Activity 03: SPANISH COLONIZATION TO THE PRESENT

The content of this module have an authentic and credible sources due to
the documents and pictures presented, that help this module to become
authentic to the readers. The supporting evidences or documents authorize the
true events that happened from the past. And these recovered pictures can help
the readers who have lack of knowledge about the history. But through the
authenticity of the sources, it gives the people an idea to illustrate a certain thing
or scenario that a by-product of the history, for example the Kartilya. Same as on
the Malolos Constitutions, wherein I saw the first articles and provisions that was
made during the Malolos Congress. Through these visual sources, the studying of
history would become easy to decipher or comprehend. It also can be a guide in
tracing the root of the past.

Consequently, through this module that serve as my reference so I can

have a glimpse from the past, it made me easy to determine our lives prior the
Spanish colonization and our lives when they conquered our country for three
hundred thirty-three years. It also gave me an idea on how our countrymen
fought for our country’s independence. Also it made me realize that during the
Spanish regime, we are already battling with our own race. Until now, General
Antonio Luna’s line, “Ang kalaban ng Pilipino ay kapwa Pilipino din.” is still
applicable in our lives today. That there are Filipino that are willing to kill their
countrymen due to their greediness in money and power.

On the other hand, our lives during the pre-colonial period were full of
superstitions. We are believing in different gods and even offered them different
foods and sacrificial animals like goats and chickens for an exchange of good
fortune. I think that Asian culture has this kind of practices like how Chinese do
feng shui and other Asian countries that still do some rituals for a special events.
But in today’s generation, we are not believing in that kind of beliefs anymore
because we are already educated to the things that we believed before that were
true. We are already enlightened through science, therefore, it is hard for us to
believe certain occurrences without proper observation or diagnosis. But some
remote places still have this kind of practice until now like quackery even though
it was against the church and in the medicine field. People believe that if the
science medicine cannot distinguish the specific illness of a person they believe
that someone cursed them or some elemental creatures played or liked them.

Furthermore, our ancestors also have different style of burying dead

people and this culture are still preserved in some places in our country. But
today, we have a standard style of burying people. We also conduct wake before
we bury the people and we used several chemicals to cleanse the dead body and
preserve it for a bit before it bury six feet below the ground. And also, the season
before was served as their basis of time as clock was not yet invented before. The
sky has a vital role in their lives before because through it, farmers have a hint
whether they need to cultivate their lands or they already need to harvest their
crops.

Upon reading this module, I realize that without the influence of the
Spaniards in our religion, probably we are still worshipping the idols and some
deities. But in a Bible context, worshipping idols is an immoral dee. Thus,
somehow, Spaniards has a great contribution in our lives, though their intentions
were not holy as their religion. As Magellan tried to deceive us through having a
blood compact with the chieftains like Raja Colambu and Raja Humabon.
Magellan plan to conquest our land because Philippines is rich in power,
minerals and forest resources. And our ancestors are not aware how rich the
Philippines was. Hence, Magellan took advantage the ignorance of the Filipino
and used the Christianity as their avenue to roam around the different islands in
the Philippines and offered friendship to the Rajas so they can discover and have
an access in our natural resources without them knowing. But their planned of
conquering the land of Mactan was backfired due to Lapu-lapu’s intelligence.
Lapu-lapu did not accept the friendship that Magellan was offering that time
perhaps, Lapu-lapu had a hint of Magellan’s evil intentions towards to his land.
But Zula — another chief in Mactan want to covet Lapu-lapu’s position thus, he
seek help to Magellan to kill Lapu-Lapu hence Zula would replace Lapu-lapu and
Magellan would have the opportunity to conquer their land. It was a win-win
situation if ever they overthrown Lapu-lapu. Magellan was overconfident that
they will overcome Lapu-lapu and his men but to their surprised, Lapu-lapu had
a thousand of warriors that afterwards defeat Magellan through hitting him a
poisonous arrow on his leg and his remaining crew retreated and immediately
flew to Spain to survive.

But our agony before did not end when Magellan died. It worsen when the
second wave of Spanish colonialists came in our country and grab the land of the
oppressed masses and made them work all of their lives with small amount of
salary or worst they were not get any compensation from the colonial tyrants.
What important for the Spaniards was our land and the crops that they can get
through our lands without minding the state of our tyrannize countrymen and
they have the audacity to export it in the other nations. In that case the economy
of Spain became buoyant due to the goods that they can get in our country freely
and easily.

I realized through studying this module that, if we are not became

educated, the Spaniards will keep on taking advantage to our ignorance and
foolishness to our surroundings. They will keep on stepping the right that we
should possess as a Filipino and as a humans. It is enraging to know that they
have the impudence to reign in our country and act like it was part of their
possession due to the resources that they can get and can boost to their
economy. I am indeed grateful that we had illustrados like Jose Rizal, who are
educated enough and enlightened to the deeds that these colonial tyrants doing
towards us. I am grateful to the actions that Rizal took just to save our country in
the hands of the conquerors. Also to Andres Bonifacio, who courageously fought
to achieve the freedom of our motherland. Without their bravery, I cannot
imagine our lives today. What would be our country looks like? What would be
our state today if science did not enlighten us through the way how we cured
other people? How would be our life today if we are still believing to the deities
and other superstitious beliefs? And what would be our country today if there is
no people like Bonifacio and the rest of Katipuneros became outspoken for the
liberty of our country?
References:

de Navarrete, M. F. (1837). Coleccion de los viajes y descubrimientos que hicieron

por mar los espanoles desde fines del siglo. Madrid: Imprenta Nacional.
Guerrero, A. (1971). The Philippine Society and Revolution. Retrieved from
https://www.bannedthought.net/Philippines/CPP/1970s/PhilippineSoci
etyAndRevolution-4ed.pdf