ACTIVITY 2

Discuss how the following contributed to the growth of Filipino nationalism and decline of
the Spanish rule. Choose two from the following:
1. Opening of the Suez Canal

This canal enabled the Philippines to have direct commercial relations with Spain with
the shorter travel time to Spain that open us to different country like Europe and France. The
opening of the Suez Canal has a big part for the growth of Filipinos nationalism. It became the
gate way and the starting point for Filipinos towards our freedom because the building of these
Suez Canal gives opportunities for some Filipinos including Dr. Jose Rizal to study and explore
in Europe and upon staying and learning there, Filipinos were exposed to new ideas about
freedom and became aware that Spaniards are abusing Filipinos since then and when they
returned to the Philippines they start questioning the way of Spaniards in ruling their home land.
These became the start of the Philippine revolution. The people who study in Europe find the
rules and law of Spaniards absorb and unfair they start to spread the information. Spaniards
thinks Filipinos are Indio but we are not we just don’t have the opportunity to acquire proper
education that time.

2. Cavite Mutiny and the GOMBURZA Martyrdom

Cavite Mutiny is a brief uprising of 200 Filipino troops and workers of Cavite arsenal
because the Spanish government remove their privilege of not paying tax and not participating on
force works. The encounter between the Spanish military and people who revolt cause death to
the few participants of uprising. It may be a small event of uprising but it plays a big part of
awaking the nationalism in the heart of many people. This event also causes the death of the three
Filipino Priest José Burgos, Jacinto Zamora and Mariano Gómez who are known as Gomburza
because they were accused by the Spanish Government who start up the uprising in Cavite or the
main person behind those mutineers. They were publicly executed, the death of Gomburza
awakened strong feelings of anger and resentment among the Filipinos towards Spaniards, they
questioned Spanish authorities and start demanding for reforms. The death of Gomburza added
fuel to the burning nationalism felt by many during the Cavite mutiny.