Lesson 2 - 19th Century Philippines as Rizal’s Context Flashcards
What was the broader political situation in Europe during Rizal’s time?
In Europe, there was unprecedented prosperity, with England as the leading growing imperialist power. France conquered Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos between 1858 and 1863, and the Dutch colonized the Netherlands East Indies, with other countries following Britain’s imperialist examples
How did Spain’s political situation affect its rule over the Philippines?
While Europe prospered, Spain continued its despotic colonial rule in its remaining colonies, including the Philippines, despite having been considered the “mistress of the world” previously. Spain itself was suffering from frequent constitutional and governmental changes between 1834 and 1862, adopting 4 constitutions, electing 28 parliaments, and instilling 529 ministers. This instability in Spain directly affected the Philippines as one of its colonies, leading to a constant shift in political policies that disrupted governance.
What were some of the social issues that the Philippines faced under Spanish colonial rule?
The Philippines suffered from various social issues due to Spanish despotic colonial rule. These included the maladministration of justice, where courts often favored Spaniards over Filipinos; no equality before the law, with native nobles and pure-bred Spaniards enjoying legal preference and heavier penalties imposed on Filipinos; racial prejudice against native Filipinos, even evident among the native clergy; forced labor (polo y servicio) required of Filipino males aged 16 to 60; frailocracy or the “government rule of the friars” due to the lack of separation between Church and State, leading to abuses; and a lack of representation in the Spanish Cortes.
Can you provide an example of how the instability of the Spanish government affected the Philippines?
One example is the case of a Spanish judge appointed to the Royale Audiencia of Manila. Due to a change in government in Madrid during his six-month voyage via the Cape of Good Hope, he arrived in Manila to find that another judge, who took the shorter route via the Suez Canal, had already filled his position.
How did the system of forced labor, known as polo y servicio, work in the Philippines?
Polo y servicio required all Filipino males between the ages of 16 and 60 to render forced labor for the Spanish Government. These workers were called polistas, and the mandatory labor was called polo
Were there any exceptions to the forced labor requirement?
Yes, some people were exempted from forced labor, such as the aristocracy or principalia, well-off Filipinos, government officials like the gobernadorcillos and cabeza de barangay, and school teachers. The well-off Filipinos and principalia could also be exempted by paying the falla, amounting to seven pesos.
What was the role and impact of the friars in the 19th-century Philippines?
In the 19th century, there was no separation between the Church and State, leading to the existence of frailocracy or the “government rule of the friars”. The friars became very powerful and contributed to the abuse of Filipinos, the rise of agrarian unrest, the secularization movement, and various forms of Filipino abuses. They were tasked with reporting events in their parishes to the Spanish Government but often chose to ignore the deplorable conditions of the Filipinos for their own gain.
Was the Philippines ever represented in the Spanish Cortes? What was the outcome?
Yes, in 1811, the Philippines was represented by a 71-year-old Filipino-Spanish merchant named Ventura de los Reyes. While his representation was diligent and even contributed to the abolition of the galleon trade due to reported abuses, it was short-lived, and social injustice continued to oppress and marginalize Filipinos throughout the 19th century.
What were the major economic developments in Europe during the 19th century?
The second half of the 19th century was a period of rapid economic growth in Europe. The use of increasingly expensive, powerful, and productive steam engines led to the use of machinery in manufacturing in European cities. The invention of tools, ships, and other machinery facilitated trade and brought governments and people closer. To further this, the Suez Canal was constructed to remove external barriers to trade.
What is the Suez Canal and what was its significance?
The Suez Canal is a waterway that connects Europe to Asia, providing a direct shipping route that avoided circumnavigating the African continent. This new infrastructure brought Spain closer to the Philippines due to the shortened travel time
How did the opening of the Suez Canal affect the Philippines?
The opening of the Suez Canal brought several advantages to the Philippines. It significantly shortened the distance and travel time between Europe and the Philippines, reducing the journey from over two months to about 30 days. This ** **. Furthermore, the shortened travel enabled Filipino ilustrados to send their children to universities in Europe
What was the impact of European education on the Filipino ilustrados?
Through their education in Europe, the Filipino ilustrados witnessed the freedoms, lack of biases, justice, and absence of racial discrimination enjoyed in the mother country (Spain). This contrasted sharply with the maladministration of justice by incompetent and corrupt government officials in the Philippines. This realization fueled the call for reforms by the ilustrados abroad, including Rizal, leading to the organization of the Propaganda Movement aimed at exposing the deplorable conditions in the Philippines so that Spain might address them
How did the economic developments in Europe and the opening of Philippine ports to world trade contribute to the rise of the principalia?
The increasing demand for abaca and other crops in Europe led to a greater need for Filipino people to cultivate lands. Manila became a free port in 1834 primarily for European traders, and after a few months, provincial ports in the Philippines were also opened to world trade. This increasing trade resulted in economic growth, with significant increases in exports like hemp and sugar. Many Spaniards and affluent natives began to invest in foreign commercial firms. To enhance trading capacities, Spain implemented measures like the reformation of the Galleon Trade, the settlement of Spaniards in the provinces for agriculture and trade, and government expropriation of friar landed estates. These measures allowed Filipinos to rent and cultivate agricultural lands, benefiting principalia families like Rizal’s who leased land from Dominican estates.
What were some of the economic issues or exploitation experienced by Filipinos despite these economic changes?
Despite the economic changes, friars who owned land exploited tenants by increasing land rentals and taxes, leading to agrarian unrest and dissatisfaction. Much of the land rented by Filipinos from friar estates was also reduced due to various factors
What were some of the major socio-cultural influences during the 19th century that affected the Philippines?
The 19th century saw the rise of the Enlightenment period, where people started to rely on human reason over faith and religion. In the Philippines, information through books and print media began to spread, facilitated by the opening of the Suez Canal. The Filipinos, especially the ilustrados, were inspired by events like the French Revolution and the American Civil War. The rise of the middle-class, the principalia, also marked a significant socio-cultural development
Why is it important to understand the 19th-century context of the Philippines when studying Rizal?
The political, economic, and social conditions of the 19th century shaped the kind of Rizal we know today. Without understanding this context, it is difficult to grasp Rizal’s enduring importance to the Filipino people and the relevance of his ideas today. To understand why Rizal advocated for reforms, one must examine the political struggles of the Filipinos in the 19th century. To understand his fight against the Spaniards, one must assess how the Spanish Government exploited Filipinos through economic policies. To understand Rizal’s criticisms of the friars in his novels, one must understand the social realities of the Filipinos during that time.
Would Rizal be the same figure if the Philippine context in the 19th century had been different?
Definitely, no. The Rizal we know is a product of his time, with the right context to campaign for nationalism. It is difficult to imagine 19th-century Philippines without someone like Rizal. His life, works, and writings helped shape Filipino history, and he used his knowledge for the betterment of the Filipino people and the Philippines. Rizal responded to the needs of his time, where the deplorable political and social conditions paved the way for him to rise against the Spaniards and call out injustice and racial discrimination through the Propaganda Movement. His experiences from studying abroad highlighted the potential for a better Philippines if Spain protected its colony, leading him to write Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. Ultimately, Rizal’s idea of a Filipino nation was made possible by the events of the 19th century, and his success in striving for independence was a response to the growing desire for justice, equality, and freedom. The world and the Philippine context of the 19th century molded the environment in which Rizal lived and responded to the needs of the people.
