Juan Miguel W.

Alisaje

2.3.2.2 EXPLAIN/ ELABORATE: Delving deeper

a. political developments

The year 1872 is taken as the starting point because the events of that year aroused the native political
consciousness as it had never been aroused. The politics of the country is then followed to the end of the
Spanish domination, through the two revolutions against Spain, from the beginning of the Philippine Republic
to the end of the Filipino- Ameican War, and from the establishment of American sovereignty up to 1920, the
year which marks the close of a distinct period in the Philippines political development.

b. cultural developments

After centuries of colonization, 19th century Philippines was – and continues to be- an amalgam of
indigenous, Western and Chinese cultures.The major cultural agencies of government are the Cultural Center of
the Philippines, the National Historical Institute, the National Museum, The National Library, the Records
Management and Archives Office, and the Commission on the Filipino Language. The Heads of these cultural
agencies are all ex-officio members of the NCCA Board and all except the Commission on the Filipino
Language are together under the National Commission on Culture and Arts.

c. economic developments

The country was opened to foreign trade which resulted in the rapid rise of foreign firms in Manila. This
stimulated agricultural production and export of sugar, rice hemp and tobacco. The number of families which
prospered from foreign commerce and trade were able to send their sons for an education in Europe. Filipinos
who were educated abroad were able to absorb the intellectual development in Europe.

d. religious developments
Beginning in the nineteenth century, it became standard practice to establish cemeteries separately from
churches (Dakudao 1992:133). Cholera epidemics overcrowded the cemeteries necessitating their movement
away from the center of cities (Dakudao 1992:140). Government officials considered the move necessary to
protect the health of their citizens. Despite the need and government assurances, many Christian Filipinos
feared the move would leave the dead unprotected from birds and other animals (Dakudao 1992:142). These
Filipinos truly believed in the values and traditions of the Catholic Church. Their beliefs now operated within
the traditions of the Catholic Church which dictated that cemeteries must be on consecrated ground to ensure
the souls of the individuals buried there would reach heaven. Churches directly adjacent to cemeteries provided
extra assurance of the sanctity of cemetery grounds.

Spanish rule brought Catholicism to the area, with missionaries establishing churches, schools, hospitals,
universities and largely displacing the previously entrenched Hindu, Islamic and Buddhist faiths. Free education
was introduced in 1863, but did not take off until much later.

Sources:

Philippines - The 19th century. (n.d.). Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved September 5, 2021, from https://

www.britannica.com/place/Philippines/The-19th-century

https://www.scribd.com/doc/135167190/John-N-Schumacher-S-J-Rizal-in-the-Context-of-Nineteenth-Century-

Philippines#download