Marcelino Arcilla Rapayla Jr. Philippine Church History / Oct.

03, 2018

REACTION PAPER
ON THE REPORT ABOUT EDUCATION
DURING THE SPANISH COLONIZATIONS

In 1521, when the Spaniards arrived in the Philippines for mission, it was also about to
happen the Spanish colonization under the papal bull. Moreover, the culture of the archipelago
experienced drastic changes from a variety of native Asian and Islamic cultures and traditions.
During the early years of Spanish colonization, the education was mostly religion-oriented and
controlled by the Roman Catholic Church. Spanish friars and missionaries educated the natives
through religion with the aim of converting indigenous populations to the Catholic faith. The
Spanish language and the Catholic faith were introduced to the natives. This time also the
education system has started to change from practical teaching of their daily dealing of lives to a
systematic kind of education.

Language was taught to the natives (Spanish and Latin) as medium of instruction in terms
of memorizing the prayers, as well as conversing, in fact in the 19 th centuries, evidently observed
that the language and culture penetrated into the Philippine culture in spite of the primary
purpose of the conquest (3 G’s). The friars were effective in evangelizing the Catholic religion to
the Filipinos. One major failure of the educational system of the religious congregations was the
withholding of the Filipinos to learn other bodies of knowledge. Education during the Spanish
regime was privileged only to Spanish students. Several educated Filipinos referred to as
ilustrados began movements directed towards change in the system of government in the
Philippines.

The Friars taught the natives catechism at the pastoral houses. Education was still in the
early stage of development during the Spanish period. Even by the late 19th century, the Spanish
language was still unknown to a great majority. They were literate in their own native dialects.
The Spanish aristocracy tried to distinguish themselves from the indios with the use of language
and level education. The effect of education to the Filipinos was only compelled to the friars'
influences from their lessons based on the Christian Doctrines. In entirety, education during the
Spanish regime was privileged only to Spanish students. The supposed Philippine education was
only a means to remain colonizers. Meanwhile, several educated Filipinos referred to as
ilustrados may consider one of the major effects of canton. Furthermore, education in Spanish
era was religion-centered.

On one hand, the native Filipinos had religions of their own long before the arrival of the
Spanish. After nearly four-hundred years of Spanish contact in the Philippines, the Filipinos
appeared to have adopted Catholicism from the Spanish. It would be expected that a change in
religious beliefs would be reflected in a change in practices that may be seen in the
archaeological record. Thanks to them for making the Philippines more Catholics and religious
country.

On the other hand, though my Filipino ancestors experienced hardship during the Spanish
colonization but still I am grateful for the missionaries because Filipinos become educated.
Formal education was brought to the Philippines by the Spaniards, which was conducted mostly
by religious orders. Let us therefore study, for although the art of learning is somewhat difficult,
yet if we are persevering, we shall soon improve our knowledge. According to John Dewey,
Learning is a way of life. Education is the real treasure that no one can steal it.