Philippine History

1
The Reform Movement

The Reform Movement

This lesson focuses on the propaganda movement, a peaceful campaign

for reforms which was a move from the insulares (Filipinos) and was
participated by the illustrados. We would come to learn the reasons of its rise
and its goals.

Learning Outcome:
At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:

1. discuss the goals of the propaganda movement

2. evaluate the different moves for reforms in the Philippines

Propaganda Movement
The Filipinos suffered so much under the Spanish rule. There were
many revolts to fight against the Spaniards but to no avail.
Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora’s execution on
February 17, 1872 awakened the intense feelings of anger and resentment
among the Filipinos. The incident helped inspire the Propaganda Movement to
seek for reforms. The movement was not a radical agitation to overthrow
Spanish rule by a bloody revolution, but it was a peaceful campaign for reforms
with the following aims:
1) assimilation of the Philippines as a province of Spain;
2) equality of Filipinos and Spaniards before the law;
3) restoration of Philippines representation in the Spanish Cortes, the law
making body of Spain;
4) Filipinization of Philippine parishes;
5) individual liberties for the Filipinos, such as freedom of speech, freedom of
the press, freedom to assembly and freedom of petition for action on all
complaints.
The propagandists used their pen and tongue to expose the defects of the
Spanish rule in the Philippines and the call of reforms.
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Members of the Propaganda Movement
The propagandists were the intelligent, educated patriotic and courageous
Filipinos. Some notable people who participated in the movement are Marcelo H.
del Pilar, lawyer and journalist; Jose Rizal, the greatest novelist of the movement;
Graciano Lopez Jaena, best orator of the Propaganda Movement; Mariano Ponce,
medical student and biographical writer; Pedro Paterno, lawyer and man of letters;
Antonio Luna, pharmacist and essayist.

La Solidaridad.
La Solidaridad was the official organ or magazine of the Propaganda
Movement. It was founded by Graciano Lopez Jaena and consequently, he
became its first editor. The first issue was published in Barcelona, Spain on
February 15, 1889. The magazine lasted for seven years.
The magazine was created to propagate the objectives of the
Propaganda Movement. Its aims were:
 to present the sad condition of the Philippines so that Spain can remedy
them
 to work for political and social reforms peacefully
 to combat the evil forces of evil influences of reaction and outmoded
beliefs and practices
 to advocate liberal ideas and progress
 to champion the legitimate aspirations of the Filipino people for
democracy and happiness.

Contributors of La Solidaridad
The Filipino contributors of La Solidaridad used pen names to safeguard
their identities.
 Plaridel for Marcelo H. del Pilar
 Laon Laan for Dr. Jose Rizal
 Tikbalang for Mariano Ponce
 Jomapa for Jose Ma. Panganiban
 Ramiro Franco for Dominador Gomez
Foreign contributors were welcome in La Solidaridad like Ferdinand
Blumentritt, an Austrian professor and scholar and best friend of Dr. Jose Rizal
and Miguel Morayta, statesman, historian and journalist and Dr. Jose Rizal’s
professor in Central University of Madrid.

La Asociacion Hispano-Filipino
The Asociacion Hispano-Filipina is a group of prominent Filipino and
Spanish scholars and statesmen of Filipinos, propagandists in Madrid and
 Philippine History
3
The Reform Movement

their Spanish friends that has a purpose to secure reforms for the Philippines.
It was established on January 12, 1889.
This civic society had three sections: 1) Political Section under Marcelo
H. del Pilar; 2) Literary Section under Mariano Ponce; and 3) Recreation
Section under Tomas Arejola. The group met once a month to Philippines-
Spanish questions and drew up petitions and passed resolutions.
Miguel Morayta was the first President of the association.

La Liga Filipina.
On July 3, 1892, La Liga Filipina, a Filipino civic association was
founded by Rizal in a house at Ilaya St., Tondo. La Liga Filipina was a peaceful
and civic organization that was designed to secure reforms for the Philippines.
Its constitution was written by Rizal and was assisted by Jose Ma. Basa. Its
goals were the following:
 Unite the Philippine archipelago as a nation of strong-willed citizens
with common goals.
 Aid each and every member in times of crises
 Guard against all kinds of wrong-doing and injustice;
 Promote education, agriculture and commerce; and
 Bring about changes and reforms in the government.

The division of La Liga Filipina:

 Cuerpo de Compromisarions
 Katipunan

The Arrest of Jose Rizal

Three days after its founding, Dr. Jose Rizal was arrested on July 7, 1892
through the order of Governor General Despujol and was exiled in Dapitan on
July 15, 1892. Dr. Jose Rizal’s arrest marked the end of the La Liga Filipina.
Apolinario Mabini and some members tried to revive the league but
failed because many members, including Andres Bonifacio, believed that it
was useless to expect reforms from the corrupt Spaniards.

Failure of the Reform Movement.

La Solidaridad’s intensive campaign for reforms did not get any form of
changes in the administration of the Philippines because Spain also had its
own internal problems. Whatever good impressions that the La Solidaridad

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 had created in the minds of the Spanish officials in Spain, they were
overshadowed by the influential newspaper of the Spanish friars, La Politica
de Espana en Filipinas, that countered the La Solidaridad.
Another reason of failure of the reform movement was the
propagandists themselves. Because of petty jealousies among them, they were
divided which resulted to the weakening of the ties that bound them together.

References:

Agoncillo, Teodoro A. (1990). History of the Philippines. Garo Tech Books

Inc.: Quezon City
Malabuyoc, Edwin (2008). Philippine History. Jimsy Publishing House:
Malabon City