans help us to revive and improve our country. They gave us
advanced technologies, transportation, individual freedom, democratic
administration, education and etc. The economic progress was likely to be in
peak. Although Americans helped us, we developed unwise attitude and
mentality. Americans were truly life-saver just for the economy and social
instances. They gave Filipinos the satisfaction to live with the country.

III.

Conclusion:

Filipino experienced the convenient life with the Americans. The standard of living
was raised to a level higher than in the Spanish regime. The development of natural resources,
the increase in agricultural production and the growth of commerce and industry brought about
greater material prosperity. The national wealth increased, thereby enabling the people to live
more comfortably and enjoy luxury items imported from abroad.

Bibliography:
http://www.slideshare.net/johnarvin18/american-legacy
http://hanbadilles.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-american-legacy.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Philippines_(1898%E2%80%931946)#Spanish.E2.
80.93American_War_ends