Life and Works of Rizal Midterm Reviewer Terms

Spanish Colonial Government in the Philippines

• The Viceroy appointed the Governor General in the Philippines.
• The Governor General was the chief executive in the whole archipelago, head of the military, and had the power to choose which laws to implement.
• The Visitador was responsible for checking the administration of the Governor General.
• The Residencia was responsible for observing the Governor General.
• The Alcalde Mayor had the power and responsibilities similar to the Governor General but was limited to a province.
• The Gobernadorcillo had the same power and responsibilities as the Governor General but was limited to a town or pueblo and also had the power of Indulto de Comercio to engage in trading.

Social Hierarchy in the Philippines

• The Cabeza de Barangay was the head of a smaller unit called a barangay within a town.
• The Consulado de Indias had the power of legislation.
• The Royal Audiencia was the highest court in the country and supervised other courts.
• Filipinos were only allowed to assume the position of Gobernadorcillo and Cabeza de Barangay, and only if they were male, 23 years old, educated, and had a property of 500 pesos.

Characters in El Filibusterismo

• Basilio was a medicine student, the son of Sisa, and the boyfriend of Juli.
• Isagani was a student leader, the nephew of Padre Florentino, and the friend of Basilio and boyfriend of Maria Paulita Gomez.
• G.Pasta was a former idealistic Filipino who became self-centered due to corruption in the government.
• Juli was the less fortunate daughter of Cabesang Tales, the girlfriend of Basilio, and committed suicide due to misfortunes.
• Cabesang Tales was a farmer who rented land from the corporation of the friars and was abducted by rebels.

Philippine History and Reforms

• The Cadiz Constitution of 1812 mandated the transformation of the Spanish government from monarchy to constitutional monarchy.
• The Ilustrados aimed to introduce reform for the development of Spanish civil life.
• The Progresistas, mostly freemasons, believed that the hindrance to development was the absolutism of the monarchy.
• The Carlista believed that following tradition and the church was necessary for stability.
• The Peninsulares were the highest class, born in Spain and settled in the Philippines, and occupied the highest positions in the government.
• The Insulares were the second class, born in the Philippines, and also enjoyed luxuries in the country.
• The Creoles, a mixture of Spanish and native, were a class that sought reform in the society during the Spanish colonization.

Life and Works of Jose Rizal

• Jose Rizal was a Filipino reformist who sought reform in the society during the Spanish colonization.
• He was born on June 19, 1861, and executed on December 30, 1896.
• Teodora Alonso was his first teacher and mother.
• Francisco Mercado was his father.
• Leonor Rivera was his greatest love.
• Paciano Rizal was his brother.
• "My First Inspiration" was his first poem.
• The death of his sister Conception was his first sorrow.
• Ferdinand Blumentritt was his best friend.
• The conflict between Rizal and Marcelo was published in La Solidaridad, which was opposed by Rizal.

El Filibusterismo

• El Filibusterismo was the second novel of Jose Rizal, written in the memory of Gomburza.
• It was published on September 18, 1891.
• Simoun was the main character, a continuation of Crisostomo from being idealistic to pessimistic, and encouraged people to seek revenge and justice using violent means.

Other Key Figures

• Padre Damaso was the head priest of San Diego, symbolizing the abusive leaders of the church and society.
• Doña Victorina was a social climber who dreamed to be part of the upper society.
• Doña Patrocinio had an illicit love affair with the Alferez and symbolized the Filipina who hid her bad attitudes through prayer.
• Pilosopo Tasio was intelligent and spoke his mind, symbolizing a Filipino who stood for his principles.
• Gomburza refers to Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora, who were executed by garrote on February 17, 1872, in Bagong Bayan (Luneta).

Prepare for your midterm exam on the life and works of Jose Rizal with these key terms: Viceroy, Governor General, Visitador, Residencia, Alcalde Mayor. Understand the roles and responsibilities of each position during Rizal's time.