SSci7 LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL

MODULE 3: PILIPINAS, ESPANYA, AT BUHAY SA KOLONYA (PHILIPPINES IN 19TH CENTURY)

INTRODUCTION
● Rizal was born in the middle of the 19th became part of the norm of the society
Century and accepted as a way of seeing things
● The Philippines was highly feudal at that and manner of daily activities and
time where there was a relationship interaction.
between the landlord (Spaniards & ● n. The main purpose of it is to maintain
Criollos) and tenants (non-Spaniards – the status quo of subjugation of the
mestizo, indio, etc.) native and put the Spaniards,
● It was also during this time that there particularly the friars and government
was decline in Spain's imperial power officials, to the highest pedestal of the
especially to her colonies due to Spain's society with all the power, prestige and
inability to adapt with changes of the resources.
time especially in the change
socio-economic demand in the industrial 19TH CENTURY PHILIPPINE SOCIAL HIERARCHY
era.
● There was a repetitive pattern of abuse
and exploitation from the group of
people in the higher strata to the people
who are in the lowest hierarchy
● It was characterized by systemic racial
discrimination and lack of socio-political
awareness as a byproduct of limited
education administered by the Spaniard

SOCIAL STRUCTURE
● In the 19th Century there was a form of
Caste System where there is no or little
● On top of the hierarchy are favored
social mobility where the structure
classes while the lower in the rank the
favors the Spaniard and highly
least favored given to that class
disadvantageous to the Indios where
(especially the Indio).
most of the Land is owned by the
● There is a norm of abuse and
Spaniards especially the Friars.
exploitation towards the natives (Indio –
● According to Romero, Romana &
lowest the caste system) and favor
Santos (2006) the 19th Century
towards the Spaniards especially the
Philippines Society is characterized by a
Peninsulares (Spaniards born in
"master-slave" relationship between the
Spain) and Friar ingrained in the
Spaniards and the Filipinos where the
system. In between them are the
The Spaniards exacted all forms of
favored native (those indios is favored
taxes and tributes, and drafted the
by the Spanish Government or/and
natives for manual labor. As a result, it
Friars due to benefits that can derived
created an environment highly favorable
from the favored natives), Criollos
to the rich and exploitation to the poor
(Spanish born outside Spain or born
where the poor had little chance to
in the Philippines), Mestizos (people
improve their standard of living.
who had been born with mixed races
● This structure was planned by the
such Spanish and Native, Chinese
colonial government which eventually

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

 SSci7 LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL
MODULE 3: PILIPINAS, ESPANYA, AT BUHAY SA KOLONYA (PHILIPPINES IN 19TH CENTURY)
● and Native, and other similar
offspring)
● It was a practice that Peninsular were
given the highest position in the colonial
government while Criollos were given
second importance and the native
(indios) were highly discriminated and
exploited, even regarded as slaves.
GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE OF THE 19TH CENTURY
PHILIPPINES
● Spain governed the Philippines through
a centralized machinery exercising
executive, legislative, judicial, and
religious powers.
● GOVERNOR GENERAL
- Appointed by the Spanish
monarch headed the central
administration in Manila.
- King's representative in all state
and religious matters and as
such he exercised extensive
powers.
- He could disregard or Suspend
any law or royal decree from
Spain
- He enjoyed judicial powers.
Labindao, Kyla Marie BSN 1-H
● It only shows how powerful the
Governor General was in the 19th
Century. Philippines. Instead of
governing for the benefit of all, he gave
prizes to those whom he liked and
punished those whom he did not which
make the Governor General partial to
his favored people.
● The rank of Governor General is only
given to Peninsulares.
● Despite the discrimination received by
the natives, they were still allowed to
hold office from Gobernadorcillo down
to Cabesa de Barangay.
● The Gobernadorcillo was the chief
executive and chief judge of a town
elected at the beginning of every year
by a board composed of members of
the town principalia, a body of citizens
of high standing, usually made up of the
incumbent or former cabeza de
barangay.
● We knew that the Barangay is the
smallest division of government (even
today) where the head of the Barangay
is called the Cabeza de Barangay
whose primary function is to collect
taxes and to preserve peace in the
barangay.
FORMATION OF PHILIPPINE NATIONALISM IN THE
19TH CENTURY
● There were series and
systematic of abuses and
exploitation in the daily lives
experienced by the Filipino
People (Criollos, Meztisos, and
Natives) ranges from taxes,
lands, education, up to justice
system
● the following are significant
events in the 19th Century
which led to the formation the
Philippines Nationalism and
these were:
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 SSci7 LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL
MODULE 3: PILIPINAS, ESPANYA, AT BUHAY SA KOLONYA (PHILIPPINES IN 19TH CENTURY)
1. Liberal Administration of Governor
General Carlos Maria Dela Torre
2. Conservative Administration of
Governor General Rafael Izquirdo
3. Cavite Mutiny
4. Execution of the three Priest
LIBERAL ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR GENERAL
CARLOS MARIA DELA TORRE
● The Spanish Monarch was overthrown
in Spain in 1868 and was shortly
replaced by liberal government.
● The colonies were able to experience a
life in a liberal government which
encouraged exercise of the fundamental
rights of the people such as freedom
expression and of the press, freedom
to form union and association, and
assembly, exercise the right to vote
and voted in office, encourage
political discussion and other forms
liberal expression and these are the
reforms initiated by Gov. Gen. Dela
Torre.
● He also supported the secularization
movement (a movement which gave
equal chance to the Filipino to
administer and lead the parishes).
● He even exempted the Filipino Soldiers
and Laborers in Cavite from falla – a
privilege given to them which exempt
them from polo y servicio (forced
labor) and paying of tribute (penalty of
not rendering services in a forced labor).
● These reforms were highly welcomed
and promoted by the Filipino Military
Personnel and leaders of the
secularization movement (Mariano
Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto
Zamora).
● The taste of a liberal administration and
its reforms were short lived because of
the reinstallation of the Spanish
● leaders of the revolution.
Labindao, Kyla Marie BSN 1-H
● Monarch in Spain and replacement of
Dela Torre by Izquierdo.
CONSERVATIVE ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR
GENERAL RAFAEL IZQUIERDO
● Due to what happened in Spain, Dela
Torre was replaced by Izquierdo, a
conservative governor.
● During this administration, he abolished
all the liberal reforms of Dela Torre and
returned the censorship of expression,
prohibited political discussion, put to halt
the secularization movement and
abolished the exemption and privileges
of the Filipino Soldiers and Laborers.
● The ghost of comparison took place in
this era where Filipinos were able to
identify that policies of Izquierdo are
oppressive due to their experiences in
the Liberal administration of Dela Torre.
CAVITE MUTINY
● The abolition of privileges enjoyed by
the Filipino soldiers and laborers in
Cavite led them to revolt against the
Colonial Government and seize the
control of Cavite Arsenal composed of
more or less 200 Filipino Soldiers led
by Sergeant La Madrid in January 20,
1872.
● The uprising was short-lived because
the Spanish reinforcement gained
control of the Cavite in a few days and it
was unsuccessful where most of the
participants were executed.
● Izquierdo believed that the mutiny was a
national uprising where the three priests
were the head of the uprising.
EXECUTION OF THREE PRIESTS
● The Cavite Mutiny was used by the Friar
and Spanish officials to indict the three
priests and accused them of being the
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 SSci7 LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL
MODULE 3: PILIPINAS, ESPANYA, AT BUHAY SA KOLONYA (PHILIPPINES IN 19TH CENTURY)

● This is their way to put to halt

the secularization movement in
the Philippines and silence
those who will do the same.
● Despite a lack of evidence, the
three priests were arrested and
put to trial.
● They were garrotted as
punishment for “instigating an
uprising they committed”.
● They used the three priests as a
deterrence to those who go
against the Spanish Authority.
● Instead of cowed, they were
determined and realized that
they have a common enemy
and that is the Spaniards.
● Edmund Plauchut conducted
an investigation of root causes
and reasons of the uprising. He
identified taxes and forced labor
(where they are previously
exempted) were the factor
which prompted the cavite
mutineers to seize the Cavite
arsenal and not frailocracy as
asserted by Governor-General
Izquierdo.
● According to Scholars
particularly historians, the
Cavite Mutiny and the Execution
of the GOMBURZA inspired the
Filipino in different strata to fight
against the oppressor and the
beginning of Philippine
Nationalism which eventually
led to the freedom of the Filipino
People.

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