So, people born in US territories are eligible. (Puerto Ricans, for example) Would this have applied to someone born in the Philippines prior to 1948?
No. nor 1946, when they obtained independence, nor 1935, when they attained a Commonwealth status more like what the Northern Marianas or the other parts of the old Trust Terrirtory have today than what Puerto Rico has.
Puerto Rico is incorporated territory that is considered part of the United States, the Philippines were unincorporated territory that was considered to be owned by the United States, but not part of the United States. The only populated unincorporated territory of the United States today is American Samoa and people born there are not US citizens unless one of their parents is.
Although the US congress still saw fit to destroy the economy of American Samoa by instituting the minimum wage there and therefore driving off its one major source of employment (tuna canning).
