THE years from 1901 to 1935 were the most crucial years for the historic movement of the Filipino people towards the Philippine Commonwealth. As we noted earlier, the American Colonial Rule followed the same pattern throughout the country and basic changes were introduced including popular election of national and local officials and basic policies were carried out including various bureaucratic and political programs for the people. These improvements in the national level naturally benefited various provinces and cities throughout the country. Particularly notable for the entire populations were the improvements in the bureaucracy, education, peace and order situation, and public health sanitation, major economic and other socio-political improvements.
One notable difference between the American and the Spanish colonial management was that during the American regime, more Filipinos were appointed as officers in the various government agencies. Especially noteworthy as well were the US Legislative Laws leading to the birth of the Philippine Commonwealth. This included the Philippine Bill of 1902, the Jones Law of 1916 and the Tyding McDuffie Law which eventually gave birth in the historic Philippine commonwealth.
As we had earlier noted, the ratification of the new Philippine Constitution was held on September 17, 1935. The various political groups were organized with the several factions led by Manuel L. Quezon and Sergio Osmeña, who were eventually elected as president and vice president, respectively. Quezon and Osmeña also won most of the candidates in the Philippine Assembly.
The 1935 Constitution provided that defending the State is the primary duty of the government and all the citizens under the new laws must render military service. The first law enacted by the National Assembly was the National Defense Act which established the Philippine Military Force. Notably, President Quezon appointed General Douglas McArthur who arrived in Manila as leader of the US Military Mission together with Lt. Col. Dwight Eisenhower. Gen. McArthur was appointed by President Quezon to administer the plans for the national defense. President Quezon included the creation of new offices, revision of the economic and educational programs. Filipinization of the courts, promotion of social justice through pro-labor laws and granting women the right of suffrage. It was during Quezon’s terms, when World War II broke out with the Japanese forces attacking Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 8, 1941. On the succeeding days, Japanese invaders landed in various areas of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. They also occupied Manila on January 2, 1942.
Negros was occupied by the Japanese on May 20, 1942. The first American air attack against the Japanese occupation was on August 9, 1944 with the Americans bombing the Japanese Military forces in Davao. McArthur returned to the Philippines on October 22, 1944 and landed in Leyte together with President Sergio Osmeña who had succeeded Quezon who died on August 1, 1944 at Saranac Lake in New York.
Intramuros fell into the hands of Filipinos on February 23, 1945, when MacArthur declared the Liberation of the Philippines on April 29, 1945. In Negros, the retreating Japanese forces formally surrendered on August 30, 1945 at Sta. Rosa, Murcia. The Commonwealth Government continued to function in exile in Washington and it was restored on October 23, 1944 with the return of Gen. MacArthur leading the Liberation forces at Tacloban, Leyte. Manuel Roxas was then elected as head of the New Philippine Republic which was inaugurated on July 4, 1946. The historic event was attended by about three hundred thousand people and witnessed by representatives of 27 countries.