The Life and Works of Jose Rizal

The Philippines in the 19th Century as Rizal’s context.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
•At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
•Appraise the link between the individual and society.
•Analyze the various social, political, economic, and cultural changes that occurred in the 19 th
century.
•Understand Jose Rizal in the context of his times

Throughout the years, the Philippines has transformed in many ways. A lot of changes have taken
place brought about by the many historical occurrences that have plagued the country. In this
lesson, we will discuss the changes in the 19th century, categorizing social, political, economic and
cultural changes in the Philippines.
The nineteenth century is considered the birth of modern life, more so, the birth of many nation-
states all over the world. For us to understand what Dr. Rizal have done during the nineteenth
century, let us look the different developments and accomplishments on that period
that changed and shaped the landscape of the Philippines’ economy, society and politics.
-19th Century was the era of challenges and responses.
-It is the period of major changes that affect man and society.
- Age of Enlightenment
Economic
Galleon Trade.
The Manila Galleons (Spanish: Galeón de Manila; Filipino: Galyon ng Maynila) were Spain
trading ships which for two-and-a-half centuries linked the Spanish Captaincy General of the
Philippines with Mexico across the Pacific Ocean, making one or two round-trip voyages per year
between the ports of Acapulco and Manila, which were both part of New Spain. The name of the
galleon changed to reflect the city that the ship sailed from. The term Manila galleon can also refer
to the trade route itself between Acapulco and Manila, which lasted from 1565 to 1815.
The Manila galleons sailed the Pacific for 250 years, bringing to the Americas cargoes of luxury
goods such as spices and porcelain in exchange for New World silver. The route also fostered
cultural exchanges that shaped the identities and culture of the countries involved. The Manila
galleons were also (somewhat confusingly) known in New Spain as La Nao de la China (“The
China Ship”) on their voyages from the Philippines because they carried mostly Chinese goods,
shipped from Manila. The Spanish inaugurated the Manila galleon trade route in 1565 after the
Augustinian friar and navigator Andrés de Urdaneta pioneered the tornaviaje or return route from
the Philippines to Mexico. Urdaneta and Alonso de Arellano made the first successful round trips
that year.
(The Manila-Acapulco Galleon Memorial at Plaza Mexico in Intramuros, Manila.)
The Manila–Acapulco galleon trade finally began when Spanish navigators Alonso de Arellano
and Andrés de Urdaneta discovered the eastward return route in 1565. Sailing as part of the
expedition commanded by Miguel López de Legazpi to conquer the Philippines in 1564, Urdaneta
was given the task of finding a return route. Reasoning that the trade winds of the Pacific might
move in a gyre as the Atlantic winds did, they sailed north, going all the way to the 38 th parallel
north, off the east coast of Japan, before catching the westerlies that would take them back across
the Pacific. He commanded a vessel which completed the eastward voyage in 129 days; this
marked the opening of the Manila galleon trade.
Trade

White represents the route of the Manila Galleons in the Pacific and the flota in the Atlantic. (Blue
represents Portuguese routes.)
Trade with Ming China via Manila served a major source of revenue for the Spanish Empire and
as a fundamental source of income for Spanish colonists in the Philippine Islands. Galleons used
for the trade between East and West were crafted by Filipino artisans. Until 1593, two or more
ships would set sail annually from each port.
The galleon trade was supplied by merchants largely from port areas of Fujian who traveled to
Manila to sell the Spaniards spices, porcelain, ivory, lacquerware, processed silk cloth and other
valuable commodities. Cargoes varied from one voyage to another but often included goods from
all over Asia: jade, wax, gunpowder and silk from China; amber, cotton and rugs from India; spices
from Indonesia and Malaysia; and a variety of goods from Japan, the Spanish part of the so-called
Namban trade, including fans, chests, screens, porcelain and lacquerware.
Sample of goods brought via Manila galleon in Acapulco.
-End of Galleon Trades
In 1740, as part of the administrative changes of the Bourbon Reforms, the Spanish crown began
allowing the use of registered ships or navíos de registro in the Pacific that traveled solo outside
of the convoy system of the galleons. While these solo voyages would not immediately replace the
galleon system, they were more efficient and better able to avoid being captured by the Royal
Navy.
Uprisings in Acapulco caused routes to change by 1813, uprisings in Acapulco caused Spain to
lose control of Mexico, which affected the movement of the Manila galleons. By then, alternate
routes had been found and private ships were used to transport mail and cargo. The Manila-
Acapulco galleon trade ended in 1815, a few years before Mexico gained independence from Spain
in 1821. After this, the Spanish Crown took direct control of the Philippines, and governed directly
from Madrid. Sea transport became easier in the mid-19th century upon the invention of steam
power ships and the opening of the Suez Canal, which reduced the travel time from Spain to the
Philippines to 40 days.

References:
Pereira Fernández, José Manuel (Third Quarter 2008). “Andrés de Urdaneta: In memoriam en el
quinto centenario de su nacimiento” (in es). Revista de Historia Naval (Spain: Ministry of Defence
(Spain)) (102): 16. ISSN 0212-467-X.
https://armada.defensa.gob.es/archivo/mardigitalrevistas/rhn/2008/2008102.pdf. Retrieved 19
November 2020. The letter is referenced as Rodríguez Rodríguez, I.; Álvarez Fernández, J. (1991)
(in es). Andrés de Urdaneta, agustino. En carreta sobre el Pacífico. Zamora. P. 181.

Opening of the Suez Canal

In 1858, Ferdinand de Lesseps formed the Suez Canal Company for the express purpose of
building the canal. Construction of the canal lasted from 1859 to 1869. The canal officially opened
on 17 November 1869.
The Suez Canal is a human-made waterway that cuts north-south across the Isthmus of Suez in
Egypt. The Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, making it the shortest
maritime route to Asia from Europe. Since its completion in 1869, it has become one of the world’s
most heavily used shipping lanes.
The Suez Canal is important because it is the shortest maritime route from Europe to Asia. Prior
to its construction, ships headed toward Asia had to embark on an arduous journey around the
Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. Because of its strategic location, the canal is both
heavily used and heavily protected.

Opening of the Port to World Trade

September 6, 1834
• Philippines opened to world trade- by a royal decree, Su Majestad or Your Majesty the King
declared the Royal Company of the Philippines abolished and opened Manila’s ports to world
trade. Because Manila was a great harbour (the shape of the bay protected trade boats from rough
waters) it became one of the best cities to trade with, luring American, British and other European
and Asian merchants to its shores. As a result, Spain’s economic supremacy lost its footing in the
region.
• It means that the goods from the Philippines could be shipped out to any of the countries abroad.
•Goods from other country could enter the Philippines directly. Before Spanish banned the other
foreigners from living in the provinces or having businesses in the Philippines. They did not apply
to Chinese settlers, but it covered other white men.
•The good and quite modern King Charles lll of Spain was the one who created the company, and
his goal was to make trade to Spain from the Philippines more efficient.
The Impact of Opening the Port to World Trade To All Filipinos 20th Century
• Manila and the Philippines garnered great economic growth around this time.
• Many shops opened in the Binondo and the rest of the “Extramuros” area (the areas outside of
Intramuros).
• The best part of this was that some were also owned by Filipino businessmen who were
knowledgeable in finance and consumer retail. Manila itself expanded – more people came to settle
in the city and grew rich through profit from trade.
The Impact of Opening the Port to World Trade To All Filipinos.
In short by 19th and 20th century, the opening of the port and the other parts of the Philippine to
foreign trade brought not only economic prosperity to the country but also remarkable
transformation in the life of the Filipinos. As the people, prospered, their standard of living
improved.
RISE OF THE EXPORT OF CROP ECONOMY AND MONOPOLIES
• The Philippines was well developing an export crop economy years after the end of the Galleon
Trade, between 1820 and 1870.
• Products like Manila hemp and coffee were exported to foreign markets while European
imported goods find their way to the Philippine markets.
• Provided opportunities to Chinese migrants to move in the hemp producing provinces of
southeastern Luzon and eastern Visayas, sugar producing areas of Western Visayas and tobacco
provinces of Northern Luzon.
• Another main source of wealth during the post-galleon era was monopoly contracting.
• After 1850, government monopoly contracts for the collection of different revenues were opened
to foreigners for the first time.
•The Chinese instantly took advantage of this commercial opportunity and thus, for the rest of the
19th century, enjoyed a pre-eminent position in monopoly contracting in the Philippines.

- During the Galleon Trade – the vast majority of the Spaniards in the Philippines were
charmed in sea exchanging endeavors among Manila and Mexico.
- The exploitation of the Philippines’ natural assets and progress of a fare crop economy –
were marvels of the nineteenth century.
- Between 1820 and 1870 – the Philippines was well on its method of building up a fare crop
economy.
- The different financial exercises in the new fare crop economy in the nation gave numerous
chances to the extending Chinese populace.
 - The advancement of the fare crop industry in the Philippines was propelled by the business
endeavors of North European and North American vendors , who gave capital, association,
and access to outside business sectors and wellspring of imports.
Monopolies
- After 1850 –government monopoly contracts for the collection of different revenues were
opened to foreigners for the 1st time.
- For the rest of the 19th century –the Chinese instantly took advantage of this commercial
opportunity, enjoyed a pre-eminent position in monopoly contracting in the Philippines.
- During the 1840’s – the Spanish government had legalized the use of opium (provided it
was limited to Chinese), and a government monopoly of opium importation and sales was
created.
- Even before 1850 –monopolies on some products had been established, which were
controlled by the colonial government. O 1712-1864 – spirituous liquors monopoly. 1764
– betel nut monopoly o 1782-1882 – tobacco monopoly o 1805-1864 – explosive monopoly
- Among these monopoly systems, the most controversial and oppressive to locals was
perhaps the tobacco monopoly.
- March 1, 1782 –Governor-General Jose Basco placed the tobacco industry under
Government control, thereby establishing the tobacco monopoly.
- 1882 –the tobacco monopoly was finally abolished. It lasted for exactly 100 years.
- A century of hardship and social betrayal caused by the tobacco restraining infrastructure
provoked Filipinos in common and Novo Ecijanos, in specific, to look for flexibility from
colonial subjugation.

References:
Schumacher, J. (1991). “Rizal in the Context of the 19th Century Philippines.” In The Making of a
Nation: Essays on Nineteenth-Century Filipino Nationalism. Quezon City: ADMU Press, 1991.