Rizal's Time: 19th Century Philippines

• This chapter aims to help students understand the link between the individual and society.
• It will analyze the social, political, and economic changes in the 19th century and understand Jose Rizal in the context of his time.

Brief History of the Arrival

• Spain explored new routes.
• Ferdinand Magellan led the expedition, which was the first to circumnavigate the world; Juan Sebastian Elcano completed it.
• King Charles 1 of Spain.
• Measurement of riches.
• Miguel Lopez de Legazpi's voyage to the Philippines with King Philip II led to the establishment of a stable settlement in the archipelago.
• Basic Colonial Administration
• Administrative Seat of the Spaniards
• Principalia
• Gobernadorcillo/Captain

Political Context

• The 19th century globally saw massive changes.
• Filipinos suffered from ills of oppressive rule, including maladministration of justice.
• The evils of oppressive colonial rule included maladministration of justice, no equality before the law, racial prejudice, forced labor, and frailocracy.
• Maladministration of justice involved courts favoring Spaniards in usual disputes.
• Native nobles and pure-bred Spaniards enjoyed legal preference in the 19th century, both in law and social duties.
• Racial Prejudice: Fr. Burgos said a native Filipino would never succeed, no matter their efforts.
• Forced labor, also known as polo y servicio, required all Filipino males aged 16-60 to render forced labor for the Spanish Government.
• Workers were called polistas, and mandatory labor was called polo.
• Frailocracy: the "government rule of the friars", had no separation between the Church and State in the 19th century, resulting in the abuse of Filipinos.
• Liberalism: Liberal reformists.
• Liberalism: political doctrine protecting and enhancing individual freedom.
• Thomas Paine in Common Sense (1776) called government "a necessary evil."
• Laws, judges, and police are needed to secure individual life and liberty, but their coercive power may be turned against the individual.

Impact of Bourbon Reforms

• Spanish Bourbon Kings Philip V, Ferdinand VI, Charles III, and Charles IV advocated a century-long effort to reform and modify the Spanish empire.
• Bourbon reform policies offered an advantage under Spain from 1565 to 1898.

Cadiz Constitution

• During Napoleon's control of Spain, a liberal constitution was declared in Cadiz in March 1812.
• The Cadiz Constitution is the primary Constitution in Europe to manage national power, perceiving sway as coming from the individuals and not from the lord.
• In the nineteenth century, the Cadiz Constitution was extremely compelling.
• It was a liberal constitution that vested sway in the individuals, perceived the equity, considered individual freedom of the resident, and allowed testimonial privilege.

Laws of Indies

• The Philippine population was divided into four categories: The Spanish, Indios, Chinese-Filipino mestizos, and Chinese.
• Under margins of colonial society: Infidels and Blacks or "savages".

Economic Context

• Characterized by technological innovations and an industrial revolution.
• Suez Canal
• End of Galleon Trade.
• Mercantilism shifted to Free Trade/Laissez Faire
• Economic Context
• Industrial revolution, rise of middle class or principalias
• Middle class, economically viable, illustrados
• Illustrados, propaganda movement
• Propaganda movement- call for reforms about deplorable conditions of Filipinos

Galleon Trade

• In 1565, Spain shut the ports of Manila to all nations except Mexico, bringing forth Manila-Acapulco Trade as the "Ship Trade."
• The Spanish government shut the ports of Manila to all nations (except Mexico) in 1565: China, Japan, Siam (now Thailand), India, Cambodia, Borneo, and the Moluccas or Spice Islands.
• Stocks sent to Mexico from the Philippines included Mango de Manila, Tamarind, Rice, Carabao, Chinese tea and materials, Cockfighting, and Tuba (coconut wine).
• Galleon Trade (1565-1815) was a boat ("galleon") for the 250-year exchange between Manila (landed first in Cebu) and Acapulco, Mexico.
• The Manila Galleon Trade permitted present-day liberal plans, and steadily moved the development for autonomy from Spain.
• September 14, 1815 - Galleon Trade finished with Mexico's war of autonomy.

Suez Canal

• The Suez Canal is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt that connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea through the Isthmus of Suez.

• It was formally opened on November 17, 1869, followed by 10-year development(1858-1869) under the authority of French representative Ferdinand de Lesseps.

• As a result, the separation of movement among Europe and the Philippines was impressively condensed, so, the nation was carried closer to Spain because the journey was diminished to 32-40 days.

• Turned into a tremendous preferred position in business endeavors, particularly among Europe and East Asia.

• Empowered the development of nationalistic wants of Jose Rizal and other Filipino illustrados.

• The accessibility of the Suez Canal supported the illustrados, especially Jose Rizal, to seek instruction abroad and learn logical and liberal thoughts in European scholarly establishments.

• Mercantilist Economy was disadvantageous for colonists, and advantageous to the motherland.

Return of the Jesuits

• The Jesuits return in 1859 after being expelled in the PH to take charge of the evangelization
• They returned with new ideas and methods to Philippine educational system.
• The Ayuntamiento asked them to take charge over the municipal primary school, and they renamed it Ateneo de Municipal.
• By 1865, it transformed into a secondary school that offered a level of instruction (today's college than high school).
• Escuela Normal de Maestros - provide Spanish Speaking teachers for the projected new primary school system.

Socio-Cultural Context

• Interested in the Filipino Past
• There was education in the 19th Century
• The rise of Chinese Mestizo
• The rise of Inquilino
• German universities of the 19th century, modern historical methods examined the origins of European and other peoples.
• Education in the 19th Century was a European arrangement Spanish colonizers acquainted with the archipelago, so the schools were set up and run by Catholic ministers and the religion was made a compulsory subject.
• King Philip II's Leyes de Indias(Laws of Indies) ordered specialists to instruct local people to peruse, compose, and learn Spanish.
• First formal schools were the parochial schools opened by teachers, including the Augustinians, Franciscans, Jesuits, and Dominicans.
• Colleges built were for young men and ladies, with History, Latin, Geography, Mathematics, and Philosophy educated.
• University training during the early 17th century was open only for Spaniards and those with Spanish blood.
• 19th-century colleges began to acknowledge native Filipinos.
• Increase of instructed locals.
• The opening of the Suez Canal quickened travel to Europe, prompting more local people seeking after better training in Spain, commonly in Madrid and Barcelona.
• With the increasing demand for abaca and other crops in Europe, more Filipinos cultivated lands
• Manila as a free port in 1834.
• The following were put in place to enhance their trading capacities: Reformation of Galleon Trade, Settlement of Spaniards in the provinces for trade, and Government expropriation of landed estates of the friar corporations.

Rise of the Inquilino

• The Spanish government was then duty-bound in allowing Filipinos to rent and cultivate agricultural lands, and then more families began to engage in farming.
• The family of Rizal benefited from leasing land owned by Dominican estate.
• The Rizal family's primary income came from leasing and cultivating the wealthy friar estate; the crops they planted included abaca, corn, sugarcane, and more.
• From this income, they could afford to send Rizal for western education.
• Inquilino system understood as a qualified tenancy system, granting the right to use land in exchange for rent.
• Rents were collected and harvests were organized to be delivered to local markets. Farm duties were consigned to trusted tenants, leading to rational demands from farmworkers

Understanding Rizal in the Context of the 19th Century Philippines

• 19th-century political, economic, and social conditions shaped Rizal as we know him today
• Without understanding of the milieu one cannot understand Rizal's importance to Filipinos today.
• One must look into the political conditions of the 19th century to understand the political struggles of Filipinos to know why Rizal fought for reforms.
• To know why Rizal fought against the Spaniards, one must assess how the colonial government exploited Filipinos with their economic policies .
• One must understand the social realities of the Filipinos during that period to determine why Rizal attacked the friars in his novels.
• Rizal is a product of the 19th century - he was at the right people, time and the right context to campaign for nationalism.
• Rizal’s life, works, and his writings shape our history; his knowledge helped the betterment of Filipino people.
• The Philippine context of the 19th century molded Rizal's environment, used his capabilities to achieve Filipino identity and the study abroad and observance of European lawsm and culturesm.
• Independence today is the result of how Rizal, and other Filipino heroes fought hard.

Explore the profound connection between individuals and society while analyzing the social, political, and economic shifts of the 19th century. Understand Jose Rizal within the context of his era, including Spanish exploration, colonial administration, and the political landscape that shaped the Philippines. Discover the impact of oppressive colonial rule on Filipinos.