G.E.

5
READINGS IN THE
PHILIPPINE HISTORY
Compiled by: IVY JANE S. ASILO
 Main Topic: Readings in Philippine History

Overview

INTRODUCTION

The course analyzes Philippine History from multiple

perspectives through the lens of selected primary sources coming
from various disciplines and of different genres. Students are given
opportunities to analyze the author’s background and main
arguments, compare different points of view, identify biases and
examine the evidences presented in the document. The discussions
will tackle traditional topcs in history and other interdisciplinary themes
that will deepen and broaden their understanding of Philippine
political, economic, cultural, social, scientific and religious history.
Priority is given to primary materials that could help students develop
their analytical and communication skills. The end goal is to develop
the historical and critical consciousness of the students so that they
will become versatile, articulate, broadminded, morally upright and
OBJECTIVES
Atresponsible citizens.
the end of the course, students should be able to:

Evaluate primary sources for their credibility, authenticity, and

provenance;
Analyze the context, content, and perspective of different
kinds of primary sources;
Determine the contribution of different kinds of primary
sources in understanding Philippine history;
Develop critical and analytical skills with exposure to primary
sources;
Demonstrate the ability to use primary sources to argue in
favor or against a particular issue;
Effectively communicate, using various techniques and
genres, their historical analysis of a particular event or issue that
could help others understand the chosen topic;
Propose recommendations/solutions to present-day problems
based on their understanding of root causes and their
anticipation of future scenarios;
Display the ability to work in a term and contribute to a group
project;
Manifest interest in local history and concern in promoting and
preserving our country’s national patrimony and cultural heritage.
 LEARNING UNIT 7
THE REBIRTH OF THE FILIPINOS

Factors that Led to the Rise of Philippine Nationalism

1. Rise of Liberal Ideas

The liberal ideas came to the Philippines thru the continuous contact of the Filipino
illustrado with the west. In the aspect of religion, Martin Luther, a German clergy started
to question the different policies of the church which he thought did not correspond with
the teachings of the bible particularly the giving of indulgence to the Catholic church and
other practices of the priest. The move of Martin Luther shaken the absolute power of the
Catholic church and next was the monarchy in Europe. The monarchy imposed excessive
taxes to the people and used it for their luxury and did not implement projects for the
welfare of the people. The French people had their revolution and overthrow their
monarch, this revolution gave the illustrados that the people could challenge the absolute
power of the government.
2. The Development in International Trading
The opening of the Suez Canal gave way to the easy transportation from Europe going to
Asia, it shortened the time of travel. In 1834, the port of Manila opened an international
trading that brought tremendous development in the economy. The big profits gave
opportunity to send their children in Europe for education or to settle to avoid restrictions
set by the Spaniards. The Chinese in the Philippines also gained wealth because of the
international trading, some of them provided financial aid for the attainment of the goal of
the creoles who sought reform from the colonial government in Spain.
3. The Political Instability in Spain
Like the other government, the absolute power of the Spanish monarchy was threatened
by liberalism. Some of the population preferred a liberal government while the others
preferred absolutism. In the span of three decades, there were continuous changes in the
monarchy of Spain.
The continues change of the government from absolute to liberal government and from
liberal to absolute government brought instability not only in Spanish government but also
to the Spanish colonial government in the Philippines.

4. The Administration of Carlos Ma de la Torre

Carlos Ma de la Torre was a liberal leader who was assigned in the Philippines in 1868.
He opened Malacanang to the Filipinos and solicited suggestions from the native about
the administration of the country. He abolished the espionage and implemented the
freedom of speech, instead of declaring war against the rebels, he met with them and
encouraged them to support the Spanish government. His liberal ideas made him the
 champion for the Filipinos but angered the Spanish in Manila and the friars. After two years
he was replaced by Governor General Rafael Izquerdo who imposed repressive policies
towards the natives. The administration of de la Torre gave ideas to the Filipinos that it
was possible to adopt liberal ideas so those creoles that experienced his leadership
encouraged other people to seek reform from the government.
5. The Issue of Secularization
The liberal administration in Spain ordered the closure of all the churches in Spain so the
friars who lost their church in Spain traveled to the Philippines since in the country the
church played the vital role of maintaining control over the people. Because of this, they
replaced the secular priests with the regular priests, this action pushed the Filipinos to
create a Secularization movement. The objective of this movement was to fight for the
rights of the secular priest and it was headed by Father Pedro Pelaez and Father Mariano
Gomez.
6. The Execution of GomBurZa
Father Mariano Gomez was known for his leadership in Bacoor Cavite not only on
spiritual development of the parishioners but also in economics. He let the parishioners
borrow money without interest, the excess fund for the parish for the investment of the
people, and because of this the additional income of the parishioner was again donated
to the church. He was not only popular in Bacoor but also in Batangas, because of his
popularity and wealth of his parish he became part of the watch list of the regular priests.
Father Jose Burgos was the most promising among the three priests. Thru writings
he defended the secular priest against the Spanish priest who insisted that the Filipino
priest were not deserving to have their own parish. He wrote “Manifesto que a la noble
nacion Espanola”, he stated that the Spanish priest wanted to convince the public that the
Filipino priests were inferior so that they could make themselves the only perpetual curate
in the country. He replaced Father Pedro Pelaez as curate of Manila Cathedral, his
numerous essays angered the regular priests.
Father Jacinto Zamora was the parish priest in Marikina, he was the classmate of
Jose Burgos and also part of the Secularization movement.
In January 20, 1872, the workers in Cavite arsenal had the rebellion against the
additional deductions in their salary and the lost of exemption in tribute imposed by
Governor General Rafael Izquerd0. The rebellion happened on cavite arsenal, however,
the accused leader of the rebellion were the Gomburza. This was due to the testimony of
Francisco Zaldua, the only witness that they had, that the leaders of Cavite mutiny were
the Filipino priests and without due process, Governor General Rafael Izquerdo ordered
the execution of the three priests and Francisco Zaldua on February 17, 1872 in
Bagumbayan.
The execution of the Gomburza had a tremendous effect to the Filipino community.
It served as an eye opener that all people could experience the injustice of the Spaniards,
even the workers of the church. It awakened the nationalistic spirits of the creoles and
sought reform from the Spanish Colonial Government in the Philippines.
7. The Rise of the Creoles
The creoles was considered as the third class in the Philippine society during the Spanish
era, they were the result of the intermarriage of the natives, Spaniards and Chinese. They
were also the illustrado or the well educated people who acquired their education in the
prominent schools in Philippines and Europe. Their education gave them idea about the
good government, equality and the right of the people to overthrow the government if the
latter would not implement programs for the welfare of the people. The creoles used
propaganda to encouraged the Filipino people to seek for reform in the government and
they succeeded in awakening the indios or the masses to put into actions all of their
struggles.
The First Wave of Struggle Against the Spaniards
The first wave of struggle of the Filipinos against the Spaniards did not aim for total independence
of the country from Spain but for political reform, equality between Spaniards and Filipino and the
assimilation of the Philippines to Spain. The perspective of the well educated Filipinos is that the
country was not yet ready for independence since the Filipinos did not have education for a good
government.

The Reformist

1. Jose Rizal is the greatest reformist in the Philippine society and the first person who
thought that the Philippines was a nation and the Filipinos should be united and educated
to reform theirown society. His novels and essays inspired the Filipinos to fight for their
rights and later on for their independence. He also used his writings to awaken the Filipinos
and seek reform to the Spanish Colonial Government. Jose P. Rizal was declared as
Erehe and Pilibustero, or the enemy of the church and the government. He was executed
in December 30, 1896 and his death heightened the anger of the revolutionist. His death
was the start of the new chapter of the history of the Filipinos.
2. Graciano Lopez Jaena is one of the greatest orators in the Philippine History, he used his
talent to expose the true conditions of the country under the Spanish rule. He defended
the Filipinos and let the other nations know that the Filipinos were also capable to handle
reform and development. He gained his education in the seminary but he did not continue
because he criticized the friars. He wrote the Fray Botod, a novel about the friar which he
described as a big bellied man, abusive, immoral and selfish. In 1889, together with the
other Filipinos in Madrid, they founded the La Solidaridad and it was him who became the
first editor in chief, it was a newspaper that published the true condition of the Philippines
and encouraged the other Filipinos to seek for reform. He lived in Spain without financial
support from his family and because of lack of funds his health deteriorated and he
suffered tuberculosis and in January 20, 1896, he died in Barcelona.
3. Marcelo H. Del Pilar was a brilliant writer and a social reformer . he used his pen to
campaign for social justice and exposed the hindrance in the attainment of the
development in the Philippines. In 1880, he used his mastery in Tagalog language to
encourage the Filipinos to have self dignity as a Filipino. In 1882, he founded the Diariong
Tagalog, a newspaper which published the nationalistic sentiments of the Filipinos. In
1888, he wrote the manuscript entitled Caiingat Kayo which defended Jose Rizal against
the friars who labeled Rizal as the enemy of Catholic Church. He also wrote the Dasalan
at Tocsohan which criticized the prayer Our Father and Hail Mary. His writings angered
the Spaniards and to avoid being arrested he moved to Madrid, however due to lack of
food and nutrients, he died on July 4, 1896 because of tuberculosis.

The Organization of Reform

1. The Circulo-Hispano Filipino

An organization of Spanish and Filipino in Madrid founded in1882 and sought
reform from the Spanish government in the Philippines. The organization use
propaganda or newspaper to expose the real situation in the Philippines to catch
the attention of the Spanish government in Madrid, however, its existence ended
when the Minister of Colonies discouraged the members to continue fighting for its
aim.
2. The La Solidaridad
 The newspaper which was the organ for the Filipinos to express their sentiments
for the Philippines against the Spanish colonial government in the country. It was
founded in January 1, 1889 but the first subscription came out on February 15,
1889. It aimed for the secularization of the Parishes in the Philippines, participation
of the Filipinos in their own government, freedom in speech, equality, assimilation
and the representation of the Filipinos in the Spanish Cortez. However, because
of the lack of funds and unity among the Filipinos in Spain the existence of the
newspaper ended on November 15, 1895.

3. The La Liga Filipina

A civic society founded by Dr. Jose P. Rizal on July 3, 1892. It aimed for the unity
if the whole archipelago, mutual protection of law, defense against all violence and
injustice, development of instruction, agriculture and commerce and finally the
application of the reforms needed by the society. However, Dr. Jose Rizal was
exiled to Dapitan which split the group into two because of the conflict of the middle
class members and the masses members.