MANILA, Philippines — The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and the Philippine National Historical Society (PNHS) launched the second edition of Dr. Bernardita A. Reyes Churchill’s The Philippine Independence Missions to the United States, 1919–1934 on September 23 at the Metropolitan Theatre in Manila.
Edited by NHCP Commissioner Maria Eloísa P. De Castro, PhD, the new edition features the original introduction by renowned Filipino historian Teodoro A. Agoncillo.
The book examines the Philippine Independence Missions to the United States between 1919 and 1934, highlighting the diplomatic efforts of Filipino statesmen and presidents Manuel L. Quezon, Sergio Osmeña, and Manuel Roxas in pursuing the country’s right to self-government and eventual independence from the United States.
Through historical accounts and documentation, the publication provides a closer look at the diplomatic campaigns undertaken by Filipino leaders as they sought to advance the country’s independence agenda in the United States.
The book launch also formed part of the PNHS’ 85th anniversary celebration, which brought together representatives and members from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Churchill, who authored the book, currently heads the organization as its president.
The PNHS has counted several prominent Filipino historians and scholars among its members, including Jesuit historian Fr. Horacio V. Dela Costa, SJ; historian and suffragist Pura Villanueva Kalaw; historian Gregorio F. Zaide; historian Leslie Bauzon; and National Artist for Literature Resil B. Mojares.
The project is part of the NHCP’s Dekada ng Kasaysayan, with 2026 designated as the Year of Philippine Diplomatic History and Diaspora, highlighting the country’s diplomatic heritage and the role of Filipinos and Filipino communities in shaping Philippine history.
The NHCP is the national government agency tasked with promoting and preserving Philippine history and heritage through historical research and publication, heraldry, the administration of national shrines and museums, and the conservation, preservation, and marking of historic sites and structures.
