<P> The Philippine--American War erupted in February in a skirmish in Manila; the Filipinos lost the battle, and Aguinaldo again began a northward retreat . Aguinaldo was captured on April 1, 1901 at Palanan, Isabela, while the Americans had already started setting up civil governments in areas that had already been pacified . </P> <P> The Americans gave Filipinos limited self - government at the local level by 1901, and the Americans passed the Philippine Organic Act in 1902 to introduce a national government; by 1907, an election to the Philippine Assembly was held . Led by Sergio Osmeña, the assembly was held predominantly by the Nacionalista Party, which advocated independence; they were opposed by the Progresista Party, which advocated statehood within the United States . The Americans controlled the Philippine Commission, the upper house of the Philippine Legislature . The Nacionalista - dominated Philippine Assembly, and later the Philippine Senate, which was created by the Jones Law and replaced the Philippine Commission, was often at odds with the Governor - General . However, the Nacionalistas were split into camps loyal to Osmeña and Senate President Manuel L. Quezon . Several independence missions were sent to Washington, D.C.; the OsRox Mission led by Osmeña and House Speaker Manuel Roxas resulted in the Hare--Hawes--Cutting Act . However, the Senate rejected this; a new law, the Tydings--McDuffie Act which was marginally different and more importantly, was supported by Quezon, was approved and paved the way for the Commonwealth of the Philippines . </P> <P> Quezon and Osmeña reconciled, and both were easily elected as president and vice president respectively, in 1935 . The Nacionalistas controlled the now unicameral National Assembly for the entirety of the Commonwealth, with the understanding that the Americans would grant independence in the near future . Quezon pressed for constitutional amendments that would allow him to obtain a second term, and the restoration of a bicameral legislature . Quezon did obtain both amendments, with the newly restored Senate now being elected at - large instead of per districts, as what was done during the pre-Commonwealth era . Quezon, Osmeña and the Nacionalista Party as a whole both won the elections in 1941 in much larger margins . </P> <P> The Japanese invasion of 1941 at the onset of World War II delayed this granting of independence, forced the Commonwealth government to go into exile, and subjected the country to a puppet government . The KALIBAPI became the sole legal political party, and Jose P. Laurel was declared president of the Second Philippine Republic . This nationalist KALIBAPI government espoused anti-American sentiment . Exiled leaders of the previous first Commonwealth government, including Quezon and Osmeña, provided limited support to the U.S. Despite the relationship with Japanese officials and opposition to U.S. control, the nationalist KALIBAPI government of Laurel refused to declare war on the U.S. However, the Americans reconquered the country in 1944, and Osmeña, who had succeeded Quezon upon the latter's death, restored the Commonwealth government . The first meeting of a bicameral Commonwealth Congress occurred . </P>

Historical background of philippine politics as a democratic country