Filipino Responses to Spanish Colonialism

Ways Filipinos Responded to Spanish Colonialism

• The module focuses on how Filipinos responded to Spanish colonialism and is divided into two lessons.
• Lesson 1 discusses cooperation and acceptance of colonial rule.
• Lesson 2 discusses revolts and uprisings

Accepting Colonial Power

• The Philippines became a colony of Spain, leading to significant political changes, and the centralized government put much of the archipelago under foreign rule.
• The existing system of datus ruling individual groups was unified.
• Before colonization, datus or sultans had total control over their communities as judges, lawmakers, and administrators.

Changes During Colonial Rule

• During colonization, the powers of datus were removed
• Datus became subject to Spanish authorities.
• Datus had to collect tribute and manage their areas as parts of the Spanish colony
• The King of Spain maintained the social status of datus and their families.
• Filipinos found it difficult to follow the imposed laws and policies.
• Spanish officials often abused their power.
• Filipinos lacked trustworthy positions in the government, due to the fear of causing issues.
• Filipinos were reduced to followers in their own country under foreign rule.

Filipino Responses to Spanish Rule

• Some Filipinos escaped oppressive leaders by seeking refuge in remote mountains and forests, preserving their culture.
• Some Filipinos reluctantly accepted the laws, to avoid conflict.
• Polo y servicio was reluctantly accepted
• New cultural practices were reluctantly accepted, for example, Christianity, clothing, education, and housing.
• Filipinos eventually fought for their rights, which was triggered due to poor governance by the Spanish in the Philippines.
• Filipinos revolted, displaying patriotism to regain freedom.
• Though the fight for freedom was fragmented, it showed the willingness to die for freedom.

Revolts and Uprisings

• Discontent grew during Spanish colonization, leading to numerous revolts caused by abuse from leaders (government officials and friars).
• Friars began claiming lands of native farmers.
• Changes impacted Filipino culture, with significant people such as babaylans and katalonans being removed from power, leading reactions to colonialism.

Early Revolts

• The earliest revolt was the Battle of Mactan.
• Lapu-Lapu, a leader known for bravery and kindness, fought against Spanish colonization in the Battle of Mactan, on April 27, 1521 and defeated Ferdinand Magellan.
• Revolts occurred after the establishment of colonial rule.
• Before 1745, revolts focused on regaining higher social status for native Filipinos

Religious Motivations in Revolts

• Early revolts were based on religion
• Revolt leaders included Magalat, Tamblot, Sumuroy and Almazan.

Francisco Dagohoy's Revolt (1744-1829)

• Francisco Dagohoy, a cabeza de barangay in Bohol, started his revolt after a parish curate refused to give his brother a Catholic burial because he died in a duel.
• Catholic rituals were prohibited for those that died in combat without receiving the sacraments.
• Dagohoy started a revolt with relatives and established an independent, revolutionary government in the mountains.
• Dagohoy's forces fought the Spanish in Bohol.
• Dagohoy's revolt lasted for 85 years and involved thousands.

Agrarian Uprising (1745-1746)

• Agrarian issues about land ownership occurred during the 17th-19th centuries.
• Abusive friars claimed lands, leading to revolts to reclaim ancestral lands.
• The revolt started in Cavite and spread to Laguna and Batangas as members claimed the friars' lands, called haciendas primarily used for livestock.
• The revolt led to the rejection of Spanish influence and the desire to expel the Spanish to regain their lands.

Diego and Gabriela Silang's Revolt (1762-1763)

• Maria Josefa Gabriela Silang, born in Ilocos Sur, married a wealthy older man at twenty.
• After her husband died she married Diego Silang.
• Ilocanos faced problems such as forced labor and high taxes imposed by the Spanish.
• Diego Silang was a leader, and led revolts against the Spanish with Gabriela.
• After Diego's death, Gabriela continued the fight and rode Diego's war horse.
• Gabriela sought support in the mountains of Abra and attacked the Spanish in Vigan in September 1763, but was outnumbered.
• Gabriela was captured and executed.

Juan Dela Cruz Palaris' Revolt (1762-1765)

• Juan Dela Cruz Palaris, from Pangasinan, led a revolt due to excessive taxes and lack of economic reform.
• Palaris fought against the Spanish, taking advantage of British occupation of Manila.
• After the British left Manila, the Spanish attacked Pangasinan and captured and executed Palaris in 1766, with his sister's betrayal contributing to his downfall.

Cofradia de San Jose Revolt (1840-1843)

• Apolinario dela Cruz, also known as "Hermano Pule," led a revolt based on religious freedom and equality between Spaniards and Indios in the priesthood.
• He founded the Cofradia de San Jose
• The Cofradia de San Jose consisted only of Indios since Indios were prohibited from joining the Spanish and Mestizo by Dela Cruz
• The government suspected the Cofradia of sedition and soldiers attacked their camp in Majayjay, Laguna in October 1840, killing many members.
• Apolinario declared that God would save them from the Spanish.
• Apolinario was captured, tried, and executed in Tayabas in November 1841, and was named the "King of the Tagalogs.".
• Filipinos used revolts to show their opposition to colonial rule, signaling their resentment of colonial power due to life and community threats. Widespread abuse unified them against the Spanish, leading to revolts for freedom.