Philippines Historical Background Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Historical Background

• Objectives:
  • Understand past and present social conditions in the Philippines.
  • Analyze the lives of ancient Filipinos to appreciate Philippine heritage.

Philippines in the Spanish Colonization Era

• Background: Spanish colonization created difficult conditions and practices for Filipinos.
• Social hierarchy: Color and wealth were the basis of social status, not merit. Spanish and white people held higher positions than Filipinos regardless of wealth.
• Negative Impacts: 333 years of colonization created negative images and practices of injustice, inequality, and unfairness that continue to affect Filipinos today.
• Spanish actions: The Spanish government imposed policies and practices, often without regard for Filipino feelings or well-being. The methods used are described by Gregorio Zaide's accounts.

Instability of Spanish Politics

• Napoleonic invasion: Spain's internal political instability affected its colonial policies towards the Philippines. Frequent changes in Spanish officials led to disruptions in policy and plans.
• Changes in government: Sudden changes in Spanish officials resulted in unpredictable and often inconsistent governance in the Philippines, as new officials implemented or disregarded policies based on their personal preferences rather than long-term plans for the colony.

Corrupt Officials

• Lack of knowledge: Many Spanish officials assigned to the Philippines lacked the knowledge or capability to perform their duties effectively.
• Personal gain: Some officials enriched themselves through corrupt practices, such as allowing gambling or accepting bribes, often at the expense of the Filipinos.
• Ruthless leadership: Some Spanish governors were brutal and ruthless, imposing harsh punishments without due process, as demonstrated in the case of Rafael de Izquierdo, who executed three Filipino priests.

Removal of Philippine Representatives from Cortes

• Representation loss: The Philippines was removed from the list of countries represented in the Spanish Cortes, a significant body in Spanish government.
• Impact of loss: The removal denied Filipinos the possibility of voicing their grievances or concerns to the central Spanish government.

Human Rights Denial and Inequalities to Law

• Unequal treatment: The Spanish were more likely to enjoy freedom of expression, press, association, etc. according to documented accounts, and this would be denied to Filipinos.
• Injustices and discrimination: In the Philippines, justice was corrupted with judges being prejudiced, corrupt, and not qualified, to the detriment of Filipinos. It was often expensive or impossible for Filipinos to get justice in the courts. The Spanish penal system disadvantaged Filipinos.

Injustices and Racial Discrimination

• Corrupted justice: Filipino's were often treated unfairly in the legal system with judges being corrupted or not qualified, thus, the justice system being slow and costly.
• Education and privileges denied: Education and privileges were primarily reserved for the rich Spanish citizens. Filipinos were often subjected to discrimination within the educational system.

Frailocracy

• Spanish friars' influence: The Spanish friars had control over the economic and social structure of the Philippines.
• Confiscation of lands: The land in Calamba and other areas were seized by friars under the control of the Spanish friars.
• Unfair treatment: Filipinos were treated as tenants on lands they owned.

Force Labor

• Forced labor (Polo): Filipinos were forced to work on infrastructure projects, facing hardship and unfair treatment. A system of forced labor for a fixed number of days per year, often in dangerous or undesirable work situations.
• Compensation issues: Promised compensation was often not given, sometimes leading to incomplete or unpaid work.
• Guardia Civil: A brutal police force known for its abuses.

Realization of the Past and Moving for Change

• Lessons: Acknowledging historical past experiences for positive change is important.
• National pride: Developing a national identity can provide strong motivation for change.

The Philippines before Rizal: Some Salient Documents

• Early literacy: Filipinos possessed a writing system (Baybayin) before Spanish colonization, contrasting the common misconception of their backwardness.

Spanish Accounts

• Early documents: Historical accounts confirm that Filipinos, even in the early 16th century, had knowledge of reading and writing.
• Existing writing system: Filipinos had writing systems that were documented by many historians.