GEN004: Readings in Philippine History
LESSON 7: Responses to Colonization: Resistance Against the
Spaniards
• Arrival and subsequent conquest of Miguel Lopez de
Legazpi and the Spaniards disrupted the way of living of
our pre-colonia societies.
• Institutions were imposed to further the Spaniard’s
political and economic gains
• Institutions resulted to suffering, poverty, and death of
natives, frustration, and bitterness.
• Previously enjoyed rights and freedoms of the barangays
were extinguished as a new social order was created.
• Colorful belief systems of the ancestors were displaced
because of the imposition of Catholic faith.
• Initially hoped friendship turned out to be a system of
oppression.
• As the natives soon understood the dark future they
would have under Spain, they began to fight.
Sporadic Uprisings
• Legazpi’s arrival in Manila in 1571 was welcomed by the
resistance of a brave nameless warrior from Macabebe,
Pampanga who went to Tondo with his men to fight the
Spanish colonizers.
o He never cowered in fear.
o “Man the sun split my body in twain, and
may I fall in disgrace before my women for
them to hate me, if I ever became for a
moment friend to the Castillans.”
o Became a symbol of resistance despite
death and unknown persona.
o Even Spaniards admired him for his bravery.
• 200 revolts broke out in the Philippines during
Spanish colonization.
o May be sporadic and small-scale but they all
represent the resistance of people against
oppression.
General Themes that caused Revolts
• Led by former datus
o Due to the new social order brought by
Spaniards
o Their influence was downgraded when the
Spaniards took over the barangays.
o From being leaders, they became mere
officers of the colonizers in implementing their
policies
o Some datus continued to receive privileges
because of their allegiance, but there were
some who wanted to return to the glory of pre-
colonial days
1. Lakandula ad Soliman
▪ 2 influential datus of Manila that revolted in
1574
▪ Their families have privileges before the
death of Legazpi
▪ They received compensations, retained their
family names, kept their lands, and
exempted from polo y servicio
▪ When Legazpi died, successor Governor-
General Guido de Lavezaris confiscated their
lands.
• He also tolerated the oppression
of the people under the 2 datus
o This triggered the 2 datus
to organize revolt
▪ The Spaniards successfully thwarted the
attempt by earning the trust of the 2 y
returning their lands.
2. Tondo Conspiracy of 1857
▪ Led by datus of Manila who were blood-
related
▪ Leaders were serious that they solicited
assistance of their relatives in Borneo and a
Japanese captain, Juan Gayo, who would
provide weapons in exchange of payment.
▪ Revolt failed since one datu betrayed the
others to the Spaniards
▪ Main conspirators were executed and some
were banished to faraway lands
▪ Properties and privileges of datus were
confiscated and ended
• Religious in nature
o Another dominant theme of revolts
o Some resistance were led by babaylans
o Babaylan’s influence dwindled in society
because of the Christianity.
o Some continued to practice and preach their
polytheistic beliefs, but they were no match to
how the Catholic friars controlled the minds
and souls of the natives
o Babaylans lost their prestige and meand of
income
1. Tamblot from Bohol
▪ Convinced people to abandon Christianity
using magic and religion
▪ Guaranteed that the diwatas would protect
and support his followers
▪ His uprising was crushed by Spaniards using
people from neighboring islands of Bohol
▪ His uprising inspired another datu
2. Bankaw and some babaylans
▪ Attracted people to abandon Christianity and
fight Spaniards using magic and faith to
diwatas
▪ Uprising failed
3. Hermano Pule
▪ Most well-known religious revolts
GEN004: Readings in Philippine History
▪ Led by Apolinario de la Cruz of Tayabas
• Advocated religious freedom
• Formed a religion, “Cofradia de San Jose,”
which worshipped Saint Joseph
• Religion also served as a nationalist
organization exclusive for Filipinos only
• Had their own se of rituals, prayers, and
officers
• Thousands of people from nearby
provinces joined
• Not in line with catholic teachings of
friars, so the Spanish authorities saw this
as heresy and ordered the quelling
• Members fought until the end which
resulted to death of most members and
execution of Pule
▪ • Cordillera region was, and still, rich in
• Reaction to Spanish-imposed institutions
o Major revolts were motivated by desire of
people to end the oppression caused by
institutions imposed like polo y servicio,
bandala, and buwis
1. Maniago Revolt of 1660 in Pampanga
▪ Led by Francisco Maniago
▪ Root cause: Maniago’s opposition to polo y
servicio, which forced men of Pampanga to
contruct Spanish galleons
▪ Also opposed bandala
▪ Revolt was successfully ended by the
Spaniards by addressing Maniago’s concerns
2. Andres Malong’s uprising in Pangasinan 1660
▪ Invited the people to join his crusade to end
Spanish oppression
▪ Declared himself king of Pangasinan, due to
Multiple Reasons to Explain Failure
the dumber of his followers gined
▪ Was no match to the training and expertise
in warfare of Spaniards
▪ Troops were overcome and he was executed
3. Silang Couple’s Rebellion in Ilocos Region
▪ Diego Silang suggested to Spanish authorities
that buwis should be abolished
• He was imprisoned, as a result
• After release, he sought support of
people to fight Spaniards
• Was assassinated by Spanish agent
• His efforts were continued y his wife,
Gabriela Silang
▪ Gabriela and her forces were defeated
• She was captured and executed with
her followers
4. Dagohoy Rebellion 1744-1829
▪ Longest uprising in Philippine history
▪ Initially started with a personal motivation
▪ Dagohoy was furious when a friar, Father
Gaspar Morales, refused to provide Christian
burial to his brother
• this injustice led Dagohoy to organize
his fellow Boholanos to fight Spanish
oppression
▪ Even after Dagohoy’s death, the uprising
continued
▪ Rebellion ended in failure
• Indigenous peoples’ responses
o They were also active in resisting Spanish
intrusion to their way of living
1. Igorot Revolt in 1601 in Cordillera
▪ 2 motives of Spaniards why they wanted to
subjugate the Igorots:
• They wanted to Christianize them
gold
▪ Group of Christian missionaries sent who
aimed to covert people in their area was killed
by Igorots
▪ This act of resistance showed they were
against Christianization
▪ Spaniards sent larger force backed with
residents from Pampanga and Pangasinan to
enslave the Igorots and capture their territory
▪ Spaniards failed
▪ 3000 Igorot warriors fought bravely and
defeated Spaniards
• Despite numerous attempts, an overwhelming number
of revolts against Spaniards failed
o Some succeeded but they were not able to kick
Spain from its power
• Geography of the Philippines hindered the creation o
a single national identity.
o The country is archipelagic, so the people
residing were conditioned to think and live as
if they were distinct groups of people living in
separate islands
o Separation caused lack of communication,
common language, and bond among people
o People thought they only existed based on
their regional allegiance like being Tagalog,
Bisaya, Waray, Igorot, or Moro
o There were no collective and synchronized
effort to combat Spanish colonization
• Lack of national unity
o There were regional conflicts
o Due to the people’s division, Spaniards were
efficient in using divide-and-conquer strategy
o Filipino fought against Filipino
GEN004: Readings in Philippine History
• Spaniards had superior military technology and o Realizing the benefit of trading, Spain
expertise to suppress uprisings opened Philippines to international trade
o Filipinos had superior numbers but the Spanish in 1834
forces were more disciplined and trained ▪ Brought an unprecedented
o Spanish military were properly equipped with economic development to
strategy for warfare Manila and neighboring areas
o There was disparity in weaponry ▪ Led to greater demands for raw
▪ Filipinos used outdated weapons materials (rice, sugar, tobacco,
▪ Spaniards use firing weapons and abaca)
cannons ▪ More and more people engaged
in economic activities like selling
Regardless of the successive failures, the efforts shown by our goods, providing services, and
ancestors were significant. It proved that the Filipino people investing in agriculture
were not docile individuals willing to submit eagerly to the ▪ Industries were opened (hotels,
yoke of oppression. newspaper printing,
LESSON 8: The Rise of Filipino Nationalism: Formation of the entertainments to cater the
Filipino Identity flourishing demands of the
people
• Lack of national unity ▪ Increase in trading activities led
▪ Reason behind the failure of the revolts to overall increase in economic
against Spaniards activities which facilitated the
▪ Caused absence of a coordinated effort to interaction and communication
fight against Spaniards among people from various
▪ Ended as 19th century arrived islands
• Revolts were sporadic ▪ Economic development
▪ Happened in different places and time with benefitted groups of people who
different motivations transformed into “middle class”
• There was no “Filipino” identity during the pre-colonial • Consists of mestizos and
period until the start of the 19th century principalias
▪ Natives never thought of themselves as a ▪ Since they have the resources,
part of a group of people (Filipinos) they seized the opportunity of
• Term “Filipinos” during the most parts of the Spanish the economic development to
occupation generally referred to the Insulares enrich themselves
(Spaniards born in the Philippines) ▪ They opened up commercial
• Indios establishments and produce
▪ Native population export crops that were in
▪ Spanish only call indios as Filipinos when they demand
needed a differentiation between the other ▪ From being mestizos and
indios of the Spanish colonies in South princpalias, they became group
America of rich entrepreneurs and
▪ Term used to refer to all colonized middlemen
population • This enable them to
• Native population also referred to themselves as provide their children
members of their regions: Bisaya, Waray, Tagalog, with formal education
Moro, Maranao, etc. • Most families sent their
sons to Europe to study
Factors that Gave Birth to the Formation of Filipino Identity
o There was already a possibility that the
• Impact of the opening of the Philippines to the world people would be educated, which entailed
commerce the possibility of people breaking free
o Spain had the monopoly of natural from the ignorance from the Spanish
resources in the country since they feared authorities perpetuated to control the
that other countries might defeat them population
through an economic competition if they o Students became exposed to ideas in
engage into trading activities Europe which made them realize the
GEN004: Readings in Philippine History
various social issues that needed to be
addressed in the Philippines
o They formed Propaganda Movement
o They would be the catalyst in opening the
eyes of the people to the oppression of
the Spanish authorities while also
promoting a new national identity
o These activities solidified the formation of
Filipino Identity
o Opening up of the Philippines also led to
different political ideas from Europe
o Travelling of goods, people, and ideas
from Europe was made easer by the
opening of Suez Canal in 1869.
▪ Waterway that connected the
Mediterranean Sea to Red Sea, which
entailed shorter and faster route
• One of the ideas entered the country was European
liberalism
▪ Calls for equality, freedom, and
justice
▪ Philosophy that emphasized the
importance of individual rights and
freedoms
▪ Arrival of libera ideas coincided with
opportunity of education people had.
▪ This opened the eyes of the people of
the atrocities and abuses committed
by the Spaniards against them.
▪ By this time, they were already aware
of their inherent rights as human
beings
▪ They knew they weren’t just indios
who ought to serve the Spaniards but
human beings who deserve to be free
and live harmoniously in a just society
• Spain sent in 1869 a new governor-general who
adhered to liberal ideas – Governor-General Carlos
Maria de la Torre
▪ Initiated reforms in the Philippines
which earned him respect and
adoration of the Filipinos
▪ He pushed proclamation of freedom
of speech and abolishment of press
censorship
▪ Opened his office to dialogues with
reform and libera-minded people
who advocated for changes in the
country.
▪ His short-lived tenure as a governor-
general gave the people a taste of
humane government.
• There was rampancy of discrimination against indios
who were located at the bottom by the Spaniards who
were at the top.
o Discriminatory treatment facilitated common
bond among oppressed people, since they
suffered the same fate
o Their collective experiences from the cruelties
done by the Spaniards led them to forge a
bond with one another.
o They were slowly thinking that they belonged
to a specific group separate from the
Spaniards.
• One of the most significant event that helped the
formation of Filipino identity was the execution of the
three martyr priests: Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos,
Jacinto Zamora (GomBurZa)
• Two kinds of priests during Spanish period:
o Regulars
▪ Handling the parishes
▪ Economically and politically powerful
in the areas where their parishes are
located
o Secular
▪ New set of priests
▪ Mostly “indios”
▪ Also given parishes to control
▪ Regular preists saw the emergence of the
seculars as a threat to their control of the
country given that they are indios
▪ By 19th century, there was growing
clamor of secular priests for equal rights
and opportunity for both regulars and
seculars (secularization movement) in
serving the church.
▪ Mariano Gomez and Pedro Burgos
▪ Seculars fighting to the reforms
▪ They earned the hostilities of the
more powerful Spanish friars
o Cavite Mutiny of 1872
▪ Uprising organized by soldiers in
Cavite
▪ Due to a sudden decrease in their
wages
▪ Ended in failure
▪ Three priests were suspected as the
mastermind:
• Gomez
• Burgos
• Zamora
▪ They were arrested and
declared guilty despite
not being involved
▪ Father Zamora was not
even an advocate of the
GEN004: Readings in Philippine History
secularization, he was
just a priest who loved
gambling.
▪ The reason they were
declared guilty: they
were seen as threats by
Spanish friars to their
position:
o Gomez and Burgos
were staunch
reform advocates
that endangered
the political and
economic interests
of the Spanish friars
▪ They were executed by
garrote in Bagumbayan
▪ Their deaths led to public
outcry among the newly
formed middle class
▪ It made people realize
that the enemy was not
only the church, the
Spaniards themselves
were the specific reason
of oppression
o The execution of the 3 priests was a wake-up
call for the indios to demand more reforms
o These factors joined together to foster unity
among the people, which led to the creation of
“Filipino” identity
o They started to see the common things that
unite them.
o The formation of Filipino identity fostered
unity among the previously disconnected
groups of people.
o This unity became a driving force in struggle
against colonization
o The Filipino identity was only limited to
Christian population residing in the lowland
areas of the country
▪ They were the first ones to form this
identity on the basis that they were
most affected by the Spanish
occupation
o The indigenous people and the Muslim
inhabitants , the Moros, were able to guar
themselves from the intrusions of the
Spaniards
▪ They preserved their identity against
foreign cultural incursions
▪ They formed different “national
consciousness” separate from Filipino
identity
o There are various “national consciousness”
that exist within the country.
ACTIVITY
1. The regular priests were in favor of equal opportunities
for Filipino and Spanish priests. – FALSE
2. The increasing level of education people received led
them to break free from the ignorance Spaniards
propagate. – TRUE
3. The shared experience of the people with racist policies
of the Spaniards shaped a collective bond with one
another. – TRUE
4. The opening of the Philippines to international trading
resulted to further economic hardships which resulted
to widespread resentment against the Spaniards. –
FALSE
5. The middle class were able to send their children
abroad to study. – TRUE
6. The children of the middle class who studied abroad
later formed the Katipunan. – FALSE???
7. The increase in economic activities benefitted the
indios and sangleys the most. – FALSE
8. Spain decided to open Philippines to international trade
in 1934. – FALSE
9. Governor-General Carlos María de la Torre inspired
reformists that reforms were possible in the
Philippines. – TRUE
10. Liberal ideas assisted Spaniards to control the indios
further since it advocated the curtailment of human
freedoms. – FALSE
SUMMARY:
The final half of 19th century was a period that brought great
changes to the Philippines as a- colony of Spain. The earlier
opening to world commerce brought unprecedented economic
and cultural changes in society. The resulting economic
development gave rise to the emergence of a new social group,
the middle class, who benefitted from the economic activities. It
provided them an opportunity to afford formal education which
they did not have in the earlier decades of the Spanish period.
The education they received became a key factor for them to
understand the issues concerning the oppression of the people
under Spain's colonial government. The entrance of liberal ideas
in the country, together with the existing racial discrimination in
the policies of Spain, heightened the rising sense of national
consciousness of the educated members of the middle class. The
brewing but silent calls for reforms finally exploded when the
three martyr priests were executed. Instead of being a deterrent,
the execution led to a full-blown demand for more reforms in
the Philippines. It became a turning point in our history as it
signaled the start of more vigorous demands for long-lasting
reforms. It was the start of the reform movement.
GEN004: Readings in Philippine History
LESSON 9: The Rise of Filipino Nationalism: The Propaganda • most notable advocates for
Movement reforms - sons of wealthy
Filipinos who went to
• call for reforms entailed demands to institutionalize Europe, specifically Spain.
changes in the manner of governance of the Spaniards
• Some were students who
in the colonial government in the Philippines.
sought better educational
o did not call for a radical change in the state of
opportunities in Spain while
affairs in the Philippines
some were wealthy Filipinos
o did not even call for the removal of the
who sought refuge in
Spaniards from the country
Europe to avoid the
o aims of the people advocating for reforms:
persecution of Spanish
idea of assimilation
authorities in the
▪ the idea of the Philippines being
Philippines.
transformed as a province of Spain
• young, intelligent, and
(not just colony) and to make the
idealistic individuals who
natives fellow-Spaniards, so that the
were eager to alleviate the
Filipinos could have the same rights
plight of the oppressed
enjoyed by the Spaniards.
Filipinos:
▪ opposite of independence wherein
o Graciano Lopez
Philippines will be freed from the
Jaena
colonial control of the Spaniards and
o Marcelo H. del Pilar
that Filipinos themselves would lead
o Mariano Ponce,
a new government.
o Jose Rizal,
o Along with the demand for assimilation are
o Antonio Luna,
demands for the abolition of restrictions in
o Juan Luna, and
freedom of speech, implementing human
more.
rights, accessibility to education, opportunity
▪ heroes
for employment, and freedom of religion.
who
▪ reforms advocated primarily by the
fought for
members of the middle class, the
the
mestizos and former principalias who
Filipinos
were able to afford education.
• inform the public about
• Given their education, they
issues in the Philippines
were able to identify the
through writings
root problems of the society
• delivered speeches about
which led them to demand
the atrocities committed by
for reforms from Spanish
Spanish friars
authorities.
• reformists in Spain worked independently
• saw the racist nature of the
o had the same goals but they did not work
Spanish colonial
together.
government as a clear
o tried to form different organizations to pool
hindrance to their access to
their resources to achieve their goals.
better political and
o Organizations failed to prosper
economic opportunities.
o Newspaper published also failed
• best way to achieve
• Hispano-Filipino Association January 1889
equality and good
▪ composed of Filipino students in Spain and
governance was to
their Spanish allies, both of them were eager
transform the Philippines to
to campaign for reforms in the Philippines.
be a province of Spain and
▪ Today: Propaganda Movement
reforms could be achieved
• In the same year, the La Solidaridad, a newspaper
through peaceful means,
wherein they could publish their works for their
specifically through the
advocacy was founded.
power of words and pen.
o Main goal: expose the condition of the
(acc. to middle class)
Philippines to the Spanish government and to
GEN004: Readings in Philippine History
defend Filipinos from the negative
perceptions of Spanish friars and authorities.
o also published studies and analysis
concerning history and politics in the country.
o First issue: Feb 15, 1889
o First editor: Graciano Lopez Jaena
o Funds: by members and reform-minded
Filipinos based in the Philippines.
o writers used pseudonyms to protect identities
▪ Rizal used Laong Laan and Dimas
Alang;
▪ Antonio Luna used Taga-Ilog;
▪ Mariano Poncy used Tikbalang,
Naning, and Kalipulako;
▪ and Marcelo H. del Pilar used Plaridel.
o failed to promote reforms for the Philippines.
o Primary reason: Spain did not actually listen
to the concerns raised by the reformists. They
did not care at all.
o Second reason: division among members
▪ They had petty quarrels due to their
personal ambitions.
▪ Rizal and del Pilar were rivals for the
leadership position.
• Reason why Rizal left in 1892
o Third reason: lack of funds and enthusiasm to
sustain the printing of the newspaper.
o Last issue: 1895
• La Liga Filipina
▪ Organization established by Rizal when he
returned to the Philippines in 1892
▪ Organization that sought to continue what the
reformists started in Spain.
▪ Aims:
• To unite the whole archipelago into
one compact, vigorous, and
homogenous body;
• Mutual protection in every want
and necessity;
• Defense against all violence and
injustice;
• Encouragement of instruction,
agriculture, and commerce; and
• Study and application of reforms.
▪ Spaniards saw it as a threat which was why
Rizal was subsequently arrested and sent into
exile in Dapitan.
ACTIVITIES
▪ arrest of Rizal - turning point in Philippine
history
• It caused some members of the La
Liga Filipina to realize that reform is
inadequate.
• Andres Bonifacio, member of La
Liga Filipina, went on to form the
Kataastaasan Kagalang-galang na
Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan
or Katipunan in short.
o the reform movement failed to deliver
reforms for the Philippines.
▪ La Solidaridad and La Liga Filipina
failed.
▪ colonial government in the country
actively prevented the flourishing of
the movement.
▪ the leaders themselves were fighting
against each other for leadership
positions.
- There was no united campaign
since each member had their
own interest in mind.
▪ reform movement did not have the
resources to sustain its campaign.
• advocates were only coming
from the wealthy Filipino
families, they lacked the
broader support of the
Filipino masses.
o the messages the reformists wrote in Spain
reached the Philippines.
o nationalistic ideas the reformist wrote
cultivated the minds of the individuals who
wanted change in the Philippines.
• Due to the works of the reformists, the Filipino masses
fostered national unity, that is Filipino nationalism.
o The writings solidified the growing
consciousness that people had about
themselves and their collective experiences
under Spain.
o They inspired self-made intellectuals and
struggling lower-class students in Manila,
peasant leaders disenchanted with friar
Catholicism, and minor elites in the provinces.
• despite the failure of the reform movement, it became
a fuel that pushed the people to fight further for their
rights and freedoms.
• people were no longer interested in achieving change
through peaceful means, this time, it was through
revolution.
1. Reformists fought the Spaniards by using violence. –
FALSE
GEN004: Readings in Philippine History
2. La Solidaridad was utilized by the reformists to • They all agreed that an organization must be
influence Spanish government officials to implement established to organize a revolution and free the
reforms in the Philippines. – TRUE???? Philippines from the tyranny of the Spaniards.
3. The reform movement was both a failure and success. • They performed blood compact and signed their
– TRUE membership document with their own blood.
4. The main call for reform was separation wherein • KKK
Philippines would be transformed as a separate - secret society committed to overthrowing
province of Spain. – FASLE – ASSIMILATION Spanish rule.
5. La Liga Filipina aimed to spark the revolution in the - led by lower-class individuals who wanted
Philippines due to the failure of the Propaganda revolution to overthrow Spain.
Movement. – FALSE - 3 vital goals:
6. The reformists wanted to push for a revolution. – FALSE ▪ Political
7. The reform movement succeeded in pursuing its goals. ▪ Moral
– FALSE ▪ Civic
8. The unprecedented economic development in the - Aims:
Philippines during the 19th century provided some an ▪ separation of the Philippine from
opportunity to afford formal education. – TRUE Spain (total independence)
9. The most vocal reformists were the students who went ▪ teach good manners, hygiene, and
to Spain to study. – TRUE morality to the people.
10. The unity of the reformists in Spain was the main reason ▪ aimed to be an association that helps
why the reform movement succeeded. – FALSE each member and protects the
oppressed and the poor.
SUMMARY:
- envisioned to be a sort of
Even though the Propaganda Movement in Spain directed their brotherhood/sisterhood rather than mere
writings to the Spanish government and its constituents, the organization.
ideas they articulated seeped into the minds of the Filipinos who - 3 governing bodies:
were also eager for reforms. The works written by Rizal, Jaena, ▪ Sangguniang balangay
del Pilar, and more served as an eye opener for the reformists, - Lowest level
self-made intellectuals, students, farmers, and laborers based in ▪ Sangguniang bayan
the Philippines. They were able to feed the growing desire of the ▪ Kataas-taasang Sanggunian
Filipinos to acquire a better state of living. When Rizal returned - Top-body
to Manila in 1892, he established La Liga Filipina to pursue - composed of the president,
reforms in the Philippines. It was an organization that aimed to secretary, and other officers.
continue and expand what the Propaganda Movement had - Andres Bonifacio was not the first president or
started. The organization was attended by the same individuals Supremo of the "Kataas-taasang Sanggunian."
who were inspired by the works of Rizal and the Propaganda ▪ He would only become Supremo on
Movement. These individuals saw La Liga as the key to January 5, 1894.
implementing changes to the country. Two of the prominent - recruitment process was rigorous.
members of the La Liga were Andres Bonifacio and Apolinario ▪ There were specific rituals and tests
Mabini. Unfortunately, few days after its establishment, the that a neophyte should undergo.
organization was discovered by the Spaniards. Rizal was arrested ▪ final ritual involved the neophyte
and was sent into exile in Dapitan. His arrest and the failure of La signing a membership form using his
Liga Filipino to prosper was understood by the Filipinos as the own blood.
end of the reform movement. It was a turning point in Philippine - 3 ranks:
history. It was the point when people finally understood that ▪ Katipon
demanding for reforms was an inadequate method to change - Rank of new member
society. - Can also be promoted into
kawal if he recruited more
LESSON 11: Confronting Colonialism: Katipunan and the members
Philippine Revolution of 1896 ▪ Kawal
• July 7, 1892 (KKK) ▪ Bayani
- former members of the La Liga led by Andres - Top member
Bonifacio met secretly in No. 72 Azcarraga Street
(currently Claro M. Recto Avenue, Manila).
GEN004: Readings in Philippine History
- set of thirteen teachings written by Emilio
Jacinto commonly known as the Kartilya ng
Katipunan
▪ adopted by Andres Bonifacio as the
official guide for new members.
- Many of Katipuneros were coming from the
lower classes of Philippine society – students,
laborers, artists, etc.
- There were also professionals like physicians
- Women are also active members
▪ Most of which are wives and sisters of
the members
▪ They protected vital documents
pertaining to the organization.
▪ Served as good spies
▪ Provided distraction such as holding
parties in public during secret
meetings
▪ 1892-1899 – around 300 members
▪ Mid-1896 – 20,000 – 30,000
members
o Katipunan was unable to remain underground
for long.
o 1896 - became very popular in areas within
Manila and in the provinces of Central Luzon.
o Spanish authorities started to suspect that an
underground movement was brewing
something.
o They already plotted the start of uprising
▪ plan was thwarted when organization
was discovered by Spaniards
▪ August 19, 1896
- Teodoro Patiño divulged the
details of the Katipunan to a
Spanish friar.
- Led the Spanish to suppress
the uprising by arresting and
executing members
▪ Prompted Bonifacio to launch
preemptive rebellion in the working-
class districts of Manila.
▪ August 23, 1896 in Pugad Lawin
- Bonifacio gathered his men
and delivered a fiery speech
declaring their intention to
fight the Spaniards. They took
their cedulas and tore it as a
symbol of their separation
from Spanish colonial regime.
- “Cry of Pugad Lawin”
- Officially started the Philippine
Revolution of 1896
- Katipuneros started attacking
military garrisons of Spanish
forces.
- Attacked strategic locations to
disarm Spanish military
- uprising spread to nearby
provinces and inspired
communities to fight against
the Spaniards
- they were easily defeated
- Spanish military were more
equipped and trained
- Spanish government initiated
series of attacks to discourage
population from joining the
uprising, which victimized
innocents (like Rizal)
- Rizal was the alleged brains of
the revolution
- Despite the military victories of
the Spaniards and their
attempts to silence the people,
the Filipinos were already
determined to overthrow
them.
- Spanish colonial government
cannot anymore control the
uprising since several
communities in the Philippines
have already declared war
against the Spanish forces.
o By late 1896
- Cavite became a hotbed for military
encounters between Katipunan and
Spanish forces.
- katipunero from Cavite was gaining the
attention and admiration of the people due
to his successful military exploits against
the Spaniards: Emilio Aguinaldo
o Magdiwang and Magdalo
- 2 Katipunan factions or groups who were
competing for the leadership of the
revolution against the Spaniards
o Magdiwang
- was led by Bonifacio
- composed mostly of lower-class individuals
o Magdalo
- Led by Aguionaldo
- Composed of Caviteño’s loyal to Aguinaldo
and former reformists who despised
Bonifacio’s lack of education, wealth, and
success in battlefield
- Before they just wanted reform and not
revolution because they were afraid that it
GEN004: Readings in Philippine History
might affect their position in society but
when they realized that the revolution had
the potential to be successful, they went to
Aguinaldo to support him in order to
protect their vital interests.
o Due to the division, Bonifacio, as the Supremo,
decided to meet with the two groups in Cavite:
Tejeros Convention
- Aim: discuss the situation in Cavite
and to elect new officials for the
revolutionary government.
- Bonifacio was unseated as the leader
of the revolution.
- Emilio Aguinaldo was declared as the
President, while Bonifacio as Director
of the Interior.
- The decision was respected by
Bonifacio but the peace ended when
an ally of Aguinaldo, Daniel Tirona,
insulted Bonifacio
• Tirona argued that Bonifacio
did not deserve to be
elected at all since he had no
educational credentials.
• This insulted Bonifacio that
he almost shot Tirona.
• Bonifacio declared the
meeting invalid and left the
scene together with his
allies.
• Bonifacio got arrested on
charges of undermining the
revolution and secretly
executed on May 10, 1897.
• Bonifacio’s leadership was
seen as a threat to the elites
kaya ineliminate siya
• Leadership of Katipunan
changed
• under Aguinaldo and the
elites, the Katipunan
became suddenly willing to
compromise and make
peace with Spain in order to
protect their wealth and
prestige.
o the new revolutionary government headed by
Aguinaldo entered a peace truce with the
Spaniards.
o Military defeats of Filipinos worsened
o Spaniards reinforced their forces with new
soldiers.
o Aguinaldo and the government went from one
area to another just to hide from the
Spaniards.
o Biak-na-Bato, Bulacan in 1897
- Aguinaldo declared the Biak-na-Bato
Republic and entered into an
agreement with Spain.
- Umagree ang Spain kasi busy sila sa
isang revolution sa Cuba na colony din
nila.
o Pedro Paterno
- Reformist and ally of Aguinaldo
- Negotiator between the Filipino
revolutionary government and the
Spanish government.
o Dec 1897
- Agreement signed
o Agreement between Aguinaldo and Spain was
a betrayal to Revolution (acc. to historians)
o Nakalagay sa agreement na maggive-up si
Aguinaldo as long as babayaran siya ng Spain
with the amount na hinihingi nila.
o After siya bayaran ng Spain, pumunta siyang
HK (part ng agreement)
o Despite the betrayal, Filipinos continues to
fight the Spaniards
o continued to fight the Spaniards. Many
revolutionaries continued to attack the
Spaniards despite the truce.
o Spaniards did not pay completely the stated
amount and continued arresting and punishing
revolutionaries
• Tejeros Convention
- Turning point not only of the Philippine
Revolution of 1896 but of the country's entire
history.
- event wherein elites were able to snatch the
leadership of the revolution from the masses
who initially waged it.
- Considered as the first elections
- elections were marred with irregularities such as
the presence of prepared ballots for Aguinaldo
and the lack of representation from other
provinces.
• During Bonifacio’s arrest, he was stabbed in the throat
and his brother was killed.
o His wife was allegedly raped by one of
Aguinaldo's men.
o The lawyer given to him did not even defend
him.
• With the change of leadership, there was also a change
of Ideology - from separation to negotiation.
GEN004: Readings in Philippine History
• The Biak-na-Bato agreement became the proof of their
willingness to negotiate and abandon what the
Katipunan had started.
ACTIVITIES
1. Goal was to create a state separate from that of Spain
KATIPUNAN
2. Founded as a result of the reform movement's failure
KATIPUNAN
3. Composed of the Filipino farmers, workers, students,
fisher folks, etc. KATIPUNAN
4. Campaigned for the equal treatment of Spaniards and
natives PROPAGANDA MOVEMENT
5. Writing as a means to campaign PROPAGANDA
MOVEMENT
6. Armed revolution is the only way to freedom
KATIPUNAN
7. Asked the Spanish government for rights,
representation, and assimilation PROPAGANDA
MOVEMENT
8. Led the 1896 Revolution KATIPUNAN
9. Composed of well-to-do members of the middle class
PROPAGANDA MOVEMENT
10. Wanted to make the Philippines part of Spain
PROPAGANDA MOVEMENT
1. The Biak-na-Bato agreement was a document that
proved Spain's surrender to the Filipino revolutionaries.
F just made a solemn declaration disclaiming
2. The arrest of Rizal made former reformists realize that
campaigning for reforms were inadequate for the
Philippines. F
3. A major reason for the military setbacks of the
Katipunan against the Spaniards was the inability of
other provinces to join the revolution. F
4. Magdiwang, Magdalo, and Maypagasa were the three
Katipunan factions eyeing for control of the
organization. F
5. The Katipunan was founded by former reformists. F
6. Under Aguinaldo, the Katipunan and the revolution
started to negotiate with the enemies. T
7. The Tejeros Convention legitimized Bonifacio's
leadership of Katipunan. F
8. Bonifacio was looked down by members of Magdiwang.
T •
9. Filipino elites only joined the revolution after seeing
prospects of victory against Spain. T
10. The wives and sisters of the katipuneros were ignorant
of the revolutionary activities of their male family
members. F
11. Most members of the Katipunan were wealthy
educated Filipinos. F
12. Bonifacio was elected as the first Supremo of the
Katipunan, which made him its most notable member.
F
13. The declaration of Revolution was rushed due to the
discovery of Katipunan's existence. T
14. Aguinaldo was a capable military leader. T
15. The Katipunan had poor organizational structure. F
LESSON 12: Confronting Colonialism: The Malolos Republic and
the Philippine-American War
• Cuba, another colony of Spain, also initiated a fight for
independence, even before the start of Katipunan.
• USA became involved in Spain’s wars when the latter
destroyed the former’s warship Maine in February 15,
1898.
o Resulted to deaths of 260 US soldiers and crew
aboard the ship.
o The attack insinuated the American people to
declare war against Spain as a retaliation.
• April 1898
o USA declared war against Spain
o Warships were sent by US to attack Spanish
navy stationed in Manila Bay, resulting to a
decisive American victory.
• While staying abroad, Aguinaldo was approached by US
officials who ensured him of their support in the war
against Spain.
o “You need not have any worry about America.
The American Congress and President have
any desire to possess Cuba and promising to
leave the country to the Cubans after having
driven away the Spaniards and pacified the
country. Cuba is at our door, while the
Philippines is 10,000 miles away!”
- implied that United States had no
interests in occupying the
Philippines once the war is over.
• Aguinaldo thought of the United States as ally in the
fight against Spain.
• Aguinaldo returned to the Philippines to reclaim the
leadership with the assistance of the United States.
• Aguinaldo once again took the leadership in ending
once and for all the remaining forces of Spain in the
country.
More and more provinces declared their allegiance to
the Filipino cause.
• May 1898
o Aguinaldo established a Dictatorial
Government.
o Filipino revolutionaries declared
independence on June 12, 1898.
▪ Marked the victory of Filipino struggle
against Spanish colonialism.
GEN004: Readings in Philippine History
• Greater challenge ahead: the creation of a Filipino
government.
• After the declaration, Aguinaldo changed the
government to a Revolutionary Government - he
established various offices tasked to manage
important affairs in the country.
• September 1898
o Gathered delegates to form a congress
(Malolos Congress)
o First important task: draft a constitution for
the creation of a more formal Philippine
government.
o Constitution
- serve as the basic law of the country and as
a proof that Filipinos could govern
themselves.
• January 21, 1899
o Aguinaldo promulgated the proposed
constitution known today as the Malolos
Constitution.
• Two days later, as enshrined by the newly proclaimed
constitution, a new Philippine state, the First Republic
of the Philippines or commonly called Malolos
Republic was founded.
• Aguinaldo was proclaimed as its president.
• Aguinaldo and the Filipinos did not see the coming of a
new enemy – the United States.
• Aguinaldo was led to believe that since Philippines and
the United States were fighting the same enemy, they
could be allies.
• Aguinaldo believed that the Americans had good
intentions.
• Back then, Americans assured Aguinaldo that they will
not invade the Philippines.
• Since Aguinaldo was under the impression that they
were allies, he continued to fight the Spaniards.
• while waiting for the defeat of the Spaniards at the
hands of the Filipinos, they were already preparing to
invade the Philippines.
• Spain’s last effort to save their honor – Spanish forces
initiated a dialogue with American forces.
o They did not want to appear to the world that
they were defeated by Filipino troops.
Instead, they wanted to create the image that
Spain was valiantly defeated by United States
in battle.
o US agreed.
• August 1898
o United States and Spain faked a battle.
o so-called “Mock Battle of Manila,” wherein
United States “defeated” Spain.
• Without the knowledge of the Filipinos, Spain and
United States already had a secret agreement on who
would obtain the Philippines.
• This agreement resulted to the signing of the Treaty of
Paris in December 10, 1898.
o Spain sold the Philippines to the United States
for $20 million, which means Philippines was
now under the authority of a new colonizer.
o United States President William McKinley
proclaimed that US possessed the sovereignty
over the entire Philippines.
o He tried to sugarcoat his proclamation by
stating that United States will respect the
rights and liberties of the Filipinos.
o This proclamation was received as a betrayal
of trust by Aguinaldo and his government.
• Filipinos attempted to talk with the Americans to avoid
conflict.
• Feb 4, 1899
o American soldier shot a Filipino soldier.
o resulted to the outbreak of the Filipino-
American War.
• Motivations of US that led them to occupy the
Philippines:
o US Market Expansion
- during the end of the 19th century, US
was a growing economy.
- Occupying the Philippines would be a
good opportunity to include it to their
markets where they could sell their
products.
o Economic Base in Asia
- expand trading routes to the different
parts of the world
- Due to the strategic location of the
Philippines, it would serve as an
excellent economic base if they want to
expand economic interest to Asia,
especially China.
- The more markets they could connect
to, the more profit for them.
o Source of Raw Materials
- Most powerful economic interests in
US: sugar industry
- other investors saw the Philippines as a
source of rich and fertile lands where
they could produce sugar and other
raw materials.
o Military Base to Asia
- Expand power to other territories
- Strategic loc of Philippines was a good
window to US to flex military power
- Having PH as a base, they could easily
attack other areas in Asia
• American military successes opened another
opportunity for the Filipino elites.
GEN004: Readings in Philippine History
• US offered autonomy to PH: Filipinos could still hold
government positions even if they were under the
Americans.
o elites immediately succumbed to the offer
• even if the war was in progress, elites holding the
government surrendered.
• Even though Filipinos were still fighting, its leaders
already sold them out.
• 2 Filipinos who were against the betrayal of elites:
o Apolinario Mabini
o Antonio Luna
▪ In order for elites to save themselves,
they eliminated them
▪ Mabini was removed from office
through intrigue and politics
▪ Luna was assassinated
• the elites could now continue to negotiate the
Philippine surrender.
• negotiations for the autonomy failed.
• Filipino government was forced to continue the war
against the Americans.
o This resulted to continuous Filipino military
defeats.
o To survive, they adopted guerilla tactics for
Aguinaldo to escape to the north.
• Aguinaldo was captured in March 1901.
o took an oath of allegiance to the United
States.
o signaled the defeat of the Filipinos against the
Americans.
o The defeat of the Filipinos in the Filipino-
American War meant that the Revolution
ended in a failure.
o Revolution’s goal was thwarted by the
Americans.
o Philippines was still a colony, not of Spain but
of the United States.
Led to the Defeat of Filipinos
• Filipino troops were poorly organized.
o Filipino army was not properly established.
o No proper chain-of-command which led to
subordination among troops
• Leaders were not united
o local elites and even the top people in
Aguinaldo’s government already initiated
talks with the enemy.
o already wanted to change sides to save their
interests even if the war was still on-going.
• Filipino people slowly lost their desire to fight
valiantly.
o they were not anymore enticed to give their
support because their leaders already
succumbed to the offers of the Americans
• poor leadership of Aguinaldo
o he ignored warnings
o indecisive
o Instead of giving command to the capable
military commanders, he gave positions to his
favorites.
Excerpt from Mabini’s Criticism of the Revolution:
• Here he stated the reasons why the Filipinos under
Aguinaldo failed:
“To sum it up, the Revolution failed because it was badly led;
because its leader won his post by reprehensible rather than
meritorious acts; because instead of supporting the men most
useful to the people, he made them useless out of jealousy.
Identifying the aggrandizement of the people with his own, he
judged the worth of men not by their ability, character and
patriotism but rather by their degree of friendship and kinship
with him; and, anxious to secure the readiness of his favourites
to sacrifice themselves for him, he was tolerant even of their
transgressions. Because he thus neglected the people, the
people forsook him; and forsaken by the people, he was bound
to fall like a waxen idol melting in the heat of adversity. God
grant we do not forget such a terrible lesson, learnt at the cost
of untold suffering.”
• For Mabini, the revolution failed because of
Aguinaldo’s incompetence.
o This incompetence was rooted on two factors
which Aguinaldo embodied:
▪ Aguinaldo preferred to appoint
people in important positions based
on favoritism rather than
competence and honor.
• Bec. of this, he appointed
incompetent people
• He tolerated their mistakes
• What’s important to him is
their loyalty rather than
quality of service and
dedication to Filipinos
▪ Aguinaldo chose to serve his self-
interests instead of the interests of
the Filipino people.
ACTIVITIES
1. The Treaty of Paris transferred the sovereignty of the
Philippines from Spain to United States. TRUE
2. Antonio Luna was assassinated by the Americans.
FALSE
3. United States never wanted to invade the Philippines.
FALSE
4. United States recognized Philippine independence after
the defeat of Spain. FALSE
GEN004: Readings in Philippine History
5. The elites never wanted conflict in order to save the
lives of the Filipinos. FALSE
6. The Americans offered autonomy TRUE
7. The Treaty of Paris was an agreement where United
States bought the Philippines from Spain. TRUE
8. Apolinario Mabini was sympathetic to the elites. FALSE
9. The Revolution was successful FALSE
10. . The capture of Aguinaldo signaled the defeat of the
Filipinos against the Americans TRUE
Proper Sequence
1. Cry of Pugad Lawin 2
2. Tejeros Convention 3
3. Exile to Hongkong 5
4. Rizal’s arrest 1
5. Biak-na-Bato Agreement 4
LESSON 13: Understanding American Occupation: Filipino
Reaction to American Occupation
• Philippine-American War
- one of the major factors that propelled the
United States of America to become a major
global power.
- sent a signal to the international community
that it had the capability to expand its military
might to the different side of the world.
- second phase of the revolution which started in
1896 (in the eyes of Filipinos)
- first test of the newly established nation and it
failed.
- noted for the number of lives it took and the
brutality of its conduct.
• Philippine-American War Centennial Initiative
(PAWCI)
- organization which aimed to gather information
regarding the said war
o around twenty-two thousand Filipino soldiers
and half a million civilians died in Luzon and
Visayas.
o In Mindanao, it is estimated that around one
hundred thousand Muslims were killed.
• After the Filipino’s defeat, Americans immediately
sought to establish administrative control over the
country.
• Americans initially faced the problem of shortage of
capable personnel to assist in this endeavor.
o They needed support from elites
o The elites, seeing the possible opportunities
brought by the Americans to their economic
and political interests, immediately
collaborated with them.
o immediately helped the Americans in
reorganizing the local government.
o even before Aguinaldo was captured, the
Filipino elites already switched to the
American side.
• 1900
o elites formed the Asociacion de Paz
- organization which aimed to support
the Americans in defeating fellow
Filipinos.
• organization later became
the Partido Federal which
sought to promote the
annexation of the
Philippines as one of the
states of United States.
• Who were those elites?
o those who advocated only for reforms under
Spain
o they hesitated to support the Katipunan.
o Seeing the prospects of the revolution against
Spain succeeding, they switched sides and
supported the revolutionaries.
o Under Aguinaldo and the Malolos Republic,
these elites became cabinet officials and top
advisors to Aguinaldo.
o became the leaders of the revolution they
initially opposed.
o When the Americans became the apparent
victors of the Philippine-American War, they
switched sides again, this time supporting the
arrival of the United States.
▪ In short, sila yung mga balimbing
• Mabini (bitter to the betrayal of Filipino elites) wrote in
his letter to his friend:
“"Those who tire after a few months of
struggle do not serve for anything except to
carry the yoke of slavery."
• Aguinaldo’s army attempted to arrest and punish these
traitors.
o Attempts failed
o Even Aguinaldo himself tolerated the
treachery.
• Partido Federal
o expanded its influence on the entire country
and was able to gather the support of other
local elites and former revolutionaries to assist
the United States in its colonization campaign.
o reward of their cooperation: the elites were
branded by the Americans as the "genuine
leaders" of the Filipino people.
o Government offices were given to the
collaborators.
GEN004: Readings in Philippine History
o They were either elected or appointed to o His wife convinced him
various municipal, provincial, and national to surrender as well and
political positions. on April 16, 1902,
o This enabled the elites to protect their Miguel Malvar finally
economic interests and to preserve their surrendered to the
position in society. Americans.
• Elite cooperation with the Americans created an ▪ Refused to accept government
impression that the war was already over and peace position offered by the Americans
reigned over the archipelago. o Macario Sakay
o for the masses, the war was far from over. ▪ established another government to
• While the Americans generally thought that the war fight the Americans: Republika ng
was over after Aguinaldo was captured, some Katagalugan.
continued to fight the Americans. ▪ one of the earliest members of the
• There was no unified leader that centralized the Katipunan.
operations (resistance). ▪ close friend of Andres Bonifacio.
o These movements utilized guerilla tactics and ▪ 1902 – 1906
were supported by the Filipino masses. • established a base in the
o Some of these movements had religious and mountains of Laguna and
mystical themes to support their struggle. fought through a guerrilla
o Some also were led by former Katipunan campaign against the
leaders who sought to continue the original Americans
Katipunan spirit. ▪ notable resistance fighter.
• Two of the most influential revolutionaries who aimed ▪ seen as the new Bonifacio and people
to continue Katipunan's revolution: followed his struggle.
o Miguel Malvar ▪ His Republika sought to continue
▪ took control of the government for a what Bonifacio had started in 1896.
short period of time after Aguinaldo ▪ His long hair
was captured • One of the notable things
▪ came from a wealthy family in about him
Batangas. • For him, the length of his
▪ studied initially in private schools but hair signified the length of
decided not to continue higher his struggle for freedom.
education. • only cut his hair by the time
▪ When Katipunan was founded, he the Philippines would earn
became one of its members. its independence.
▪ he led the resistance against • His guerrilla campaign
Spaniards in his hometown. against the Americans
▪ he became one of the leading military expanded to various
leaders to fight the Americans. provinces such as Cavite and
▪ He became the highest-ranking Rizal.
officer in the military after ▪ Sakay and his forces were merely
Aguinaldo's capture in 1901, accused by the Americans as bandits
• implying that he was the or "tulisanes."
president of the Philippine ▪ Americans set up a trap
Republic. • convinced him that they
▪ By July 31 of the same year, Malvar were willing to provide
took full command of the government opportunity for Sakay and
and its remaining forces to fight his men to politically
against the Americans. participate legally.
▪ His officers and soldiers slowly • Promised pardon
surrendered to the Americans ▪ He was arrested
o His officers and soldiers ▪ Soon he was found guilty of banditry
slowly surrendered to and was executed in 1906 by the
the enemy. Americans.
GEN004: Readings in Philippine History
▪ Last words:
“Death comes to all of us sooner or later, so I will face
the LORD Almighty calmly. But I want to tell you that we
are not bandits and robbers, as the Americans have
accused us, but members of the revolutionary force
that defended our mother country, the Philippines!
Farewell! Long live the Republic and may our
independence be born in the future! Long live the
Philippines!”
• Due to the widespread support of the masses to the
various resistance movements, the American forces
committed multiple atrocities against Filipino
communities.
• To discourage resistance and to force the
revolutionaries to surrender, the Americans burned
villages, massacred communities, and tortured people.
ACTIVITIES
1. The cooperation of the elites created the impression
that there was peace in the Philippines. TRUE
2. There was a united resistance movement against the
Americans after Aguinaldo's capture. FALSE
3. Since the elites cooperated with the Americans, they
were rewarded. TRUE
4. By the time Aguinaldo was captured, Filipinos also
stopped fighting the Americans. FALSE
5. The elites cooperated with the Americans in order to
ensure peace in the country. FALSE
6. Revolutionaries during the American period were
accused of being a bandit. TRUE
7. Aguinaldo himself tolerated the betrayal of his cabinet
members. TRUE
8. The resistance after the capture of Aguinaldo was
sporadic and leaderless. TRUE
9. The elites themselves assisted the former Katipuneros
to resist against the Americans. FALSE
10. One could argue that Malvar had a claim to be
considered as one of the Presidents of the country.
TRUE
LESSON 14: Understanding American Occupation: The
Commonwealth Period
• During the Philippine-American War, the Americans
organized a military government in the Philippines led
by military generals appointed by the United States’
president.
o aimed to oversee the overall military
operations to defeat the Filipino forces under
Aguinaldo.
• After the capture of Aguinaldo in 1901,
o Americans soon focused on widening their grip
by creating a civilian government with the
assistance of the Filipino elites who earlier
switched sides from the Philippine Republic
to the American side.
o tasks mainly focused on ensuring the
establishment of local government units,
managing government offices to facilitate
programs, and implementing laws in the
Philippines.
• This new government was headed by an American
Governor-General.
• first Governor- General appointed in 1901: William H.
Taft
• Filipino elites were either appointed or elected to
town and provincial posts.
o Their reward for cooperation
• US decided to open more opportunities for Filipinos,
especially the elites, to participate in governmental
matters.
• 1907
o Philippine Assembly was established.
▪ government body tasked to create
laws
▪ Members were all Filipinos who were
elected through a national election
▪ members elected their own leader to
serve as the speaker.
• Sergio Osmeña
o young politician from Cebu elected as speaker
• 1916
o Jones Law
▪ law that inspired Filipinos to fight for
Philippine independence through
peaceful means.
▪ not a product of American
“benevolence” or “goodness.”
▪ result of the resistance of huge
American businesses who were
worried of the competition that raw
materials from the Philippines might
bring to their agricultural businesses
in the United States.
▪ pressure from American business
owners prompted United States to
initiate the possibilities of letting the
Philippines go as their colony.
▪ Americans gave their word that once
the Filipinos could prove that they
can establish a Filipino-run
government by themselves, United
States will grant the Philippines
independence.
▪ Filipinos should be properly “trained”
first how to run a government before
independence, which was why a new
GEN004: Readings in Philippine History
all-Filipino institution was
established.
▪ this new institution was the
Philippine Legislature
• tasked to create laws for the
country like Philippine
Assembly
• composed of 2 levels:
o Philippine Senate:
Upper house
o House
Representatives:
lower house
▪ Manuel L. Quezon
• elected as the President of
the Senate.
▪ Sergio Osmeña
• became the Speaker of the
House
▪ position of Governor-General,
important cabinet officials, and half
Philippine Supreme Court remained
to be reserved for Americans only.
• offer of independence coincided with the breakdown
of mass-led revolutionary activities
• 1913
o archipelago was pacified by American forces.
o sporadic armed groups aiming to topple the
Americans soon dissipated.
o failure of resistance and the offer of
independence both became strong factors for
the elites to pursue peaceful alternatives to
national freedom.
o as “trainees”, the same elites would be the
most benefitted once independence is
earned.
o led the elites to organize campaigns for
independence.
• 1919 onwards
o set up “Independence Missions”
▪ team composed of Filipino politicians
who were sent to United States to
convince American leaders to grant
Philippines independence
▪ participation of Filipino politicians to
these missions was vital to their
political interests.
▪ This was a strong publicity material
for them.
o three prominent Filipino politicians who
campaigned for independence:
▪ Manuel Roxas,
▪ Sergio Osmeña
▪ Manuel Quezon.
• 1931
o OsRox Mission
▪ mission led by Osmeña and Roxas
▪ successfully negotiated with the
American leaders the passage of the
law Hare-Hawes-Cutting Act.
• US will help the Philippines
in setting up a 10-year
transition period.
• During this period,
of Philippines would lead its
own government.
• After 10 years, United States
would grant Philippines
independence.
• a huge victory for the
Filipino people.
▪ made Osmeña and Roxas appear as if
they were the new Rizal and
Bonifacio.
▪ What was needed only: Filipino
lawmakers to approve of this
American law and independence
would be secured.
• spotlight given to Osmeña and Roxas made Quezon
extremely jealous.
o led his fellow Filipino lawmakers to reject such
law
o He was successful and the Hare- Hawes-
Cutting Act did not prosper in the Philippines.
• 1934
o QuAquAl Mission
▪ new mission composed of Quezon,
Benigno Aquino Sr., and Rafael
Alunan
o Tydings-McDuffie Law or the Philippine
Independence Act
▪ Basically similar to the Hare-Hawes-
Cutting Act.
▪ 10-year transition period wherein
Filipinos would establish their own
government to be known as
Commonwealth of the Philippines.
▪ passage of this law made Quezon the
foremost Filipino leader of his time.
• For the Commonwealth of the Philippines to function,
a constitution was drafted: Philippine Constitution of
1935
o ratified by the Filipino people on May 1935.
o Commonwealth would have presidential
system of government to be led by a President
as chief executive.
GEN004: Readings in Philippine History
o had a legislature, named as the National
Assembly, that had the power to make laws
known as Commonwealth Acts.
• Commonwealth of the Philippines
o preparatory period for the Filipino people to
learn how to manage an independent and
functional government.
• Sep 16, 1935
o national elections were organized.
o three presidential candidates:
▪ Manuel Quezon,
▪ Emilio Aguinaldo, and
▪ Gregorio Aglipay.
o Quezon and his running-mate Osmeña were
elected as President and Vice President of the
Commonwealth.
o voted for new legislators and officials for local
government units
• Nov 15, 1935
o the Commonwealth of the Philippines was
officially inaugurated.
o the first time that Filipinos had the chance to
lead a government on their own.
• Commonwealth under the leadership of Quezon faced
the challenges of building the Filipino nation:
o peasant uprising in Central Luzon
▪ group of peasants revolted to oust
the Americans and the elite
government due to the economic
hardships and rampant abuses of
landowners.
▪ Quezon initiated a “social justice
program” to address the land and
labor issues in the country.
• During the Commonwealth, women were given the
right to vote.
• national language policy was implemented to facilitate
better communication and to establish nationhood.
Features of the American Period
• “benevolence” of American colonization
o become a sort of public knowledge that the
arrival of the Americans was the entry point
for the country to arrive at modernity.
Noted Contributions of the Americans to the Country:
• Education
o system of public education
o emphasized the democratic traditions and the
practical application of laws and principles.
o Americans compelled the Filipinos to learn the
English language.
o compelled parents to send their children to
school.
o resulted to an increase of Filipino literacy.
• Public Health and Welfare
o they worked to minimize the spread of
diseases and to improve the health of the
people.
o Infant mortality and incidence of malaria and
other diseases were reduced considerably by
the introduction of new methods of
prevention and treatment.
o educated the people in the basic principles of
hygiene and sanitation.
• Trade and Commerce
o The free trade relations with United States
resulted to the development of several
industries.
o resulted to the Philippine economic
dependence to United States.
• Infrastructure
o development of the country’s transportation
and communications services.
o Americans built roads, bridges and sewage
systems in the Philippines.
➢ In terms of education, the Americans used it as the
major tool to tighten their grip on the minds of the
Filipinos.
o Americans shaped the minds of the Filipinos to
accept their colonization as a normal
situation.
o Schools became venues for Americans to
foster colonial mindset that nurtured Filipino
reliance on Americans.
o cultivated the concept of the USA as the
greatest country and that we were blessed to
be colonized.
➢ In terms of the various health initiatives of the
Americans, they were primarily directed to make the
American occupation appealing in the eyes of the
Filipinos.
➢ The improvement of economy during that time was
only felt by the Americans and the elites who owned
the lands which were cultivated by impoverished
Filipino peasants.
➢ the American occupation led to the exploitation of our
natural resources.
➢ In terms of infrastructure, its main purpose was to
facilitate easier communication and implementation
for American military purposes.
➢ In short, the "good" effects were just consequences of
the real intent of the Americans, which is to strengthen
their hold of the country and the Filipino people.
➢ Improvements were used to conceal the real intent of
Americans.
➢ They only wanted to further their political and
economic interests.
GEN004: Readings in Philippine History
• Democracy
o rule of the people
o form of government which provides the
people the power to choose the public
officials who will govern on behalf of them.
o has check-and-balances mechanisms to
prevent one person or a group of people to
accumulate power that could be used to serve
LESSON 16: Japanese Occupation: The Second World War in the
self-interests.
Philippines
o guarantees the rights and liberties of its
constituents.
o There is accountability and transparency in
public affairs to see to it that incompetence
and corruption are avoided.
• The Philippines is one of the earliest to adopt a
democratic form of government in Asia.
• BASAHIN MO NALANG CALL TO ACTION BEH,
TINATAMAD NA AKO, DI NAMAN MADALAS
INIINCLUDE
ACTIVITIES
1. This law first gave the Philippines its hope for
independence. JONES LAW
2. This mission successfully lobbied for the enactment of
the Hare-Hawes- Cutting Act. OSROX
3. This law gave the Philippines a ten-year transition
period to be known as the Commonwealth of the
Philippines. TYDINGS-MCDUFFIE ACT
4. He became the president of the Commonwealth of the
Philippines. MANUEL QUEZON
5. This was the governmental structure of the
Commonwealth. PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM
1. The OsRox Mission successfully lobbied for the
WHAT LED JAPAN TO CONQUER ITS NEIGHBORING ASIAN
enactment of the Hare-Hawes- Cutting Act. TRUE
COUNTRIES?
2. The Commonwealth was a preparatory period before
the United States granted the Philippines its
independence. TRUE
3. Spain and United States both prioritized education.
FALSE
4. Independence Missions were the organized armed
groups that utilized guerrilla warfare against the
Americans to campaign for Philippine independence.
HUH? FALSE???????
5. Philippine economic dependence to United States had
no backlash. FALSE
6. Sergio Osmeña was elected the first President of the
Commonwealth. FALSE
7. The offer of independence by the Americans was a
product of their desire to train the country for a
democratic government. FALSE
8. The Jones Law of 1916 offered a ten-year transition
period before granting of independence. FALSE, YUNG
TYDINGS B UN?
9. The United States-imposed civilian government was
headed by a Governor- General. TRUE
10. The elites had important role in the functioning of the
American civilian government in the country. TRUE?
• establishment of the Commonwealth and its promise
of independence was welcomed by the Filipino people.
• seen as an opportunity to craft the destiny of the
Filipino nation under the American tutelage.
• Despite challenges, it was generally perceived with
optimism by the people.
• 1930s to 1940s
o world was engulfed with the rise of
authoritarianism and war.
o Countries with authoritarian ideologies aimed
to expand their territories and achieve world
domination at the expense of human freedom
and democracy.
• Axis Power
o were opposed by the "Allies" which was
composed of United States, Soviet Union, and
United Kingdom.
• In Europe, Nazi Germany led by Adolf Hitler and
Kingdom of Italy under Benito Mussolini led an assault
against their neighboring countries and assumed
military control of their territories.
• In Asia, the Empire of Japan under Hideki Tojo
expanded its military might by Invading portions of
China and territories in Southeast Asia.
• Mid-20th century
o Japan was a rising imperial power.
o wanted to compete with Western
imperialism, which was already dominant
even before the 20th century.
• Japan needed resources
o Since Japan lacked the raw materials needed,
they had to expand to get it from other
territories.
o Philippines was one of their targets to be a
source of their raw materials.
o As a colony of the United States in Southeast
Asia, the Philippines became a prime target
for a Japanese invasion.
• To respond, Philippine Army was placed under the
command of the United States Armed Forces Far East,
GEN004: Readings in Philippine History
commonly called as the (USAFFE), which was led by the
famous General Douglas MacArthur.
o USAFFE administered the preparations for the
defense of the country against possible
invasion from hostile countries.
• As for the Commonwealth government, Quezon and
Osmeña were reelected by the Filipino people on
November 11, 1941
• To invade the country, dismantle US’ military power,
Japan bombarded the Pearl Harbor, which was an
American military base in the Pacific, on December 7,
1941.
o led US to declare war on Japan
o Japanese planes, hours after the attack in Pearl
Harbor, attacked the naval station in Cavite
and Clark Airfield where America's largest
array of planes was stationed, destroying
America's air armada in the Philippines.
• After being informed, President Manuel L. Quezon
declared: "The zero hour has arrived. I expect every
Filipino-man and woman-to do his duty. We have
pledged our honor to stand to the last by the United
States and we shall not fail her, happen what may."
• Dec 8, 1941
o Japanese invasion of the Philippine
commenced.
o Japanese forces attacked strategic locations
to disarm military units of the Americans.
• For security purposes, President Quezon and the top
officials of the Commonwealth evacuated to the
Corregidor Island in Manila Bay on December 24, 1941.
• On December 26, 1941, Manila was declared as an
"Open City" by General MacArthur to prevent
Japanese bombings and civilian casualties.
• By January 2, 1942, the Japanese forces already
occupied Manila.
• series of surprise attacks carried out by Japan rendered
the combined forces of Filipinos and Americans to
ineffective in defending the country.
• Though the Filipino-American forces valiantly resisted
the invading Japanese army, they were easily defeated
the sheer military superiority of the enemy.
o they were hastily organized and ill-prepared.
• To prevent being cornered by Japanese forces, Filipino-
American forces retreated to Bataan and Corregidor.
o