Welcome Aboard a US Warship

By

Jose Sison Luzadas

Delray Beach, FL

The photo has nothing to do with the US military buildup in the Persian Gulf many years ago. This ship has been cruising the high seas long before Saddam Hussein was born!

Neither was it part of Admiral George Dewey’s flotilla. But what makes this 1919 picture of destroyer relevant and interesting to Filipinos is, it provokes enquiries to our colonial past under the United States. Much more so the US Navy named her after our national hero, Dr Jose Rizal. Don’t they have deserving Americans? Why Rizal?

When Dewey was victorious in the Battle of Manila Bay on May 2, 1898, it nailed down a decaying colonial empire, putting an end to Spain’s rank as minor world power. It marked a new era in American history flirting with imperialism to gain foothold in Asia to acquire a portion of lucrative trade and commerce of Southeast Asian markets dominated by Europeans .In short, it transformed America overnight as an emerging military, naval commercial power to watch.

In the acquisition of territories, commerce, consequently followed the flag and America was ready to venture in Asian markets lay waiting for American goods with the Philippines as distribution center in the region. Except for Mark Twain and his Isolationist friends, there were rallying words that are music to American ears: Manifest Destiny.

With Aguinaldo’s capture in Palanan, Isabela, Apolinario Mabini getting exiled in Guam, Miguel Malvar lost his appetite for fighting, finally decided to quit as we know him as the last Filipino general to surrender to the Americans.

President Roosevelt proclaimed in 1902 the termination of hostilities a state of belligerency that American historians referred to as the Philippine Insurrection. Pacification and transition to peace and order finally settled but still Filipinos were reluctant to participate in national, provincial and local government set up by the Americans. It took several years to entice Filipinos to the civil service until the American showed genuine promise of preparing the citizens for self-government that highlighted when American Governor General Francis Burton Harrison proclaimed his administration’s policy of “Philippines for the Filipinos”.

The story of overseas Filipinos that we recently noticed as tremendous booming business, started when migrant workers were allowed to go to the pineapple plantations of Hawaii and the farmlands of California in the early 1900.

As to change of colonial masters, in comparison, the Americans were much different from the Spanish. They were more interested in education and the study of politics and government. However, while the teaching of English was “shoved” to our throats there was no complaint or protest. To their amazement and surprise the Americans learned that while Filipinos can be Americanized, they cannot be “Americans”.

The excitement and fascination of working for Uncle Sam seems undeterred. We want to be a part of the American Dream. In the fifties, sixties and seventies, arguably, we supplied America not just doctors and nurses. Had it not for termination of our bilateral defense treaty phasing out Sangley Point in Cavite, Navy Yard in Zambales and Clark Airbase in Angeles, Pampanga, with the long waiting list of applicants we can provide the US Navy Recruiting Office a 50 year supply of recruits.

FLASH BACK to yesterday:

The first twenty years under America was an era dominated by the political careers, ambition and rivalry of Manuel Quezon and Sergio Osmena. Starting from 1904 it was a period when Filipinos were allowed to form political parties, sing their national anthem and wave the present Philippine flag. A transition period was a condition required for the grant of independence known as the Jones Act was passed by the US Congress 1916. Then in February 1935 the Philippine Constitution was proclaimed followed by the Tydings McDuffie Act promising the grant of independence within ten years.

BACK TO THE PICTURE

This US destroyer is a symbol of American power. Christened the USS RIZAL, it was built in California and saw its maiden voyage visiting the ports of Japan, China, the Philippines and Guam. Unlike other US Navy vessel, majority of the crew manning USS RIZAL were Filipinos. Returning to California in 1930, it was decommissioned and in 1931 it was scrapped for good.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT!

The Philippine Government shouldered the expenses for the construction of USS RIZAL and was donated to the US Navy. In return for the Philippine gift, the US Navy named the 1060 ton destroyer after Dr. Jose Rizal.

I cannot find any rationale why the members of the Philippine Legislature appropriated such amount of money to build a ship only to be donated. Even though the ship will bear the name of Rizal, the issue on priority is highly debatable if not questionable on the wisdom and leadership of Quezon, Osmena, Paredes, Roxas, Quirino and other ardent nationalists.

If

Rizal has his way, he would have the money spent for education or for economic development. Can we blame the action of the men of the past with the values of today?

YOU BE THE JUDGE