Recently I came across an interesting collection of Philippine political cartoons from the first half of the 20th century. Philippine Cartoons: Political Caricature of the American Era, 1900-1941 features many political cartoons as well as commentary from the author as to their meaning and on Filipino society as it was under American rule.
Unsurprisingly many of the issues facing Filipinos 100 years ago are still being faced today. Particularly the issues of Chinese merchants, drugs, and corruption as illustrated and explained in the following cartoons.
During World War I Filipino hostility towards Chinese erupted into racism. As wartime demand pushed freight costs to unprecedented heights, the average price for a cavan of rice in Manila increased from ₱4.70 in 1914 to ₱15.90 in 1919. Much of the increase was, in fact, speculative profit and Manila consumers, sorely pressed by the price rise, blamed Chinese rice merchants for their plight. Through the informal Tutuban rice exchange, a small group of Chinese dominated the wholesale market for native rice. Petty Chinese merchants controlled some 80 percent of Manila's retail trade. After suffering from four years of painful speculative price increases, working class Manileños developed a steep antagonism towards the Chinese.
While the Chinese Progresses shows that in the past decade foreign merchants, Chinese included, have grown from small traders into "now great merchants and bankers." The Filipinos by contrast, have remained hewers of wood and drawers of water.
When you think of Chinese businessmen in the Philippines perhaps Henry Sy is the first to come to mind. He is the founder of the SM Group which owns malls and supermarkets throughout the country. Likewise Tony Tan, the founder of Jolibee, is also a Chinese businessman whose fast food empire continues to expand nationally and internationally. With a new wave of Chinese migrants comes the same woes experienced by Filipinos in 1917. Many of the Chinese workers are working illegally while posing as tourists. Investors have caused housing prices to rise forcing many Filipinos out of the market. The government lacks the will to do anything about what some have called a creeping Chinese invasion.
Question of Time illustrates the subtle Chinese corruption of Filipino civil servants. While few public officials of the early American era would have dared accept a blatant bribe in cash or kind, the Chinese have, over the past quarter century, selected influential Filipino officials as their baptismal godfathers when they convert to Christianity. Every year the Chinese renew the bond by delivering its on their godfather's birthday, a custom that The Independent considers an indirect bribe.
This cartoon is very interesting in light of the recent pronouncement by Duterte that it is ok for PNP officers to take small gifts of little value if they are offered. Former PNP Chief Bato and current Chief Albayalde both admitted to taking gifts, food mostly, during "special occasions" which is exactly what is being depicted in this cartoon. The politician is being offered a ham and some fruit on a special occasion and the implication is that this is an indirect bribe. Perhaps Duterte has not taken gifts from Chinese businessmen but he has met with plenty of them in Malacañang and their influence on him cannot be denied. Many of his closest friends, like Jose Kho and Dennis Uy, are Chinese businessmen.
Why is There Opium claims that the U.S. colonial government's ban on opium sales is not effective. According to The Independent's police source, Chinese avoid the prohibition by smuggling opium through Manila Customs in drums of cement, condensed milk and other bulk cargos, something almost impossible to detect. Once the opium has cleared the Customs House, Manila Police have proved incapable of preventing its distribution. While the "poor Chinos belonging to the lower classes are made to suffer the penalty" for smoking the "big fish" who own the opium dens always get away. The Independent suggest that, as in British colonies, opium should be legalised as a source of government revenue.
Is there anyone who does not know that China is a major source for illegal drugs in the Philippines? Duterte has said it, the PNP has said it, and the PDEA has said it. Most drugs come from China and even with the drug war there has been no let up. They hide drugs in biscuit cans, pallets, vans, and even magnetic lifters and they sneak on through customs with no problem. When the drugs are on the street the police are incapable to prevent their distribution. Some police are even involved in selling drugs! And who has taken the heat in the drug war? The small fish. "The lower classes are made to suffer the penalty" of arrest, imprisonment, or even death at the hands of the PNP or motorcycle assassins. The big fish like Peter Lim swim away.
As of this writing Duterte is on his 5th visit to China. Chinese warships are making passage in the WPS. The Chinese military continues to build on islands that belong to the Philippines. A Chinese firm is leading the rebuilding of Marawi while Duterte's Chinese businessman friend Dennis Uy has been awarded a contract for a 3rd telecom. Chinese loans have been promised to finance Duterte's Build Build Build initiative. Everywhere you look in the Philippines it's China, China, China! But that is nothing new. As these cartoons demonstrate the problems with Chinese merchants is quite old as are charges of racism. Anyone who brings up the issues about the Chinese or questions China's true motives in wishing to be friends with the Philippines is accused of sinophobia.
For good or for ill the Chinese will continue to influence and dominate business, finance, and politics in the Philippines. Filipinos will have to get use to it. Perhaps they could learn a thing or two from the Chinese work ethic.
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