RIZAL’S LIFE, WORK AND WRITINGS REVIEWER

THE PHILIPPINES IN 19TH CENTURY: PHILIPPINE SOCIETY UNDER THE

SPANISH RULE

Idea: To identify the important events as well recognize the setting where all
circumstances happens and the contribution of the past in continuous
changes over a time.

A PERIOD OF CHANGE:

Economic Development
- during the 19th century, the changes happen influence the country
through its economic in a direct and indirect way.
- in this period, trade began between the countries of Asia and
Europe.
- the trade of goods/products or commodities between the
aforementioned continents which brought a various opportunities to their
constituents, I.e. establishing a business and foreign exchange or the
exchange of currency.
- the people start to have their own ideals or ideologies like liberalism
and nationalism are arising during the 19 th century.

IMPORTANT EVENT/PERIODS ARE:

 Industrial Revolution
- abrupt change occurs.
- the latter happened in 18 th century impacted on the events of 19 th
century. In essence, the rise of internet to aid the long distance
communication of people and to have access in information with just having a
wireless connectivity.
- at the stage of 4th industrial revolution, technology emerge at a fast
pace where almost the people use and experience, nowadays.

 Opening of the Philippines to World Trade

- the boom of internet and technology during the stages of industrial
revolution has greatly impacted the 19 th century economy of Philippine where
the country open up to the world to make trades.

1. Suez Canal
- a route that open up for the trade among neighbor countries of the
Philippine may happens.
- neighbor countries can acquire natural resources to others to support
their own colony.
- this route is made to reduce the amount of time and bridge the gap
when the Europe and Asia make trades.
2. Rise of the Export Crop Economy
- exporting crops to neighbor countries during 19 th period began.
- European trade market is in need of supplier the Philippine becomes
one of it.
- the Philippines is popularly known to export crops such coffee,
sugarcane (because there are many sugarcane plantations in the country
during 19th era), abaca & tobacco.
- during the rise of export crop economy in Philippines, the country
opens up and it gives a lot of opportunities to engage in business like trading
to other countries.
- on the other view, being open of the country to make trades also
resulted in beginning to exploitation of teens on jobs because in 19 th century
the fees given to on child laborers was cheap for a reason of not having an
educational background at this time.

NOTE: Liberalism - people who is fighting for rights and freedom.

Political Landscape
- idea of liberalism start to dominates the people specially in politics.

IMPORTANT POINTS:

 Prevailing Political System

 Sources of Abuse
 Emerging Political Ideologies
- Political Instability
- Liberalism

Structure of Political System in Europe:

 Ministro de Ultramar
- ministry of the colonies in Europe and was establish in Madrid 1863.
- who helps the Spanish King or the monarchs to observe their colony
as well as the Philippines.

Structure of Political System in Philippines:

 Governor General
- directly appointed by the Spanish King
- its tenancy in the position is up to 2 months or 4 years.

Role of Gov. Gen.:

- head of the central administration in Manila.
- act as a representative of the Spanish King in all state and religious
matters.
 - a commander in chief of armed forces and ex official member of
Royal Audiencia (until 1861)

Functions and Powers:

- can exercised extensive power
- issues executive orders and proclamations like the legislative
- supreme authority in financial matters (until 1784)
- disciplinary powers over all government officials
- cumplase power (laws from royal must be implemented)
- nominate priests to ecclesiastical positions (power to choose an allied
to religion)

 Assistants of Gov. Gen.

General Segundo Cabo
- Lieutenant Governor

 Advisory Bodies
- who guides and manage the Philippines with the Governor General.

1. Board of Authorities
2. Council of Administration
3. Secretariat of the Central Government (only by 1874)
4. Directorate of Civil Administration

OTHER GOVERNMENT POSITIONS:

Provincial Government
 Alcaldias
 Alcaldes Mayores (civil governors)

Municipal Government
 Ayuntamiento/Cabildo
 Regidores (councilors)
- roles are in policing, sanitation & taxation

 Alcaldes Ordinarios (magistrates)

- roles are supervision of building, price and wage regulation &
administration of justice

 Gobernadorcillo
- serve as a chief executive and chief judge of the pueblo.

 Pueblo
- towns or harvor of Manila
 Barangay

Cabeza de barangay
- a leader who maintain peace and order and collect tribute and
other taxes.

 Guardia Civil and Cuadrilleros

- mostly from known families, rural guards.
- who performed police duties and tasked to help maintain peace and
order.

 Alferez
- second lieutenant
- head of guardia civil corporation

 Real Audiencia
- serves as the highest judicial body or a supreme court of a colonial
government.
- who discusses important government duties.
- who acts as auditor of government incomes.

Other Government Positions

>Provitional Government
- alcaldias
- alcaldes mayores ( civil governors)

>Municipal Government
-Ayuntameinto/ Cabilido
- Regidores (councillors) and alcaldes ordinaries (magistrates)
 policing
 Sanitation
 Taxation
 Supervision of building
 Price and wage regulation
 Administration of justice

 Barangay
- Cabeza de barangay
- Maintain peace and order
 Guardia civil and cuadrilleros
 Perdormed police duties
 Tasked to help maintain peace and order

 Alferez (second Lieutenant)

Heads the guardia civil corp
 REAL AUDIENCIA

 Highest judicial body

 High council which discusses important government affairs
 Acts as auditor of government finances

SOURCES OF ABUSE :

- Incompetent and Undedicated officals

No morel strength to resist corruption

- Overlapping functions
Results to friction and confusion

- Union of the church and state

Favors and privileges leading to corruption

- Distance of the colony

No direct supervision/insight about the colony

SOURCE OF ABUSE:
Induito de comerecio ( alcalde mayor)
Led to monopolization of trade control over prices

2 reform decrees :
 (1844)

 Increase the salary from 25 pesos to 1500 pesos

 Required a law degree or two years of legal experience
 Abolished the indulto de comercio privilege

POLITICAL INSTABILITY IN SPAIN:

 Liberty, equality c fraternity from the French revolution

 French invasion of spain by napoleon bonaprte

- War of Spanish independence

- Victory of spain in 1841
 Ferdinand Vll reclaimed the throne
 Laid aside liberal reforms
 Isabela ll ascended the throne
 Ongoing fight between liberals and conservatives
  Bourgeos Revolution of 1868
- Ended the reign of Isabela ll
- Amadeo de saboya Became the democratic monarch
 Abdicated the throne after 2 years
 Establishment of the first Spanish Republic

Governor General
Carlos Ma. Dela torre

Return of Monarchy
- Alfonso XII made king in 1875
- ( approve the establishment of candelaria as an independent town
in 1879)

A NEW CONSTITUTION WAS ESTABLISHED

 Members of the legislature were partly elected
 Religious tolerance
 Considerable freedom of the press
 Trial by Jury
 Suffrage ( limited to men)

 Losing Colonies
- Cuba, Puerto rico, guam and the Philippines remained
- Clamor for reforms in its remaining colonies

 Feudalistic Nature of the Philippines Society

- Arrival of the conquistadores
- Encomienda system
- Pyramid structure of the society

PENINSULARES : a pure blooded Spaniards from spain

INSULARES : pure blooded Spaniards born in the Philippines
MESTIZOS: Mixed face , Spanish indigenous
 Mestizo de espanol
 Mestizo de sangley
PRINCIPALIA : emerging noble pure blooded natives rutling class supposedly
CHINO FINFIEL : non catholic pure blooded Chinese

New social class brought by economic and political changes

- The enterprising middle class

- The inquilinato system
- The ilustrado

EDUCATION :

 Tool used by the colonizers to evangelize the locals

- Overemphasis on religious matters
 - Rate memorization
- Heavy censorship and control over the curriculum
 Inequalities :
FOR THE ELITE ;
Duplicated instruction given in spain

FOR LOCALS:
 Spanish education was designed to convert filipins to the catholic faith
 Reading and writing were taught so that may be able to fulfil religious
obligations
 Arithmetic and various handcrafts

 GROWING need for change and student unrest

- Discrimination in schools
- Limitation for pursuing higher education
- Felt needed to continue their education abroad