Filipino Nationalism (1872-1913)

Birth of the Filipino Nation (1872-1913)

• This period covers the rise of Filipino nationalism.
• It includes the Secularization Movement and the Reform Movement.

Nation

• An imagined political community.
• Inherently limited and sovereign.
• Defined by Anderson in 1991.

National Identity

• One's sense of belonging to a state or nation.
• This includes cohesive traditions, culture, language, and politics.

Nationalism

• An ideology based on the premise that an individual's loyalty and devotion to the nation-state are above individual or group interests.

Secularization Movement

• This was a dispute over parish assignments and supervisory rights between regulars and seculars.
• A Royal decree of 1774 initially mandated the secularization of parishes.

Fr. Pedro Pelaez

• He championed the Filipino clergy.
• A Royal decree of 1861 led to desecularization.
• Pelaez then became Vicario Capitular of Manila.
• Pelaez claimed Filipino clergy deserved rewards for their loyalty and good work.
• Acted in defiance of the 1861 royal decree by appointing seculars.
• He founded and edited Catolico Filipino and wrote in La Generacion.

Continuing Pelaez's Fight

• Fr. Jose Burgos took over the leadership of the secularization movement.
• The movement involved politically conscious hijos del pais, including criollos and Spanish mestizos.
• Comite de Reformadores included Fathers Burgos, Mariano Gomez, Jacinto Zamora, and others.

Secularization to Filipinization

• The issue evolved from a canonical dispute to a struggle for racial equality.
• There was a demand for Filipinization of the parishes.
• This came not only from native clergy but also from creole and Spanish-mestizo priests.
• Injustice and discrimination heightened the Filipino clergy's awareness of their separate national identity.

Cavite Mutiny (1872)

• January 19: Arrest of GomBurZa & co.
• January 20: Cavite Mutiny
• February 15: GomBurza condemned to death
• February 17: Execution of GomBurza & Francisco Zaldua by garrote in Bagumbayan.

Ilustrados

• Heirs of the secularization movement who were exposed to liberalism and nationalism in Europe.
• Played a role as articulators.
• They projected the grievances and aspirations of the people through their works.

Propaganda Movement

• Formed in 1872 by Filipino expatriates in Europe.
• The Comite de Propaganda or La Propaganda was established in Manila in 1888.
• The goal was to secure funds for endeavors in Spain.

Goals of the Propaganda Movement

• Recognition of the Philippines as a province of Spain.
• Representation for the Philippines in the Cortes Generales, the Spanish parliament.
• Secularization of Philippine parishes.
• Legalization of Spanish and Filipino equality.
• Equal opportunity for Filipinos and Spaniards to enter government service.

Propagandists

• Included Filipinos exiled in the Marianas Islands in 1872.
• Included Ilustrados
• Included Filipinos who fled to avoid punishment.

Key Propagandists

• Graciano López Jaena
• José Rizal
• Marcelo H. del Pilar
• Antonio Luna
• Jose Maria Panganiban
• Juan Luna
• Mariano Ponce
• Pedro Paterno

La Solidaridad

• The principal organ of the Propaganda Movement from February 15, 1889, to November 15, 1895.
• A political propaganda paper with a liberal, reformist orientation.
• It was dedicated to fighting reaction in all its forms.
• Graciano Lopez Jaena was its first editor.

Foreign Contributors

• Ferdinand Blumentritt
• Miguel Morayta

Impact of the Propagandists

• The writings reflected actual conditions, growing empathy among the people.
• Constantino's observation in 1975: Because the writings of the Propagandists reflected the actual conditions of the country, a feeling of empathy grew among the people.

Evolution of "Filipino"

• Initially, it meant Españoles or Creoles
• Expanded to include Chinese Mestizos and urbanized natives
• Eventually encompassed all inhabitants of the Philippine Archipelago

Frailocracia

• Term coined by Marcelo H. Del Pilar.
• It refers to the supremacy of the Spanish friars.
• Friars acted as hacenderos (landowners).
• They were also in charge of the educational system.
• Del Pilar parodied Catholic prayers to critique the friars.

Rizal, History, and Nationalism

• Annotations to Morga's Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas (1889) represented the past.
• Noli Me Tangere (1887) represented the present
• El Filibusterismo (1891) represented the future.

Decline of the Movement in Spain

• The campaign for reforms was not heeded by the Spanish government.
• Rizal decided to come home and carry out reforms in the country.

La Liga Filipina

• A civic association founded by Rizal on July 3, 1892, in Ilaya St., Tondo, Manila.
• It sought to directly involve the masses.
• It attracted people who wanted change.
• Andres Bonifacio was among those who joined.

Aims of La Liga Filipina

• Unite the whole archipelago.
• Encourage instruction, agriculture, and commerce.
• Provide mutual protection in every want and necessity.
• Defend against all violence and injustice.
• Study and application of reforms.

Dissolution and Revival of La Liga Filipina

• Four days after the Liga was organized, Rizal was arrested and deported to Dapitan on July 7, 1892.
• This led to its dissolution.
• Bonifacio and Domingo Franco revived the Liga in April 1893.
• There was an ideological split in the revived Liga.

End of the Propaganda Movement

• Los Compromisarios organized to prolong the movement through financial contributions.
• La Solidaridad ceased publication on November 15, 1895, due to lack of funds.
• The Katipunan was founded

Synthesis

• The propagandists aimed for assimilation despite criticisms and agitation
• Their efforts, though, were instrumental in the formal emergence of a Filipino national consciousness.