THE RISE OF FILIPINO NATIONALISM

A. The Spanish Conquest of the Philippines

In 1521 Ferdinand Magellan led an expedition to find the spice islands and
on their route they came across the Philippine archipelago. Magellan got caught
in a local dispute and was eventually killed. After that Spain sent several more
expeditions and eventually conquered the islands. In 1565 majority of the islands
were conquered by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and was then established as a
colony of Spain and was henceforth named the Philippines after King Philip II of
Spain.

B. Liberal Reform
For the following century the Spanish maintained their grip on the
Philippines, but throughout that time there were many revolts against Spanish
rule, such as the Silang Revolt in 1762 and the Dagohoy Revolt in 1744. Fast
forward to a couple of centuries to the year 1869 when the influence of new
liberal ideas has spread throughout the world. These liberal ideas eventually
reached the Philippines most notably in the form of the new governor general
Carlos Maria de la Torre.

C. Governor de la Torre’s Reforms

1. Relaxed Media Censorship
- allowed Filipinos to have access to liberal literature.
2. Established the Guardia Civil
- joining the force would grant Filipinos certain privileges such as
exemption from tax and forced labor.
3. Began Secularization
- took away the power of Spanish friars to control the schools and
gave native priests control over their own churches.

D. Cavite Mutiny
In 1871 Governor de la Torre was replaced by Rafael Izquierdo who
disliked the liberal reforms and worked against them. He would argue for the
increased censorship of the press and more importantly he removed the
privileges that the guardia civil enjoyed. These changes were unpopular among
Filipinos, especially to the guardia civil.

Things came to a breaking point on January 20, 1872, angered that their
privileges were revoked and their pay reduced, around 200 soldiers and laborers
led by sergeant Fernando La Madrid captured Fort San Felipe in the Province of
 Cavite, killing the Spanish officers inside. The mutineers hoped that the other
soldiers would join them but when they called the nearby infantry company they
refused and instead attacked them, because of this the mutineers stayed inside
the fort. When news of this reached the seat of the colonial government,
Governor Izquierdo quickly dispatched troops to recapture the fort. When they
arrived they saw that the mutineers were kept at bay by the loyalist infantry, soon
after the mutiny was crushed, many were killed and arrested.

E. Aftereffects of the Cavite Mutiny

After the Cavite Mutiny the colonial government started an official
investigation. They found out that the mutineers were part of a plot to cause a
revolution and overthrow the government. Many prominent Filipinos were
accused of being supporters of the plot, mostly leaders, lawyers and influential
residents from Manila and Cavite.

Additionally, with the advice of the Spanish friars, Governor Izquierdo

emphasized the role of the native priests in the “revolution”, saying that they
supported the rebels and were thus an enemy of Spain. Among the people who
were arrested were three native priests; Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and
Jacinto Zamora. They were well known figures of the secularization movement
which wanted to reduce the friars' powers, this made them prime targets for the
Spanish.

In the ensuing trials the three priests were pointed to as the masterminds
behind the Cavite Mutiny, though there was little evidence to support these
claims the priests were still found guilty and were soon convected. 70 of those
arrested were given death sentences others were reduced to life imprisonment or
exile. On February 17, 1872 the priests were taken to the Bagong Bayan Field
and were executed by garrote, a device that basically strangles a person to
death. The three priests would then be remembered as the GOMBURZA.

F. Propaganda Movement
In the attempt of the colonial government to crush a so-called revolution,
they made future revolutions almost inevitable. The death of GOMBURZA is
seen by many as the start of Filipino Nationalism. Immediately after their trial and
execution were seen by Filipinos as a grave injustice and soon the three priests
were made martyrs and killed by Spanish cruelty.

However, the unintended consequences of the crackdown did not end

there. Many of the mutineers who were exiled started the propaganda movement
 in Europe, where they published newspapers and pamphlets that advocated for
reforms back in the Philippines. One of the future members of the movement was
Dr. Jose P. Rizal dedicated his second novel El Filibusterismo to the martyred
priest. In referring to them he wrote “I have the right to dedicate my work to you
as victims of evil which I undertake to combat.” Dr. Jose Rizal eventually met the
same fate as the three priests. On December 30, 1896 he was executed by firing
squad at Bagong Bayan the same place where GOMBURZA were executed.

G. The Philippine Revolution of 1896

With Rizal’s ‘Noli me Tangere’ exposing the economic exploitation, political
inequality, and religious discrimination of the colonial government, the Filipinos
revolted against the colonial government in 1896 after 300+ years of grievances.
The revolution was characterized by both peaceful and armed resistance, led by
Dr. Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio respectively.

The Katipunan, A secret revolutionary society that was organized by

Andres Bonifacio led the initial phase of the revolution, marking the beginning of
the armed conflict between the opposing forces. On December 30, 1896, Rizal’s
public execution, enraged and united the Filipinos. The revolution then started to
develop as it spread across the nation.

In spite of the successful revolutionary attempts, the Filipinos continued to

face challenges due to the Spanish-American War. The Philippines’ control was
handed onto the United States from the Spanish through the Treaty of Paris in
1898 which made the battle for independence much more difficult.

H. Filipino Nationalism in Present Times

Since the birth of the Filipino nation and republic at the turn of the 20th
century, the function of Filipino Nationalism has had to do with the thoughts,
sentiments and national consciousness of the leaders and the people, reflecting
the country’s complex history, socio-economic challenges, and aspirations for a
better future.
While the Spanish colonization brought about centuries of oppression and
exploitation, it also left a lasting legacy that shaped Filipino identity and
nationalism. The Spanish era introduced Christianity, which became intertwined
with Filipino culture and played a role in the formation of a distinct national
identity. Furthermore, the resistance against Spanish rule, epitomized by
movements like the Katipunan and the Philippine Revolution, ignited a fervent
spirit of independence and self-determination among Filipinos.
 Despite gaining independence from Spain in 1898 and subsequently from
the United States in 1946, Filipino nationalism continues to evolve in response to
contemporary challenges. Efforts to preserve and promote nationalism are
evident in various aspects of society, particularly through education. The
inclusion of Philippine history and culture in school curricula aims to instill a
sense of pride and belonging among Filipino youth, fostering a deeper
appreciation for the country's heritage and the sacrifices made by past
generations for freedom.

Moreover, Filipino nationalism finds expression in cultural endeavors, such

as the preservation of traditional arts, languages, and customs. Nationalistic
symbols and icons, from the Philippine flag to national heroes like Jose Rizal,
serve as reminders of the country's struggles and triumphs, inspiring unity and
patriotism among Filipinos. Additionally, grassroots movements and civil society
organizations continue to advocate for social justice, environmental protection,
and political reform, reflecting a commitment to upholding the principles of
democracy and equality.
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