The Roots of the Philippine-American Relationship

The Philippines and the United States of America have a deeply tangled history together. The first cooperative endeavor between the Philippines and the United States of America was during the years when they shared a common enemy—Spain. From August 1896 to June 12, 1898, the Philippine revolutionary forces—Kataastaasang, Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (Katipunan)—mounted a revolution against Spain, which had colonized the Philippines for over 300 years.

With the outbreak of the Spanish-American War on April 25, 1898, Emilio Aguinaldo unofficially allied with the United States of America and continued hostilities against the Spaniards. By June, the rebels had conquered nearly all Spanish-held grounds within the Philippines with the exception of Manila. On June 12, 1898, Aguinaldo declared independence from Spain and the First Philippine Republic was established. However, neither Spain nor the United States of America recognized Philippine independence. Spanish rule in the islands only officially ended with the Treaty of Paris on August 12, 1898, wherein Spain ceded the Philippines and other territories to the United States. The Philippine-American War broke out shortly afterward, the outcome of growing patriotism, deferred dreams, ongoing frustration, unclear communications, and broken trust.

Today, the Philippines and the United States continue to maintain a complicated relationship with one another, for better or for worse.