Spanish Era in the Philippines

• The Spanish Era in the Philippines began with a focus on key concepts like imperialism and colonialism.

Key Concepts

• Imperialism is the extension of state power or rule beyond its boundaries.
• Colonialism involves establishing control over foreign territory.

Rivalry of Spain and Portugal

• Pope Alexander VI issued a decree dividing the world into two zones.
• Lands discovered east of the line belonged to Portugal.
• Lands to the west belonged to Spain.
• The Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494 aimed to avoid conflict between Spain and Portugal.
• It largely followed Pope Alexander VI’s decree.

Early Exploration by Ferdinand Magellan

• Ferdinand Magellan aimed to find new routes to the Spice Islands (Maluku) by sailing west.
• He proposed this to King Manuel I of Portugal, who declined.
• In 1518, Magellan went to King Charles I of Spain, who supported his expedition.
• In 1519, Magellan started his voyage from Spain and reached the Philippines on March 17, 1521.
• After Magellan's death in 1521, Juan Sebastian Elcano completed the first circumnavigation of the Earth with the ship Victoria.
• Magellan's expedition proved the Earth was round East Indies reachable via the Pacific and the Americas were separate from Asia.
• The Villalobos expedition followed Magellan's.
• Ruy Lopez de Villalobos named Samar and Leyte "Felipenas" after Prince Philip of Spain.
• "Las Islas Filipinas" later referred to the entire archipelago.

Establishment of Spanish Settlement in Cebu (1565)

• Miguel López de Legazpi established the first permanent settlement in Cebu in 1565.
• This occurred after another expedition was initiated by the Viceroy of Mexico and led by Miguel López de Legazpi.
• Legazpi reached Cebu in February 1565.
• Legazpi was also the first Spanish Governor of the Philippines until his death in 1570.
• Legazpi's expedition started the 333-year Spanish colonization.

Early Spanish Exploration and Colonization:

• Ruy Lopez de Villalobos conceptualized the borders of the future Philippines.
• Pedro Murillo Velarde, Francisco Suarez, and Nicolas de la Cruz created the first accurate map of the territory.

Problems Faced by Colonizers

• There was a general disconnect between Manila and other areas.
• Manila was geographically distant from peripheral areas.
• Indigenous communities were socially and geographically isolated.
• Some groups maintained independence during colonization.
• Diverse religions existed.
• In Luzon, Tagalogs had Lakapati (hermaphrodite image for crops).
• In Visayas, people believed in nature spirits and ancestors (e.g., Bikolanos - baliyan).
• Islam dominated Mindanao in the 1380s.
• The Kingdom of Maynila, ruled by Rajah Sulayman, resisted Spanish conquest.
• The Spanish-Moro Wars lasted from the 1500s to the late 1800s.

Spanish Colonial Government and Structure

• Spain established a centralized colonial government in the Philippines.
• It included a national government and local governments to administer provinces, cities, towns, and municipalities.

Governor-General

• The governor-general represented the King and was the highest-ranking official, ensuring royal decrees were implemented.
• Powers: Appointed/dismissed officials, supervised offices/taxes, exercised legislative powers, and issued proclamations.
• The roles required the holder to be a Peninsulares(Spaniard born in Spain)
• The Residencia was a judicial court that investigated outgoing governors-general.
• It created a report submitted to the King.
• The Visita: The Council of the Indies sent a Visitador General to observe conditions in the colony.
• He reported findings directly to the King.
• The Royal Audiencia was the highest court and advisory body to the Governor-General.
• It checked the Governor-General's abuses and audited colonial expenditures, sending yearly reports to Spain.

Local Government Units

• The Spanish created local government units to administer the country.
• Alcadia (Alcalde Mayor) governed fully subjugated provinces.
• Corregimiento (Corregidor) governed provinces not yet fully under Spanish control.
• Municipal Government: Provinces were divided into towns or pueblos led by Gobernadorcillos (little governors).
• Main concerns: efficient governance and tax collection.
• Four lieutenants aided the Gobernadorcillo: Teniente Mayor, Teniente de Policia, Teniente de Sementeras, Teniente de Ganados.
• Qualifications: Native or Chinese Mestizo, 25 years old, literate in Spanish, and a Cabeza de Barangay for 4 years.
• Emilio Aguinaldo was a gobernadorcillo.
• The City Government: Larger towns became cities called Ayuntamiento.
• The Ayuntamiento had a city council called the Cabildo.
• The Encomienda System was implemented to control the colony.
• The King divided the Philippines into encomiendas managed by encomenderos, initially Legazpi's conquistadors with the right to collect taxes but not own the land.

Legal and Economic Systems

• Tribute System: Required adult males (16-60) to pay an annual tax to the Spanish government to finance administration, military, and infrastructure.
• Forced Labor (Polo y Servicio): Required adult males to work for the Spanish government for 40 days each year.

Role of the Catholic Church

• The Catholic Church's major religious orders played notable roles in governance, education, and conversion.
• Franciscans established parishes/schools for education/evangelization.
• Jesuits focused on education founding universities/seminaries, contributing to the Filipino intellectual class.
• Dominicans were active in preaching/teaching establishing universities/seminaries emphasizing theological studies.
• Augustinians arrived first, establishing the Catholic Church converting the indigenous population.

Impact of Spanish Rule on Philippine Society:

• The Spanish immediately introduced Catholicism.
• Cebu saw the first mass baptism.
• Spanish missionaries suppressed indigenous religions, which were hurdles in converting the population.
• Filipinos practiced animism and ancestor worship before colonization, usually led by shamans.
• Some regions practiced Islam, especially in Mindanao and Sulu.
• People were persecuted, forced to convert, or killed.
• They demonized anitos and replaced indigenous religious figures with Catholic saints.
• Catholicism as the State Religion: Catholicism became the country's religion construction of churches across the islands.
• Catholic practices were forced.
• Social Hierarchies included burial practices where Spanish elites were buried inside churches, ordinary Filipinos in cemeteries.
• Friarocracy took control from religious practices to politics/economics with many Filipinos working for friars.
• Catholicism merged with indigenous practices/rituals in a process of syncretism.

Economy and Trade

• Agricultural methods were barely changed.
• The Spanish introduced new techniques like iron tools and buffalos for plowing.
• Estates: Large lands owned by one person, family, or organization.
• Hacienda System: Assigned to loyal indigenous people, haciendas increased excess for the colonialists' use.
• Galleon Trade: Started in the 16th century, heavily regulated by the Spanish crown, with one galleon per year between Manila and Mexico, with major economic consequences:
• Economic dependency;
• Social and Economic Divide

Language and Culture

• Spanish was the official language of religious instruction, but priests preferred local languages.
• Western art forms were introduced to propagate Catholicism.
• Early art focused on religious themes.
• Graphic art became popular for religious and secular publications.
• Festivals were part of religious ceremonies and activities.
• Theatrical renditions were performed by singing and dancing.
• Mode of Dressing: Baro't Saya for women, Barong Tagalog for men.
• The Educational Decree of 1863 began the first educational system requiring the government to provide schools for boys and girls and in every town.
• Spanish schools began accepting Filipino students leading to the emergence of intellectual Filipinos.

Social Classes:

• Peninsulares: Full-blooded Spanish born in Spain living in the Philippines.
• Insulares: Full-blooded Spanish born in the Philippines.
• Illustrados: Wealthy individuals born in the Philippines who studied abroad.
• Chinese/Spanish Mestizos: People with mixed racial origins who are economically sufficient.
• Indio: Native/Full-blooded Filipinos.
• Sangley: Full-blooded Chinese living in the Philippines.
• Naturales: Brown-skinned Christianized native Malays.
• Salvajes or Infieles: Savages or infidels.
• Remontados: Those who refused to live in towns.
• Tulisanes (bandits): Considered to live outside the social order.

Early Resistance Movements during the Spanish Period

• Spanish Moro Wars occurred as Muslim populations in Mindanao and Sulu tried to preserve their religion/political independence starting in 1565. It lasted for over 300 years.
• Lakandula Revolt (1574) led by Lakandula and Rajah Sulayman, cause: promised exemptions were revoked.

Significant Movements:

• Maniago Revolt (1660-1671): Led by Francisco Maniago and Andres Malong due to unpaid labor.
• Malong Revolt influenced the Maniago Revolt, and the people declared themselves independent to establish trade relations with neighboring countries.
• Basi Revolt (September 16-28, 1807): Led by Pedro Mateo and Salarogi Ambaristo, caused when Spaniards banned private Basi manufacture, forcing purchase from government stores.
• Reasons why Revolts Failed: Lack of unity and feeling apart.

Role of Nationalist Movements

• The influence of emerging nationalism led to the establishment of new cultural and social identity in the Philippines
• There was a strong desire for independence.
• Influence of French Revolution: Ideas of liberty, fraternity, and equality influenced revolutions such as The Katipunan.
• European Enlightenment: Reason main source of authority and legitimacy.
• The role of intellectuals (Rizal): Novels and articles called for social change through education and legal means.
• Symbolic Figures:
• Jose Rizal called for peaceful reform.
• Andres Bonifacio spurred armed revolution.
• Emilio Aguinaldo advocated military action with declaration of Philippine independence.

Imperial Overreach and Decline

• Spain's military and economic capabilities faltered and could no longer support overseas territories.
• Spain couldn't protect their resources through the ocean.
• Cavite Mutiny of 1872:
• Main reasons:
• Abolition of worker privileges.
• Spanish Revolution.
• and liberal pamphlets coming into the Philippines.
• Animosity of native clergy against Spanish friars.
• Launching rockets signaled start of revolt.

GomBurZa and the Propaganda Movement

• Execution of GomBurZa on February 17, 1872 included Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora, who led movements against abusive Spanish friars.
• The Propaganda Movement started around 1880 to 1895 as a peaceful movement formed by émigrés and students in Europe who used writing skills to avoid further loss of lives. It sought to assimilate the Philippines to Spain. The people involved were mostly upper-class Filipinos.
• La Solidaridad was founded on December 13, 1888, became main instrument of The Propaganda Movement that included José Rizal, Marcelo H. del Pilar, and Graciano López Jaena. It promoted interests and demands with readership in Spain and the Philippines.
• "The aspirations of the Filipinos", published on April 25, 1889, pursued representation in the Cortes, abolition of censure, and prohibition of exiling residents without a writ.
• Aims were expanded on December 15, 1889, to have Philippines be a province of Spain, Filipino priests replace Spanish, and freedom of assembly and speech.
• Due to differences in political beliefs, La Solaridad was split into two between Pilaristas and Rizalistas.

La Liga Filipina

• La Liga Filipina was established on July 3, 1892, by Rizal to unite the country.
• It had no intention to raise arms against the government.
• Members included Andres Bonifacio and Apolinario Mabini but it dissolved due to Rizal being arrested by the Spanish government.

Establishment of the Katipunan

• The Katipunan was formed on July 7, 1892, as KKK (Kataas-taasan Kagalang-galang na Katipunan nang mga Anak ng Bayan) by Andres Bonifacio after the failure of past organizations.
• It had three ranks: Katipon (lowest rank), Kawal, and Bayani (highest rank).
• The Katipunan prematurely began the Philippine Revolution (Cry of Pugadlawin) after being discovered by Spaniards, but was unsuccessful.

Bonifacio and Aguinaldo

• They were invited to Cavite to create unity between Magdalo led by Aguinaldo's cousin and the Magdiwang.
• There was conflict despite Aguinaldo issuing a manifesto with Spainard recognition.
• At the Tejeros Convention the Magdiwang and Magdalo councils reconvened with Emilio Aguinaldo being elected president and Andres Bonifacio elected as the Director of the Interior.
• General Emilio Aguinaldo's troops shot Andres Bonifacio and his brother Procopio on May 10, 1897, in the highlands of Maragondon, Cavite, on charges of treason and sedition.

Kasunduan ng Biak-na-Bato

• Emilio Aguinaldo established headquarters.
• Pedro Paterno attempted to negotiate a solution with Governor.
• The Primo de Rivera Pact of Biak-na-Bato then called for end to hostilities with the signed ceasefire on December 15, 1897.
• On December 23, 1897, both sides declared a ceasefire, which the Spanish government agreed to provide the Philippines with self-rule in three years for Aguinaldo's exile to Hong Kong for P400,000. However, some generals questioned the Spaniards' sincerity.

Return of Aguinaldo and Proclamation

• Aguinaldo returned to the Philippines upon the order of Admiral George Dewey to help the Philippines gain freedom from the Spainards.
• Aguinaldo became the first President of the Philippines through a revolutionary government.
• Through the Malolos Congress, the revolutionary government was replaced and the first Philippine Republic was launched
• The Proclamation of Independence happened on June 12, 1898, and its flag made in Hong Kong by Marcela Agoncillo and Delfina Herboza.