Philippine Annexation Cost

Philippine Annexation Cost

Strategic Value Justifies the Annexation Cost

"Strategically, the islands are of vast value, as it enables us to be near the Asiatic shore with a base of supplies and a body of troops ready to support the diplomatic measures of the U.S. to keep "open door." I assure you that a division of troops on hand in the Philippines, with Manila or Subic Bay as a base, is worth more than the entire costs that we have been put to in the Philippines . . . our possessing this base should make enemies hesitate and will probably prevent an expansive war."

General Frederick Dent Grant, son of President Ulysses S. Grant, in a speech before the New York Society of the Founders and Patriots of America, December 10, 1904

Table of Philippine Annexation Cost

Cost Item Americans Filipinos Remarks

Political Repercussion War divided the U.S. into two political camps --the "Imperialists" and the "Anti-Imperialists" Lost the Philippine independence declared by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo; independence was postponed until July 4, 1946. Owing to the slow nature of the communications reaching the Philippine Islands, very few Filipinos knew that the U.S. was debating for their political future.

Human Lives Roughly 5,000 25,000 Soldiers; roughly 500,000 civilians The 'genocidal proportion' of war casualties was attributed to the reconcentrados instituted by the U.S. military in places like Batangas, some Bicol provinces and Marinduque.

War Cost $600,000,000 Carabao, a native water buffalo and a useful farm animal, was reduced to ten percent (shrank by 90%).

Buyout of Friarlands $7,227,000 paid to Vatican for rougly 403,713 acres of friarlands

Philippine Purchase $20,000,000 paid to Spain by the U.S. in compliance to Article III of the Treaty of Paries signed on December 10, 1898. The selling of the Philippines to the U.S. by Spain, through the Treaty of Paris, was felt by Mabini as a confirmation to the true colonial intentions of the U.S. on the Philippines. Treated as business transaction, the U.S. purchased the Philippine "assets and liabilities" --land as "assests" and the insurrection as "liabilities."

Legacy The U.S. realized later that the war was an embarrassment for the them --a superpower fighting a mere ragtag army. Filipinos lost its dignity, in fighting a war with a just cause, when the U.S. downgraded the title of "war" to merely "insurrection." The downgrading of the "war" to merely "insurrection" by the U.S. may have been intentionally made in order to its embarrassment.

It proved that the U.S. will follow "where the flag goes," not what the Constitution says or limits. First Republic or Malolos Government dismantled, lost its independence only to be granted back on July 4, 1946 Original Independence Day was declared by Aguinaldo on June 12, 1898.

[Note: Insurrection is technically correct when describing Filipinos revolting against Spain.]

Friarland Purchased by the U.S. from Vatican
(Contract dated December 23, 1903. Source: John Freman, Philippine Islands, p. 601)

Land Location Acreage Remarks

Cavite 121,747 Some lands were held for centuries, none less than one generation.

Laguna 62,172

Rizal 50,145

Bulacan 39,441

Rizal (Morong) 4,940

Bataan 1,000

Cebu 16,413

Cagayan 49,400 Government grant to Agustinian friars, Sept. 25, 1880

Mindoro 58,455 Government grant to Recoletos friars, 1894

Total Acreage 403,713 Notes:
1. The Franciscan were not allowed by its rules to posses any property. It therefore had no agricultural lands, and no other property than dwelling-houses for members, two convents, and two infirmaries.
2. See Senate Document No. 112, p. 27, 56th Congress, 2nd Session; and Senate Document No. 331, p. 180 of Part 1., 57th Congress, 1st Session. Published by the Government Printing Office, Washington.

Total Cost $ 7,227,000

Average Cost/Acre $ 17.90

Basis for Spain's Claim for Cempensation

Primary reason: That the U.S. victory against the Spaniards in the 'sham' land Battle of Manila on August 13, 1898 was unnecessary with the existence of the Peace Protocol that was signed in Washington the previous day, thus making the victory null and void, and sequently reverting the 'war status' of the two countries.

Secondary Reason: Spain wanted reimbursement for its infrastructure investment (ports, roads, public utilities) in the Philippines, its former colony.

Moral Question Behind Spain's Claim for Compensation

Reimbursement. For Spain to ask for reimbursement for its infrastructure investment in the Philippines poses moral question considering that the Philippines was a self-sustaining colony being able to generate revenues for the colonial administration. Moreover, the customs houses were generating import duties and every Filipino citizen in the Islands were paying personal cedula or individual tax certificate.

Indemnity. The other basis for compensation was for the United States to indemnify Spain for the miscommunication of the Peace Protocol, even though the land battle of Manila was a sham one, was an act of desperation for Spain considering that it did not want to go back to the horrors of war.

Spain's Claim for Sovereignty

Claim Over A 'Lost' Colony. Except for Manila and Zamboanga, Spain had already lost the whole archipelago when they started their mass evacuation immediately after the signing of the Treaty of Paris on December 10, 1898. When the war broke, the Spaniards had already abandoned almost all their colonial administration in the islands except for Manila and Zamboanga.

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Cost Item	Americans	Filipinos	Remarks
Political Repercussion	War divided the U.S. into two political camps --the "Imperialists" and the "Anti-Imperialists"	Lost the Philippine independence declared by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo; independence was postponed until July 4, 1946.	Owing to the slow nature of the communications reaching the Philippine Islands, very few Filipinos knew that the U.S. was debating for their political future.
Human Lives	Roughly 5,000	25,000 Soldiers; roughly 500,000 civilians	The 'genocidal proportion' of war casualties was attributed to the reconcentrados instituted by the U.S. military in places like Batangas, some Bicol provinces and Marinduque.
War Cost	$600,000,000	Carabao, a native water buffalo and a useful farm animal, was reduced to ten percent (shrank by 90%).
Buyout of Friarlands	$7,227,000 paid to Vatican for rougly 403,713 acres of friarlands
Philippine Purchase	$20,000,000 paid to Spain by the U.S. in compliance to Article III of the Treaty of Paries signed on December 10, 1898.	The selling of the Philippines to the U.S. by Spain, through the Treaty of Paris, was felt by Mabini as a confirmation to the true colonial intentions of the U.S. on the Philippines.	Treated as business transaction, the U.S. purchased the Philippine "assets and liabilities" --land as "assests" and the insurrection as "liabilities."
Legacy	The U.S. realized later that the war was an embarrassment for the them --a superpower fighting a mere ragtag army.	Filipinos lost its dignity, in fighting a war with a just cause, when the U.S. downgraded the title of "war" to merely "insurrection."	The downgrading of the "war" to merely "insurrection" by the U.S. may have been intentionally made in order to its embarrassment.
Legacy	It proved that the U.S. will follow "where the flag goes," not what the Constitution says or limits.	First Republic or Malolos Government dismantled, lost its independence only to be granted back on July 4, 1946	Original Independence Day was declared by Aguinaldo on June 12, 1898.

Land Location	Acreage	Remarks
Cavite	121,747	Some lands were held for centuries, none less than one generation.
Laguna	62,172
Rizal	50,145
Bulacan	39,441
Rizal (Morong)	4,940
Bataan	1,000
Cebu	16,413
Cagayan	49,400	Government grant to Agustinian friars, Sept. 25, 1880
Mindoro	58,455	Government grant to Recoletos friars, 1894
Total Acreage	403,713	Notes: 1. The Franciscan were not allowed by its rules to posses any property. It therefore had no agricultural lands, and no other property than dwelling-houses for members, two convents, and two infirmaries. 2. See Senate Document No. 112, p. 27, 56th Congress, 2nd Session; and Senate Document No. 331, p. 180 of Part 1., 57th Congress, 1st Session. Published by the Government Printing Office, Washington.
Total Cost	$ 7,227,000
Average Cost/Acre	$ 17.90