Highlights in the History of Philippine-American Relations
JANUARY 20, 1899. – President William McKinley issued his instructions to the First Philippine
Commission, composed of Jocob Gould Schurnan (President of Cornell University), president of the
Commission, Admiral George Dewey, Major General Eiwell S. Otis, Charles Denby, and Dean C.
Worcester.
MARCH 16, 1900. – The Second Philippine Commission was appointed, with William H. Taft as President
and Dean C. Worcester, Luke E. Wright, Henry C. Ide, and Bernard Moses, all civilian, and members. In
contrast to the First Philippine Commission, which was an advisory body, the new Commission was a
civil agency with ample powers.
APRIL 7, 1900. – The President issued interactions to the Second Philippine Commission which are often
referred to as “The Magna Charta of the Philippines.”
MARCH 2, 1901. – The Spooner Amendment to Act of March 2, 1901, was approved. This amendment
marked another step toward completion of the establishment of civil government in the Philippines.
JUNE 21, 1901. – First Civil Governor (William H. Taft) was appointed. He was inaugurated in Manila the
following July 4. The Commission was sole-legislative body for the Islands until the inauguration of the
Philippine Assembly on October 16, 1907.
JULY 1, 1901. – The Philippine Bill was approved. This Act of Congress, providing for the administration
of the affairs of civil government in the Philippine Islands, is the first organic law for the government of
the Philippines under the United States by virus of this Act the government of the Philippines was made
to rest upon the highest constitutional authority, the Congress of the United States.
OCTOBER 16, 1907. – The First Philippine Assembly was inaugurated by lower house of the legislatures
in the Philippines, with the Philippine Commission acting as the upper house until 1916, Sergio Osmeña,
elected from Cebu, the elected speaker, and Manuel L. Quezon, delegate from Tayabas, majority Floor
Leader of the Assembly.
OCTOBER 30, 1913. – President Woodrow Wilson appointed a Filipino majority in the membership of the
Philippine Commission. This was one of the major steps of the policy of Filipinizing the Philippine
Government.
AUGUST 29, 1916. – The Philippine Autonomy Act, or the “Jones Law”, providing for Filipino autonomy
and future independence was approved. The Jones Law became the new organic act for the Philippines,
superseding the Act of July 1, 1902.
OCTOBER 16, 1916. – The new Philippine Legislature consisting of a Senate and a House of
Representatives was inaugurated. Manuel L. Quezon was elected President of the Senate, and Sergio
Osmeña Speaker of the House of Representatives.
MARCH 24, 1934. The Tydings-McDuffie Act was passed by the Congress of the United States. This was
an Act “to provide for the complete independence of the Philippine Islands, to provide for the adoption
of a constitution and a form of government for the Philippine Islands, and for other purposes.”
FEBRUARY 8, 1935. – The Constitution of the Philippines was adopted by the Constitutional Convention
elected for the purpose, in accordance with the Tydings-McDuffie Act.
NOVEMBER 15, 1935. – Manuel L. Quezon was inaugurated President of the Philippines and Sergio
Osmeña Vice President.
AUGUST 7, 1939. – The Tydings-McDuffie Act was amended, with particular reference to the economic
provisions.
AUGUST 19, 1941. – President Quezon, in a radio address to the United States.
DECEMBER 8, 1941. – The Battle of the Philippines began. As part of the attack upon the United States,
Japan invaded the Philippines. The enemy met immediate resistance and was repulsed time and again
by the combined Philippine and American Armies under the supreme command of General Douglas
McArthur.
DECEMBER 28, 1941. – In a proclamation to the people of the Philippines.
DECEMBER 30, 1941. – President Quezon and Vice President Osmeña, who had been reelected
November 11, 1941, began their second term. They were sworn into office by Chief Justice Jon Abad
Santos while Corregidor was being subjected to bombardment by the enemy.
MAY 13, 1942. – With the arrival of President Quezon and his official staff in Washington, the President
of the Philippines established the Philippine Government’s headquarters in the capital of the United
States.
JUNE 14, 1942. – The Philippines became one of the United Nations when President Quezon, on behalf
of his country, signed the Declaration by the United Nations.
JUNE 17, 1942. – The Philippines was represented for the first time in the Pacific War Council by
President Quezon.
FEBRUARY 20, 1943. – President Quezon, in a broadcast to the Philippines.
AUGUST 13, 1943. – President Roosevelt, in broadcast to the Philippines, declares that the United
States; in practice, regards the lawful Government of the Philippines in Washington, D.C., “as having the
same status as the governments of other independent nations.”
SEPTEMBER 24, 1943. – Senator Millard E. Tydings, Chairman of the Committee on Territories and
Insular Affairs, introduced a joint resolution, providing, among other things, that “the President of the
United States is hereby authorized and empowered to enter into negotiations with the President of the
Commonwealth of the Philippine Islands for proclaiming the independence of the Philippine Islands as a
separate and self-governing nation, not later than 30 days after the enactment of this resolution.”