GEC 9-LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS OF RIZAL

LEARNING MODULE II

1. TITLE OF THE MODULE- CHAPTER 2: THE PHILIPPINES IN THE NINETEENTH

CENTURY AS RIZAL’S CONTEXT.

2. INTRODUCTION

Nineteenth century was the era of challenges and responses. It is a period of

major changes that affect man and society. During this period, such concepts of
liberalism, industrialism, democracy, social realization, and nationalism gained control
and sparked and radical changes in science, technology, economics, socio-cultural, and
political condition.

Throughout the 19th century, Spain was in state of political instability, there was
an ideological battle between the liberals and the conservatives. This Instability of the
Spanish government made it impossible to develop consistent policy in the colonies.
Corruption in the government resulted to its inability to provide for public works, schools,
peace and order and other basic needs. The creation of Guardia Civil in 1868 failed to
get rid of tulisanes, instead, they became an oppressive force in the provinces as Rizal
showed in his novels.

The transition of the country’s traditional societal structure to colonial hierarchy

brought about the enlightenment of the local inhabitants as to their common source of
problem and suffering. Spanish Government unknowingly planted the seeds of new
concepts that created an impact to the local inhabitants.

3. LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this lesson, the students should be able to:

• Explain the different historical events that occurred during Rizal’s time.
• Analyze the various social, political, economic and cultural changes that
occurred in the nineteenth century
• Understand and assess Jose Rizal in the context of his times.

4. LEARNING CONTENT

The 19th century, a period of massive changes in Europe, Spain, and in the
Philippines. During this era, the glory and power of Spain had warned both in her
colonies and in the world.

One cannot fully understand Rizal’s thought without understanding the social and
political context of the 19th century. Social scientists marked the 19th century as the
birth of modern life as well as the birth of many nation-states around the world. The birth
of modernity was precipitated by three great revolutions around the world: the Industrial
revolution in England, the French Revolution in France and the American Revolution.

Industrial Revolution

The industrial revolution is basically an economic revolution which started with

the invention of steam engine and resulted to the use of machinery in the manufacturing
sector in the cities of Europe. It has changed the economy of Europe from feudalism—
an economic system which relied on land and agriculture--to capitalism which relied on
machinery and wage labor. The merchants of Europe who became rich through trade
became the early capitalists of this emerging economy. Farmers from rural areas
migrated to the cities and became industrial workers while their wives remained as
housekeepers at home in what Karl Marx’s characterized as the first instance of the
domestication of women.

The Industrial Revolution that started in Europe had repercussions to the

Philippine economy. A radical transformation of the economy took place between the
middle of the eighteenth century and the middle of the nineteenth; something that might
almost be called an agricultural revolution, with a concomitant development of
agricultural industries and domestic as well as foreign trade (De la Costa 1965: 159).
The economic opportunities created by the Industrial Revolution had encouraged Spain
in 1834 to open the Philippine economy to world commerce. As a result, new cities and
ports were built. Foreign firms increased rapidly. Foreigners were allowed to engage in
manufacturing and agriculture. Merchant banks and financial institutions were also
established.

The British and Americans improved agricultural machinery for sugar milling and
rice hulling and introduced new methods of farming. The presence of these foreign
traders stimulated agricultural production, particularly sugar, rice, hemp, and—once the
government monopoly was removed in 1882—tobacco. Indeed, the abolition of
restrictions on foreign trade has produced a balanced and dynamic economy of the
Philippines during the 19th century (Maguigad & Muhi 2001: 46; Schumacher 1997: 17).

Furthermore, the fast tempo of economic progress in the Philippines during the
19th century facilitated by Industrial Revolution resulted to the rise to a new breed of
rich and influential Filipino middle class. Non-existent in previous centuries, this class,
composed of Spanish and Chinese mestizos rose to a position of power in the Filipino
community and eventually became leaders in finance and education (Agoncillo 1990:
129-130). This class included the ilustrados who belonged to the landed gentry and who
were highly respected in their respective pueblos or towns, though regarded as
filibusteros or rebels by the friars.

The relative prosperity of the period has enabled them to send their sons to
Spain and Europe for higher studies. Most of them later became members of
freemasonry and active in the Propaganda Movement. Some of them sensed the failure
of reformism and turned to radicalism, and looked up to Rizal as their leader (PES
1993:239)

Lastly, safer, faster and more comfortable means of transportation such as

railways and steamships were constructed. The construction of steel bridges and the
opening of Suez Canal opened shorter routes to commerce. Faster means of
communications enable people to have better contacts for business and trade. This
resulted to closer communication between the Philippines and Spain and to the rest of
the world in the 19th century (Romero 1978: 16).

The French Revolution

If the Industrial Revolution changed the economic landscape of Europe and of

the Philippines, another great Revolution changed their political tone of the period—the
French Revolution. The French revolution (1789-1799) started a political revolution in
Europe and in some parts of the world. This revolution is a period of political and social
upheaval and radical change in the history of France during which the French
governmental structure was transformed from absolute monarchy with feudal privileges
for the rich and clergy to a more democratic government form based on the principles of
citizenship and inalienable rights. With the overthrow of monarchial rule, democratic
principles of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity--the battle cry of the French Revolution--
started to spread in Europe and around the world.

Not all democratic principles were spread as a result of the French Revolution.
The anarchy or political disturbance caused by the revolution had reached not only in
neighboring countries of France, it has also reached Spain in the 19th century. Spain
experienced a turbulent century of political disturbances during this era which included
numerous changes in parliaments and constitutions, the Peninsular War, the loss of
Spanish America, and the struggle between liberals and conservatives (De la Costa
1965: 159). Moreover, radical shifts in government structure were introduced by liberals
in the motherland. From 1834 to 1862, for instance, a brief span of only 28 years, Spain
had four constitutions, 28 parliaments, and 529 ministers with portfolio (Zaide 1999:
203). All these political changes in Spain had their repercussions in the Philippines,
cracking the fabric of the old colonial system and introducing through cracks perilous
possibilities of reform, of equality and even emancipation” (De la Costa 1965: 159).

Because of this political turmoil in the motherland, the global power of the “Siglo
de Oro of Spain in the sixteenth century as the mistress of the world with extensive
territories had waned abroad in the nineteenth century. Her colonies had gained
momentum for independence owing to the cracks in political leadership in the
motherland. In fact, Cuba, a colony of Spain, was waging a revolution against Spain
when Rizal volunteered to discontinue his exile in Dapitan to work as volunteer doctor
there in order for him to observe the revolution.
 The divided power of Spain was triggered by successive change of regimes due
to the democratic aspiration created by the French Revolution. This aspiration had
inspired colonies under Spain and Portugal to revolt in order to gain independence from
their colonial masters in the 19th century.

The American Revolution

Finally, the American Revolution, though not directly affecting the local economy
and politics of the Philippines in the nineteenth century, had important repercussions to
democratic aspirations of the Filipino reformist led by Rizal during this period. The
American Revolution refers to the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th
century in which the 13 colonies of North America overthrew the rule of the British
Empire and rejected the British monarchy to make the United States of American a
sovereign nation. In this period the colonies first rejected the authority British Parliament
to govern without representation, and formed self-governing independent states. The
American revolution had given the world in the 19th century the idea that colonized
people can gain their independence from their colonizers.

The Americans were able to overthrow their British colonial masters to gain
independence and the status of one free nation-state. This significant event had
reverberated in Europe and around the world and inspired others to follow. Indirectly,
the American Revolution had in a way inspired
Filipino reformists like Rizal to aspire for freedom and independence. When the
Philippines was opened by Spain to world trade in the 19th century, liberal ideas from
America borne by ships and men from foreign ports began to reach the country and
influenced the ilustrados. These ideas, contained in books and newspapers, were
ideologies of the American and French Revolutions and the thoughts of Montesquieu,
Rousseau, Voltaire, Locke, Jefferson, and other political philosophers (Zaide 1999: 214)

Rizal’s time was deemed to be the height of the maladministration of Spain and
its decay that obscured the Philippine skies. The Filipino people suffered intensely
beneath the bondage of Spanish misrule for they were ill-fated victims of the evil,
injustices, prejudices and sudden collapse of colonial power.

The abuses and injustices made by the Spanish officials were as follows…
• Instability of Colonial Administration
• Corrupt Spanish Officials
• No Philippine Representation to the Spanish Cortes
• Human Rights Denied to the Filipinos
• No Equality before the law
• Mal-administration of Justice
• Racial Discrimination
• Frailocracy and Secularization Filipino Priests
• Force Labor and Excessive taxes
• Haciendas owned by Friars and Spanish Officials

The Rise Of Filipino Nationalism

The malpractices of Spanish officials gave rise to Filipino nationalism and

nationalism is not a product of a sudden outburst of sentiment. It is brought about by
certain factors. that gradually develop. It is like a seed nourished by common ideals and
aspiration for national unity. Here are the following factors:

1. Racial Prejudice. The Spaniards commonly regarded the Filipino natives as

belonging to the “inferior race” and arrogantly called them “indios”. The actions and
discrimination made by Spanish people created an impact that the Filipinos started to
revolt.

2. Influx of Liberal Ideas. In view of the fact that the opening of Philippines to world
trade, Philippines was exposed to international commerce, liberal ideas filtered in. The
thoughts of Montesque, Rousseau, Voltaire, Jefferson, and Locke were made known
through books and periodicals brought into the country by men from foreign ports
(SUEZ CANAL)

3. Secularization Of The Church. The Council of Trent (1545-63) affirmed that secular
priest be appointed to administer the parishes in the colony.
In 1567, Pope Pius V issued the Exponi Nobis, which allowed the regular clergy to
serve as parish priest without diocesan authorization and be exempted from bishop’s
authority.

The return of the Jesuits in 1859 and the DE secularization policy affected the
native seculars; it transformed into Filipinization issue since the secular priests were
mostly Filipinos.

In 1870, Archbishop Gregorio Meliton Martinez wrote to the Spanish Regent

advocating secularization and mentioned that discrimination against Filipino priests
would encourage anti-Spanish sentiments. Archbishop Basilio Santa Justa accepted the
resignation of regular priests and appointed native secular priests to the parishes.

On November 9, 1774, a royal decree ordering the secularization of parishes

became the basis for the appointment of native secular clergy.
This was suspended in 1776 due to opposition of the friars and the unpreparedness of
the native priests.

3.1 Secularization Movement

Two kinds of priests that served the Catholic Church in the Philippines
Regular Priests and Secular Priests
-- Regular priests belonged to religious orders. Their main task was to spread
Christianity.
-- Secular priests were trained to run the parishes and were under the supervision of the
bishops.

Conflict began when the bishops insisted on visiting the parishes that were being
run by regular priest. The secularization controversies transformed into Filipinization
issue since the secular priests were mostly Filipinos. The effort to secularize the
parishes in a way heightened the nationalist feeling of the people.

4. The Polo or Forced Labor. In addition to the tribute, the Polo or forced labor is
another Spanish that had created discontent among the indios during the Spanish
times. The word “polo” is actually a corruption of the Tagalog pulong, originally meaning
“meeting of persons and things” or “community labor”. Drafted laborers were either
Filipino or Chinese male mestizos who were obligated to give personal service to
community projects, like construction and repair of infrastructure, church construction,
or cutting logs in forests, for forty days. All able-body males, from 16 to 60 years of old,
except chieftains and their elder sons, were required to render labor for these various
projects in the colony. This was instituted in 1580 and reduced to 15 days per year in
1884 (Constantino 1975: 51).
There were laws that regulate polo. For instance, the polista (the person who renders
forced labor) will be paid a daily wage of ¼ real plus rice. Moreover, the polista was not
supposed to be brought from a distant place nor required to work during planting and
harvesting seasons (Ibid: 52). Despite restrictions, polo resulted to the disastrous
consequences. It resulted to the ruining of communities the men left behind. The
promised wage was not given exactly as promised that led to starvation or even death
to some polistas and their families. Moreover, the polo had affected the village economy
negatively. The labor drafts coincided with the planting and harvesting seasons; forced
separation from the family and relocation to different places, sometimes outside the
Philippines; and reduction of male population as they were compelled at times, to
escape to the mountains instead of working in the labor pool (Agoncillo 1990: 83).

5. Cavite Mutiny. In 1868, a revolution led by the liberals in Spain deposed Queen
Isabella II and gave rise to the Provisional Republic of Spain. With the victory of the
Spanish Revolution, many colonial officials with democratic ideals were sent to Manila,
which included Gov. Gen. Carlos De La Torre in 1869.

De La Torre, a liberal Spaniard who practiced liberal and democratic principles.

He abolished flogging, relaxed media censorship, and began limited secularization of
education.

The republican government was overruled with the restoration of monarchy. Amadeo,
son of King Victor Emannuel II of Italy, accepted the invitation to assume the Spanish
crown in December 1870. With the alteration of the system of government in Spain, the
political atmosphere in the Philippines likewise changed.
 When Rafael De Izquierdo replaced De La Torrein 1871, he totally discarded the liberal
measures. The privileges of arsenal workers and others regarding exemption from
tribute and force labor were also abolished.

Many Filipinos protested, as a matter of fact, aabout 200 Filipino soldiers and dock
workers of Cavite, under the leadership of Sergeant La Madrid, Mutinied and killed their
Spanish Officers.It was suppressed and La Madrid and 41 others were executed in
Bagumbayan (present- Luneta) .

The mutiny was used by the Spanish officials to implicate the liberal critics of the
government. Rumours were gradually spread and led in to the abduction of 3 Priests,
they were Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora. They were
sentenced to death by garrotte on February 17, 1872

Garrote:

Is a weapon, most often

referring to a handheld
ligature of chain, rope,
scarf, wire or fishing line
used to strangle a person

The decline of the Spanish rule in the 19th century and the popularity of Rizal and his
reform agenda were products of an interplay of various economic, social, political and
cultural forces both in the global and local scale. The three great revolutions, namely:
Industrial, French and American as well the birth of the social sciences and liberal ideas
had gradually secularized societies in the 19th century and thereby weakened the
influence of religion in people’s mind, especially the well-educated reformists and
ilustrados. The political turmoil in Spain caused by the rapid change of leadership and
struggle between conservatives and liberals had also weakened the Spanish
administration in the Philippines. Although the influence of the Catholic Church in the
19th century led by the friars had not diminished, the liberal and progressive ideas of
Rizal and the reformists had already awakened the nationalist sentiment of the natives
that soon became the catalyst for political change in the late 19th century.

5. TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES

1. Discuss how the following problems and institutions contributed to the growth of
Filipino nationalism and weakening of the Spanish rule:

A. Opening of the Suez Canal

Because of the opening of Suez Canal, it opened a shorter route to commerce,

the transportation become safer, faster, and more comfortable. The means of
communications, contacts for business, and trades become better, and because of the
opening of Suez Canal the communication between Philippines and Spain become
closer.

B. Abuses and Immoralities of the Friars

- The return of the Jesuits in 1859 and the DE secularization policy affected the
native seculars; it transformed into Filipinization issue since the secular priests were
mostly Filipinos. Archbishop Gregorio Meliton Martinez wrote to the Spanish Regent
advocating secularization and mentioned that discrimination against Filipino priests
would encourage anti-Spanish sentiments. The secularization controversies
transformed into Filipinization issue since the secular priests were mostly Filipinos. The
effort to secularize the parishes in a way heightened the nationalist feeling of the
people.
C. Racial Discrimination

The Spaniards commonly regarded the Filipino natives as belonging to the

“inferior race” and arrogantly called them “indios”. The actions and discrimination made
by Spanish people created an impact that the Filipinos started to revolt. The racial
prejudice against the Filipino existed in every place But Jose Rizal prove them wrong by
surpassing Spanish writers in literary competitions by distinguishing himself in the field
of medicine and physical and natural sciences, aside from being a man of letter, poet,
painter, and sculpture.

6. RECOMMENDED LEARNING MATERIALS AND RESOURCES FOR

SUPPLEMENTARY READING

This lesson can be learned solely through this module. On the other hand, the subject
instructor may use another teaching-learning modality, if necessary. In addition to the
content of the module, the students and subject instructors may find the references
stated below or watch the following videos for further information:
  http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?
doi=10.1.1.840.2161&rep=rep1&type=pdf
 Landas ng Paglaya
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX4_mB4mplY&t=772s

7. FLEXIBLE TEACHING LEARNING MODALITY ADAPTED

This course can be access thru:

A. Online (synchronous) - Actual online classes thru live

• SeDi learning
• Google Meet
• Zoom
B. Remote (asynchronous) - Independent study and work on: self-guided modules,
supplemental videos, readings, lesson plans, research, and check-ins and exchanges
using any of the following: Google Classroom, Messenger, text and call.

8. ASSESSMENT TASK
Pop quiz: Graphic organizer/table mapping the changes in the nineteenth century
Philippines, categorizing social, political, economic, cultural changes.

POLITICAL

SOCIAL

ECONOMICAL

REFERENCES:
Agoncillo, Teodoro A. (1990). History of the Filipino People. Quezon City: Garotech
Publishing.

Ballano Ven. (2009) Rizal and His Times (19th Century)

Romero, Ma. Corona ( 1978). Rizal and the Development of National Consciousness.
Quezon City: JMC Press, Inc.

Schumacher, John. Rizal in the Context of in the Context of 19th Century in the Making
of a Nation: Essays on Nineteenth- Century Filipino Nationalism. Quezon City: Ateneo
De Manila University Press, 1997.

Zaide, Sonia M. (1999). The Philippines, a Unique Nation. Quezon City: All-Nations
Publishing Co., Inc.