19th Century

Philippines
Under Spain
Unstable Spain
1. Turbulent year of King
Ferdinand VII reign from
1808-1833

a. Despotism vs. Liberalism

b. 3 Carlist Wars 1833-1876

c. 4 constitutions from 1834-1862

d. 28 parliamentary elections

e. Installation of 529 ministers

f. Party bickering, revolutions, and

other forms of political
upheavals
 Political Instability
1. Periodic shifting of colonial policies
and changing of colonial rules

a. 50 governor generals from

1835-1897

b. Average term of office was 1 year

and 3 months

c. From 1853-1854 there were four

assigned governor generals

Appointed Oidor/Jurist for the Royal

Audencia and his family took the
long and leisurely trip to the Cape of
Good Hope for 6 months only to
relaized when he arrived that a new
appointee is already seated.
effects

1. Frequent changing slowed 4. Indifference of leaders to the

down the political and economic political condition of the
growth of the country Philippines

2. Short and unstable term of 5. Madrid to Manila situational

office led to the failure of any domino effect
capable and energetic leader to
function well. 6. Systematic failure

3. Corrupting opportunities for a 7. Unsupervised political and

leader to take advantage of his economic performance of
rule assigned leaders in the
Philippines
4. Uninspiring political condition to
perform well
Corrupt officials

Golden Decadent
rule rule
Miguel Rafael de
Cervantes Izquierdo

Lope de Jose
Vega Malcampo

Fernando
Calderon
Primo de
dela Barca
Rivera

Valeriano
El Greco
Weyler

St. Theresa Camilo de

of Avila Poolavieja
Rafael de Izquierdo
Hated for sentencing
the death of the
GOMBURZA during
the year 1872

Jose Malcampo
Good military in
Muslim Mindanao but
a weak administrator
Fernando Primo de
Rivera
Ruled for 2 terms and
involved in casino
bribes

Valeriano Weyler
Branded as the Cuban
Butcher in Cuba
Received bribes of
diamond from the
Chinese
Able soldier but
heartless governor
Camilo de Polavieja
Able soldier but detested
for executing Dr. Jose
Rizal and for loosing the
Philippines to USA.
His sash and sword were
presented by Gov.
Blanco to the family of J.
Rizal as an apology

Other
Many assigned in the
Latin American
countries are
degenerate, cruel,
jobseekers, penniless,
protgs, and
pretenders.
 In 1810, Tomas de Comyn,
Spanish writer and government
official revealed the fact that
ignorant barbers, and lackeys
were appointed provincial
governors

For district magistrates and

garrison commanders, rough
sailors and soldiers were
appointed.
Participation in the Spanish
3. Abolition in 1837
Cortez
1. Napoleonic invasion and
representation in the Spanish
Cortez from 1810-1813
a. Ventura delos Reyes was one
of the 184 signers of the
democratic Constitution of
1812.
b. Abolition of galleon trade
a. Graciano L. Jaena- We
want representation in the
legislative chamber so that
our aspirations maybe
known to the mother
country and its
government.
b. Bitterness brought about
the given representation to
Cuba and Puerto Rico from
1876-1898.

2. Filipino representation during

1820-23 and 1834-37 were not
fruitful as the leaders were less
energetic and devoted in
parliamentary work.
Denial of Human Rights

1. Constitution of 1812

Enjoyment of freedom of speech,

freedom of the press, freedom of
association and other human
rights.

Liberals guarded for fear that it

will be abolished by the Spanish
monarch

2. Inconsistency in the practice as

observed by Sinibaldo de Mas
Why do we fall into an anomaly, such as
combining our claim for liberty for ourselves,
and our wish to impose our law on remote
peoples? Why do we deny to others the
benefit which we desire to our fatherland?
No equality before the law

All men irrespective of color and

race, are children of God and as
such they are brothers, equal
before God

Issue of Christs precept of the

brotherhood of all men under the
fatherhood of God.

Filipinos as inferior and as

subjects of the King.

Maybe equal before God but not

in law and justice.
 Legal inequalities
Leyes de Indias was
promulgated by Christian kings
to protect the natives and
promote their welfare.

Spanish Penal Code imposed

heavier penalties on native
filipinos or mestizos and lighter
penalties to Spaniards

In the communication exchange

between Dr. Rizal and Prof. F.
Blumentritt, the latter mentioned
his irritation in the blatant
injustice embodied in the law.
Maladministration of justice

Court of Injustice of the inept, venal

and ignorant of law.

Justice was costly, partial and slow.

Filipinos who are poor had no access

to the court.

Wealth, social prestige and color of

the skin are considered as factors to
win the case.

Justice delayed is justice denied.

There were a lot of noble victims of

miscarriage of justice.
Racial Discrimination

Brown-skinned and flat nose

indios.

Chongo vs. bangus

According to Fr. Burgos on
misconception that the merit of a
man lies on the pigment of his
skin, height of his nose, color of
his hair, and the shape of his
skull Why for instance shall a
young man strive to rise in the
profession of law or of theology,
when he can vision no future for
hmself save that of obscurity and
jaunty unconcern?
Frailocracy

Union of the church and state Filipino views:

Functions 1. Obscurantism

1. Supervisor of local election 2. Fanaticism

2. Inspector of schools and taxes 3. Oppression

3. Arbiter of morals According to Dr. J. Rizal, they

are enemies of liberal reforms
4. Censor of books and comedias and modern progress in the
country
5. Superintendent of public works
It has 2 faces
6. Guardian of peace and order
Forced Labor

Polo or compulsory labor Royal Decree of July 12, 1883

1. Construction of schools, Polistas are from 16 to 60 years
hospitals, buildings old for 40 days and later reduced
to 15 days every year.
2. Repair of roads and bridges
Spaniards are to render work but
3. Building of ships in the was not implemented in the
shipyards Philippines

4. Other public works Falla is exemption from polo

Filipino hated polo

1. Spaniards are not compelled to

work

2. 2 pesetas equivalent to 50
cents

3. Caused inconvenience and

sufferings to people
Haciendas troubles

Friars obtained royal titles of

ownership from the Spanish King

Hotbeds of revolts
In 1768 Governor Anda
recommended to Madrid the sale
of friar estate for he saw the
danger it could give to Spain but
was ignored.
Guardia Civil
Spanish Constabulary
Those in the Philippines were the
opposite of the disciplined
Guardia Civil in Spain.
Rampant abuse of power,
maltreating the innocent people,
rape women, and loot the
carabaos, chickens, and
belongings of the natives
Dr. Rizal and his mother suffered
from the cruelties of the guardia
civil
In Noli me Tangere, exposed the
ruthlessness the guardia civil to
honest men.
Crisostomo to Elias is a
weapon in the hands of a
madman in a defenseless
multitude.
There was a proposal to improve
the military organization by
recruiting educated and
principled men who respect the
limitations and responsibilities,
authorities, and power.