Speaking to Iloilo Wanderer s mention of an American effort to rule the Philippines I don t think there was ever much official intention in that regard First Philippine Commission s 2 November 1900 report said Only through American occupation therefore is the idea of a free self governing and united Philippine commonwealth at all conceivable see and elsewhere The 1916 Philippine Autonomy Act contained a formal and official declaration of the United States Federal Government s commitment to grant independence to the Philippines earlier Boracay Bill