Name: Alfred Ranvyl A.
Balansag Date: April 12, 2025
Subject and Section: Readings of the Philippine Independence /
PSY1A
Analyze a Cartoon
1. What do you notice first
The first thing I notice in the cartoons is the way the faces and bodies of the people are drawn.
Their features are very big or funny-looking. This is done on purpose to make the cartoons
stand out and show what the artist wants to say. It also helps people understand who the
cartoon is talking about, especially when the person is important like a politician or someone in
power.
2. What is the title or captions
The titles and captions are short texts that explain what the cartoon means. They give us a clue
about the message. For example, when it says someone is passing a crown to another person,
it shows that the cartoon is talking about giving political power, maybe to someone who doesn’t
deserve it.
3. Are there labels, description, thoughts, or dialogue
Yes, the cartoons include labels and sometimes dialogue. These help make the meaning
clearer. Labels like the name Uncle Sam or Juan de la Cruz tell us who the characters are.
Sometimes there are also speech bubbles or signs that show what the characters are saying or
thinking.
4. List the people, object and places in the cartoon
The cartoons show different people, like Doctor Santos and Doctor Barcelona who were in
politics. It also shows Fernando Amorsolo, a cartoonist, and Juan de la Cruz who represents the
Filipino people. Objects include the crown, salakot which is a traditional Filipino hat, barong
Tagalog which is a formal Filipino shirt, and American items like baseball bats, whiskey, and
boxing gloves. Places include the city streets, a theater, a pier in Manila, and even a warehouse
full of goods.
5. List the action or activities
The cartoons show many actions. One shows a politician giving power to his family member.
Another shows a child stealing a chicken and being chased by a policeman. There is also a
cartoon about illegal colorum cars causing accidents. In another one, a policeman is shown
stopping couples from being romantic in a cinema. One cartoon even shows Filipino students
pulling a cart with William Howard Taft riding on it, and another cartoon shows American leaders
giving out food to politicians.
6. Which words or phrases are the most significant
Phrases like passing the crown, small-time thieves, and giving porridge are very important. They
show how political power is passed unfairly, how justice is not equal, and how Filipino politicians
depended on American support. These words help us understand the problems during that time.
7. Which of the visuals are symbols
The cartoons use a lot of symbols. Uncle Sam is a symbol for the United States. Juan de la
Cruz is a symbol for the Filipino people. The crown is a symbol of political power. The salakot
and barong Tagalog are symbols of Filipino identity. American items like whiskey and baseball
bats are symbols of American culture being brought to the Philippines.
8. List adjectives that describe the emotions portrayed
The cartoons show many emotions like brave, hopeful, angry, confused, and strong. Some
people in the cartoons look tired or upset, others look proud or serious. These emotions help
show how people felt about the problems and unfair treatment during the American colonial
time.
9. What do they stand for
These emotions show what Filipinos felt during that time. Some were hopeful that things would
get better. Others were angry because of unfair treatment. Some were confused about all the
changes. The feelings shown in the cartoons help us understand how hard life was for many
people.
10. Who drew this cartoon
Different artists drew these cartoons. One of the artists mentioned is Fernando Amorsolo. The
cartoons were collected by Alfred McCoy and Alfredo Roces in their book. The artists used their
skills to show their opinions and make people think.
11. When is it from
The cartoons are from the American era in the Philippines, from the year 1900 to the year 1941.
This was the time when the United States controlled the country and many changes were
happening in politics, education, and society.
12. What was happening at the time it was created
The Philippines had just moved from Spanish rule to American rule. The Americans were trying
to change the government and way of life. Some people liked the changes, but many others felt
the Americans had too much power and didn’t treat Filipinos fairly.
13. What is the message. List evidence from the cartoon or your knowledge about the cartoonist
that led you to your conclusion
The message of these cartoons is to show what life was like under American rule and to criticize
unfair actions by leaders. For example, when a child is punished for stealing food while rich
people hoard supplies, it shows injustice. When Filipino students pull a cart with William Howard
Taft riding on it, it shows how Filipinos were made to serve Americans. These pictures are full of
meaning and show the point of view of the artists and the people.
14. What did you find out from this cartoon that you might not learn anywhere else
These cartoons show the feelings and real experiences of people in a way that books don’t
always do. I learned how Filipinos were used for American gain, how unfair politics were, and
how people tried to speak out in creative ways like cartoons.
15. What other document or historical evidence are you going to use to help you understand this
event or topic
To understand more, I would read historical documents from the American colonial time, like
newspapers, government rules, and writings from Filipinos during that time. These would help
me see what both sides were thinking and how those actions affected the Filipino people.
