CHAPTER 2: THE PHILIPPINES IN THE --Furthermore, the fast tempo of

NINETEENTH CENTURY AS RIZAL’S CONTEXT economic progress in the Philippines

INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION during the 19th century facilitated
--The industrial revolution is by Industrial Revolution resulted to
basically an economic revolution the rise to a new breed of rich and
which started with the invention of influential Filipino middle class.
steam engine and resulted to the use Non-existent in previous centuries,
of machinery in the manufacturing this class, composed of Spanish and
sector in the cities of Europe. It Chinese mestizos rose to a position
has changed the economy of Europe of power in the Filipino community
from feudalism—an economic system and eventually became leaders in
which relied on land and finance and education (Agoncillo
agriculture--to capitalism which 1990: 129-130). This class included
relied on machinery and wage labor. the ilustrados who belonged to the
The merchants of Europe who became landed gentry and who were highly
rich through trade became the early respected in their respective pueblos
capitalists of this emerging economy. or towns, though regarded as
Farmers from rural areas migrated to filibusteros or rebels by the friars.
the cities and became industrial --The relative prosperity of the
workers while their wives remained as period has enabled them to send their
housekeepers at home in what Karl sons to Spain and Europe for higher
Marx’s characterized as the first studies. Most of them later became
instance of the domestication of members of freemasonry and active in
women. the Propaganda Movement. Some of them
--The Industrial Revolution that sensed the failure of reformism and
started in Europe had repercussions turned to radicalism, and looked up
to the Philippine economy. A radical to Rizal as their leader (PES
transformation of the economy took 1993:239)
place between the middle of the --Lastly, safer, faster and more
eighteenth century and the middle of comfortable means of transportation
the nineteenth; something that might such as railways and steamships were
almost be called an agricultural constructed. The construction of
revolution, with a concomitant steel bridges and the opening of Suez
development of agricultural Canal opened shorter routes to
industries and domestic as well as commerce. Faster means of
foreign trade (De la Costa 1965: communications enable people to have
159). better contacts for business and
--The economic opportunities created trade. This resulted to closer
by the Industrial Revolution had communication between the Philippines
encouraged Spain in 1834 to open the and Spain and to the rest of the
Philippine economy to world commerce. world in the 19th century (Romero
As a result, new cities and ports 1978: 16).
were built. Foreign firms increased THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
rapidly. Foreigners were allowed to --If the Industrial Revolution
engage in manufacturing and changed the economic landscape of
agriculture. Merchant banks and Europe and of the Philippines,
financial institutions were also another great Revolution changed
established. their political tone of the period—
--The British and Americans improved the French Revolution. The French
agricultural machinery for sugar revolution (1789-1799) started a
milling and rice hulling and political revolution in Europe and in
introduced new methods of farming. some parts of the world. This
The presence of these foreign traders revolution is a period of political
stimulated agricultural production, and social upheaval and radical
particularly sugar, rice, hemp, and— change in the history of France
once the government monopoly was during which the French governmental
removed in 1882—tobacco. Indeed, the structure was transformed from
abolition of restrictions on foreign absolute monarchy with feudal
trade has produced a balanced and privileges for the rich and clergy to
dynamic economy of the Philippines a more democratic government form
during the 19th century (Maguigad & based on the principles of
Muhi 2001: 46; Schumacher 1997: 17). citizenship and inalienable rights.
With the overthrow of monarchial THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
rule, democratic principles of Finally, the American Revolution,
Liberty, Equality and Fraternity--the though not directly affecting the
battle cry of the French Revolution-- local economy and politics of the
started to spread in Europe and Philippines in the nineteenth
around the world. century, hadimportant repercussions
--Not all democratic principles were to democratic aspirations of the
spread as a result of the French Filipino reformist led by Rizal
Revolution. The anarchy or political during this period. The American
disturbance caused by the revolution Revolution refers to the political
had reached not only in upheaval during the last half of the
neighboring countries of France, it 18th century in which the 13 colonies
has also reached Spain in the 19th of North America overthrew the rule
century. Spain experienced a of the British Empire and
turbulent century of political rejected the British monarchy to make
disturbances during this era which the United States of American a
included numerous changes in sovereign nation. In this period the
parliaments and constitutions, the colonies first rejected the authority
Peninsular War, the loss of Spanish British Parliament to govern without
America, and the struggle between representation, and formed self-
liberals and conservatives (De la governing independent states. The
Costa 1965: 159). Moreover, radical American revolution had given the
shifts in government structure were world in the 19th century the idea
introduced by liberals in the that colonized people can gain their
motherland. From 1834 to 1862, for independence from their colonizers.
instance, a brief span of only 28 --The Americans were able to
years, Spain had four constitutions, overthrow their British colonial
28 parliaments, and 529 ministers masters to gain independence and the
with portfolio (Zaide 1999: 203). All status of one free nation-state. This
these political changes in Spain had significant event had reverberated in
their repercussions in the Europe and around the world and
Philippines, cracking the fabric of inspired others to follow.
the old colonial system and Indirectly, the American Revolution
introducing through cracks perilous had in a way inspired Filipino
possibilities of reform, of equality reformists like Rizal to aspire for
and even emancipation” (De la Costa freedom and independence. When the
1965: 159). Philippines was opened by Spain to
--Because of this political turmoil world trade in the 19th century,
in the motherland, the global power liberal ideas from America borne by
of the “Siglo de Oro of Spain in the ships and men from foreign ports
sixteenth century as the mistress of began to reach the country and
the world with extensive territories influenced the ilustrados. These
had waned abroad in the nineteenth ideas, contained in books and
century. Her colonies had gained newspapers, were ideologies of the
momentum for independence owing to American and French Revolutions and
the cracks in political leadership in the thoughts of Montesquieu,
the motherland. In fact, Cuba, a Rousseau, Voltaire, Locke, Jefferson,
colony of Spain, was waging a and other political philosophers
revolution against Spain when Rizal (Zaide 1999: 214)
volunteered to discontinue his exile --Rizal’s time was deemed to be the
in Dapitan to work as volunteer height of the maladministration of
doctor there in order for him to Spain and its decay that obscured the
observe the revolution. Philippine skies. The Filipino people
--The divided power of Spain was suffered intensely beneath the
triggered by successive change of bondage of Spanish misrule for they
regimes due to the democratic were ill-fated victims of the evil,
aspiration created by the French injustices, prejudices and sudden
Revolution. This aspiration had collapse of colonial power.
inspired colonies under Spain and The abuses and injustices made by the
Portugal to revolt in order to gain Spanish officials were as follows...
independence from their colonial •Instability of Colonial
masters in the 19th century. Administration
• Corrupt Spanish Officials
• No Philippine Representation to the
Spanish Cortes
• Human Rights Denied to
Filipinos
• No Equality before the law
• Mal-administration of Justice
• Racial Discrimination
• Frailocracy and Secularization
Filipino Priests
• Force Labor and Excessive taxes
• Haciendas owned by Friars and
Spanish Officials
THE RISE OF FILIPINO NATIONALISM
The malpractices of Spanish officials
gave rise to Filipino nationalism and
nationalism is not a product of a
sudden outburst of sentiment. It is
brought about by certain factors that
gradually develop. It is like a seed
nourished by common ideals
aspiration for national unity. Here
are the following factors:
1. Racial Prejudice - The Spaniards
commonly regarded the Filipino
natives as belonging to the “inferior
race” and arrogantly called them
“indios”. The actions
discrimination made by Spanish people
created an impact that the Filipinos
started to revolt.
2. Influx of Liberal Ideas - In view
of the fact that the opening of
Philippines to world trade,
Philippines was exposed
international commerce, liberal ideas
filtered in. The thoughts
Montesque, Rousseau, Voltaire,
Jefferson, and Locke were made known
through books and periodicals brought
into the country by men from foreign
ports (SUEZ CANAL)
3. Secularization of the Church - The
Council of Trent (1545-63) affirmed
that secular priest be appointed to
administer the parishes in
colony. In 1567, Pope Pius V issued
the Exponi Nobis, which allowed the
regular clergy to serve as parish
priest without diocesan authorization
and be exempted from bishop’s
authority.
3.1 Secularization Movement
Two kinds of priests that served the
Catholic Church in the Philippines
“Regular priests , Secular priests”
4. The Polo or Forced Labor - In
addition to the tribute, the Polo or
forced labor is another Spanish that
had created discontent among the
indios during the Spanish times. The
word “polo” is actually a corruption
of the Tagalog pulong, originally
meaning “meeting of persons and
things” or “community labor”.
the 5. Cavite Mutiny - In 1868, a
revolution led by the liberals in
Spain deposed Queen Isabella II and
gave rise to the Provisional Republic
of Spain. With the victory of the
Spanish Revolution, many colonial
officials with democratic ideals were
sent to Manila, which included Gov.
Gen. Carlos De La Torre in 1869.
--The mutiny was used by the Spanish
officials to implicate the liberal
critics of the government. Rumors
were gradually spread and led in to
the abduction of 3 Priests, they were
Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos,
and Jacinto Zamora. They were
sentenced todeath by garrote on
and February 17, 1872.
--The decline of the Spanish rule in
the 19th century and the popularity
of Rizal and his reform agenda were
products of an interplay of various
economic, social, political and
cultural forces both in the global
and and local scale. The three great
revolutions, namely:
Industrial, French and American as
well the birth of the social sciences
and liberal ideas had gradually
secularized societies in the 19th
century and thereby weakened the
to influence of religion in people’s
mind, especially the well-educated
of reformists and ilustrados. The
political turmoil in Spain caused by
the rapid change of leadership and
struggle between conservatives and
liberals had also weakened the
Spanish administration in the
Philippines. Although the influence
of the Catholic Church in the 19 th
century led by the friars had not
the diminished, the liberal and
progressive ideas of Rizal and the
reformists had already awakened the
nationalist sentiment of the natives
that soon became the catalyst for
political change in the late 19th
century.
Garrote: Is a weapon, most often
referring to a handheld ligature of
chain, rope, scarf, and wire or
fishing line used to strangle a
person.
 labor of all Filipino males from 16
19th CENTURY PHILIPPINES AS RIZAL’S to 60 years old for 40-day periods.
CONTEXT --The workers could be placed on
--era of challenges and responses any project the Spanish wanted,
--period of major changes that despite hazardous or unhealthy
affect man and society conditions.
--Age of Enlightenment. GALLEON TRADE
FRAMEWORK OF REFERENCE: --The Galleon Trade was a
1. POLITICAL CONTEXT government monopoly. Only two
2. ECONOMIC CONTEXT galleons were used:
3. SOCIO-CULTURAL CONTEXT --One sailed from Acapulco to
POLITICAL CONTEXT Manila with some 500,000 pesos
THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR worth of goods, spending 120 days
(1861 – 1865) at sea;
--the political upheaval during the --the other sailed from Manila to
last half of the 18th century Acapulco with some 250,000 pesos
--The Americans were able to worth of goods spending 90 days at
overthrow their British colonial sea.
masters to gain independence and INDULTO DE COMMERCIO
the status of one free nation- --privilege of provincial governors
state. to engage in and monopolize trade
THE FRENCH REVOLUTION TAXATION
(1779-1789) --Tithe – payment of the 10% of an
--Liberty, equality, fraternity individual’s annual income to the
--the struggle between liberals and government.
conservatives --Sanctorum – the tax being paid as
FRAILOCRACY support to the church.
--the Spanish friars were so --Tribute –the tax or rent given to
influential and powerful that they the landlord a resident is under.
practically ruled the Philippines. SOCIO-CULTURAL CONTEXT
--‘real conquistadors’ SOCIAL PYRAMID
--Spanish priests was feared and --Peninsulares- full-blooded white
obeyed by the people, and was often Spaniards who were born and raised
kissed on the hands as a sign of in the Iberian Peninsula during the
respect and of his great influence. Spanish colonial rule in the
ECONOMIC CONTEXT Philippines.
THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION --Insulares- full-blooded Spaniards
--this generally applied to the born in the colonies) born in the
extraordinary transformation in the Philippines or the Marianas.
methodof:production, --Spanish Mestizos- people of mixed
transportation, communication. native Filipino and any foreign
--through the substitution of ancestry.
manual labor to machine. --Principalia- the ruling and
ENCOMIENDA SYSTEM usually educated upper class in the
--a form of forced and unpaid towns of colonial Philippines.
labour used by Spanish authorities --Chinese Mestizos- any person born
and settlers in the colonies of the of a Chinese father and an Indio
Spanish Empire. mother.
--the Europeans were expected to --Chinese- Sangleyes (which meant
give military protection to the “businessmen”or“frequent
labourers and offer them the visitors”).
opportunity to be converted to --Indios- native born inhabitants
Christianity by funding a parish of the Philippine islands.
priest. PHILIPPINE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
POLO Y SERVICIO 1855 -- Spain realized the need of
--was a practice employed by establishing a system of public
Spanish colonizers for over 250 education for the Indios.
years that required the forced --Gov. Gen. Domingo Crespo
organized a Commission and
recommended remedial measures to
improve elementary education.
1861 --the Commission completed its
report and forwarded it to Spain.
1863 --the Educational Decree of
1863 was issued.
PROVISIONS OF EDUCATIONAL
DECREE OF 1863
1. Establishments of Teacher
Training School.
2. Government supervises the public
school system.
3. Use of Spanish as medium of
instruction in all schools.
4. Establishment of one primary
schools for boys and for girls in
each of major town.
DEFECTS OF EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
--Emphasis on Religion
--Absence of Academic Freedom
--Racial Discrimination
--Limited Curriculum
The abuses and injustices made by
the Spanish officials:
 Instability of Colonial
Administration
 Corrupt Spanish Officials
 No Philippine Representation to
the Spanish Cortes
 Human Rights Denied to the
Filipinos
 No Equality before the law
 Mal-administration of Justice
 Racial Discrimination
 Frailocracy and Secularization
Filipino Priests
 Force Labor and Excessive taxes
 Haciendas owned by Friars and
Spanish Officials