SSci7 LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL
MODULE 4: PILIPINAS, AT MUNDO: PHILIPPINES AND THE 19TH CENTURY WORLD
INTRODUCTION
● Philippines Nationalism and the Filipino
identity are the multifaceted result of the
19th Century and the formation of
national consciousness is a by-product
of a complex and conglomerate of
struggles and aspiration.
● It has been recorded that the events in
the world particularly in Europe where
Spain is located greatly affected the
conditions and changes of the
Philippines.(This is the primary reason
why it is important to discuss the
situation in the 19th Century World
(especially in Europe).)
● Several records in the past showed that
the Philippine has a certain level of
civilization contrary to the claims of the
Spaniards in the past and, though
regionalistic, Filipino had their own
respective culture distinct in every
region and peculiar to the people in the
West.
● They enjoyed freedom within their
respective Barangay (smallest unit of
government agency) but lacked a sense
of national unity due to the autonomy of
each Barangay and their unwillingness
to give in to other Barangay. Those were
the remnants of the Pre-colonial
Philippines.
● The 19th Century Philippines can be
characterized as a blend of the West
and of the native Philippines.
● The native were able to retain certain
features in their tradition despite the
years of being colonized by Spain but
the culture of corruption, injustice and
patronage politics is deeply ingrained
in the society which resulted in poverty,
miseducation, and other
disadvantageous effects in the
Philippines.
Labindao, Kyla Marie BSN 1-H
PHILIPPINES UNDER SPAIN
● The Philippines was unified as a country
(except in some parts of Mindanao)
when the Philippines was colonized by
Spain. The Philippines was a colony of
Spain for exactly 333 years.
● During these years, Roman Catholicism
was the state religion and this Spanish
legacy to the Filipino people played a
vital role in the formation of Filipino
identity and development of national
consciousness.
● The 19th Century is a period of progress
and prosperity and it was during this age
when democracy and nationalism
gained prominence. Added to that, there
were developments in the field of
science and technology as well as in
economics and politics.
● economic and political developments
that were happening in the world and
shaping up in Europe affect or influence
the Philippines either directly or
indirectly.
● Developments were the advances of
industrialization, the wide acceptance of
the concept of democracy, the spirit of
liberalism and the growing salutary
effect of nationalism. These played a
vital role in awakening the Filipino
People resulting in the increased
determination to fight for the cause of
the country.
● It shows that the Philippines has been
drawn in the global orbit because of
Spain. The Philippine had become an
important source of goods throughout
the known worlds. Their resources are
vital in maintaining the imperial power of
Spain and their influence in the world.
● while Spain wanted to maintain its
international influences, the Philippines
is experiencing destruction of culture,
complexities of national identity and
●
UNIVERSITY OF SAN AGUSTIN
 SSci7 LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL
MODULE 4: PILIPINAS, AT MUNDO: PHILIPPINES AND THE 19TH CENTURY WORLD
● discontent among people of different
social hierarchies.
PHILIPPINES AND THE WORLD
● The developments in the 19th century
world such as oil discoveries,
utilization of gasoline and electricity
as sources of energy and the
invention of the engine led to faster
and safer transportation, better
construction of roads and bridges.
● The opening of the Suez Canal – an
easier and short path for trade and
commerce led the Philippines to an
easier trade and communication with
other countries in the world.
● These changes and developments in
the world, though technological and
economic in nature, have political
implications. It means there will be
easier and faster importation of foreign
ideology (e.g. Liberalism, nationalism,
etc.) through conversations, cheaper
and accessible pamphlets, books,
etc. ranging from oral to printed media
are crucial in the awakening of the
national consciousness of the Filipinos
especially of their leaders.
● The Suez Canal paved the way for the
importation of books, magazines and
newspapers with liberal ideas from
Europe and America. Thus, this was
also instrumental to the political
awakening of the Filipino Patriots
(e.g. Rizal, Bonifacio, etc.) because they
were able to expand their perspective
and shape their nationalistic sentiments.
● The Philippines became one of the
centers for trade and commerce in the
world which resulted in progress and
prosperity enjoyed by the people
such as quality education, higher
standard of living and other
opportunities.
Labindao, Kyla Marie BSN 1-H
● The country was drawn into the orbit of
international trade which resulted in the
change in the economic and social life
of those Filipinos who eventually came
into contact with the political and
socio-economic developments in
Europe.
● The ilustrados who were educated in
Europe became interested in the
principle of democracy and the spirit
of nationalism to be implemented in
the Philippines for the Filipinos to
gain equal ascendancy and dignity
with any people on earth.
● When Rizal was in Europe he was
mainly concerned with the
nationalistic spirit of the people. He
closely observed internal reforms as
well as national projects, especially in
Germany which became strongly
unified under Bismarck.
● These series of events and progress
exposed the ilustrados (Rizal and
other Filipinos educated abroad) to
ideological development and
influences in Europe and America,
specifically the philosophies of reform to
be planted and implemented in the
Philippines.
● The democratic and nationalistic thought
of the great thinkers and the flexibility of
the church sent stimulating
undercurrents of the Philippines which
the Filipinos welcomed and the
Spaniards could no longer ignore.
● A number of economic, social, political,
and cultural changes in the country and
around the world contributed to the
formation of Rizal’s national
consciousness and his reformist
agenda.
● The liberal and progressive ideas of
Rizal, together with other reformists
(and revolutionists), stirred the
national consciousness of the native
Filipinos
UNIVERSITY OF SAN AGUSTIN
 SSci7 LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL
MODULE 4: PILIPINAS, AT MUNDO: PHILIPPINES AND THE 19TH CENTURY WORLD

● which eventually led to the Philippine ● In the Philippines, nationalist

Revolution of 1897. movements such as the Propaganda
● Rizal's contributions in the decline of Movement and the Katipunan
Spanish rule in the 19th Century is still emerged in response to Spanish
recognized until this very day. colonial rule.

The world and Philippines undergo massive 3. INDUSTRIALIZATION AND URBANIZATION

development and transformation in the 19th ● The 19th century saw the rise of
Century. These are the changes that had been industrialization and urbanization,
during this era. particularly in Europe and the United
States.
1. COLONIAL AND IMPERIALISM ● This led to significant changes in the
● The change in the continuous way people lived and worked, with many
religious and ideological aspirations, people leaving rural areas to work in
pressing economic demands and factories in cities.
complex political landscape affects
the colonial power in Europe. 4. SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL
● The continuous evangelization of ADVANCEMENTS
Christianity to the colony and
● The 19th century was a time of
vehement spread of French ideology
significant scientific and
and liberal ideas in Europe which
technological advancements,
affected Spain and eventually
particularly in Europe and the
affected the Philippines, a Spain
United States.
colony, in the proliferation of liberal
● This included the development
ideas particularly through
of the steam engine, the
Governor-General De la Torre.
telegraph, and the telephone,
● The 19th century was marked by the
which revolutionized
expansion of European colonial
transportation and
powers into Asia, Africa, and the
communication.
Americas.
● The Philippines, which had been under
5. SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CHANGES
Spanish colonial rule since the 16th
● The 19th century was also marked by
century, was also colonized by the
significant social and cultural changes,
United States in 1898.
particularly in Europe and the United
● Colonialism had a profound impact on
States.
the social, economic, and political
● This included the rise of feminism and
systems of the Philippines and other
women's suffrage movements, as well
colonized countries.
as changes in the way people viewed
religion, art, and literature.
2. NATIONALISM AND REVOLUTION
● The 19th century was also a period of
rising nationalism and anti-colonial
movements.

Labindao, Kyla Marie BSN 1-H UNIVERSITY OF SAN AGUSTIN