OUR SPANISH

HERITAGE
PREPARED BY:
CHRISTOPHER S. MAGBITANG Ma.Ed
 SPAIN RULED THE PHILIPPINES FOR
THREE CENTURIES (1565 TO 1898)
1. RELIGION
2. LANGUAGE
3. CUSTOMS
4. ARTS
5. SCIENCE
 CHRISTIANITY,
SPAIN’S GREATEST LEGACY
The greatest legacy of Spain in the Filipino
people is Christianity, specifically the Roman
Catholic. Christianization of the Filipinos was
really the most outstanding achievement of the
Spanish missionaries
 DIET AND DRESS
Spanish improved the diet of the people by introducing new
food plants, such as wheat, corn, patatas (white potatoes),
cacao, coffee, cabbages, papayas, chicos and guavas.
The wheat grains were milled into snow-white wheat flour
which was baked in the oven to become bread. For the first
time, the Filipinos learned to eat bread. From the seed of cacao
came the chocolate which become popular drink for breakfast
or merienda. The people also learned to drink coffee.
 OTHER FOODSTUFF INTRODUCED BY
SPAIN:
1.Beef
2.Mutton (sheep’s meat)
3.Longanizas (sausages)
4.Jamon (ham)
5.Sardines
During the Spanish times, Filipinos also learned for
the first time to eat canned goods from Europe,
such as chorizos de Bilbao, Spanish sardines, olive
oil, and pickles from England; to use spoon, forks,
drinking glasses, table knives and napkins while
eating and to drink foreign wines.
 DRESS FOR MALE
The male jacket and bahag were placed by the
Western coat and trousers. The coat was
popularly called americanas because it was
introduced from America (Mexico). The men began
to wear hats, instead of the putong and used of
slippers and shoes for footwear.
 DRESS FOR FEMALE
They discarded the sarong and used of saya (skirt) as
a lower apparel and for upper they adopted the camisa
with long and wide sleeves in place of the old short-
sleeved jacket. They learned to use slippers, shoes,
stockings, hair combs, mantillas and panuelos, like
women of Spain.
 JEWELRY
• Gold earrings
• Rings
• Pendants
• Necklace
• Bracelets
But not armlets and leglets. By the middle of 17 th century, as Father
Colin observed, the dress of the people had become “almost
Spanish”.
 FAMILY LIFE
Family life during the Spanish period was simple an wholesome because
of the ennobling influence of Christianity.
The Father recognized as the master of the family was not despotic. He
consulted his wife of family matters – including the education of their
children, the family expenses, and business deals affecting the sale or
purchase of property.
The Mother usually acted as the first tutor of the children, she taught
them the first alphabet and the Christian prayers. She was the custodian of
the family funds and keys.
 FILIPINO WOMEN
DURING SPANISH
They were never considered as mere chattel and wereTIME
never used
as beasts of burden laboring in the fields of roads. They were
respected by men. If still unmarried, they were strictly
chaperoned when they attended dances and other social
gatherings. They had no freedom to study in the universities, to
engage in the professions (laws, medicine, engineerings, etc.)
and to mix freely with men. They were, however, permitted by
customs and law to engage in business.
 The young women were kept in seclusion at the home or in
school. They were given education in the colegios (colleges)
which were exclusive schools for girls operated by nuns. At the
colegio they ere trained to observe the rigid rules of good
conduct, to cook well, to sew and embroider, and to know music
so that they would become good wives and good mothers. Those
young womens who had no intention of marrying or who were
unfortunate in their romances usually entered the nunnery and
consecrated their lives in the service of God.
 The beautiful Maria Clara of Rizal’s novels
typified the flower of Filipino womanhood during
the Spanish times. In her were found the best
traits of a woman- charm, modesty, religious
devotion.
 INTRODUCTION OF
GREGORIAN
CALENDAR
Until the year 1845, the Philippine calendar was one day
behind that of European time.
Governor General Narciso Claveria who corrected the
Philippine calendar. On August 16, 1844, he issued an order
proclaiming Tuesday, December 31, 1844, to be Wednesday,
January 1, 1845. In other words he advance the calendar by
one day, so that it would be in accord with world standard
calendar.
 SPANISH SURNAMES FOR
FILIPINOS
During the early years of Spanish colonization the Filipinos, upon their conversion
were given the names of the saints as their first names, such as Juan, after San
Juan, Pedro after San Pedro, Maria after Santa Maria and Cecilia after Santa Cecilia.
Governor General Claveria issued an order on November 21, 1849 giving Spanish
surnames to Filipino families. He sent list of Spanish family names to the authorities
in the provinces and towns, his order was carried out, so that today Filipino families
came to acquire Spanish surnames, such as Gomez, Reyes and Santos. Many
Filipino families who remained loyal to their ancestors refused adopt the Spanish
surnames.
Their descendants still use their Malayan surnames, such as Batungbakal, Kalaw,
Makapagal, Magsaysay, Magbanua, Sumulong and Tonogbanua.
 LATIN ALPHABET AND
SPANISH LANGUAGE
Spanish did not become a national language in the country, as it is in
Mexico and other countries in Latin America, it has enriched the national
language called Pilipino. According to linguistical authorities, there are about
5,000 Spanish loan-words in our national language.
The Filipinos are the only Spanish speaking nation in Asia. With their
knowledge of the Latin alphabet and the Spanish language (plus English
language) the people have been linked closer to the Western world. Through
these linguistical media, they have been able to imbibe the wisdom of the West
and learn the ideas of Western philosophers and teachers.
 PRESERVATION OF
PHILIPPINE
LANGUAGES
The Spanish friars, instead of preaching Christianity in Spanish, studied the
native language and used these languages to propagate the faith. By
studying the native languages and using them in their missionary activities, the
Spanish friars, incidentally, preserved the Philippine native languages.
The early Spanish missionaries were the first to write the grammars and
dictionaries of the Filipino languages. The first published Tagalog
grammar, entitled Arte y reglas de la lengua tagala (1610), was written by
Fr. Francisco Blancas de San Jose, a Spanish Dominican missionary. He
was know as the “Demosthenes of the Tagalog Language,” because of his
eloquence in Tgalog.
 PRINTING
The first Filipino press in the Philippines was
established by the Dominicans in Manila in the year
1593. The first printing press in Manila printed
books by means of the old sylographic method, that is,
printing by using engraved wood blocks. It is still
existing at the UST Press and is one of the oldest
printing establishments in the world.
 THE FILIPINO PRINTERS
The first Filipino printer was Tomas Pinpin, the “Prince of Filipino
Printers”. He was also the first Tagalog author for the wrote the first
Tagalog book ever published. This book, entitled Librong pag-aaralan nang
manga Tagalog nang uicang Castila (Book that the Tagalog Should Study
to Learn Spanish), was printed in Bataan in 1610. Tomas Pinpin had a
worthy son, Simon , who was also a good printer.
Other pioneer Filipino printers were Diego Talaghay, Nicolas de la Cruz
Bagay, Laureano Atlas, Domingo Loag and Cipriano Bagay.
 FIRST BOOK PRINTED
IN THE PHILIPPINES
As early as in 1593, books were being printed in the Philippines by
xylographic method. Three of these early books have been discovered in the
archives and libraries of Europe in recent years, namely:
1. Doctrina Christiana en lengua Española y tagala, Manila 1593
2. Doctrina Christiana en letra y lengua China, printed by Keng Yong
(Chinese) in the Parian, Manila;
3. Tratado de la Doctrina de la Santa Iglesia y de Ciencias naturales, written
by Fr. Juan de Cobo, O.P., printed in Manila, 1593.
 EDUCATION
Spain introduced the European system of education in
the Philippines. The first school to be established were
parochial schools, with the Spanish missionaries as
teachers. Filipino children taught the Catholic doctrine,
the three R’s (reading, writing & arithmetic), music, and
various arts and trades.
 THE JESUITS
• Founded the 1st college for boys(1589)
-- originally called College of Manila, the name was changed to
Colegio de San Ignacio.
• Founded College of San Ildefonso in Cebu(1595)
• Founded College of San Jose in Manila--took charge of
Escuela Pia, public school for boys in Manila & transformed it
into Ateneo de Manila
 THE DOMINICANS
• College of Our Lady of the Rosary(1611), whose
name later changed to College of Santo Tomas and still
later, University of Santo Tomas.
• College of San Juan de Letran (1630)-- oldest existing
college for boys in the Philippines
 UNIVERSITIES
University education in the Philippines is much older than the
U.S
1st university: University of San Ignacio– oldest university in the
Philippines ; founded in 1589 as a college but was elevated to
university rank by Pope Gregory XV in 1621. It was closed in 1768
when Jesuits were expelled in the Philippines.
•  The College of San Ildefonso also closed but was reopened in
1783 as Colegio-Seminario de San Carlos (became University of
San Carlos in 1948)
 2nd university: University of Santo Tomas-- originally founded as a college
in 1611 by Miguel de Buenavides, a Domincan prelate who is also the third
Archbishop of Manila--raised to university rank in 1645 by Pope Innocent X
upon request of King Philip IV of Spain, making it the only Royal & Pontifical
University in all Asia.
• UST is 25 years older than Harvard University, the oldest university in the
U.S
3rd University: University of San Felipe-- a government sponsored university,
established in Manila by a royal decree of King Philip V of Spain.-- never
gained popularity & was closed in 1726.
ALL universities during the Spanish times were exclusively for MEN.
 Schools for girls in Manila:
1. College of Santa Potenciana (1594)
2. College of Santa Isabel (1632)
Two kinds of School 3. Beaterio de la Compania de Jesus
(1694)
for Girls 4. Beaterio de Santa Catalina (1696)
1.Colegio, a regular 5. Beaterio de San Sebastian (1719)
6. College of Santa Rosa (1750)
school for girls 7. College of La Concordia (1869)
2.Beaterio, a combined 8. Assumption Convent School
school nunnery (1892)
College of Santa Isabel-- later absorbed the College of Santa Potenciana ;
oldest existing college for girls in the Philippines

Beaterio de la Compania de Jesus--founded by a Filipino nun,

SorIgnacia de Espiritu Santo-- the only college exclusively for FILIPINO
GIRLS -- is now St. Mary’s College in Quezon City

The 1st public school system was established by Spain in accordance with
the Educational Decree of 1863, which provided the foundations of
separate public elementary schools for boys and girls. There was no co-
education in the Philippines during the Spanish regime
 VOCATIONAL
EDUCATION
19th century – various vocational & technical schools were established by the
Spanish gov’t. Among them were:
Nautical Academy (1820)
School of Commerce (1840)
Academy of Fine Arts (1849)
School of Agriculture (1889)
School of Arts and Trades (1890)--all of these schools were in Manila
March 16, 1861 – two Filipinos, Fr. Juan P. Zita and Felino Gil founded a private
school of arts & trades in Bacolor, Pampanga. It is now the Pampanga School of
Arts & Trades, a public school
 EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS
UNDER SPAIN
Schools established by Spain contributed the Filipinos’ intellectual
growth.
• In 1843, the percentage of literacy in the country was relatively high.
• In 1867, there were 593 elementary schools with 133,990 children
enrolled.
• In 1898, at the end of the Spanish rule, the schools numbered to 2,150, with
a total enrolment of 200,000.
The schools founded in the Philippines were highly defective yet they
were better than school in other Spanish colonies
 JOURNALISM
Del Superior Govierno (Of The Supreme Government)– 1st newspaper in the
Philippines with Gov. Gen. Manuel Gonzales de Aguilar as editor.-- appeared for
the first time in Manila in on August 8, 1811. -- last issue came out on July 4, 1813
Other Newspapers: La Esperanza (1846) – 1st daily newspaper
La Illustracion Filipina (1859) – 1st illustrated periodical
El Catolico Filipino (1862) – 1st religious newspaper
La Opinion (1887) – 1st political newpaper
El Ilokano (1889) – 1st vernacular newspaper; founded & edited by Isabelo de los
Reyes El Hogar (1893) – 1st women’s magazine
 LITERATURE
Phil. Literature were religious in character (ex. Prayer books,
doctrinas, novenas, biographies of saints, etc.) in order to
propagate Christianity.
AWITS (chivalric-heroic poems) and CORRIDOS (legendary-
religious poems) became popular among the masses.
Ex. SieteInfantes de Lara, IbongAdarna, Bernardo Carpio. They
were filipinized versions of Spanish & French medieval
romances.
The Pasion -- favorite reading material during LENTEN SEASON --
depicts the story of Christ’s life, suffering & crucifixion
Gaspar Aquino de Belen – wrote the 1stTagalogpasion which was
published in 1704.
Florante at Laura -- poetical masterpiece of Francisco “Balagtas”
Baltazar, the “Prince of Tagalog Poets”. BALAGTASAN, the modern
Tagalog poetical joust, was named in his honor.
Urbana at Feliza -- a book on proper behavior of women, written by
Father Modesto de Castro, a Tagalog priest.
 Biagni Lam-ang -- an Ilocano epic which recounts the
deed of the legendary Ilocano hero, Lam-ang.
-- popularized by Pedro Bukaneg, a blind poet known to
be the “Father of Ilocano Literature”

Gonzalo de Cordova -- a stirring metrical romance of

Pampanga written by Father Anselmo Fajardo, a Pampango
priest-writer.
 Spanish-Educated Filipinos who were talented in literature:

Dr. Jose Rizal -- greatest Filipino genius who excelled both in prose &
poetry
Dr. Pedro A. Paterno – wrote the 1st Filipino novel, Ninay in 1885.
Cecilio Apostol, Fernando Ma. Guerrero, Jose Palma – composed the
trinity of Filipino poets; won endearing fame in Spanish poetry.
Jose Palma’s Spanish poem, Filipinas, became the lyrics of the Phil. Nat’l
Anthem
 THEATER
Early forms of drama: duplo and karagatan
Duplo – a poetical debate held by trained men & women on the 9th or last night of
the mourning period of the dead. Male participants were called bellocos, the
female participants, bellacas.
Karagatan - a poetical debate, like duplo, but it was participated by amateurs.
1st recorded drama in Cebu (1598)
-- a comedia written by Vicente Puche
-- performed in honor of Msgr. Pedro de Agurto, Cebu’s 1st bishop

In 1609, a play portraying the life of St. Barbara was staged in Bohol.
 THE END
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS EVERYONE!