PHILIPPINE INSTITUTION 21

CHAPTER 1: HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

TOPIC 1
Philippines in the Spanish Era
Realization of the Past and Moving to Change
The Philippines before Rizal

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: At the end of the chapter, you will be able to:

1. Realize and relate the social conditions in the past and the present time; and
2. Appreciate the Philippine heritage through an analysis on the lives of the ancient
Filipinos.
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ENGAGE!
ENGAGE! Think like you have travelled in a time machine. As you walk in the
Philippine Spanish time, imagine the people, their politics, culture at
that time.

Based on your knowledge, write two events/ situation from the Spanish time which you
think made a great impact in the Philippine society. Write your thoughts on how it affected the
present time.

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 EXPLORE!
EXPLORE!
Task 1: List 10 Tagalog words which were derived from the Spanish language. Write the
meaning in Spanish and the meaning in Tagalog.

Filipino Words Spanish Words

___________________ - ___________________
___________________ - ___________________
___________________ - ___________________
___________________ - ___________________

EXPLAIN!
EXPLAIN!

Topic 1: Philippines in the Spanish Colonization Era (Social conditions)

The situations are considered the background of understanding how the country and
Filipino people suffered and experienced the difficulties of life. During the colonization period,
the time when Rizal was born, a lot of difficult conditions and practices from the Spanish
government, authorities and Catholic religion were imposed to Filipinos without considering
human emotions and their well-being.

The basis of prowess in the society before was color and wealth. However, no matter how
wealthy a person if he was not a Spanish or white in color means he did not belong to the
superior order. It is not skeptical that outside of the said color means that one’s future is already
without assurance of success in any endeavor in life.

For 333 years of colonization, the created negative, unpleasant and annoying image and
practices, irregularities, unfairness, inequalities and injustice are the best images imbibed to
people in which until this time similar description to Filipinos are being seen as part of their
daily living.

Let us look at the following actuations and situations in the society by the Spanish to
“Indios” who are Filipinos. The following situations are based or adopted on Gregorio Zaide’s
stories:

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Instability of Spanish Politics

After which the end of Napoleonic invasion to Spain, the country was plagued by several
changes in the government system. These changes in the Spanish government had great impacts
in the Philippines because the sudden changes of its officials would mean another adjustment to
changes in the country. Developments depended on the officials assigned by the Spanish
government to the Philippines as a colony. That if an official had started a good plan but when
suddenly replaced, and then his plans were not pushed through instead, there were new plans
based on the likings of the new set of officers to manage the colony.

Corrupt Officials

Several officials being assigned by the Spanish government to serve in the Philippines
were not really knowledgeable on their assigned post and did not even really have the “know
how” in performing their duties. In worst situations, there were officers who were ignorant to the
law. Some were said to be good in fighting the moros but did not possess the leadership
capabilities. Some just accepted it because they wanted to have a better life. Several leaders
became rich instantly because of corrupt practices like allowing some gambling and the like in
any form to happen freely for so long as they pay some portion to the officers involved.

Some officers like Rafael de Izquierdo (1871-1873) was a boastful and ruthless governor
general who had immediately commanded the execution through garrote to the three Filipino
priests namely Gomez, Burgos and Zamora without trial or hearing. After him was Admiral Jose
Mal Campo, a good moro fighter but a weak administrator. Another, Valeriano Weyler, was also
a corrupt and cruel officer. He instantly became rich as millionaires by receiving huge bribes and
gift of diamonds for his wife from wealthy Chinese who evaded the law. He was known to
Filipinos as “Tyrant” because of his brutal acts particularly the ordering of the persecution of
tenants in Calamba which included the family of Rizal. Camilo Polovieja was also a ruthless
governor general who approved the execution of Rizal without any strong evidence.

Other officials who were of similar rude and brutal attitudes and practices were those that
came from other colonies of Spain like Cuba, Mexico and Guatemala after it lost these colonies.
Some of these people were misplaced, penniless, sycophants who came to the Philippines as
executives, judges, army officers and government employees. They were either relatives or
friends of civil officials and friars.

Removal of Philippine Representatives from Cortes

In order to have a contact to the different colonies of Spain, a representative to the Cortes
was assigned in order to report happenings and developments of every colony. The first
representative was Ventura de los Reyes who successfully took active part in framing the
Constitution in 1812. Unfortunately, the representation of the overseas colonies including the
Philippines was abolished. In this case, there was no way that irregularities be discovered or
reported to Spain head authority. Several Filipinos through Graciano Lopez Jaena asked for
reconsideration to having a representation but the Spanish government ignored the plea. This
also provided more bitter emotions since other colonies like Cuba and Puerto Rico had their
representatives but only the Philippines was dropped from the list colonies.

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Human Rights Denial and Inequalities to Law

There is no doubt that this happened. The Spanish enjoyed freedom of expression, press,
association, and other rights in which Spaniards carefully watch that no monarch would abolish
such law granting them.
The Spanish missionaries introduced the principle of Christianity that all men are equal in
God’s eyes irrespective of race or color. In later part these teachings were not the real thing but
rather the other part of reality. The Filipinos were enlightened so they were baptized and
accepted it as Christians for the concept of brotherhood was also used to introduce the Catholic
religion. During the Spanish rule, they regarded the brown or dark Filipinos as inferior being not
to be defended as brother but rather as slaves to be subjected to exploitation.

Filipinos were abused, brutalized, persecuted, and slandered by Spanish masters. They
were not able to appeal for justice because the known justice if for Spanish was being white in
complexion. The Spanish Penal Code provides stringent punishment and heavier penalties to the
native Filipinos and mestizos while lighter to the white Spanish. Certain provision on the code
states that whoever that is not born to be white in color is a criminal. In this statement it is clear
that it favors Spanish not Filipinos.

Injustices and Racial Discrimination

Judges during those times were notoriously corrupt. Justice had a monetary value. Some
of them were not even lawyers or had a knowledge on law but rather ignorant to law. The Justice
system was not systematic and very slow in process. Filipinos were always losers even in a slight
case because they cannot afford the expensive payment for litigation.
Several discriminations were done to Filipinos. Education was just for the rich and
Spanish. The Filipinos who could avail entered but experienced several insults and slander from
their teachers or professors. Justice were just for white and rich. Denied human rights, no
equality. Since the adoption of the Spanish Constitution of 1812 and other constitution in
succeeding years; the Spanish Penal Code enforced in the Philippines imposed heavier penalties
on brown-skinned Filipinos, mestizos but lighter penalties on white- complexioned Spaniards
which signified that every person not born white is in fact a latent criminal. The Spaniards
enjoyed freedom of speech, press, association and other human rights but not for the dark
skinned Filipinos, who were treated inferior, abused, brutalized, persecuted and slandered by
their Spanish masters.

Frailocracy

After the Spanish ruled the Philippines, all important aspects of life were under the
control of the friars or priest which was called Frailocracia government. Education and life were
under the control of the Spanish friars. Every recommendation they made regardless if it was
right or not was almost always granted by the governor general much that one of their jobs was
the supervision of elections. The Agustinian and Dominican priests had used their powerful
influences to confiscate the lands of Filipinos like in Calamba and made the owners as tenants of
their own lands.

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Force Labor

Filipinos were forced to work in the different parts of the country to build churches,
hospitals, roads and other infrastructures. The forced labor known as polo allowed exemptions so
long as one pays a corresponding amount called falla. Male Filipinos were obliged to render
service from age 16-60 for 40 days a year. Later, there was a change in a promulgation of the
new regulations by the council of state which changed the labor age from 16-18 and from 40
days to 15 days in a year. This provision is applied not only to natives but also to Spanish people
but this was not implemented in the Philippines. In this case, only Filipinos were demanded to
work while some Spanish paid the falla to avoid it.

A lot more pain particularly when the government promised to give two pesetas
(50centavos) as payment of one’s labor but was not given or some received only half of it and
others had nothing. Several Filipinos suffered because their works were affected and leave their
families just to perform their yearly force labor in any part of the country.

Guardia Civil (Civil Guards)

This is one of the most hated symbols of Spanish occupation. This was created in a
certain decree to promote peace and stability of order in the country but it was abused by
authorities in power. The earlier batches of Gurdia Sibil were known to be good and they had
done their works in upright principle. The succeeding compositions were already too different
because they were the law breakers. They were even known for rape, extortion of money and
other forms of irregularity.
King of Spain

The Colonial Government

The Executive Branch The Judicial Branch

(Governor General) (Royal Audencia, Lower Courts,
Governor-General)

Alcaldia Corregimiento Ayuntamiento

(Alcalde Mayor) (Corregidor) (Cabildo)

Pueblos or Towns Cabildo

(Gobernadorcillos) City Council

- Alcalde
Barrios - Regidores
(Cabeza de Barangay) - Aguacil Mayor
- Escribaldo
Figure 1. The Spanish Colonial Government Structure (Patterned fro
m the presentation of Marcy Trinidad [2015] on Spanish Colonial Government) Barrios
Source: Rizal in Perspective by Ely Jose F. As-il, Ed.D. (Cabeza de
Barangay)

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Reminder:

Please write your answers on

another file but do not upload yet.
Further Instructions will be given
in the Google Classroom Activity/
Assignments.

Thank you.

ERDL

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CHAPTER 1: HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Topic 2
 Philippines in the Spanish Era
Realization of the Past and Moving to Change
The Philippines before Rizal

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: At the end of the chapter, you will be able to:

1. Realize and relate the social conditions in the past and the present time; and
2. Appreciate the Philippine heritage through an analysis on the lives of the ancient
Filipinos.

EXPLAIN! As we you are going to read Topic 2, understand our past and
explain why Dr. Rizal used literary works to ignite the minds of
the people in his time to seek and love freedom.

Now, in the present time, what can you do to preserve this

freedom that our heroes fought for?

How can your contribution extend to the future of our nation?

Topic 2: Realization of the Past and Moving to Change

It is believed that past is past but then without it, there would be no bases for the present
and the future happenings. It is essential then that lessons of the past should also reflect better
changes. The following should be realized:

1. It is believed and observed that what is happening today in our government and
also to its citizens are reflections of the past historical experiences passed down
from generation to generation. Now that we are already learning, it is then with
great courage to realize every situation to widen the thinking and the rationality of
mentality as Filipinos to develop the sense of national pride and patriotism.

2. It was inculcated to Filipinos the erroneous changes in terms of total existence,

attitude, culture, traditions, mannerisms and others. Until now, these changes that
influenced our lives are difficult to unlearn. It is indeed a challenge to anyone to
make possible changes by executing changes in one’s life for the better.

3. Some psychological and sociological impacts to Filipino people are the results
of irregularities, unlawful acts, obvious harassment made by the Spaniards which
hamper better thinking. The effects could be devastating but it should be changed
to courage and to develop positive views for better changes.

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4. Force labor was seen to be one of the most difficult symbols of Spanish
tyranny. It is believed that until today several people are enslaved because of their
inability to protect themselves and because some people are used to having slaves.
We should change our Hispanic style and remember that everyone is free. No
matter what status one has: a master, parent or boss, believe in freedom and
equality for a change since this is the basic law of the entire human creation.

5. Become better citizens by acclaiming and affirming love and do away with
discrimination regardless of ethnic origin, color, physical outlook and others. Let
us help our countrymen even in simple ways. Develop sense of patriotism,
nationalism and promote Philippine national pride corresponding to global
solidarity.

Topic 2 –Task 3

In 2-3 sentences only, briefly explain the following:

1. Why did Dr. Rizal used literary works to ignite the minds of the people
in his time to seek and love freedom?

2. In the present time, what can you do to preserve this freedom that our
heroes fought for?

You may answer after reading Topics 1-3.

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CHAPTER 1: HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Topic 3
 Philippines in the Spanish Era
 Realization of the Past and Moving to Change
The Philippines before Rizal

Explore this link and make a good assessment on its importance on BEING a Filipino at
Explore! our present time: / you can use other links on ANTON POSTMA
http://www.sealang.net/oldmalay/archives/postma1992laguna.pdf

Topic 3: The Philippines before

Rizal

Some Salient Documents (Anton

Postma)

Literacy dictates the

advancement and social condition
of a society and a nation. Contrary
to the common misconception,
when the Spaniards arrived in the
islands, they found more than just
a loose collection of backward and
belligerent tribes. They found a
civilization that was very different
from their own. The ability to read
and write is the mark of any
civilization and according to many
early Spanish accounts, the
Tagalogs had already been
writing with the Babayan for at The Laguna Copperplate Inscription (Anton Postma)
least a century. This script was
just beginning to spread
throughout the islands at that
time.

The culture that the Spaniards found in the Philippines was unique in that the art of reading and
writing was in the hands of everybody. This document is another piece of evidence to show that
Filipinos have early writings and have a sense of accountability and most of all

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 learned and not ignorant. This copperplate inscription, as translated by Anton Postma, is a
document about a Namwaran’s release from his debts including his family. Places indicated in
this document are still traceable to existing places to this time.

Spain might have been spared of Doctor Rizal’s terrible but

true indictment that She retarded Philippine progress, kept the Islands
miserably ruled for 333 years and in the last days of the nineteenth
century was still permitting medieval malpractices. Rizal did not
believe that his country was able to stand alone as a separate
government. He therefore desired to preserve the Spanish sovereignty
in the Philippines, but he desired also to bring about reforms and
conditions conducive to advancement (Craig, 2005).

Spanish accounts. When Legazpi came to Manila in 1571, he observed that the inhabitants
knew how to read and write. This was documented by Pedro Chirino, a Jesuit historian, who
wrote in his 1604 Relacion de las Islas Filipinas, “All these islanders are much given to reading
and writing, and there is hardly a man, much less a woman, who does not read and write.”
Chirino was not alone in his observation. Many other historians had similar conclusions,
including Dr. Antonio Morga, Senior Judge Advocate of the High Court of Justice and
commander of the ill-fated galleon-turned-warship San Diego that was sunk by the Dutch
Admiral Van Noort. Morga wrote in his 1609 Succesos de las Islas Filipinas, “Almost all the
natives, both men and women, write in this language. There are very few who do not write it
excellently and correctly.” The Spaniards found the people in Manila and other places writing on
bamboo and specially prepared palm leaves using knives and styli. They were using the ancient
Tagalog script which had 17 basic symbols. It was a simple and elegant system that was called
Babayan. In 1914, the newer term Alibata was introduced by Dean Paul Versoza of the
University of Manila in place of Babayan.

Accounts of the use of writing in the Philippines

“This language of ours is
like any other, it once had
an alphabet and its own
letters that vanished as
though a tempest had set
upon a boat on a lake in a
time now long gone”
"To My Fellow
Children”
Attributed to Jose Rizal, 1869
English translation by P. Morrow
indicate that they were not used to record history and tradition
but simply for personal communication and writing poetry. To
take advantage of the native's literacy, religious authorities
published several books containing Baybayin text. The first of
these was the Doctrina Christiana, en Lengua Española y
Tagala printed in 1593. The Tagalog text was based mainly
on a manuscript written by Fr. Juan de Placencia. Friars
Domingo de Nieva and Juan de San Pedro Martyr supervised
the preparation and printing of the book, which was carried
out by a Chinese artisan.

Sinister Shadows of Spain. The Filipino people

agonized beneath the yoke of Spanish misrule, for they were
unfortunate victims of the evils of an unjust colonialism.
Among these evils were as follows: (1) Instability of colonial administration (2) corrupt
officialdom, (3) no Philippine representation in the Spanish Cortes, (4) human rights denied to
Filipinos, (5) no equality before the law (6) maladministration of justice, (7) racial
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discrimination, (8) frailocracy, (9) forced labor (10) haciendas owned by the friars, and (11)
Cruel Guardia Civil.

The instability of Spanish politics adversely affected the Philippine affairs because it
brought about frequent periodic shifts in colonial policies and fast turnover of offices which lead
to corrupted officials, who mostly came penniless to the Philippines and became rich by
marrying the heiresses of rich Filipino families, which hampered the political and economic
development of the Philippines.

To win the support of overseas colonies, Spain granted a colony representative to the
“Spanish Parliament”. The Philippines experienced her first period of representation in the
Cortes from 1810-1813 through Ventura de los Reyes, who took active part in the framing of the
Constitution of 1812 including the abolition of galleon trade. The second (1820-23) and third
(1834-1837) representation were less fruitful until the colony representation was abolished in
1837 and was never restored even after much pleading from Filipino intellectuals. Since then, the
Philippine conditions worsened because there was no means for the Filipino people to expose the
anomalies perpetrated by the colonial officials.

ELABORATE!
ELABORATE!

Task 2: Choose two social conditions in the Spanish Era that exist in our present time.
Briefly explain how they exist today and give an example.

1. __________________________
___________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
2. __________________________
___________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

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 EVALUATE! TASK 3

On your own file:

1. Based on your understanding on the translation of the Laguna Copperplate Inscriptions,

enumerate the characteristics of the ancient Filipinos at the time it was written.

2. What is the impact/ effect of the LCI to you? Does it help you or affect you at all? Briefly
explain pls.

3. Enumerate positive or negative effect of the LCI to the present Filipino youth.

NOTE:

 Write your answers on MS WORD File and save it.

 I will ask you to upload them ONE TIME only for all
the tasks.
 If you do not have a computer, you may write your
answers on your phone NOTE FOLDER/ or write on a
notebook or paper.

 I WILL GIVE YOU ENOUGH TIME TO ANSWER

AS WELL AS UPLOAD THEM SO LATE PAPER
WORKS/ TASKS will still be accepted but might not
be given a score

This is millennial learning so learn to be responsible

and be guided accordingly.

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