Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
Submitted by:
Leader:
Hallare, Loren Jel R.
Members:
Gutierrez, Bernice Kyrene P.
Ibardo, Arien Lein C.
Jimenez, Melissa Angela S.
Lumandas, Ryan B.
Villanueva, Ninna Ricci H.
BSA 1A10
Submitted to:
November 9, 2018
Historical Context
Social Condition
During the American regime, racialization in accordance to their Manifest Destiny was
mainly dominant for they believe that their white blood and race are the qualifications of a
formidable conqueror. The Monroe Doctrine was also America’s guide to imperialize the west for
this document exclaims that the Western Hemisphere belonged to the American race. Because of
this societal mantra, Filipinos were downgraded by the Americans labeling them as ignorant,
uneducated and uncivilized living entities. They also branded Filipino soldiers as bandits or
ladrones because of a plethora of insurgencies persisting. As “charismatic” and “superior”
liberators, it is their utmost responsibility to educate, enlighten and guide the Filipino people
through their “benevolent assimilation”. This self-righteous ideology rationalizes Uncle Sam’s
credibility as leaders and conquerors while simultaneously depriving Filipinos of their rights,
liberties and dignity.
Economic Condition
The US economy did grow by leaps and bounds during the period of imperialism and
colonization. They were eyeing on a market expansion overseas in countries like China, which
was being partitioned into spheres of influence by the Western powers and the Philippines, which
was recently liberated from the Spanish conquest. American leaders did envision the Philippines
as a possible colony and base from which their claims in China could be launched. Along with
America’s economic policies is its civilizing zeal in conquering lands and territories.
Political Condition
The political context highlights America’s sovereignty and imperial prowess. While Emilio
Aguinaldo and his subordinates were busy crafting an independent Republic in the Philippines, the
Treaty of Paris occurred. The United Sates acquired the Philippines, Guam, Puerto Rico, Samoa
and Hawaii for 20 million dollars from the Spanish conquerors. This is to settle its imperial and
“benevolent” mission and vision through its formidable political power and deceitful conquering
tactics.
Moreover, President William McKinley’s Benevolent Assimilation speech is an authentic
and credible example of America’s political strategies in dominating the “inferior” others
highlighting its overriding mantra of shielding rights and liberties and prioritizing benign tutelage
for the Filipino people.
Religious Condition
The moral underpinning of Manifest Destiny emphasizes that the United States had a divine
mission to rule the world and eventually spread their notion of Christianity to its target lands and
territories.
Opposing Views: The Benevolent Assimilation Controversy
Opposition
Paradoxical Benevolence: Not the Ideal Mantra
Historical amnesia propagates in America’s intents and policies. Because of
propagandas emulating the truth, USA strongly contradicts their so-called
benevolent assimilation; their ideal mantra dismantled by their plans and actions.
Propaganda, which is used to justify a colonial war, is understood here as the
deliberate falsification, distortion or tendentious portrayal of events to justify a
political cause to the wider public. The New York Sun amplified the devised
justification.
o The civilizing goals of Benevolent Assimilation was dismantled due to a
superior firepower incident where in American assaulted Aguinaldo’s army
on the first day. Filipinos suffered 3,000 deaths while the Americans lost
60. The incident was presented in most American newspapers. On the
contrary, the Chicago Times- Herald’s editorial exclaimed “The slaughter
at Manila was necessary, but not glorious. The entire American population
justifies the conduct of its army at Manila because only by a crushing
repulse of the Filipinos could our position be made secure…We are…the
trustees of civilization and peace throughout the islands” (Vaughan 1994).
Successful propaganda requires symbolic self-interpretations of a national
community. It does not possess the characteristics of rationality and verifiability.
Fraud. Erasing alternative interpretations of events from the official records
persisted.
o The contrary perspective was barred from journalists who tried to cover it.
Benign tutelage, the protection and guidance without harm is America’s overriding
benevolent objective yet this was shattered by their cruelty and apathy.
Constantino, R. (1975). A Past Revisited: Volume 1. Quezon City: Foundation for Nationalist
Studies.
Office of Multi-Cultural Student Services. (n.d.). Retrieved November 2018, from The Philippine
History Site: http://opmanong.ssc.hawaii.edu/filipino/benevolent.html
Tebbel, J. (1996). America's Great Patriotic War with Spain: Mixed Motives, Lies and Racism in
Cuba and the Philippines, 1898-1915. Vermont: Marshall Jones.
Yu, K., Casuyon, M., Eusores, M., & Daisog, M. (2015). Benevolent Assimilation (Reporting).
University of Makati: https://www.slideshare.net/animated13/benevolent-assimilation-
45646377?fbclid=IwAR3yCXYZj1hJPisxJez_JPzkE9NudZoNoNveTJT-
3jvhgmFuUDMw3dW_724.