PH-American war - Americas first Asian war

[Aepsilons]

Genki desu amigo. Okay that was a collateral damage. Sadly, Manila has not regained much of the "old city" from the devastation of the war and going over over post-war pictures and video footages just sends me the creeps.

Yes, it is truly a tragedy of epic proportions , especially in the loss of lives. The massacring of innocent Filipinos done by the remaining Imperial troops is shameful and a tragedy for us as i know it is for your noble and proud people. Philippines has long been a friend of Japan, and I hope that the sins of our grandfathers' will be washed away with the fraternal relationship we have now with each other. Philippines and Filipino people are and will always be of importance to Japan. And the forgiveness Filipino people have shown honors us as well as gives us joy. I want Japan and Philippines to ever remember of our hard won friendship....

 

[Aepsilons]

The Philippine-American war aka Philippine insurrection from 1899 to 1902.

These were fought by a group of Filipino revolutionaries and the US in which the First Philippine Republic sought to gain independence following annexation by the US. The war was preceded by the Spanish American war in 1898. The Philippines, prior to the Spanish-American War, was a colony of Spain.

Filipino population in 1898 was about 9 million.

Well it appears as if after Americans helped Filipinos win the war over Spain, Americans took over in conquering the Philippines, which was in conflict with the Filipinos' idea of complete independence. I think this is what it looks like at least in the eyes of some people like General Gregorio Del Pilar, who was shot in the back by an American sniper.

View attachment 134392

On the other hand, General Emilio Aguinaldo's understanding was that U.S. recognizes the independence of the Philippines but remains under the protection of the U.S.

It was quite a conflict.

July 19, 1898 more landings of American troops near Manila and positions of US and foreign ships.

The Feb. 4, 1899 incident was caused by over zealous sentries over a bridge. There were attempts to reach a reconciliation to avoid open warfare but it appeared that the Americans were girding for a fight.

View attachment 134396


History books, especially those written by Americans, do not mention the extent of the atrocities committed by American forces on the civilian population - towns were destroyed including churches. At one point explicit orders were given by an American Army General to kill all male inhabitants ten and up.

View attachment 134397

This print, titled "The Battle of Paceo, February 4-5, 1899, Philippine Islands", is a depiction of initial hostilities between Philippine and American forces.

View attachment 134398

These are Filipino combatants photographed just as they lay down their weapons prior to their surrender.

Very interesting pictures, amigo. The Philippines' revolutionary army looks well organized. Were the officer corp trained by Spanish military academies? The uniforms also look uncannily similar to Spanish uniforms, too.

 

[somsak]

Though I think the Filipino-American war was really a horrible thing, I still believe that the American colonization of the Philippines was ultimately a great thing for the country. Manila was considered the "Paris of the Pacific" until WWII when during the Japanese battles against the United States in Manila, much of the "old city" containing the Spanish colonial buildings, monuments, and museums were destroyed.

The Philippines was helped immensely by American colonization, and soon after WWII, The Philippines was finally granted its independence by the US. The result was the Philippines being one of the wealthiest nations in Asia at the time, though recently corruption in the government and some horrible presidents have made the Philippine's economy suffer.

Despite reading this site for quite a year, its my first time to hear anyone from colonized country saying that colonization was a great thing. The city was "Glorious of Paris of the pacific" but the original people was slave of this glorious of Paris of the pacific. Was that a good thing? May be if you Bob Ong was part of the ruling class. Were your family part of ruling class during that time or benefiting something from ruling class? If not... I doubt your Pinoyness because of your words.

I am so sure these words saying colonization was a good thing will not come from the mouth of Viet, Thai, Indonesia.
Singapore? May be. Coz the city was virtually empty before Brit came. Chinese & Indian or even some Malays were brought there by British. But Philipphines was occupied before Spain came. Even with such a large scale masarce written by this thread, you just say its sad thing and say but what happened was good? What a contradiction

 

[Cossack25A1]

Despite reading this site for quite a year, its my first time to hear anyone from colonized country saying that colonization was a great thing. The city was "Glorious of Paris of the pacific" but the original people was slave of this glorious of Paris of the pacific. Was that a good thing? May be if you Bob Ong was part of the ruling class. Were your family part of ruling class during that time or benefiting something from ruling class? If not... I doubt your Pinoyness because of your words.

I am so sure these words saying colonization was a good thing will not come from the mouth of Viet, Thai, Indonesia.
Singapore? May be. Coz the city was virtually empty before Brit came. Chinese & Indian or even some Malays were brought there by British. But Philipphines was occupied before Spain came. Even with such a large scale masarce written by this thread, you just say its sad thing and say but what happened was good? What a contradiction

This was one reason why in the history of PH, there were revolts, although almost all of them were unsuccessful. The 1896 Revolt was partially successful as the First Philippine Republic was established after 2 years but sadly, most Filipinos at that time didn't know that the Americans have other plans for the country.

While Intramuros was the "Spanish jewel in the Pacific", only Peninsulares (pure-blood Spanish from Spain) and Insulares (pure-blood Spanish born in the Philippines) live there while the rest live in towns outside Intramuros.

 

[Aepsilons]

This was one reason why in the history of PH, there were revolts, although almost all of them were unsuccessful. The 1896 Revolt was partially successful as the First Philippine Republic was established after 2 years but sadly, most Filipinos at that time didn't know that the Americans have other plans for the country.

While Intramuros was the "Spanish jewel in the Pacific", only Peninsulares (pure-blood Spanish from Spain) and Insulares (pure-blood Spanish born in the Philippines) live there while the rest live in towns outside Intramuros.

After Spain was defeated by the United States in the Spanish-American War of 1898, there was the issue of the Philippines. In the United States Congress -- there was much debate about the status of the Philippines; there were those who wanted to annex the country as it was seen as part of Manifest Destiny. Then there were those who were against -- these were the Anti-Imperialists. They conjectured that to deny the Filipinos their independence would have been hypocritical to the Americans given the nation's independence was birthed from Britain through a blood revolutionary war over a century prior.

But , alas, the reality was not as simple as that. Let us say that the United States was to have recognized the Philippines' independence in 1898 (as was agreed upon by Aguinaldo and Dewey in Hong Kong). Then what would have happened? Unfortunately, the Imperial Powers would have never allowed the Philippines to remain independent for long. The Germans had sent a naval squadron around Manila Bay to observe the situation. The British, too, were keen in the Philippines. The French as well. Japan, too, was keen in acquiring the Philippines, remember that some 3 years prior we had just defeated the Chinese in the 1st Sino-Japanese War and control of Korea and Taiwan was secured.

No, the Americans knew of this threat. Let me ask you, amigo, would you rather be colonized by the Germans, the French, the British, the Americans or by us ?

 

[Cossack25A1]

After Spain was defeated by the United States in the Spanish-American War of 1898, there was the issue of the Philippines. In the United States Congress -- there was much debate about the status of the Philippines; there were those who wanted to annex the country as it was seen as part of Manifest Destiny. Then there were those who were against -- these were the Anti-Imperialists. They conjectured that to deny the Filipinos their independence would have been hypocritical to the Americans given the nation's independence was birthed from Britain through a blood revolutionary war over a century prior.

But , alas, the reality was not as simple as that. Let us say that the United States was to have recognized the Philippines' independence in 1898 (as was agreed upon by Aguinaldo and Dewey in Hong Kong). Then what would have happened? Unfortunately, the Imperial Powers would have never allowed the Philippines to remain independent for long. The Germans had sent a naval squadron around Manila Bay to observe the situation. The British, too, were keen in the Philippines. The French as well. Japan, too, was keen in acquiring the Philippines, remember that some 3 years prior we had just defeated the Chinese in the 1st Sino-Japanese War and control of Korea and Taiwan was secured.

No, the Americans knew of this threat. Let me ask you, amigo, would you rather be colonized by the Germans, the French, the British, the Americans or by us ?

The British had their chance way back in 1762, during the Seven Years War. While the Americans had introduced "modern governing system" when they colonized us, we still have a dysfunctional system. The French, not sure about that considering what had happened to some French colonies and their business is war according to a British guy. The Germans, by 1918, we would be under the Japanese Empire.

 

[Bob Ong]

Despite reading this site for quite a year, its my first time to hear anyone from colonized country saying that colonization was a great thing. The city was "Glorious of Paris of the pacific" but the original people was slave of this glorious of Paris of the pacific. Was that a good thing? May be if you Bob Ong was part of the ruling class. Were your family part of ruling class during that time or benefiting something from ruling class? If not... I doubt your Pinoyness because of your words.

I am so sure these words saying colonization was a good thing will not come from the mouth of Viet, Thai, Indonesia.
Singapore? May be. Coz the city was virtually empty before Brit came. Chinese & Indian or even some Malays were brought there by British. But Philipphines was occupied before Spain came. Even with such a large scale masarce written by this thread, you just say its sad thing and say but what happened was good? What a contradiction

You just don't get my point somsak. Okay colonization definitely has lots of negative and positive consequences. Depending on how you look at it, so let me get this straight before the Spaniards arrive, really there is no such thing as nation known as the Philippines. Unlike, Japan, it's been Japan or Thailand, it was know as Siam. The entire Philippine archipelago has no name, and the people who live there are known according to the island or the group of islands that they live. It seems like, it is akin to the situation of UK, wherein before, there is no such thing as British, but English, Scottish or Welsh only that it was them who created the identity of their nation and their people, whereas, for the Filipinos, it is the foreign westerners who named the nation, the Philippines, and called its natives as the Filipinos. Worst, during the Spanish regime, the Spaniards called the native Filipinos as Indio and the name Filipino then was addressed to Spanish born in the Philippines, also known as insulares, against peninsulares, a name which is known for those who were born in Spain, which is part of Iberian peninsula.

The natives of the nation however, who became educated and learned of their people, like Jose Rizal, who studied in Ateneo de Manila and University of Sto. Tomas in the Philippines and later on in Europe and studied in Universidad Central de Madrid, University of Paris and University of Heidelberg, created the sense of nationalism amongst the Filipinos and he was executed by the Spanish colonial government in December 30, 1896, in Manila. There were other Filipino members of the intelligencia who introduced, patriotism of the Philippines, but such was interfered by the American colonization. Which, to me as a Filipino is a good thing, because, the country was introduced to democratic concepts and modernity. I am thinking that probably if the Philippines was left alone by Spain, and was able to liberate itself from it, and for sure it will because by the end of 18th century, Spain was a dead world power, the Philippines might had, a fascist ideology, that is still of Spanish influence, and so, during WW2 it might be an ally of Japan, if the Americans did not occupy it. For sure, the influx of democratization which is a world phenomenon will hit the country, but, there will be bloody revolution in the quest of democracy, and who knows, that communism could had triumphed in my nation because of lack of understanding of its people of the advantages of democracy. However, the ideological formation that the Americans had done in my country, in view of colonization and imperialism, saved my nation, from falling unto the hands of Marxist dictators and robbers of human rights. Which makes the colonization of my nation by the Americans a cool thing. Enough said.

 

[Aepsilons]

From my observation and review of the Philippines during its colonial epoch, when it was under the Royal Spanish Government, it indeed was very unique from most Asian societies. Compared to indigenous civilizations in Southeast Asia such as the Siamese, the Burmese, the Vietnamese, which had their own rather unique indigenous culture, the Philippines was in someways already Westernized. Culturally speaking they are Hispanized, actually. Even in Tagalog or in Cebuano, there are Spanish loan words, the infrastructure and organization thereof is largely an imprint of some 4 centuries of Spanish colonial presence. Filipino culture, in my opinion is a fusion of East and West. Spanish was the primary language in the country for a long time.

Some pictures of Filipino revolutionaries in 1896,

Historic Manila,

 

[somsak]

You just don't get my point somsak. Okay colonization definitely has lots of negative and positive consequences. Depending on how you look at it, so let me get this straight before the Spaniards arrive, really there is no such thing as nation known as the Philippines. Unlike, Japan, it's been Japan or Thailand, it was know as Siam. The entire Philippine archipelago has no name, and the people who live there are known according to the island or the group of islands that they live. It seems like, it is akin to the situation of UK, wherein before, there is no such thing as British, but English, Scottish or Welsh only that it was them who created the identity of their nation and their people, whereas, for the Filipinos, it is the foreign westerners who named the nation, the Philippines, and called its natives as the Filipinos. Worst, during the Spanish regime, the Spaniards called the native Filipinos as Indio and the name Filipino then was addressed to Spanish born in the Philippines, also known as insulares, against peninsulares, a name which is known for those who were born in Spain, which is part of Iberian peninsula.

The natives of the nation however, who became educated and learned of their people, like Jose Rizal, who studied in Ateneo de Manila and University of Sto. Tomas in the Philippines and later on in Europe and studied in Universidad Central de Madrid, University of Paris and University of Heidelberg, created the sense of nationalism amongst the Filipinos and he was executed by the Spanish colonial government in December 30, 1896, in Manila. There were other Filipino members of the intelligencia who introduced, patriotism of the Philippines, but such was interfered by the American colonization. Which, to me as a Filipino is a good thing, because, the country was introduced to democratic concepts and modernity. I am thinking that probably if the Philippines was left alone by Spain, and was able to liberate itself from it, and for sure it will because by the end of 18th century, Spain was a dead world power, the Philippines might had, a fascist ideology, that is still of Spanish influence, and so, during WW2 it might be an ally of Japan, if the Americans did not occupy it. For sure, the influx of democratization which is a world phenomenon will hit the country, but, there will be bloody revolution in the quest of democracy, and who knows, that communism could had triumphed in my nation because of lack of understanding of its people of the advantages of democracy. However, the ideological formation that the Americans had done in my country, in view of colonization and imperialism, saved my nation, from falling unto the hands of Marxist dictators and robbers of human rights. Which makes the colonization of my nation by the Americans a cool thing. Enough said.

Thanks for long deligent reply. That sounds like something to explain ur view that colonization is good. But why many native nations without colonization even better?

Nationalist in thailand means that glorious under the name of foriegn king ,meaning colony, is nothing to be proud. Its being enslave. Pinoy may be lucky but look at Maya, Aztec. They are no.more.

 

[Aepsilons]

The British had their chance way back in 1762, during the Seven Years War. While the Americans had introduced "modern governing system" when they colonized us, we still have a dysfunctional system. The French, not sure about that considering what had happened to some French colonies and their business is war according to a British guy. The Germans, by 1918, we would be under the Japanese Empire.

I often wonder how the Philippines would have turned out had it been administered by the Japanese Empire. Would it have become as industrialized as Korea and Taiwan (both core colonies). The acquisition of Philippines would have , definitely, required greater resources to develop the islands. And it would have been the first time Japan would have the chance to develop a completely different culture, with a population that belonged to Roman Catholicism and not Shinto-Buddhism. But considering how well Taiwan developed under our patronage (prior to Japan, Taiwan was a backwater island, and totally undeveloped), I'm sure the Philippines would have turned out very well. The country, afterall, is rich in man power and natural resources. I think it would have been an important client state of Japanese Empire.

 

[Cossack25A1]

I often wonder how the Philippines would have turned out had it been administered by the Japanese Empire. Would it have become as industrialized as Korea and Taiwan (both core colonies). The acquisition of Philippines would have , definitely, required greater resources to develop the islands. And it would have been the first time Japan would have the chance to develop a completely different culture, with a population that belonged to Roman Catholicism and not Shinto-Buddhism. But considering how well Taiwan developed under our patronage (prior to Japan, Taiwan was a backwater island, and totally undeveloped), I'm sure the Philippines would have turned out very well. The country, afterall, is rich in man power and natural resources. I think it would have been an important client state of Japanese Empire.

The Katipunan led by Andres Bonifacio did sought assistance from the Japanese Empire back in 1896 whereas Aguinaldo look at Americans after they were exiled to Hong Kong. Considering that Japan was the most developed Asian state during those times, I guess the development of the Philippines would be similar to that of the Americans although some would likely beg to differ.

While at those times, we in the PH were revolting, only Japan and Thailand (Siam) were technically free from any colonial empire.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

Kamusta amigo.

The damage that Manila sustained was not by Japanese doings, friend. It was collateral damage , mostly done by US Carpet Bombing during the Battle of Manila in 1944. The infrastructure loss was due in part to US Army's artillery shelling , as well as B-52 Stratofortress.

B-52 Stratofortress

B-17 Flying Fortress

 

[Zero_wing]

Very interesting pictures, amigo. The Philippines' revolutionary army looks well organized. Were the officer corp trained by Spanish military academies? The uniforms also look uncannily similar to Spanish uniforms, too.

No only those who serve in the Colonial Army who defected or those left the Colonial Army after the Spanish were surrendered most are mestizos and few Insulares and Pensulares who and the Principalia or the rich elite the rest were veterians of the Katipunan with little or no military training at all. But we did set up the Academia Military to train officers for the Army but it had no graduates due to the Philippine American War the cadets were given commissions early to support the Army's war effort so they have to stop mid way in their training.

 

[Zero_wing]

Kamusta amigo.

When Japan Imperial Army took Philippines in 1942, we targeted mostly American bases such as Clarke Air Force Field, and Corregidor. We had utilized limited bombings in Manila. In fact, Manila was seized by the 14th Imperial Army led by Gen. Masaharu Homma. There was a peaceful occupation of the country and we had purposely maintained the infrastructure.

The damage that Manila sustained was not by Japanese doings, friend. It was collateral damage , mostly done by US Carpet Bombing during the Battle of Manila in 1944. The infrastructure loss was due in part to US Army's artillery shelling , as well as B-52 Stratofortress.

A little correction sir manila was left undamge at the start of the war because it was declared an open City and all military forces were send to bataan hence the battle in bataan and a followed by the bataan death march. But later when the Americans came back they bomb the place because the Japanese namely the Japanese Imperial Navy ground troops along with the rest of the 14th Army turn Manila into fortress and the Japanese were well dug in so no choice the Americans bomb and shelled the City really it was the fault of both Armies but it does not matter anymore its history. Japanese are forgiven and i agree about one thing you said General Homma is really a nice guy he made sure that this troops act accordingly too bad his Junnior Officers were hard core militarist who undermind his orders and committed crimes from the very start of the war and he end up paying for it.

 

[Zero_wing]

Kamusta amigo.

When Japan Imperial Army took Philippines in 1942, we targeted mostly American bases such as Clarke Air Force Field, and Corregidor. We had utilized limited bombings in Manila. In fact, Manila was seized by the 14th Imperial Army led by Gen. Masaharu Homma. There was a peaceful occupation of the country and we had purposely maintained the infrastructure.

The damage that Manila sustained was not by Japanese doings, friend. It was collateral damage , mostly done by US Carpet Bombing during the Battle of Manila in 1944. The infrastructure loss was due in part to US Army's artillery shelling , as well as B-52 Stratofortress.

A little correction sir manila was left undamge at the start of the war because it was declared an open City and all military forces were send to bataan hence the battle in bataan and a followed by the bataan death march. But later when the Americans came back they bomb the place because the Japanese namely the Japanese Imperial Navy ground troops along with the rest of the 14th Army turn Manila into fortress and the Japanese were well dug in so no choice the Americans bomb and shelled the City really it was the fault of both Armies but it does not matter anymore its history. Japanese are forgiven and i agree about one thing you said General Homma is really a nice guy he made sure that this troops act accordingly too bad his Junnior Officers were hard core militarist who undermind his orders and committed crimes from the very start of the war and he end up paying for it.