During the times of Rizal, the decadence of Spain darkened the Philippines. The Filipino masses agonized beneath the yoke of Spanish misrule, being unfortunate victims of an unjust, bigoted and deteriorating colonial power. The Filipinos lost their indigenous culture with the coming of Spanish colonizers who forced them to accept foreign culture and Catholicism that they never completely understood. The Philippine society became predominantly feudalistic—perpetuating the landlord (Spaniards) and tenants (native Filipinos) relationship. The Philippine social structure The social structure was pyramid in form, with the apex occupied by Spanish officials, friars and peninsulares; the middle class consisting of insulares, Spanish mestizos, principalia and Chinese mestizos; and the base occupied by the masses of indios. The Philippine political system The scattered barangays during pre- Hispanic period were centralized under a national government, with the governor general, being the King’s representative, as the head. The levels of administration were divided into centralized national government and local government. The Philippine political system The governor general exercised extensive powers: executive, legislative, judiciary and religious duty. The alcalde mayor heads the provincial government and has the privilege to engage in commerce through the “indulto de commercio.” The alcalde en ordinario heads the city government, while the corregidores heads the corregimiento or unpacified territories. The alferez heads the guardia civil in each town. The political system The chief executive of a town, elected by the principalia (local elite), was the gobernadorcillo (kapitan)— this is the only highest government position open for Filipino natives or Chinese mestizos during Spanish regime. The cabeza de barangay heads the barrio or barangay level. Persisting Problems in the Philippines under Spanish Rule Sources of abuse and exploitation 1. Instability of colonial government 2. Corrupt Colonial officials 3. No representation in the Spanish Cortes 4. Denial of basic human rights to Filipinos 5. No equality before the law 6. Maladministration of justice 7. Racial discrimination 8. Forced Labor 12. The Guardia Civil 9. Heavy taxation 13. Serious Problems in 10. Frailocracy Education 11. Hacienda System Instability of Spanish colonial administration The instability of Spanish politics marked the beginning of political chaos in Spain in the 19th century. Due to internal political conflict, the Spanish government underwent frequent changes owing to bitter struggles between the conservative and liberal forces. Instability of Spanish colonial administration From 1834 to 1862, internal problems of Spain resulted to: Adoption of four constitutions Election of 28 parliaments Installation of 529 ministers Political party strife Revolution and political upheavals The political instability in Spain adversely affected Philippine affairs because it brought frequent periodic shifts in colonial policies and periodic rigodon of colonial officials. The colony became a convenient dumping ground for favorites and followers of politicians in the Mother Country. Instability of Spanish colonial administration From 1835-1897, the Philippines was ruled by 50 governor generals. The frequent change of coloial officials hampered the political and economic development of thne Philippines. 2. Corrupt colonial officials Corrupt colonial officials Colonial officials sent by Spain to the Philippines were highly corrupt, incompetent, and cruel. They symbolized the decadent Spain of the 19th century. Corrupt colonial officials The vast powers and privileges of Spanish colonial officials, especially the Governor General, gave them opportunities to perpetuate corruption and abuses. • After the loss of Mexico, Guatemala, Chile, Argentina and other colonies in Latin America, numerous penniless Spanish sycophants came to the Philippines where they became judges, provincial executives, army officers and government employees. Corrupt colonial officials Among the main cause of weakness in the administrative system was the nature of appointment of colonial officials with inferior qualifications and who were ignorant of the real situation in the Philippines. Others obtained their positions through royal appointment or bidding for their positions. Corrupt colonial officials Governor General Rafael de Izquierdo, a boastful and ruthless ruler, aroused the anger of the Filipinos by executing the three priests Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora. Corrupt colonial officials Governor General Valeriano Weyler arrived Manila a poor man and returned to Spain a millionaire, receiving bribes from wealthy Chinese who evaded anti-Chinese law. He led the brutal persecution of Calamba tenants, particularly the family of Rizal. Corrupt colonial officials Governor General Fernando Primo de Rivera enriched himself by accepting bribes from casinos in Manila. Governor General Camilo de Polavieja was widely detested by the Filipinos for executing Jose Rizal. Corrupt colonial officials Corruption in the colonial government was made worse by the checks adopted by Spain that proved to be ineffective. Abuses multiplied because higher officials were indifferent to anomalies. 3. Absence of Philippine representation in Spanish Cortes Absence of Philippine representation in the Spanish Cortes The Philippines experienced its first period of representation in the Cortes from 1810-1813. This period was fruitful because the representatives succeeded in forming an active part in the framing of Spain’s first democratic Constitution and in the abolition of the galleon trade. However, the succeeding delegates were less fruitful in their parliamentary work. In 1837, representation of the overseas colonies, including the Philippines, in the Spanish Cortes was abolished. Since then, the Philippine Many Filipino patriots condition worsened pleaded for the because there was no restoration of Philippine means by which the representation in the Filipinos could expose the anomalies of colonial Cortes but Spain officials. ignored their plea. 4. Denial of basic human rights to Filipinos Denial of human rights to Filipinos The Spanish Constitution of 1812 gave the people of Spain freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of association and other human rights (except freedom of religion). Strangely, though, these constitutional liberties were denied to the Filipinos. While Spanish missionaries who introduced Christianity in the Philippines proclaimed that all men, irrespective of color and race, are children of God and hence are equal, Spanish colonial authorities did not implement and practice Christ’s precept of brotherhood of all men. Denial of human rights to Filipinos Spaniards arrogantly regarded the brown- skinned Filipinos as inferior beings and subjects to be exploited. The Laws of the Indies that were supposed to protect the rights and promote the welfare of the natives in Spain’s overseas colonies, including the Philippines, were rarely enforced by Spanish officials. Homes were searched without warrants People were convicted and exiled for being filibusteros; Books and other printed materials were censored; Meetings and assemblies for political purposes were prohibited. No equality before the law Consequently, the Filipinos were abused, brutalized, persecuted and slandered by their Spanish masters. They could not appeal for justice because the law was only for the Spaniards. Enforcement of penalties was heavier on native Filipinos and lighter on the Spaniards. 5. Misadministration of justice The court of justice was notoriously corrupt. Spanish judges, fiscals and other court officials were inept, venal and oftentimes ignorant of the law. Justice was costly, partial and slow. Poor Filipinos had no access to the courts because they could not afford the heavy expenses of litigation. Misadministration of justice Preponderant factors in winning a case in court include wealth, social prestige and color of skin. The judicial procedure was so slow and delayed as criminal cases dragged on for years. The Rizal-Mercado family was victim of Spanish injustice. Injustices against Rizal Dona Teodora (Rizal’s mother) was twice imprisoned, first in 1871 and second in 1891. She was unjustly arrested and jailed on flimsy ground. Rizal himself was deported to Dapitan in 1892 without benefit of trial. Paciano and Rizal’s brothers-in-law were exiled to Mindoro and Jolo without due process of law. Like the three martyr priests, Rizal was executed after a mock trial. 6. Racial discrimination Racial discrimination Spaniards regarded the native Filipinos as inferior beings who were undeserving of the rights and privileges that the Spaniards enjoyed. Although the laws recognized no differences between the various races, the Spaniards claimed superiority over the Filipinos. The native Filipinos were called with deregatory names like ―indios‖, ―barbaros,‖ ―bastos,‖ ―sin verguenza‖, and ―ignorante.‖ Racial prejudice was prevalent everywhere— in government offices, in courts of justice, in social circles, in educational institutions and ecclesiastical hierarchy. Spanish misconception is that a man’s merit depended on the pigment of his skin, the height of his nose, the color of his hair, and the shape of his skull. Racial discrimination The most virulent attack on the Filipino race came from Franciscan friar Fr. Miguel Lucio Bustamante who opined that the Filipino could never learn Spanish language nor be civilized: “The Spaniard will always be a Spaniard, the indio will always be an indio… Just as the monkey is always a monkey however you dress him.” Another friar, Fr. Gaspar de San Agustin said, “God created the indios together with the rattan.” Spaniards maintained that the native Filipinos could not rise beyond their ―limited intelligence‖ and this racial discrimination instigated the enlightened Filipinos to struggle for equality. 7. Frailocracia Frailocracy The institutions of Church and State were inseparable throughout most of Spanish rule in the Philippines. Owing to this Spanish political philosophy of indivisible union of Church and State, there arose a unique form of government in Hispanic Philippines called “frailocracy” (frailocracia)—a government by the friars. Frailocracy Since the days of Spanish conquest, the friars—Augustinians, Recollects, Dominicans, Jesuits and Franciscans— controlled the religious and educational life of the Philippines and later in the 19th century, they came to acquire tremendous political power, riches and influence. Frailocracy Friars were used by the Spanish government as instruments of colonial control. The friars ruled the Philippines through a facade of civil government. The friar-curates became very influential and powerful that Spanish civil authorities, including the Governor General, feared them and were placed under the control of the friars. Friar control over the country tightened in the 19th century when Spain suffered from internal political instability and due to many loses of its Latin American colonies. The friarocracy seems to have had more than its share of personal irregularities. The priestly vow of chastity often was honored in the breach. The friars' open attitude of contempt toward the people was the most inexcusable. By the late 19th century, their attitude was one of blatant racism. Frailocracy Duties of the friars: Ecclesiastical or priestly duties Supervisor of local elections Inspector of schools Arbiter of morals Censor of books and comedias Superintendent of public works Chairman of the board of census, taxation and health Responsible for certifying personal identification card Reported on the character and behavior of individual villagers Supervision of the selection of local police and town officers Guardian of peace and order and public morals Frailocracy Filipino reformists, particularly Rizal, denounced the friars as the enemies of liberal reforms and modern progress in the Philippines. 8. Forced labor Forced labor Known as the “polo”, it was the compulsory labor imposed by the Spanish colonial authorities on Filipino and Chinese mestizo males in the construction of churches, schools, hospitals, building and repair of roads and bridges, building of ships and other public works. The polista or worker had to work for 40 days a year. But due to widespread resistance, it was reduced to 15 days in 1884. To be excluded from the polo, one must pay the exemption fee called falla, which only the well-to-do Filipinos could afford. Filipinos hate the forced labor because of abuses associated with it and the many negative effects the forced labor generated: – Upsetting of village economy as labor drafts coincided with planting/harvesting seasons – Forced separation from the family and relocation to different places; and – Decimation of the male population 9. Heavy taxation Heavy taxation
Taxation was the
income-generating mechanism introduced by the Spanish colonial government in the Philippines. The tribute may be paid in cash or kind. Non-payment of taxes meant torture or imprisonment Special privileges of tax exemptions were granted to the descendants of the datus who helped in the pacification campaign such as Raha Lakandula and Raja Tupas. 10. Exploitation of the Filipinos under the Hacienda system Hacienda system In latter part of Spanish period, religious corporations acquired vast tracks of agricultural lands and enriched their coffers. Religious orders secured their economic positions through extensive landholdings (concentrated in Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog), which generally had been donated to them for the support of their churches, schools, and other establishments. Hacienda system Spanish friars became the richest landlords.
The rural folks, who had been
living in these haciendas and cultivating them generation after generation became the tenants who were leasing the lands from the friar-landlords. Hacienda system The Rizal family and their relatives were tenants of the Dominican estate in Calamba. But when they initiated reforms, the Dominican friars retaliated by raising rentals of lands. According to Rizal, the friar ownership of the productive lands contributed to the economic stagnation of the Philippines during the Spanish period. Hacienda system From Rizal’s essay, “Sobre la Indolencia de los Filipinos”: “The fact that the best plantations, the best tracts of lands in some provinces… are in the hands of the religious corporations…is one of the reasons why many towns do not progress in spite of the efforts of their inhabitants.” These friar haciendas eventually became hotbeds of agrarian revolts due to unfair agrarian practices of the friar-landlords. 11. Abuses of the civil guards The Guardia Civil Another hated symbol of Spanish tyranny was the Guardia Civil (Constabulary), which was created for the purpose of maintaining internal peace and order in the Philippines. The guardia civil became infamous for their rampant abuses, such as maltreating innocent people, looting their carabaos and other valuable belongings, and raping helpless women. The Guardia Civil Rizal directed his hatred to the guardia civil in his Noli through Elias, exposing them as a bunch of ruthless ruffians good only for “disturbing the peace” and “persecuting honest men.” Rizal proposed reforms in the Constabulary: “So much power placed in the hands of ignorant man without moral training is a weapon in the hands of a madman let loose in an unarmed crowd.” The state of Philippine educational system Serious problems in education Overemphasis on religious matters Religion was the main subject; Fear of God and obedience to the friars were emphasized Serious problems in education Limited curriculum Sciences were not taught in schools. Thus, limiting the extent of knowledge of the students Obsolete teaching methods Learning was by rote, students memorizing contents of the book which they did not understand. Serious problems in education Poor facilities and lack of teaching materials Lack of school buildings, books, and other materials Neglect of primary education Non-implementation of Education Decree Absence of systematic government supervision of schools Serious problems in education Absence of academic freedom Books read were censored; Rampant student unrests proving the defective educational system; Students were denied freedom to assert their rights and voiced out their complaints. Serious problems in education Prejudice against Filipinos in higher learning Schools of higher education were not open to natives until the later decades of Spanish period. Filipinos were constantly reminded that they belong to the inferior race and were fit only for manual labor. Filipino students were subjected to humiliation and discrimination. Thus, resulting to lack of personal confidence and the development of inferiority complex. Serious problems in education Friar-control over education The friars thwarted whatever noble intention Spain had for improving the educational system. They opposed the implementation of the Moret Decree which intended to secularize higher education in the colony. Opposition of the friars against the teaching of Spanish language Although the Spanish language was introduced, it was not used as the lingua franca of the colony because friars considered uneducated Filipino who knew Spanish a future filibustero. Spaniards refused to teach and promote their language for fear that a Filipino who knew the Castilian language would become better educated. The Filipinos must be kept in the dark so that they would remain isolated from the intellectual ferment of the times. The Philippine educational system Under such conditions, some Filipinos like Rizal strongly felt the need to continue their education abroad. While social, political and intellectual discontent became prevalent in the Philippines, Spain, on the other hand, could not initiate the much needed reforms in the colony.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 10 of 55
1597-1599
Explorations by Early Navigators, Descriptions of the Islands and Their Peoples, Their History and Records of the Catholic Missions, as Related in Contemporaneous Books and Manuscripts, Showing the Political, Economic, Commercial and Religious Conditions of Those Islands from Their Earliest Relations with European Nations to the Close of the Nineteenth Century