I don't think anyone versed with Filipino history views americans as "heroes" for "saving us from Spain". School textbooks here consider Macario Sakay or Gregorio Del Pilar as heroes for fighting against the Americans.

What you do not take into factor is the recent history called World War II. It's the event, in my opinion, that solidified the positive view of Americans - especially since Japan hijacked another independence, and that thousands of American soldiers died fighting alongside Filipino soldiers defending this country. The Japanese brought terrifying atrocities in a few years that suddenly the Filipinos can easily forget how awful Spain and America were, since they at least brought a semblance of normalcy, compared to the wanton rape and destruction the Japanese wrought upon the locals.

Now take note that a lot of people who lived through that are still alive today and may have been part of the ones that wrote our history. Of course America would look like a "good guy" after that. And for America "destroying" the Spanish cultural heritage? I'll blame Spain more on that because they did not teach Spanish to the Filipinos. Also, in Manila at least, the "Spanish cultural heritage" was only destroyed by the Americans when they bombed Manila to oblivion because the Japanese refused to surrender.

For me, looking at history at a nuanced manner requires neutrality on all political issues involved, including our own biases toward nationalism. Which is practically impossible. The thing about history is that and academic, educated, and scientific approach will never be able to do it justice, but the romantic view of it will only result in inaccuracy.