The Dawn of Filipino Nationalism

Chapter 4

Unification of the Philippines Under Spanish Rule

Spain ruled the Philippines for more than 300 years.

Before Spain’s arrival, the Philippines consisted of independent and self-governing barangays, peopled by diverse tribes.

It was Spain who gave the Philippines its identity (Zaide, 1994).

The natives were pacified by the use of the Cross.

The reduccion plan of Fr. Juan de Plasencia was implemented. It transformed the Filipinos into law-abiding citizens under the Spanish Crown.

Because of this plan, the independence of the barangays was lost.

With the imposition of Catholicism and Spanish culture, the Filipinos were transformed into “little brown Spaniards”.

Spain’s political system was gradually introduced into the country.

Barangays were merged to form pueblos, pueblos into alcaldias, in addition to the ayuntamientos established by the colonizers.

Despite unification, the people started to nurture resentment and dislike for foreign rule.

Early Resistance to Spanish Rule

The integration of the country into the Spanish Empire resulted into the implementation of:

- taxation without representation- polo y servicio = forced labor- galleon trade- indulto de comercio = license to trade- government monopolies

Government restrictions and control made the people experience hardships and miseries. They started harboring grievances against the colonial administrators.

Revolts and uprisings began. Majority of the cause for these uprisings is the desire of the people to regain their lost freedom.

Examples of revolts under this cause:

- Revolt of Rajah Sulayman and Lakan Dula- Tondo Conspiracy- Revolt of Malong- Dagohoy’s Revolt- Revolt of Diego Silang- Revolt of Palaris

Other major causes for early revolts and uprisings:

- resistance to Spanish-imposed institutions- agrarian unrest- the desire to revert to their native religion

But, all of these did not last long. The early revolts against Spanish rule failed for a number of reasons.

- owing to sectional jealousies

- lack of communication in the provinces

- absence of national leaderships

- the implementation of divide et impera or “divide and rule”

- Filipinos were made to fight one another by the colonial masters, failing to realize that their common enemy was the Spaniards

The Emergence of the Filipino Sense of Nationhood

Filipinos development of their sense of nationhood started only during the last years of Spanish rule.

The following factors attributed to the development of Filipino nationalism:

- opening of the country to world commerce- rise of clase media- liberal regime of Carlos Ma. dela Torre- racial discrimination- secularization controversy- The Cavite Mutiny of 1872

The Opening of the Philippines to World Commerce

The opening of the country to world commerce was a consequence of Spain’s adoption of the laissez-faire policy.

With the entry of foreign products and businessmen, the economic isolation of the Philippines was ended.

Liberal ideas also entered the country. John Locke’s “Theory of Revolution” and Jean Jacques Rousseau’s “Social Contract Theory” was introduced.

The Rise of Clase Media

Class Media - a new middle class. The rise of this new social class came from a small class of mestizos and the principalia or the ruling elite.

Families of this class benefited from the opening of the country to foreign commerce and trade. Thus, they were able to send their sons for education in Europe.

Being educated in Europe, these sons of prosperous families were able to see the difference of European and Filipino societies.

They became disillusioned with Spain after witnessing how more progressive are the states of other countries.

From their ranks emerged Filipino propagandists clamoring for change in the Philippines.

Liberal Regime of Carlos Ma. dela Torre

The fall of Queen Isabella and the triumph of liberalism in Spain resulted into the appointment of dela Torre as Governor-General in the Philippines.

With his assumption into office, he demonstrated his democratic and liberal philosophy in governing the country.

This development was something the friars then did not like. For the first time, the Filipinos were allowed to talk about freedom and democracy openly.

During his term of office, freedom of speech and of the press as guaranteed by the Spanish Constitution were recognized.

Because of this policy, Father Burgos and other Filipino clergy were motivated to work for the Filipinization of parishes throughout the country.

With the restoration of the Spanish monarchy and the return of conservatism in Spain, dela Torre was removed from office.

He was replaced by the reactionary Rafael de Izquierdo, who boasted that he came to the Philippines with a cross on one hand and a sword on the other.

Racial Discrimination

Another factor that contributed to the development of the Filipinos’ sense of nationhood.

The Spaniards considered the Filipinos an inferior race and sarcastically called them Indios. Discrimination towards the Filipinos were prevalent in the universities, government offices, church, and the Court of Justice.

Fray Miguel de Bustamente portrayed the Filipino in his pamphlet entitled “Si Tandang Basyong Macunat” as an individual with low mental ability, incapable of acquiring European education, and fitted only to work in the fields and tend to carabaos.

This kind of attack intensified the enmity between Filipinos and Spaniards. This led them to realize that the Spaniards and the Filipinos were two separate, distinct peoples.

Secularization Controversy

Secularization of parishes was the transfer of the ministries established by the regular Spanish clergy to the Filipino seculars.

The controversy began as a religious issue then later on became a racial controversy between the friars and the Filipino secular clergy.

Leading the Filipino seculars in the struggle was Fr. Pedro Pelaez, an insulares, who rose to the position of vicar capitular of Manila. He led the fight against royal decrees turning secular parishes over to the friars.

The Jesuits then returned to the Philippines. Parishes under Filipino regulars in Manila were then turned over to the Recollects in exchange for the parishes held by the Recollects in Mindanao.

Fr. Pelaez appealed to Queen Isabella II for ecclesiastical equality between the Spanish regulars and Filipino seculars.

But, the earthquake that occurred in Manila took the life of Fr. Pelaez. The struggle for equality was then temporarily stopped.

Fr. Burgos continued the struggle started by his former professor. He exerted all efforts to defend the Filipino clergy from the attacks of the Spanish regulars.

The controversy led to the unification of the Filipino clergy, which in effect, strengthened their sense of identity.

The former religious conflict took on racial overtones because the friars were Spaniards and the seculars were true-blooded Filipinos.

For the first time, the word “Filipino” meant not only the Filipino Spaniards; now it included the native clergy.

Cavite Mutiny of 1872

On the night of January 20, 1872, a mutiny broke out among Filipino soldiers in the arsenal of Cavite under the leadership of Sgt. La Madrid.

This mutiny was brought about by Izquierdo’s abolition of their exemption from tributes and forced labor, which the soldiers previously enjoyed.

The Spanish authorities took advantage of the situation by arresting liberal-minded Filipinos. Nine Filipino priests were deported to Marianas Islands, together with thirteen lawyers and businessmen.

The incident was exaggerated by the Spaniards to implicate Fathers José Burgos, Mariano Gomez, and Jacinto Zamora, due to their active involvement in the campaign for the secularization of parishes. These three priests were executed by garrote for alleged complicity in the rebellion.

The Filipinos deeply resented the execution of GomBurZa, owing to their innocence of the crime for which they were tried. They hailed the three Filipinos priests as true martyrs of the fatherland.

The martyrdom of GomBurZa was a turning point in Philippine history. It ushered in an era of peaceful campaign for reforms to counter the evils of the Spanish Regime, known in our history as the Propaganda Movement.

Rizal and the Cavite Mutiny of 1872

Rizal was still very young when the mutiny broke out. Although at his tender age, Rizal was already cognizant of the deplorable conditions of the country.

Originally, his plan was to take up priesthood and become a Jesuit father. When he heard of the martyrdom of GomBurZa, he changed his mind and swore to dedicate his life to vindicate the victims of Spanish oppresion. He was only 11 years old at this time.

In his letter to Ponce, he said:

“ Without 1872 there would not be now either a Plaridel, or Jaena, nor Sanciano, or would there exist brave and generous Filipino colonies in Europe; Without 1872, Rizal would be a Jesuit now and instead of writing the Noli Me Tangere, would have written the opposite. At the sight of those injustices and cruelties, while still a child, my imagination was awakened and I swore to devote myself to avenge one day so many victims…”

“… and with this idea in mind I have been studying and this can be read in all my works and writings. God will someday give me an opportunity to carry out my promise. Good! May they commit abuses, let there be imprisonments, banishments, executions, good. Let destiny be fulfilled! The day they lay their hands on us, the day they martirize innocent families for our fault, goodbye friar government, and perhaps goodbye Spanish government.”

The EndThank you!