The Life and Works of

Jose Rizal
Rizal in the Context of
19th Century Philippines
appraise the link between the
individual and society;

analyze the various social,

political, economic, and cultural
changes that occurred in the
nineteenth century; and Session's
understand Jose Rizal in the
context of his times. Objectives
 Rizal in the Context of
19th Century Philippines

Economic
Context
A. End of the Galleon Trade

Before the era of colonization, the

Philippines had already engaged in trading

with our neighboring countries like China,

Japan, Thailand, India, Borneo and the

Moluccas Island. In the year 1565 the

Spanish Government closed the ports of

Manila to start a new route called as the

Manila-Acapulco Trade or known as the

Galleon trade (Mañebog et al., 2018).

 B. Opening of the Suez Canal
The Suez Canal is an artificial water way

that connects the Red Sea and the

Mediterranean Sea that is found in the

country of Egypt. The Suez Canal was

started in 1859 and officially opened in

November 17, 1869 with the leadership of a

French National Ferdinand De Lesseps.

(Mañebog et al., 2018).

C. Rise of the Export of Crop

Economy and Monopolies

Years after the end of the Galleon Trade,

between 1820 and 1870, the Philippines was

well developing an export crop economy.

Products like
like Manila hemp and coffee were Exported to foreign

markets while European imported goods find their way to the

Philippine markets. These economic activities provided

opportunities to Chinese migrants to move in the hemp producing

provinces of southeastern Luzon and eastern Visayas,

sugar producing areas of Western Visayas and tobacco

provinces of Northern Luzon.(Mañebog, 2018).

 Monopolized Products

A. Opium Monopoly
The lucrative nature of opium contracting

suggests a clear from record that opium contracting

was one of the major sources of wealth for those

Chinese who already had other business interests

and had amassed or could acquire funds for this

kind of investment (Wickrberg, 1962).

B. Tobacco Monopoly

The Tobacco monopoly started on March 1,

1782, Governor General Jose Basco placed the

Philippine tobacco industry under government

control. Under this decree, it ordered the

provinces of Cagayan Valley, Ilocos Norte,

Ilocos Sur, La Union, Isabela, Abra, Nueva Ecija,

and Marinduque for the production of tobacco.

(Mañebog et al., 2018)

 Rizal in the Context of
19th Century Philippines

The Social

Background

A. Education in the 19th Century

B. Rise of Chinese Mestizo
C. The Rise of the Inquilinos
Hierarchy in the Inquilino System
 Rizal in the Context of
19th Century Philippines

Political

Landscape

A. Liberalism
Liberalism is a worldview founded on ideas of

freedom and equality. It includes a wide range of

political philosophies that consider individual

liberty to be the most significant political goal, and

underscore individual rights and equality of

opportunity. Liberals normally believe that

government is necessary to protect individuals from

being abused by others though they are also aware

that government itself can pose a threat to liberty

(Mañebog et al., 2018).

B. Impact of the Bourbon Reforms

In particular, the crown pursued state

supremacy over the Catholic Church,

resulting in the suppression of the society of

Jesus in 1767 as well as an attempt to abolish

ecclesiastical privilege (Ariola, 2018).

C. The Cadiz Constitution

On March 18-19, 1812 A group of 300

deputies from Spanish America and the

Philippines promulgated a liberal constitution

called as the Cadiz Constitution in the

Mediterranean port of Cadiz having Pedro

Perez De Tagle and Jose Manuel Coretto as

the first delegates from the Philippines.

Reflection Paper

1. Watch Eddie Romero’s 1976 film “Ganito Kami Noon,

Paano Kayo Ngayon”. Then, make a one (1) page

reflection paper about the film.

2. Here is the link of the film:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyBRhxAPiR0\