29 August, 1916
TODAY IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY:
The Jones Law or the Act of Congress known as the Philippine Autonomy Act of 1916, was approved. The Jones Law contained the first formal and official declaration of the United States commitment to grant independence to the Philippines.
The law provides that the grant of independence would come only “as soon as a stable government can be established” which gave the United States Government the power to determine when this “stable government” has been achieved.
It aimed at providing the Filipino people broader domestic autonomy though it reserved certain privileges to the United States (Americans) to protect their sovereign rights and interests.
(Ref: Philippines News Agency; Photo from tumblr.malacanang.gov.ph)
