THE WORLD AND PHILIPPINES DURING RIZAL’S TIME

Question 1

Scientists marked the birth of modern life as well as the birth of
many nation states around the world.

Answer 1

19th century

Question 2

• Before the Spanish conquest in 1563, Filipino had their own indigenous culture and their
  own government.
  ● Spanish colonizers forced them to accept foreign culture and Catholicism that they
  never completely understood.
  ● They lost their ancestral lands to the colonial masters by way of the encomienda
  system.
• The Spaniards brought the doctrine of “limpieza de sangre” (referred to those who were
  considered pure “Old Christians”, without Muslim or Jewish ancestors) into the
  Philippines, creating a social ranking among people:

Answer 2

SOCIAL SYSTEM

Question 3

Spain governed the Philippines through the Ministry of the Colonies (Ministro de
Ultramar) based in Madrid.

Answer 3

POLITICAL SYSTEM

Question 4

• Governor-General - Headed the central government; Appointed by the King of Spain.
• Alcalde Mayor - Head to the central government known as Alcaldia or Provincial
  Government
  ● Gobernadorcillo - Headed the pueblo, composed of the barangays as the local
  government unit.
  ● Cabeza de Barangay - headed the smallest political unit - the barangay (barrio)
  ● Guardia Civil - a company of native police led by Spanish officers.
• Most feared instrument, can arrest at any time of the day or night of persons
  denounced by the friars as filibusteros.

Answer 4

POLITICAL SYSTEM

Question 5

The first schools established were parochial schools with the Spanish missionaries as
teachers.
● Fear of God was emphasized and obedience to the friars was instilled in the minds of
the people.
● INDIOS are reminded that they had low intelligence and that they were fit only for
manual work.
● This indoctrination resulted in a lack of confidence that developed an inferiority complex
among the natives.
● Friars decide what to teach to the children.
● Teacher discrimination against Filipino was present in the higher levels of learning.
● Friars assigned to implement the education were against the teaching of Spanish in the
colony.
● They believed that knowledge of the language would develop social and political
awareness among the natives and they might be inspired by the liberal ideas about
freedom and independence.

Answer 5

EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

Question 6

• The union of the church and state was practiced by almost absolute monarchist lates.
  ● It spawned in the colony an invincible government called “frailocracia” meaning rule of
  the friars.
  ● From 1849 to 1898, 45 Governor-generals had been assigned to the colony and each
  one of them sought the counsel of the friars who had been permanently residing in the
  country .
  ● Since the friars were found in each town, they gradually became the ruler of that political
  unit.
  ● They became very influential and so powerful that the Spanish civil authorities, including
  the governor-general.

Answer 6

FRAILOCRACIA