JOSE RIZAL’S LIFE WITHIN

THE CONTEXT OF 19TH

CENTURY IN THE
PHILIPPINES
 POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT

• The Spanish colonial government in the Philippines was centralized in form.

• The Philippines was governed through Ministries of the Colonies established in Madrid in 1863. This body
governed the affairs of the colonies of Spain, including the Philippines, through centralized machinery
exercising executive, legislative, judicial, and religious powers. The national government in the Philippines
was headed by a mestizo, while the local government was headed by an indio.
• The Governor- General appointed by the Spanish monarch headed the central administration in Manila.
The term of office, three years.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF GOV – GENERAL

He was the king’s representative in all state and religious matters

and, as such, exercised extensive powers. He was the Commander- in-
chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. He was also the Vice
Royal Patron over the religious affairs in the Islands. Being the chief
executive of the colonial government, he was the ex- officio president
of the Royal Audiencia, thus enjoying judicial powers.
 The main local government units were the provinces (alcaldias), headed by the alcalde mayor or
provincial governor, who exercised executive and judicial functions. The alcalde mayor was considered the
most corrupt government official then in the Philippines; he was the administrator, judge, and military
commandant. They received a small salary and they were given the privilege of trading called indulto de
commercio which made the office very lucrative.
 The provinces were divided into towns or pueblos. Each pueblo was headed by a Gobernadorcillo
(little governor) later called Capitan. As his position was honorary, no salary was given to him, but he
was entitled to two pesos a month. He was responsible for the collection of taxes. To ensure the collection
and remittance of such taxes, he was required to mortgage his properties to the government at the
beginning of his term. Moreover, each town was divided into barrios or barangays. Each baranggays was
headed by a cabeza de barangay, whose main function was the maintenance of peace and order in the
barrio and the collection of taxes and tributes from the barrio’s residents.
 CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

Spain carrying the Machiavellian policy of “Divide and Rule” for three hundred thirty- three years in
our country. The Spaniards only successful for dominating the Philippines in terms of establishing a
centralized government but the Filipinos lack of communication to unified the nation.

In terms of the dress code for men consisted of a stylized version of the Chinese shirt, cut along lines of the
present- day barong tagalog and European trousers. The women still wore the traditional patadyong but
had also come to wear the saya, which was topped by a loosed – sleeved camisa for less informal occasions.
The old men tied handkerchieves around their heads and drank basi.
• the first paper introduced in the Philippines - Del Superior Gobierno was printed in 1811 until 1812.

CLASSES OF SOCIETY

1. PENINSULARES – SPANIARD BORN IN SPAIN.

2. INSULARES – SPANIARD BORN IN THE PHILIPPINES

3. PRINCIPALIA- CHINESE MESTIZO

4. INDIO – FILIPINOS
 THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

• The schools in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period were not co- educational; the girls
were separated from the boys. The first college for boys was College of Manila, founded by the Jesuits in
1589. It was renamed College of San Ignacio and later (in 1621) became a university.
• The first college for girls, established in 1589, was Colegio de Santa Potenciana. In 1866, it was merged
with another school, forming what is now Sta Isabel College. University education was introduced in the
colony in the early part of the 17th century. Colegio de San Ignacio was turned into a university in 1621.
The second university that was put up in the colony, and the oldest existing university in the country at
present, was University of Santo Tomas. It was founded in 1611 by Fr. Miguel de Benavidez, a
Dominican priest, as College of our Lady of Rosary. In 1611, it was renamed Colegio de Santo Tomas. In
1645, it changed its status to a university and thus became known as University of Santo Tomas.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

• The Tributo
• Polo
• The Bandala