The Manila Carnival was a propaganda for the Americans and the Filipino Elites

to introduce the new republic of the Philippines to the world as a country that has its
own identity by acknowledging its potential for globalization in terms of industry and
trade, expanding the role of women in the country. It was able to reduce the stigma
that surrounds the Philippines, proving to other countries that it has potential for
growth and economic
The Americans wanted to justify their rule on the country with Benevolent
Assimilation. This is the construct that they were trying to build in the minds of the Filipinos,
that it is their responsibility to go out there and train, teach and help their “little brown
brothers”. Though, the way they started was not benevolent at all because Filipino American
War, the Americans did try to make up for their mistakes. Thus, they pushed through and
executed a lot of propaganda to prove that their purpose really was for Benevolent
Assimilation.
In the book of Warrick Anderson, Colonial Pathologies, he explains the emergence of
the carnival as an alternative for the fiesta celebrations of the Filipino people during the
Spanish time. The Americans undoubtedly had a negative notion of the Philippine fiestas,
believing that it was a counterproductive way of celebrating events. For the Americans, the
communal fiesta was a “menace to the people of the town.” The Americans considered to
remove the whole nation fiesta, but they have to replace it with another sort of celebration to
appease the people. The Americans wanted for a celebration that is ‘clear, disinfected, and
supervised’ which brought about the creation of a carnival, which is more structured and
institutionalized than a fiesta. Thus, there was an emergence of new types of festivities in lieu
of their aversion towards the current ones. What is highlighted here is that fiestas and
festivities were really integral in the lives of the Filipinos. The Americans saw that these
festivities could be a tool for their plan of Benevolent Assimilation, hence, the emergence of
the Manila Carnival.
Aside from official laws and administrative matters that were part of the Benevolent
assimilation, private institutions had also taken part of it. This was apparent in their
participation and support of the event of the Manila Carnival. What probably went into the
minds of these institutions was that the event was a gateway of opportunities for the
Philippines in terms of economics and trade. Hence, it was also their way of legitimizing the
conquer of the Philippine Islands. It was a chance for them to divert the attention of the
Filipinos of the atrocities that they have done, and the injustice that happened to the country
during the Filipino American War. Thus, one could really say that this proof of Benevolent
Assimilation, in the form of an institutionalized carnival, was a cover up or a diversion for all
their actions. As a reaction, the Filipinos were gladly accepted it because it the event exuded
this feeling of a time for festivities, joy and a celebration of who the Filipinos are, after all the
despair they have faced. This can be said because according to the accounts of the Manila
Times, they had a pleasure meter which indicated how many Filipinos were going and who
were participating..(please cite)
Going back to the roots of the Manila Carnival, it was primarily initiated by Captain
George T. Langhorne(source: Philippine Islands, Cameron). Eventually, the initiative
pushed through which lead to the Philippine Carnival Association in 1907. This organization
was registered and organized under the rule of the Philippine islands having the features of a
corporate organization. Although they had no clear means of acquiring funds at the start, they
claim to have cooperation and support from the military and civil governments and business
and commercial elements in the Philippine Islands (source: Manila Carnival Souvenir 1909)
The primary motives of the establishment of the Philippine Carnival Association and of their
initiative for the Manila Carnival, was that they “clearly saw the possibilities of oriental
development and who were not afraid to take a chance” (manila carnival souvenir) They
specifically pointed out that "the great weakness of the Orient, particularly of the Philippine
Islands, was first the lack of friendly association among the different peoples and second,
the spirit of conservatism and indifference to the world’s activities” (Philippine Carnival
Souvenir, 1909-page 1)

The Manila Carnival was pitched to businessmen and government officials alike to
relate to them the possible benefits that it will provide to the country. The event would be a
good opportunity for the country to introduce itself to the world and show potential investors
that the Philippine Islands is a prosperous country that is gradually progressing towards
independence. It was not done purely for the entertainment of the Filipino people but also for
their primary motives. They can invite foreign countries to participate and give them a
personal look on the situation of the country, and assess for themselves whether it is worth
investing it. It also destroys the stigma around Manila for tourists, as Manila Carnival aims to
please these foreigners to spread word about the country and its fairytale like carnival.
In addition to that, it will show other countries that Benevolent Assimilation has been
successful because Manila Carnival will showcase the country’s commercial and industrial
progress under the American rule. This will be done through exhibitions and attractions
presented by various provinces in the Philippines that can attract the attention of buyers,
customers, investors, and stockholders.
Before the first Manila Carnival, there were uncertainties in 1908 whether they would
push through with the event because aside from the fact that it was a new idea for Manila, a
lot had hesitations to push through with the event mainly because the country cannot really
afford to lose money. In fact, it even faced proposals of postponement to a latter date. W.
Cameron Forbes even criticized the Carnival Association for the haphazard way it had sought
to finance the project (page 12, centennial commemoration). The funds to be used for the
carnival, can be appropriated to other uses that would be directly affecting the betterment of
the Philippine society. It was also an event that the government was not so willing to invest
on, because of the circumstances (anong circumstances). But they do acknowledge its use
and importance, not just in the case of the Philippines at that time.(dapat may proof here na
inacknowledge yung importance ng govt) Although it received a lot of criticisms, it also
gained a lot of support, especially from businesses who presented themselves as sponsors.
One the first Manila Carnival in 1908, the program. (GENERAL; basic core of Manila
Carnival) (what was added throughout the years) (which years wala)

As mentioned, the Manila Carnival was a way to introduce the Philippines.. Through
the programs.. (insert pertinent details) it can be inferred that events, from the time the
carnival was held, all had the goal of promoting the Philippines. They invited prominent
figures like: (cite from 1908 UP centennial) …….

The other greatest highlights of the Manila Carnival, aside from its aim for global
recognition of the Philippines, was their expansion of the role of the women through the
Beauty Queen Carnival.

The Manila Carnival did attract a lot of attention from the different parts of the world.
Word spread about the Mardi Gras in the Far East, and people of different nationality
attended the almost two week celebration. (source dapat here) The Manila Carnival was
more than just a Manila event or a Philippine celebration for that matter. Although yes,
Philippines is a country that has the products to sell because it is rich in natural resources.
But let us not forget that it also has the capacity to buy, through the powerful elites. Thus, the
Manila Carnival became an avenue to start international trade. The Commercial-Industrial
Fair Trade was seemingly popular at that time as merchants and manufacturers travel to the
Carnival City in hopes of selling their own products. Business was good in the Philippines
because it creates visibility for various products and businesses. Philippines started to have a
good reputation in the business world.