ST.

ANTHONY’S COLLEGE
San Jose, Antique

THE 19th CENTURY WORLD OF JOSE RIZAL

To fully comprehend the role of Dr. Jose Rizal played in the shaping of the Filipino
nationalism, there is a need to look into the developments in the 19 th century. This is essential in
understanding his ideology and outlook as an individual. Important developments during the said
century are as follows: (1) growth and development of nationalism; (2) rise and gradual
spread of liberalism and democracy; (3) industrial revolution; (4) the upsurge of western
imperialism; (5) triumph of science and technology; and (6) optimism and confidence in
progress.

A. The Growth of Nationalism

 Nationalism is a sense of loyalty or psychological attachment of members of a nation
share, based on a common language, history, culture, and desire for independence
(Jackson & Jackson, 2000).
 It is a feeling that drives a people together as nation. It is love of country expressed in
devotion to and advocacy of national interest and independence.
 The growth of nationalism can be attributed to two major revolutions of the earlier
century: the American Revolution of 1776-1783; and French Revolution of 1789-1799.
Both revolutions gave birth to the idea that an individual’s loyalty has to be in his nation
not to the king and American Revolution gave birth to the United States of America. On
the other hand, French Revolution led to the overthrowing of the absolute rule of the
Bourbon Dynasty and the abolition of Feudal system.
 The ideology of the French Revolution – liberty, Fraternity, and equality – had
influenced subject people to cast off the yoke of colonialism by means of armed uprising.
Owing to the nationalistic spirit, Italy became a united kingdom under King Victor
Emmanuel II. In the same way, Germany became a united country through the policy of
blood and iron implemented by Otto Von Bismarck.
 Nationalism is one of the radical ideas in the years after 1815, which influenced the
modern world tremendously.
1. Nationalism has evolved from a real or imagined cultural unity, manifesting itself in a
common language, history and territory.
2. Nationalist have usually to seek this cultural unity into political reality so that the
territory of each people coincides with its state boundaries.
3. Nationalists believed that every nation has the right to exist in freedom and develop its
character and spirit
4. While nationalism can foster national unity, progress, and independence, it also has its
negative side. The ideas of national superiority and national mission can lead to
aggressive crusades and counter-crusades. Nationalism can also stress differences
among people.
The development of nationalism in the Philippines, however, was very slow. Loyalty to
the nation began only after the unjust execution of the GOMBURZA on February 17, 1872.
 B. Rise and Gradual spread of Liberalism and Democracy
 The rise and spread of liberalism and democracy was actually a consequence of the
growth and development of nationalism (Black, 1999).
 The principal ideas of liberalism – liberty and equality – were first realized successfully
in the American Revolution and then achieved in part in the French Revolution.
 The idea of liberty also meant specific individual freedoms: freedom of press; freedom of
speech; freedom of assembly; and freedom from arbitrary arrest.
 Democracy was gradually established thru the following means: promulgation of laws
that advance democracy; undertaking of reforms thru legislation; abolition of slavery;
adoption of liberal constitution; providing the citizen to propose laws; adoption of
manhood suffrage; and granting of political, economic and social rights to the people.
 Democracy was non-existent in the Philippines in the 19 th century. The ecclesiastical and
civil authorities then were not inclined to grant basic human rights to the Filipinos, as it
will be detrimental to Spain’s colonial administration of the Philippines. They believe
that if the Filipinos will enjoy basic rights and freedom, they would be motivated to work
for independence and topple down the regime.

C. The Industrial Revolution

 One of the most crucial developments in the 19th century was the industrial Revolution.
The Industrial Revolution refers to the transformation of manufacturing brought about by
the invention and use of machines. This development started in England and later spread
into Belgium, France, Germany and even the United States.
The invention of machines and their use in manufacturing brought about significant
changes in people’s lives. Some of the positive effects brought about by the development
include the following:
 The rise of the factory
 Mass production of essential and non-essential goods;
 Improvement of people’s standard of living;
 Greater urbanization of society;
 Beginnings of specialization or division of labour;
 Invention of labour-saving devices;
 The beginnings of industrial capitalism;
 Fostering of liberalism and nationalism; and
 Encouragement of people’s mobility.

On the other hand, there were negative effects of Industrial Revolution to people, some of the
evils associated with the Industrial Revolution to people. Some of the evils associated with the
Industrial Revolution are as follows:
 Widening the gap between the rich and the poor;
 Unending economic warfare between labour and capital;
 Pollution and other environmental problems;
 Beginning of child and women labour; and
 Intensification of imperialistic rivalry between and among industrialized countries.
To solve the evils created by the industrial system, different measures were proposed by
concerned sectors of world society (Doreen, 1991).
  For Liberals, laissez-faire policy or government’s non-interference in the conduct of trade
and business has to be sustained for the continuous expansion of the economy;
 For socialists assert that the government has to control vital industries and resources. This
is necessary in promoting equality of opportunity and people’s welfare in society.
 The communists, on the other hand, suggest that all factors of production be owned and
controlled by the government. Equality in the society can be achieved if social classes are
destroyed and dictatorship of the proletariat is established.
 Conversely, the Catholic Church calls for humane treatment of workers’ rights, and social
justice for the poor. It also enjoined the government to regulate the use of private
property and provide humane and favourable working conditions for the proletariat.

D. The Advance of Science

 The rapid expansion of scientific knowledge profoundly influence Western thought in the
19th century. Breakthroughs in industrial technology enormously stimulated basic
scientific inquiry. The result was an explosive growth of fundamental scientific
discoveries from 1830s onward.
 The translation of better scientific knowledge into practical benefits was evident in
biology, medical, sciences, physics, and chemistry.

The triumph of science and technology had at least three significant consequences.
• First, everyday experience and innumerable scientists impressed the importance of
science on the mind of ordinary citizens;
 Second, as science more became prominent in the popular thinking, the philosophical
implications of science spread to broad sections of the population. Technical advances
led to the people to develop optimistic faith in man’s capability to achieve progress.
 Third, the methods of science acquired unrivalled prestige after 1850. For many, the
union of careful experiment and abstract theory was the only route to truth and objective
reality.
 Science was not given emphasis in the Philippines in the 19th century. Rizal stressed this
point in his novel, El Filibusterismo. University students in their class in Physics were not
given opportunity to manipulate laboratory apparatus nor given the chance to undertake
experiments to prove or disprove scientific hypotheses.

F. The Upsurge of Western Imperialism

 In the 19th century, the industrializing West entered the third and most dynamic phase of
its centuries-old expansion into non-Western lands. In so doing, these western nations
profitably subordinated those lands to their economic interests, sent forth millions of
emigrants, and political influence in Asia and vast political empires in Africa. The reason
for this culminating surge was many, but the economic thrust of robust industrial
capitalism, an ever-growing lead in technology, and the competitive pressures of
European Nationalism were particularly important.
 Western expansion had far reaching consequences. The first time in human history, the
world became in many ways a single unit. Moreover, European expansion diffused the
ideas and techniques of a highly developed civilization. Yet the west relied on force to
conquer and rule, and treated non-Western people as racial inferiors. Thus, non-
Western elites, armed with western doctrines, gradually responded to Western challenge.
 They launched a national, anti-imperialist struggle for dignity, genuine independence,
and modernization. Colonized peoples, therefore, started to assert their right to self-
determination or the right to choose the kind of government under which they would live.

G. Optimism and Confidence in Progress

 Optimism or faith in society and man’s ability to progress was brought about by the
advancement of Science, the coming of the steamed power industries and the spread of
liberalism and socialism.
 The optimism of the century was summed by Marquis de Condorcet in his work, “Sketch
for a Historical Picture of Progress of the Human Mind.” He saw that “the strongest
reasons for believing that nature have set no limit to the realization of our hopes” and
foresaw “the abolition of inequality between nations, the progress of equality within
nations, and the true perfection of humanity. Progress was now independent of any
power that might wish halt it and never be reversed.”

Optimism and confidence in progress can be gleaned from the achievements of men in the 19 th
century. Notable among these were the following:
 Extension of human rights to many people;
 Promotion of higher education for men and women;
 Education for nationalism in schools;
 Investment in science to serve mankind;
 Improvement of public health thru the establishment of numerous hospitals; and
 Emergence of realistic literature, depicting the life of the time.

SUMMARY OF EVENTS DURING RIZAL’S AND TIMES (19TH CENTURY WORLD)

• February 19, 1861 – Czar Alexander II (1855-1881) issued proclamation emancipating
22,500 serfs to appease Russian masses. April 12, 1861 American Civil War erupted
because of negro slavery this compelled United States Pres. Abraham Lincoln to issue
EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION on September 22, 1863 freeing negro slaves.
• April 1862 – EMPEROR NAPOLEON III of 2nd French Empire invaded Mexico and
installed ARCHDUKE MAXIMILIAN as puppet emperor of Mexico City on June12,
1864. With President Lincoln support Suarez defeated French forces in the BATTLE OF
QUERETARO (May 15, 1867).
• Later part of the 19th century Italians under COUNT CAVOUR OF GARIBALDI and his
ARMY OF RED SHIRTS drove out Austrians and French Armies and proclaimed
KINGDOM OF ITALY under KING VICTOR EMMANUEL with ROME as the Capital
City.
• The PRUSSIANS under OTTO VON BISMARK, the IRON CHANCELLOR defeated
France and established the GERMAN EMPIRE in January 18, 1875 with KING
WILHELM OF PRUSSIA as FIRST KAISER.
• The glorious reign of QUEEN VICTORIA (1837-1901) proudly asserted. BRITANIA
RULES THE WAVES. Acquired the island of HONGKONG when she defeated the
Chinese MANCHU DYNASTY in OPIUM WAR (1840-1842).
• SHE (England) won again the OPIUM WAR (1856 – 1860) that force the MANCHU
DYNASTY to cede KOWLOON PENINSULA opposite HONGKONG.
 • ENGLAND conquer India, Pakistan and Bangladesh in 1859. She also conquered Burma,
Sri Lanka, Maldives, Aden, Malaya, Singapore, Egypt, Australia, New Zealand.
• In 1858-1863 France conquered Vietnam and annexed Cambodia in 1863 and Laos in
1893- FRENCH INDOCHINA
• The DUTCH – drove Portuguese and Spain from Indonesia occupied and named it
Netherlands East Indies.
• CZARIST RUSSIA conquered Siberia, Kamchatka, Kuriles, and Alaska. From 1865-
1884 she conquered the Muslim KHANATES, KHLUA and KOKAND in Central Asia
SHE acquired MANCHURIA and build the longest railroad linking Moscow and
Vladivostok.
• 1639-1853 Meiji (Matsuhito) grabbed Formosa and Pescadores in SINO-JAPANESE
WAR (1894-1895). In 1950 annexed Korea.
• August 25, 1885 - GERMANY seized CAROLINES and PALAUS archipelago from the
SPAIN. Spain and Germany submitted the Carolina question to POPE LEO XIII for
arbitration who ruled in favor of the Spain but granted Germany:
1. right to trade in disputed island
2. right to establish a coaling station to Germany

Rizal was in BARCELONA visiting MAXIMO VIOLA

 SPAIN Lost – Paraguay – (1811) Argentina (1816) Chile (1851) Colombia and Equador
(1819) Costa Riza, Honduras, Guatamela, El Salvador and Nicaragua in (1821),
Venezuela (1822), Peru (1824) and Bolivia and Uruguay (1825)

SPAIN IN THE PHILIPPINES IN THE 19TH CENTURY

SPAIN
 Turbulent century of politics in Spanish history (Zaide , 1994). Therefore, for them to
rescue the country from political disunity they engaged on canovite system or
rotativism.
 Adaption of laissez faire policy and abandoned the mercantilism.

EFFECT ON PHILIPPINES
 as an effect, the country frequently changing the top colonial administration hat adversely
results to dumping ground for the relatives and favorites of Spanish politicians in Madrid.
 Therefore, it ended the Galleon or the Manila Acapulco Trade 1873 that hopefully will
led to the country for world commerce.

THE PHILIPPINES DURING RIZAL’S TIME

The Filipino people agonized beneath the yoke of Spanish misrule, for they were unfortunate
victims of unjust, bigoted, deteriorating colonial power.
Among these evils are:
1. Instability of colonial administration
The political instability of Spain adversely affected the country because it brought about
frequent periodic shift in colonial policies and periodic rigodon of colonial officials.
2. Corrupt colonial officials
 Spaniards were highly corrupt, incompetent, cruel or venal. Gen. Rafael de Izquierdo,
boastful and ruthless govenor general executed fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and
Jacinto Zamora. Moreover, the Filipinos lost their ancestral lands and ownerships
because of the corruption of encomienda system.
3. Human rights are denied to Filipinos
Unlike the Spaniards the Filipinos have no freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom
of association, and other human right except only from religion.
4. No Equality before the law and injustice to Filipinos
Spanish colonial authorities did not implement the law yet they arrogantly regarded the
brown-skinned Filipinos as inferior beings. Most of Filipinos were abused brutalized,
persecuted and slandered by the Spanish masters. Justice was costly, partial and slow. In
that sense when justice is delayed therefore justice is denied.
5. Racial Discrimination and Forced Labor
Spain introduced Christianity into Filipinos with beautiful egalitarian concept of the
brotherhood of all men under God the f rather. But they converted Filipinos not as
brother Christians but who were infinitely undeserving of the rights and privileges that
white Spaniards enjoyed. Our polo or labor forced were addressed to construct
churches, schools, hospitals, buildings and repairing roads and bridges and other public
works.

PHILIPPINE ADMINISTRATION UNDER SPAIN

Because of the Spanish conquest of the Philippines, the Filipinos lost their ancestral lands
on account of Spain’s institution of the Encomienda system. They were forced by the Spanish
colonizers to accept Spanish culture and religion. This change was evident in the administrative
organization of the country, social structure and educational system of the Philippines, and
economic situation in the 19th century.

Administrative Organization
The Philippines was governed directly by the Spanish crown, thru the Ministry of
Colonies in the 19th Century. The government of the country is unitary as policies implemented
by the colonial administrators from Luzon to Mindanao emanated from the Manila, the seat of
the central government.
The Governor-General, appointed by the Spanish monarch, was the head of the Spanish
colonial government in the country. As such, he represented the Crown in all governmental
matters. He was the Vice Royal Patron over religious affairs. As the Vice Royal Patron, he could
nominate priests for ecclesiastical administration of the parishes. He was also the commander in
chief of the colonial army.
As the chief executive of the colonial government, he was an ex-officio president of the
Royal Audencia, the Supreme Court during those times. Considering that there was no law
making body in the country then, the governor-general had legislative powers. He had also the
cumplase or the power to decide which law or royal decree should be implemented or
disregarded in the colony.
Below the national government were the local government units, namely; towns, cities,
and barrios. The provinces during the Spanish regime were called Alcaldias. Each province was
headed by an alcalde mayor or provincial governor, who exercised executive and judicial
powers. The alcaldias or provinces were divided into towns or pueblos. Each pueblo was headed
by gobernadorcillo or town mayor. As town mayor, his principal responsibility was tax
collection.
Each town was divided into barrios or barangays. As the smallest unit of government,
each barangay was headed by a cabeza de barangay. His main function was the maintenance of
peace and order and the collection of taxes and tributes in the barangay.
The city government during the Spanish Regime was called ayuntamiento. It was
governed by cabildo or city council composed of a city mayor (alcalde en ordinario), councilors
(regidores), chief constable (aguacil mayor), and a secretary (escribano).
A key figure in the local administrative set-up was the Spanish friar. This was because of
the union of the church and the state in the Philippines, a principle upon which the Spanish
colony government in the country was founded. The friar was the supervising representative of
the Spanish government for all local affairs. Thus, his approval was necessary on almost all acts
of the local officials. He was practically the ruler of the town as he was the local school
inspector, health inspector, prison inspector, inspector of the accounts of the gobernadorcillos
and cabeza de barangays. His approval was required in census lists, tax lists, list of army
conscripts, and register of births, deaths, and marriages.
Aside from the friars who were considered as the governors of both bodies and soul,
another institution feared in the Philippines then was the Guardia Civil. The Guardia Civil was
organized in 1867, as a corps of native police under the leadership of Spanish officers for dealing
with outlaws and renegades. In 1880, it was the most feared instrument of summary arrests of
individuals identified by the friars as Filibusteros or enemies of the government and erehes or
enemies of the Catholic Church.
The Judicial power of government was vested on the Royal Audiencia, the Supreme
Court during those times and lower courts. Below the Royal Audencia were territorial
audiencias, courts of first instance, and the justice of the peace courts. There was no legislatures
in the Philippines before the country was taken over by the United States in 1898. Therefore,
governance of the Philippines was based on special laws.
Thus, with regard of governance, the Spaniards mismanaged the Philippine. The
inefficiency of government and their cruelties provided a situation that the ordinary mind of
Filipino cannot accept. The life was very deplorable and hard while Spaniards are benefiting
from our limited resources of the Philippines. They denied us our rights and our freedom at
expense of their own glory and prestige.

Education in the Philippines

Before the end of 19th century, the existing higher education in the Philippines is the
University of Santo Tomas. The Dominicans founded it in 1611. There are some Secondary
schools like Ateneo Municipal and Colegio San Juan de Letran but there no existing public
elementary schools. In some towns, parochial schools were present. However, these institutions
have limited impact to the lives of the Filipino. The Spaniards used education not to make us a
better and responsive citizen that will lead our nation to progress but used it as a medium in
abusing and raping our Filipino nation. How did they do it? First, the medium of instruction
before was Spanish but the Filipinos were rated not on their comprehension of the subject but on
the fluency of Spanish language. Second, the teaching of fear of God and obedience to priests
dominated the early education of the Filipinos. They emphasized on religion. Third, there is
racial discrimination in admitting students. The schools only admit those children of the
Spaniards and few rich Filipino. The Spaniards also infused on the minds of the Filipinos that
Indios were of inferior intelligence and suited for manual work. Consequently, Filipino children
did not able to develop self-confidence; inferiority complex and culture of silence. The Spaniards
did not taught us the real understanding of the Spanish language because it would lead to the
development of political and social awareness among the natives, which in effect could trigger in
them the desire to work for freedom and independence.

Social Structure of the Filipino Society

Awakening of Philippine Nationalism

Nationalism is a collective shared by the citizens of a polity; the belief that national
interests are important or simply love for your country. This attitude has never been illustrated
before and at the time of the Spanish time. As we can recall, there was no Philippines before but
only independent and self-governing barangays and peopled by diverse tribes. There was no
solid attitude or sense of being Filipino yet. This was the reason why early revolutions failed
because there is no unity and the late development of nationalism. With the use of cross and
highly centralized government under the Spanish crown, the separated barangays before where
consolidated and united to become Philippines. However, due to the inhumane policies of the
Spaniards like high taxes, forced labor, and government monopolies, the people living on
the Philippines experienced the same hardships and miseries. Thus, it led the Filipinos to
think that there’s only one enemy and developed the feeling of nationalism.
Moreover, the opening of Manila to world trade on the year 1834 and the opening of
Suez Canal in Africa resulted to the rapid rise of foreign firms. The opportunities for trade,
increased Filipino contacts with foreigners and number of families prospered form foreign
commerce. Consequently, it led to rising of the rich middle class called “ilustrados”. The middle
class sent their children abroad for education. Thus, they became aware of the completely
different type of society prevalent in Europe and embraced the new political ideology called
“liberalism” (ideology that sees the role of government as protecting individual liberties or
freedom while at the same time ensuring the chance to lead the best possible life and to
fulfill his or her individual potential).
In general, these factors fueled the Filipinos to yearn for Philippine independence.
However, nationalism is still not ripe and the Filipinos are swallowing these hardships because
of fear and the absence of leader to lead for change. These factors are not enough to let the
Filipinos stand and expel the cruel Spaniards here in the Philippines. Until such time, when
Gumburza, Rizal, Bonifacio, Aguinaldo, and other Filipinos volunteered themselves to beat the
odds in transforming “new” Philippine nationalism.

THE DAWN OF FILIPINO NATIONALISM

As pointed out in chapter II, the development of Filipino nationalism in the Philippines is
quite slow. Although there was early resistance to the colonial rule, Filipino nationalism emerged
only in the 19th century. This chapter is geared towards analyzing events that finally ushered in
the development of Filipino National consciousness and sense of nationhood.

Unification of the Philippines Under Spanish Rule

Spain ruled the Philippines for more than 300 years. Prior to its colonization of the
Philippines consisted of independent and self-governing barangays, peopled by diverse tribes. It
was Spain that gave the country its identity (Zaide, 1994). The country came known as the
Philippines due to her three centuries of colonization.

Different techniques/strategies of pacification:

a. The use of Cross which Pacified the Natives (Agoncillo & Guerrero, 1994).
1. The Reduccion plan of Fr. Juan de Plasencia was implemented, which required the
natives to live near the church through Bajo de campana, in which Spanish
encomenderos found it easy to collect taxes from the native.
2. Transformed the Filipinos into Law-abiding citizens under the Spanish crown, resulting
to
the lost of its independence and relocating them under the church.
3. imposition of Catholism and Spanish culture, that partially transformed Filipinos into
little
brown Spaniards.
b. Gradual introduction of Spain’s Political system
1. Highly centralized government
2. The people became politically united under the Spanish crown.
3. Barangay emerged to form pueblos, ayuntamientos, alcadias

EARLY RESISTANCE TO SPANISH RULE

The integration of the country into the Spanish empire resulted to:
 Implementation of taxation without representation
 Polo y servicio or forced labor
 Galleon trade
 indulto de comercio
 government monopolies
Reasons/ Caused for Resistance or Uprising under Spanish Rule
1. The desire to regain lost freedom (Examples of revolts: Revolt of Raha Sulayman and
Lakan Dula (1574); Tondo Conspiracy (1587-1588); Malong Revolt (1660-1661);
Dagohoy’s Revolt (1744-1829), Revolt of Diego Silang (1762-1763); and Palris Revolt
(1762-1764)
2. Resistance to Spanish-imposed institution
Some revolts due to the aforementioned factors:
• Magalat revolts(1596)
• Revolts of the Irayas(1621)
• Cagayan revolts(1639)
• Sumuroy rebellion(1649-1650)
3. Other revolts caused by Agrarian unrest – the desire of the natives to recover the lands
grabbed from them by the friars (1745 to 1865)
4. Revolts triggered by the desire to revert to their native religion
Revolts ignited by the aforementioned are:
• Igorot revolts(1601)
• Tamblot revolt(1621-1622)
• Revolt of Lanab and Alababan(1625-1627)
• Tapar revolt(1663)
• Revolt of Francisco Rivera(1618)
• Revolt of “Hermano Pule” Apolinario dela Cruz(1840-1841)
• Revolts of Muslims in Southern Philippines

Reasons for the Failure of Early revolts against Spanish rule:

• Owing sectional jealousies
• Lack of communication facilities in the Provinces
• Absence of national leadership
• Disunity
• Fragmented
• Sporadic
• Disorganized
• Implementation of the policy of divide et impera or divide and rule

The Emergence of Filipino Sense of Nationhood was attributable to the following:

1.) Opening of the Philippines to world trade;
2.) The rise of class media;
3.) Spanish Revolution of 1868
4.) Opening of Suez Canal
5.) Liberal regime of Carlos Ma. De la Torre;
6.) Racial discrimination;
7.) Secularization controversy; and
8.) Cavite mutiny of 1872.

The opening of the Philippines to World Commerce.

The opening of the country to the World Commerce was a consequence of Spain’s
adoption of the laissez faire policy. With the early of foreign products & business, the economic
isolation ended. A more significant effect of this development was the influx liberal ideas into
the country like John Locke’s Theory of Revolution; Jean Jacques Rousseau’s Social Contract
Theory, Montesquieu, etc.
In Locke’s theory people learned that they could overthrow a government that is not
working for the good of the governed.
GOVERMENT- is an agreement between the ruler and the ruled to govern for the welfare of the
ruled.

Liberal ideas that the Filipino came to learn:

1. Equality before the law
2. Freedom of speech
3. Freedom of religion
4. Freedom of assembly
5. Protection of human rights
6. Representation in legislature
7. Sovereignty of the people

The Rise of the Clase Media

The rise of the middle class can be traced by the prosperity of a relatively small class of
mestizos and the principalia or the ruling elite who benefited from the opening of the country to
foreign commerce.
Families which prospered during this time, were able to send their sons for education in Europe.

Liberal Regime of Carlos Ma. Dela Torre

With his assumption into office as a chief executive of the country, he demonstrated his
democratic and liberal philosophy in governing the country.
He encouraged the aspirations of the reformists and abolished the censorship of the press.
Reform commissions were set up and public discussions took place in the newspapers for the
first time
Liberty Serenade of 1869
Filipino people express satisfaction and joy for the leadership of Dela Torre. This
development was something the friars then did not like. For the first time the Filipinos were
allowed to talk about freedom and democracy openly. During his term of Office freedom of
speech and the press as guaranteed by the Spanish Constitution was recognized. As a
consequence of his liberal policy. Father Burgos and other Filipino clergy were motivated to
work for the Filipinization of parishes throughout the country. In 1870 the restoration of the
Spanish Monarchy and the return of conservatives in Spain, De la Torre was removed from the
office and replaced by Rafael de Izquierdo.

Racial Descrimination

The factor that contributed to the development of Filipino sense of nationhood was the
inferior treatment of Spaniards to the Filipino race and sarcastically called them Indios.
Discrimination of the Filipinos was prevalent in the University and Colleges, government
offices, church and court of justice.
Fray Miguel de Bustamante
In his pamphlet entitled Si Tandang Basyang Macunat portrayed the Filipino as an
individual with low mental ability, incapable of acquiring European Education, and fitted only to
work in field and tend carabaos.
Racial discrimination had led them to realized that the Spaniards and the Filipinos were
two separate distinct people.

Secularization Controversy

Secularization of the parishes was the transfer of the ministries established by the Spanish
regular to the Filipino seculars. Controversy begun: During 1768 when the Jesuits were expelled
from the country
Secularization controversy is a religious issue on the right of the regular and secular priests to
administer the parishes; it further led to the unification of the Filipino clergy which in effect
strengthened their sense of identity.
Racial controversy – this means that the Filipino clergy has no right to administer the parishes
because they were unqualified.

Persons involved in the Secularization Controversy:

Fr. Pedro Pelaez - the Father of Secularization Movement; an Insulares who led the fight
against the Royal Decrees turning secular priests over to the friars; appealed to the Queen
Isabella II for ecclesiastical equality between the Spanish regulars and Filipino seculars
June 3, 1868 - Fr. Pelaez died due to the earthquake that occurred in Manila, thus, the struggle
foe equality was temporarily stopped.

Fr. Burgos continue the struggle started by his former professor; exerted all the efforts to defend
the Filipino clergy against the Spanish regulars; asserted that the Filipino priests were qualified
to administer the parishes.

Gregorio Meliton Martinez - trained the Filipino seculars to become good parish priests;
appealed to the Spanish Queen to give the Filipino priests the chance to prove that they can equal
to the Spanish regulars.

Cavity Mutiny of 1872 (Regime of Gov. Gen. Rafael de Izquierdo)

January 20, 1872 – mutiny broke out among Filipino soldiers in the Arsenal of Cavite with the
Leadership of Sgt. La Madrid

Cause of mutiny: When Izquierdo abolished the exemption from the tribute and forced labor to
the workers of Fort San Felipe and Filipino Soldiers which the Filipino enjoy since 1740.
- this was the turning point in Phil. History in which Filipino realize the need for unity of end the
Miseries;
- an era of peaceful campaign for reforms to counter the evils of Spanish Regime known as
Propaganda Movement - Rizal at this time was only 11 years old.
Impacts of 1872 on the life of Rizal:
1. He would be a Jesuit and instead of writing the Noli Me Tangere , would have written the
opposite.
2. He swore to devote the avenge one day so many victims of in justices and cruelties