Colegio De Sta. Lourdes of Leyte Foundation Inc.

Brgy. 1 Quezon Tabontabon, Leyte

Cellphone No.: 09057244430
Website: https://csllfi.wordpress.com
College of Nursing and Entrepreneurship

JOSE RIZAL
Module 3

I. Learning Objectives:

1. Review the political and social changes that occurred in Europe

in the 19th century, and
2. Analyzed how the changes in Europe affected an Asian colony
(e.g., the Philippines was a colony of Spain, a western Europe
country)

II. Lesson 2. The Conditions in the Philippines in the 19th Century

CSLLFI

References:
Agoncillo, T.A. & Guerrero, M.C. (1977), History of the Filipino People, 5 th
edition
Capino, D, G..,Gonzalez, M.A., & Pineda, F.E. (1977), Rizal: Life, Works and
Writings: their impact on Our National Identity, Quezon City: JMC Press
Craig, A., (1913), Lineage, Life and Labors of Jose Rizal. Manila: National
Historical
Institute.
De la Costa, H., S.J. (1961). The Trial of Jose Rizal, Ateneo de Manila
University Press
De Ocampo, E. A. (1993). Why Rizal the Greatest Filipino Hero? Manila:
National Historical Institute.

RESSHELL C. FLORES resshellflores@gmail.com 09062075037

Instructor
 Liberal stirrings from Europe reached the Philippines. In the Ilocos, leading
citizens there, called Kailanes, refused to believe that the Cadiz Constitution
was abolished by King Ferdinand and rose up in revolt. They were crushed by
troops from the other provinces. In 1826, Mexican soldiers led by Lt. Andres
Novales mutinied. They complained of discrimination and unfair treatment
from peninsular officials following the Independence of Mexico from Spain. The
mutineers tried to rally the Filipinos to gain their support and promised to fight
for the Independence of the Philippines. The mutiny, however, was crushed
and the rebels were executed.
The last of the series of revolts took place in 1841-1842 when Apolinario de
la Cruz refused to disband is religious organization, the Cofradia de San Jose.
De la Cruz aspired to be a priest but was refused by the Spaniards because of
his race. Instead, he founded the Cofradia which gained popularity among
ordinary people and was seen as a threat by the Catholic Church. After his
execution and the suppression of the Cofradia, members of the Tayabas
Regiment of the Spanish army, who turned out to be province-mates of de la
Cruz, mutinied and almost took over Manila. The arrival of native
reinforcements saved the Spanish colonizes from certain defeat.
The defeats of native revolts demonstrated that the Philippines was
disunited because of lack of national identity. The Spaniards used this disunity
to divide and rule the country. Demographically, the Spaniards were a minority
CSLLFI

in the Philippines. The peninsulares, or Spaniards born in Spain but at that

time were working in the Philippines, were very few, consisting of the governor-
general, some officials and priests, and the insulares, Spaniards born in the
Philippines who were also few in comparison to the native population. In large
towns, the parish priest and the head of a local police were they only
Spaniards. The colonial order was maintained largely by native officials. Local
officials such as the gobernadorcillos, the councilmen, and the Principalia. The
policemen were also natives, and even the composition of the local Spanish
army and civil guards was largely natives. Only the officials with the rank of
sergeants were Spaniards. The Spaniards, despite their inferior number,
managed to retained the loyalty of the native officials by giving them certain
privileges that kept them separated from the rest of the population. The
gobernadorcillos were afforded the titles of captain municipal, teniente, and
cabeza. Though their positions did not pay much, the titles gave them an
exalted position in native society and were called principles or leading citizens.
There were also some materials rewards I serving the Spaniards. A number of
the principles descended from the loyal datus who pledged their loyalty to
colonizers. They were exempt from taxation and community labor or prestacion
personal. They were also entitled to receive a portion of their collection from the
people. After serving their terms of office, former officials were still eligible for

RESSHELL C. FLORES resshellflores@gmail.com 09062075037

Instructor
re-election. It was possible for former officials to be reinstated into their former
offices several times. This explains why Spain controlled the Philippines for
more than 300 years. Spain controlled the natives through the native leaders.
Changes in the 19th century had profound effects to the Philippines. During
the previous centuries, it was forbidden for the Philippines to trade with other
countries because of Spain’s monopolistic policy, but colonial officials ignored
this instruction and traded with other countries was scrapped with the opening
of Manila to world trade. Other ports in the colony like Iloilo; Cebu; Sual,
Pangasinan; and Zamboanga followed. There was brisk demand for the
Philippines products such as sugar, coffee, abaca, tobacco, dyestuff, and rice.
This created economic opportunities as many families began trading these
products for the international market. These families were mostly meztizos
consisting of Spanish and Chinise families. They intermarried with natives who
were farmers that became traders. In the process, they became more affluent
and formed the nucleus of the middle class. The increased wealth allowed
middle class families to have better houses and sent their children to colleges
and universities for tertiary education. They obtained higher education degrees
which they thought made them equal with the Spaniards. Eventually, they
became concerned with issues of equality including secularization. By the time
of Rizal’s youth, the quest for equality was the cry of times. It influenced Rizal
throughout his life and it became his lifelong quest.
CSLLFI

ACTIVITY:
List down the changes that occurred in the Philippines into three columns
labeled a: “Political Aspects,” “Economic Aspect,” and “Sociocultural Aspect.”

RESSHELL C. FLORES resshellflores@gmail.com 09062075037

Instructor