Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Lesson 3A
Background on the socio-political situation of the Philippines during Rizal’s
Time
Topics:
A. Political Condition
B. Social Stratification
C. Economic Situation
D. Educational System
E. The Advent of Nationalism in the Philippines
Society is a great formator. Regardless of the epoch, its fluctuating norms and
values are the meant to structure the tone of its time, temperament of its people and
their economic activities that frame their view of the word and outlines how a
government should function in relation to the people it governed. No one escapes
society’s bidding and influence, hence a stifling and restraining social structure. Yet for
all its sway and power, society is not a fixed entity. It is the people’s hard work and
unfinished creature that is both a result and object of their actions. As subjects
endowed with perceptive ability, the individual of society respond to keep reacting it,
for the better or worse. In this engagement of the individual and society, it is in the latter
sense that poses the challenge for some individuals to undertake the task to reform and
better it – if by peaceful or violent enterprise such as revolution. But for some it was with
a sense of mission even to begin such a daunting task.
Jose Rizal times were his formator market with revolution fervor. It is in this context
that he and his political ideas are to be located and interpreted. Reading him in this
framework will afford his readers today a ringside view of the actual events of the 19th
century that framed his thoughts about the nation. In the Philippines, it was a heady
period that opened his eyes; that informed his thoughts about the hard core realities of
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social, economic and political life in his country; and for which thoughts he endeavored
to change these realities yet not with the imploring language of a supplicant or mercy-
begging groans of a scrounger, but with the incendiary argot of political surgeon
The essence of the Life of Jose Rizal is an evidence by the circumstances that
happened during his generation in the Philippines and throughout the world. Jose Rizal
was an existing epitome that sets forth human pronouncement that all individual
without distinction of any kind are born to be free and equal in the dignity and right,
during this period such concept of liberalism, industrialism, democracy, social realization
and nationalism gained control and sparked radical changes in science, technology,
economics, socio-cultural and political condition.
Spanish rule was imposed in the Philippines by conquest. Miguel Lopez de Legazpi
established the first Spanish settlement in 1565 in Cebu. Before the conquest, the
Filipinos had their own indigenous culture and their own government, the barangay,
headed by a native chieftain called “datu”, independent of each other and each had
its own laws. The people knew how to read and write and had the beginning of a
native literature and a native art. The Spanish conquerors forced them to adopt foreign
ways and Spanish Catholicism that they never understood. They lost their ancestral
lands to the conquistadores by the encomienda system. Changes in the form of
government and laws took place.
The Philippines became a colony of Spain and she belonged to the King of
Spain. From the beginning of Spanish rule up to 1821 the Philippines was administered
by the Mexican Viceroy in the name of the Spanish king. After Mexico gained her
independence from Spain in 1821, The Philippine was directly ruled from Madrid.
The Spaniards rule the Philippines indirectly thru the Viceroy of Mexico. Since the
Spanish monarchy was able to colonize the big part of the world, they assigned an
officer who will monitor the colony and it is the Viceroy of Mexico
The capital of the colonial administration of Spain is Mexico. They also have the
Consejo de Indias or the legislative body for the colonies and in 1681 the consejo was
ble to release the Recopilacion de leyes de los reynos de las indias. This law guided the
administration of the colonies of the Spanish empire
The Consejo de Indias appoints the Gobernador General in the colonies. The
governor general is the highest Spanish leader in the colonies. He has the power of
Cumplace or the power to choose law that he will implement in the country where he
was assigned, he also assigned taxes, the head of the military and the Royal Audiencia,
he had the power to give pardon for the prisoner and to decide in different issues in the
country,
The King and other officials issued royal decrees governing the Philippines through
the Ministry of Colonies (Ministro de Ultra Mar) based in Madrid. This body helped the
Spanish Monarch manage the affairs of the colonies and govern the Philippines through
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the centralized government in Manila exercising executive, legislative and religious
power.
The governor –general appointed by the Spanish King headed the central
administration. He was the king’s representative in the governmental matters and was
the Vice-royal patron over religious matters
He exercised extensive powers as the head of the state and the church
He issued executive orders and proclamations, he was the commander-in-chief of the
military and he also exercised legislative powers with his cumplase by which he could
decide law or royal decree to implement or disregard.
SPANIARDS
Encomendero (later alcalde-mayor)
(Municipality: Encomienda and later
alcalde-mayor)
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Gobernadorcillo
(pueblo/town)
INDIOS
Cabeza de Barangay
(barangay –later
disappeared into the
barrio)
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The governor general enjoyed judicial power as an ex-officio president of the Royal
Audencia. His religious duty gave him the prerogative to nominate priests to
ecclesiastical position and to control the finances of the missions
The governor general was assisted by the Lieutenant General (General Segundo Cabo)
and advisory bodies such as the Board of Authorities, Council of Administration and
Secretariat of the Central Government.
Next to the Central government was the provincial government or Alcaldias run by civil
governors, the city government called “cabildo or ayuntamiento” administered by a
mayor and vice-mayor who were both chief executives and chief judicial magistrate. It
should be noted that the above positions are occupied by the Spaniards.
The barangay or barrio headed by the “cabeza de barngay” whose main responsibility
was to collect taxes and tributes from the families. For his services, he received two
percent (2%) of the tax proceeds and four percent (4%) of the “sanctorum” or the tax
paid to the Church each year tocover the costs of three fiestas namely; All Saints day,
Holy Thursday and Corpus Christi
To ensure that the revenues collected will be submitted the cabeza’s properties were
deemed mortgaged to the state for the entire duration of his term that ran for three
years
The different religious orders had the great contribution in the establishment of
Spanish Colonial government in the country, for this reason the monastic supremacy or
frailocracia exist in the Philippines. They could influence the governor general, in effect
became the rulers of municipalities and control the different aspects of the society like
education, trading, hacienda and economy.
The regular priests (Spanish priests) were able to dominate the control in different
parishes and had the power to get parishes from secular priests (Natives who became
priests). The enemy of the church will be considered as the enemy of the government
and it is proven in the case of the three priests GOMBURZA and Jose Rizal
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Consequences of the Political Policy in the Colony
The excessive powers and privileges of the governor-general made him weak and
undisciplined. His prerogatives often gave him the opportunity to reward his favorites
and relatives and to penalize those who had displeased him. He oftentimes lacked the
moral strength to resist corruption for material advancement. He filled in some positions
in the government from the highest bidder thus many officials exploited their offices to
recover their expenses and to enrich themselves.
The provincial government where the alcalde-mayor was the administrator, judge,
military commander was the most corrupt branch of the government. He controlled the
provincial trade. He bought the people’s rice and other products at low prices and sold
them back to the natives at high prices. Moreover, he collected all the products to
complete his needed quota even in time of poor harvest or crops failure, thus leaving
the farmers with no seeds for next planting. More taxes were collected than required by
law and pocketed the excess collections.
The frequent change of colonial officials hampered the political and economic
development of the Philippines. Hardly had one governor-general begun his
administration when he was soon replaced by his successor. Naturally, no chief
executive, no matter how able and energetic he was, could accomplish much for the
colony.
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General Fernando Primo de Rivera, a governor general for 2 terms (1880-83)
(1897-98) enriched himself by acceptingbribes from gambling casinos in Manila, which
he scandalously permitted to operate.
General Valeriano Weyler (1888-1891) a cruel and corrupt gov-gen, who
arrived in Manila as poor man and returned to Spain a millionaire. He receives huge
bribes and gifts of diamond for his wife from wealthy Chinese who evaded the anti-
Chinese law. The Filipinos called him “tyrant” because of his brutal persecution of the
Calamba tenants particularly the family of Dr. Rizal. The Cubans contemptuously cursed
him as “The Butcher” because of his ruthless recon centration policy during his brief
governorship in Cuba in 1896, causing the death of thousands of Cubans
General Camilo de Polavieja (1896-97) an able militarist but heartless governor-
general was widely detested by the Filipino people for executing Dr. Jose Rizal
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B. Social Stratification
(Social System)
Peninsulares
Insulares
Creoles
Indios
The social structure was pyramidal in form with the Peninsulares occupying
the apex while the Indios or natives were placed at the base of the pyramid.
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there was no public education so the wealthy Filipinos were the ones who could
afford to have an education and the Principalia or land owners
The town ruling class composed of gobernadorcillos and cabeza de
barangay belong to the Principalia group
3. Maladministration of Justice
Legal cases could be settled if it is advantageous to the mestizos
and if money was involved in the trial. Hence legal proceedings were
costly and only those who have much could afford the trial while the
rest, pleaded guilty and suffered the punishment imposed even if the
accused was innocent. More so, in many instances, decisions were
delayed and the people were burdened by the injustice of the court
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4. Human Rights denied to Filipinos (natives)
The Spanish Constitution of 1812 let the people enjoy their freedom of
speech, freedom of the press, freedom of association and other human
rights except freedom of religion (Zaide &Zaide, 2011)
These rights were practiced not only in the Mother Spain but also
among its colonies, Sad to say, that in the Philippines as part of its
colony were denied of these rights most especially to the natives. With
this, Sinilbaldo de Mas, a Spanish economist and diplomat uttered
these words: Why do we fall into an anomaly such as combining our
claim for liberty for ourselves, and our wish impose our law on remote
people? Why do we deny to others the benefits which we desire for our
fatherland? (Capino et al, 1977)
The alibata was replaced by the Abecedario of the Spaniards. The first
book printed in the country was the Doctrina Christiana en letra y lengua china
also centered in the spresd of Catholicism in the country. Painting was also
secularized because of the Synod of Calasiao in 1773 which ordered that
painters should use the concepts of the church and they are only allowed to
have other subjects after 10 years.
In terms of dwellings the simple bahay kubo became stone house with
different divisions and parts. The Sala for the receiving of visitors, azotea,
banguerahan for wash room, komedor or the room for dinind and the separate
rooms for the members of the family
Guide Questions
1. What is basis of social division in the society during Rizal’s time, 19th century
Philippines?
2. What is the implication of the social ranking in the life of the natives/indios?
3. What is the implication of the socio-cultural environment in the personality of Dr. Jose
Rizal?
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C. Economic Situation
The guidelines stated that the encomiendero was just to govern/rule the
inhabitants, lands are not included in the guidelines but when they
implemented the policy in the colony lands were included. Thus after the
establishment of the taxes and the military part of the Spanish Colonial
government in the Philippines, they abolished the encomienda and convert the
land into hacienda. The natives became slaves in their own properties. They
were workers who are subjected to taxation.
What happen now to the lands of the native? Who already own the ancestral
land of the natives?
What happen to the inhabitants of the land?
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Different Socio-Economic Policies Imposed by Spaniards
1. Reduccion
The natives are forced to live in the place near the center and they could
hear the sound of the bell. This policy was implemented so that the government
and parish priest could easily monitor them and for the easy conversion to
Catholicism, The program of father Juan de Placencia lead to the creation of
the center which composed of the church the municipal hall, plaza, market and
school for each town.
2. Bandala
On the Bandala system, Filipino farmers were required to sell their harvest to
the government. They like it or not, they need it or not. they have to sell them to
the government, in exchange for a piece of paper containing a promise to pay
(promisorry note).
4. Taxation
The natives are paying different types of taxes such as follows:
a. Cedula – male and female 18 years and above will pay 8 reales every year
for the cedula
b. Sanctorum –tax for the church amounting 3 reales
c. Donativo de Zamboanga – one half real to finance the war in Mindanao
against the Muslim
d. Tribute – it may be paid in Cash or in kind
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As a sign of vassalage to Spain, the Filipinos paid tribute to the colonial
government in the island. In July 26, 1523, King Charles V decreed that Indians
who had been pacified should contribute a moderate amount in recognition of
their vassalage.
Miguel Lopez de Legazpi was first to order the payment of tribute, both in
the Visayas and Luzon. His successors followed this practice. The buwis (tribute)
consisted of two types
1. Direct taxes – which came from customs duties
2. Bandala taxes—monopolies (rentals escantadas) of special crops and
items
6. Galleon Trade
The trading system which existed in 1565 until 1815 and trading route from
Canton, China, Acapulco, Mexico and Manila. This trading policy change the
system of free trading in the Philippines where in the other nationalities like the
Chinese are free to exchange their goods with the Filipinos who had extra
goods. In the policy of Galleon Trade, a merchant could only participate in the
trading if he can afford to pay for the boletas or ticket for the Galleon trade. He
other effect of the Galleon trade are the following
a, The decrease in the production of the native industry because the alcalde
Mayor who were part of the trding imposed the planting of coconut and
abaca fibers. The farmers who could not meet the trading imposed quota
will need to pay a heavy fine.
b. The loss of profit of the local industry
c. The intercultural exchanges between the Philippine and Mexico. The
products of Mexico like cocoa, sayote, tames etc. entered the country while
the mango of the Philippines
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D. Educational System During the Spanish Regime
The religion is still the center of the educational system imposed by the
Spaniards. The primary education is usually catered by the friars, so the young
Filipino will learn the Christine Doctrine, alphabet, language, customs and policies.
Girls and boys have a separate schools and they also have different curriculums.
For Male in secondary education is the Colegio Maximo de San Ignacio founded
in1589, the College of San Idelfonso in1599, Ateneo de Municial in 1817. The
curriculum for male includes Spanish, History, Latin, Philisophy, Canon, Civil law
and Rhetoric. For Female is the Colegios of Santa Potenciana in 1591, Sta Isabel in
1632, Santa Catalina de Sena in1696, Sta. Rita College in1719, and in1868 is the
establishment of Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion Concordia. The curriculum
for females includes rules of courtesy, vocal music, language and sewing.
The educational system is also used to pacify the Filipinos and train them
in Catholicism and to follow laws imposed by the Spaniards. The Filipino
students are not allowed to speak their own dialect in school, school buildings and
other facilities are not enough for education the population of students. The
Department of Education during the Spanish could not also provide enough books
and other instructional material needed for the quality education.
The students were taught in the native dialects although there was a law
requiring the children to be taught in Spanish. The Spaniards believed that
learning Spanish would make the Filipino people to oppose Spanish rule.
Religion was the most important subject. The natives were reminded that they
had inferior intelligence and they were fit only for manual labor. The children
attended classes on the ground floor of the convent, or in a stable in the “casa real”
or in the darkest corner in the pueblo’s town hall. The friars maintained these
miserable schools to repress human intellect rather than to cultivate and develop
them.
At the end of the Spanish period, the University of Santo Tomas (UST) was
the only institution of university level in Manila. It was established in 1611 solely
for the Spaniards and meztisos. It opens its doors to Filipino students four decades
before the end of Spanish regime thus Jose Rizal and other heroes had come to
study. The official secondary schools for boys were San Juan de Letran College and
Ateneo De Manila. Secondary Education for girls was established in Manila;
pioneered by Santa Isabel College, La Concordia, Sta Catalina College, Sta Rosa and
Asilo de Lookan.
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girls, that the medium of instruction is Spanish”, the friars did not implement this
decree because they believed that if the Filipinos will be educated, it might be
inspired by new ideas of freedom and independence as well as justice.
The Filipinos(natives) must be kept in the Dark. Thus, this explained why
books read by the Filipino(native) people had to pass through rigid censorship by
church authorities as well as the government.
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Guide Questions
1. What is the center of educational system during the time of Dr. Jose Rizal?
2. What is the role of the friars (regular priests) in the 19th century educational
system?
Is there a good intention of Mother Spain (colonizer) to the colony (Philippines) in
the aspect of Education?
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