GE 6: Socio-Political Situation of the Philippines in Rizal's Time PDF

SAINT LOUIS COLLEGE City of San Fernando, La Union College of Arts and Sciences, Teacher-Educ. and Information Technology GE 6: Life, Works and Writings of Dr. Jose Rizal...

SAINT LOUIS COLLEGE City of San Fernando, La Union College of Arts and Sciences, Teacher-Educ. and Information Technology GE 6: Life, Works and Writings of Dr. Jose Rizal Lesson 3A Background on the socio-political situation of the Philippines during Rizal’s Time Module Learning Objectives: At the end of the course, the students are expected to: 1. Analyze the economic, socio-cultural and political structures during the 19th century and its corresponding implications to the present situation 2. Analyze the impact of Rizal’s life in relation to his contribution on the socio-political situation of the Philippines then and the present time Topics: A. Political Condition B. Social Stratification C. Economic Situation D. Educational System E. The Advent of Nationalism in the Philippines Introduction: Rizal and His Times Society is a great formator. Regardless of the epoch, its fluctuating norms and values are the meant to structure the tone of its time, temperament of its people and their economic activities that frame their view of the word and outlines how a government should function in relation to the people it governed. No one escapes society’s bidding and influence, hence a stifling and restraining social structure. Yet for all its sway and power, society is not a fixed entity. It is the people’s hard work and unfinished creature that is both a result and object of their actions. As subjects endowed with perceptive ability, the individual of society respond to keep reacting it, for the better or worse. In this engagement of the individual and society, it is in the latter sense that poses the challenge for some individuals to undertake the task to reform and better it – if by peaceful or violent enterprise such as revolution. But for some it was with a sense of mission even to begin such a daunting task. Jose Rizal times were his formator market with revolution fervor. It is in this context that he and his political ideas are to be located and interpreted. Reading him in this framework will afford his readers today a ringside view of the actual events of the 19th century that framed his thoughts about the nation. In the Philippines, it was a heady period that opened his eyes; that informed his thoughts about the hard core realities of M. I Viloria social, economic and political life in his country; and for which thoughts he endeavored to change these realities yet not with the imploring language of a supplicant or mercy- begging groans of a scrounger, but with the incendiary argot of political surgeon The essence of the Life of Jose Rizal is an evidence by the circumstances that happened during his generation in the Philippines and throughout the world. Jose Rizal was an existing epitome that sets forth human pronouncement that all individual without distinction of any kind are born to be free and equal in the dignity and right, during this period such concept of liberalism, industrialism, democracy, social realization and nationalism gained control and sparked radical changes in science, technology, economics, socio-cultural and political condition. Spain and the Philippines in Rizal Time Spanish rule was imposed in the Philippines by conquest. Miguel Lopez de Legazpi established the first Spanish settlement in 1565 in Cebu. Before the conquest, the Filipinos had their own indigenous culture and their own government, the barangay, headed by a native chieftain called “datu”, independent of each other and each had its own laws. The people knew how to read and write and had the beginning of a native literature and a native art. The Spanish conquerors forced them to adopt foreign ways and Spanish Catholicism that they never understood. They lost their ancestral lands to the conquistadores by the encomienda system. Changes in the form of government and laws took place. The Philippines became a colony of Spain and she belonged to the King of Spain. From the beginning of Spanish rule up to 1821 the Philippines was administered by the Mexican Viceroy in the name of the Spanish king. After Mexico gained her independence from Spain in 1821, The Philippine was directly ruled from Madrid. A. Political Condition During the 19th Century: Political System The Spaniards rule the Philippines indirectly thru the Viceroy of Mexico. Since the Spanish monarchy was able to colonize the big part of the world, they assigned an officer who will monitor the colony and it is the Viceroy of Mexico The capital of the colonial administration of Spain is Mexico. They also have the Consejo de Indias or the legislative body for the colonies and in 1681 the consejo was ble to release the Recopilacion de leyes de los reynos de las indias. This law guided the administration of the colonies of the Spanish empire The Consejo de Indias appoints the Gobernador General in the colonies. The governor general is the highest Spanish leader in the colonies. He has the power of Cumplace or the power to choose law that he will implement in the country where he was assigned, he also assigned taxes, the head of the military and the Royal Audiencia, he had the power to give pardon for the prisoner and to decide in different issues in the country, The King and other officials issued royal decrees governing the Philippines through the Ministry of Colonies (Ministro de Ultra Mar) based in Madrid. This body helped the Spanish Monarch manage the affairs of the colonies and govern the Philippines through M. I Viloria the centralized government in Manila exercising executive, legislative and religious power. The governor –general appointed by the Spanish King headed the central administration. He was the king’s representative in the governmental matters and was the Vice-royal patron over religious matters He exercised extensive powers as the head of the state and the church He issued executive orders and proclamations, he was the commander-in-chief of the military and he also exercised legislative powers with his cumplase by which he could decide law or royal decree to implement or disregard. Creation of political Institution King of Spain (de jure executor, judiciary, legislator (Spanish Empire) Council of the Indies (de jure legislator) ( Spanish Colonies) Governor- General (De facto executor, judiciary, legislator) (Philippine (Province of Empire) SPANIARDS Encomendero (later alcalde-mayor) (Municipality: Encomienda and later alcalde-mayor) --------------------------------------------------------------------- Gobernadorcillo (pueblo/town) INDIOS Cabeza de Barangay (barangay –later disappeared into the barrio) M. I Viloria The governor general enjoyed judicial power as an ex-officio president of the Royal Audencia. His religious duty gave him the prerogative to nominate priests to ecclesiastical position and to control the finances of the missions The governor general was assisted by the Lieutenant General (General Segundo Cabo) and advisory bodies such as the Board of Authorities, Council of Administration and Secretariat of the Central Government. Next to the Central government was the provincial government or Alcaldias run by civil governors, the city government called “cabildo or ayuntamiento” administered by a mayor and vice-mayor who were both chief executives and chief judicial magistrate. It should be noted that the above positions are occupied by the Spaniards. The local government unit composed of barangays headed by the gobernadorcillo (later called capitan). This is the highest position in the government to which a native Filipino could be appointed. He was elected at the beginning of every year by the “principalia” made up of the incumbent ex-cabeza de barangay, the smallest unit of government. The barangay or barrio headed by the “cabeza de barngay” whose main responsibility was to collect taxes and tributes from the families. For his services, he received two percent (2%) of the tax proceeds and four percent (4%) of the “sanctorum” or the tax paid to the Church each year tocover the costs of three fiestas namely; All Saints day, Holy Thursday and Corpus Christi To ensure that the revenues collected will be submitted the cabeza’s properties were deemed mortgaged to the state for the entire duration of his term that ran for three years Supremacy of the Friars over the Colonial Government (Union of the Church and State) The different religious orders had the great contribution in the establishment of Spanish Colonial government in the country, for this reason the monastic supremacy or frailocracia exist in the Philippines. They could influence the governor general, in effect became the rulers of municipalities and control the different aspects of the society like education, trading, hacienda and economy. The regular priests (Spanish priests) were able to dominate the control in different parishes and had the power to get parishes from secular priests (Natives who became priests). The enemy of the church will be considered as the enemy of the government and it is proven in the case of the three priests GOMBURZA and Jose Rizal M. I Viloria  Consequences of the Political Policy in the Colony Abuses of the Spanish Government Officials The excessive powers and privileges of the governor-general made him weak and undisciplined. His prerogatives often gave him the opportunity to reward his favorites and relatives and to penalize those who had displeased him. He oftentimes lacked the moral strength to resist corruption for material advancement. He filled in some positions in the government from the highest bidder thus many officials exploited their offices to recover their expenses and to enrich themselves. The provincial government where the alcalde-mayor was the administrator, judge, military commander was the most corrupt branch of the government. He controlled the provincial trade. He bought the people’s rice and other products at low prices and sold them back to the natives at high prices. Moreover, he collected all the products to complete his needed quota even in time of poor harvest or crops failure, thus leaving the farmers with no seeds for next planting. More taxes were collected than required by law and pocketed the excess collections. Instability of Colonial Administration The political instability in Spain adversely affected Philippine affairs because it brought about frequent periodic shifts in colonial policies and periodic rigodon of colonial officials. For instance, from 1849 to 1889, the Philippine was ruled by forty five (45) governor-generals, each serving an average term of only one year and three months. At one time- from December 1853 to November 1854- a period of less than a year, there were four governor generals. The frequent change of colonial officials hampered the political and economic development of the Philippines. Hardly had one governor-general begun his administration when he was soon replaced by his successor. Naturally, no chief executive, no matter how able and energetic he was, could accomplish much for the colony. Corrupt Spanish Officials The colonial officials (governor-general, judges, provincial executives etc.) sent by Spain to the Philippines in the 19th century were a far cry from their able and dedicated predecessors of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. They were highly corrupt, incompetent and cruel. Apparently, they symbolized the decadent Spain of the 19 th century General Rafael de Izquierdo (1871-1873) a boastful, ruthless governor general aroused the anger of the Filipinos by executing the innocent Father Mariano Gomez, Father Jose Burgos and Father Jacinto Zamora, the 3 Martyrs of 1872. Admiral Jose Malcampo (1874-77) a good Moro fighter butwas an inept and weak administrator M. I Viloria  General Fernando Primo de Rivera, a governor general for 2 terms (1880-83) (1897-98) enriched himself by acceptingbribes from gambling casinos in Manila, which he scandalously permitted to operate. General Valeriano Weyler (1888-1891) a cruel and corrupt gov-gen, who arrived in Manila as poor man and returned to Spain a millionaire. He receives huge bribes and gifts of diamond for his wife from wealthy Chinese who evaded the anti- Chinese law. The Filipinos called him “tyrant” because of his brutal persecution of the Calamba tenants particularly the family of Dr. Rizal. The Cubans contemptuously cursed him as “The Butcher” because of his ruthless recon centration policy during his brief governorship in Cuba in 1896, causing the death of thousands of Cubans General Camilo de Polavieja (1896-97) an able militarist but heartless governor- general was widely detested by the Filipino people for executing Dr. Jose Rizal Frailocracy / Frailocracia (Rule of the Friar) The Spanish political philosophy of Union of Church and State arose a unique form of government in Hispanic Philippines called “Frailocracy”, because it was a government of friars. The friars (Augustinians, Dominicans and Franciscans, Jesuits) controlled the religious and educational life of the Philippines and later in the 19th century, they came to acquire tremendous political power influences and riches, The friars practically ruled the Philippines through a façade of civil government. The colonial authorities from the governor general down to the alcaldes mayors, were under the control of the friars. Almost every town in the archipelago was ruled by the friar curate. Aside from his priestly duties, the friar was the supervisor of local elections, the inspector of schools and taxes, the rbiter of morals, the censor of books, the superintendent of public works and the guardian of peace and order. So great was his political influence that his recommendations were heeded by the governor general and the provincial officials. He could send a patriotic Filipino to jail or denounce him as a filibuster (traitor) to be exiled to a distant place or to be executed as an enemy of God. Jose Rizal, Marcelo H del Pilar, Graciano Lopez Jaena and other Filipino reformists denounced the friars as the enemies of Liberal reforms and modern progress in the Philippines (Pangilinan et al.2018) Guide Questions: (Political Aspact) 1. What form/type of government structure Spain established in the Philippines? 2. What political position in the government is given to the natives? 3. Is there a political participation of the natives in the government? 4. What is the role of the friars (regular priests) in the political aspect of the colony (Philippines)? M. I Viloria  B. Social Stratification (Social System) The Spaniards brought with them their Doctrine of Limpieza de Sangre (purity of Blood) into the Philippines, thereby creating a social ranking among various groups. The application of the doctrine of limpieza de sangre created social tensions that victimized members of lower classes. It institutionalized a system of irrational and unchristian discrimination, arrogance, suspicion and injustice. (Maguigaad, 1997) Peninsulares Insulares Creoles Indios The social structure was pyramidal in form with the Peninsulares occupying the apex while the Indios or natives were placed at the base of the pyramid. Peninsulares/ Spaniards who were born in Spain and settled in the country. Peninsulares built their community in Intramuros (inside the city) and enjoy all the privileges in the country Insulares / Spaniards born in the Philippines were the second class. Insulares also enjoyed the luxuries in the Philippines only in terms of position they were only second priority. Creoles/mixture of the Spanish and native (Spanish Mestizos) The group where Jose Rizal, the GOMBURZA and other Filipinos who sought reforms in the society during Spanish colonization belonged. Under the Creoles was the Illustrados or well educated Filipinos because during those times M. I Viloria there was no public education so the wealthy Filipinos were the ones who could afford to have an education and the Principalia or land owners The town ruling class composed of gobernadorcillos and cabeza de barangay belong to the Principalia group Indios/lowest class were the poor natives Social Consequences of the Doctrine Limpieza de Sangre 1. Racial Discrimination Spaniard or a mestizo, no matter how stupid or Mongol born, he always enjoyed political and social prestige in the community. Racial discrimination divided the people in the archipelago. It is commonly felt in the government offices, in the armed forces, in the universities and colleges, in court of justice, in high society and ecclesiastical hierarchy (Zaide, 2006) Based on complexion the Spaniards were considered superior while the natives were labeled inferiors. As such the white- skinned were mestizos (Spaniards) and the brown-skinned were called indios (natives) With this indios were portrayed as individual with low mental ability, incapable of European education and fitted only to work in the fields. 2. No equality before the Law When the Spaniards came to the Philippines in the 16 th century, they brought with them the teachings of the Catholic Church. One of its teachings was the equality among men before his creator. However, the propagators of the Catholic faith failed to teach it to the natives. The Spaniards regarded the natives as inferior beings because of their complexion; hence they were perceived as incapable of doing anything intelligible. In this situation, the natives may be equal in the eyes of God but never in the eyes of the implementers of faith and mostly especially, in the eyes of law. The Spanish laws were extended to the Philippines but always interpreted and executed beneficial to the mestizos (Spaniards). Hence the natives even how justifiable their case would be if their opponent was a mestizo, the law will always in favor with the mestizo. (Cabauatan, 2016) 3. Maladministration of Justice Legal cases could be settled if it is advantageous to the mestizos and if money was involved in the trial. Hence legal proceedings were costly and only those who have much could afford the trial while the rest, pleaded guilty and suffered the punishment imposed even if the accused was innocent. More so, in many instances, decisions were delayed and the people were burdened by the injustice of the court M. I Viloria  4. Human Rights denied to Filipinos (natives) The Spanish Constitution of 1812 let the people enjoy their freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of association and other human rights except freedom of religion (Zaide &Zaide, 2011) These rights were practiced not only in the Mother Spain but also among its colonies, Sad to say, that in the Philippines as part of its colony were denied of these rights most especially to the natives. With this, Sinilbaldo de Mas, a Spanish economist and diplomat uttered these words: Why do we fall into an anomaly such as combining our claim for liberty for ourselves, and our wish impose our law on remote people? Why do we deny to others the benefits which we desire for our fatherland? (Capino et al, 1977) Transformation of the Society and Culture Hispanization of the Filipinos is very evident in the different aspects of the society and Catholicism has an important role in the transformation of the culture of the Filipinos. The literature became Theocentric, from epics, it turns to be awit, corrido, moromoro, komedya and pasyon. All of the form of literature discussed the importance and triumph of Catholicism. The alibata was replaced by the Abecedario of the Spaniards. The first book printed in the country was the Doctrina Christiana en letra y lengua china also centered in the spresd of Catholicism in the country. Painting was also secularized because of the Synod of Calasiao in 1773 which ordered that painters should use the concepts of the church and they are only allowed to have other subjects after 10 years. In terms of dwellings the simple bahay kubo became stone house with different divisions and parts. The Sala for the receiving of visitors, azotea, banguerahan for wash room, komedor or the room for dinind and the separate rooms for the members of the family Guide Questions 1. What is basis of social division in the society during Rizal’s time, 19th century Philippines? 2. What is the implication of the social ranking in the life of the natives/indios? 3. What is the implication of the socio-cultural environment in the personality of Dr. Jose Rizal? M. I Viloria  C. Economic Situation After the of the Spanish government establishment in Manila, the challenged that Legaspi faced is how he could control the different part of the country in with his limited armies. To solve the issue of governance he converted the land of the indios into ENCOMIENDA. Encomienda comes from the Spanish Encomendar which means “to entrust”. Encomienda is a grant of inhabitants living in a particular conquered territory which Spain gave to a Spanish colonizer as a reward for his services(Zaide,1987). Encomienda (inhabitants living in conquered territory) will be under the governance of an encomiendero. Encomiendero was ordered to educate, protect and convert the inhabitant into Christianity and in return the inhabitants will pay them a tribute/tax. There are three types of encomienda a. Royal encomienda – the taxes will go to the King of Spain b. Ecclesiastical Encomienda – taxes will go to the Church c. Privado Encomienda – encomienda given to the friend of the king who had contribution for the colonization. The guidelines stated that the encomiendero was just to govern/rule the inhabitants, lands are not included in the guidelines but when they implemented the policy in the colony lands were included. Thus after the establishment of the taxes and the military part of the Spanish Colonial government in the Philippines, they abolished the encomienda and convert the land into hacienda. The natives became slaves in their own properties. They were workers who are subjected to taxation. What happen now to the lands of the native? Who already own the ancestral land of the natives? What happen to the inhabitants of the land? Haciendas Owned by the Friars and Spanish Officials During Jose Rizal’s times, the Spanish friars belonging to different religious orders were the richest landlords, for they owned the best haciendas (agricultural lands) in the Philippines. The rural folks, who had been living in these haciendas and cultivating them generation after generation became tenants. Naturally they resented the loss of their lands which belonged to their ancestors since pre-Spanish times; legally; however, the friars were recognized as legal owners of said lands because they obtained royal titles of ownership from the Spanish crown. No wonder, these friars’ haciendas became hotbeds of agrarian revolts, inasmuch as the Filipino tenants regarded the friar owners revolt was the agrarian upheaval in 1745-1746. M. I Viloria Different Socio-Economic Policies Imposed by Spaniards 1. Reduccion The natives are forced to live in the place near the center and they could hear the sound of the bell. This policy was implemented so that the government and parish priest could easily monitor them and for the easy conversion to Catholicism, The program of father Juan de Placencia lead to the creation of the center which composed of the church the municipal hall, plaza, market and school for each town. 2. Bandala On the Bandala system, Filipino farmers were required to sell their harvest to the government. They like it or not, they need it or not. they have to sell them to the government, in exchange for a piece of paper containing a promise to pay (promisorry note). 3. Forced Labor or Polo y Servicios Polo y servicio was a practice employed by Spanish colonizers for over 250 years that required the forced labor of all Filipino males from 16 to 60 years old for 40-day periods. In 1884 it was reduced to 15 days per year. The workers could be placed on any project the Spanish wanted, despite hazardous or unhealthy conditions. The word Polo is actually a corruption of the Tagalog pulong, originally meaning “meeting of person and things or community labor”. Drafted laborers were either Filipino or Chinese male meztizos who were obligated to give personal service to community project, like construction and repair of infrastructure, church construction or cutting logs in forest for forty days. There were laws that regulated polo. For instance, the Polista (person who rendered forced labor) will be paid a daily wage of ¼ real plus rice. Moreover, the polista was not supposed to be brought from a distant olace nor required to work during planting and harvesting season. Despite restriction, polo resulted to the disastrous consequences. It resulted to the ruining of communities the men left behind. The promised wage was not given exactly as promised that led to starvation or even death to some polistas and their families (Agoncillo, 1990). Effects of Polo y Servicio a. Decrease in the production in agriculture because the time for Polo y servicios coincide with the planting and harvesting period b. Decrease in population because there were a lot of polistas who died because of the manual work in Polo c. Rebellion of the natives 4. Taxation The natives are paying different types of taxes such as follows: a. Cedula – male and female 18 years and above will pay 8 reales every year for the cedula b. Sanctorum –tax for the church amounting 3 reales c. Donativo de Zamboanga – one half real to finance the war in Mindanao against the Muslim d. Tribute – it may be paid in Cash or in kind 5. Tribute (Buwis) or Tributo M. I Viloria  As a sign of vassalage to Spain, the Filipinos paid tribute to the colonial government in the island. In July 26, 1523, King Charles V decreed that Indians who had been pacified should contribute a moderate amount in recognition of their vassalage. Miguel Lopez de Legazpi was first to order the payment of tribute, both in the Visayas and Luzon. His successors followed this practice. The buwis (tribute) consisted of two types 1. Direct taxes – which came from customs duties 2. Bandala taxes—monopolies (rentals escantadas) of special crops and items 6. Galleon Trade The trading system which existed in 1565 until 1815 and trading route from Canton, China, Acapulco, Mexico and Manila. This trading policy change the system of free trading in the Philippines where in the other nationalities like the Chinese are free to exchange their goods with the Filipinos who had extra goods. In the policy of Galleon Trade, a merchant could only participate in the trading if he can afford to pay for the boletas or ticket for the Galleon trade. He other effect of the Galleon trade are the following a, The decrease in the production of the native industry because the alcalde Mayor who were part of the trding imposed the planting of coconut and abaca fibers. The farmers who could not meet the trading imposed quota will need to pay a heavy fine. b. The loss of profit of the local industry c. The intercultural exchanges between the Philippine and Mexico. The products of Mexico like cocoa, sayote, tames etc. entered the country while the mango of the Philippines M. I Viloria  D. Educational System During the Spanish Regime The religion is still the center of the educational system imposed by the Spaniards. The primary education is usually catered by the friars, so the young Filipino will learn the Christine Doctrine, alphabet, language, customs and policies. Girls and boys have a separate schools and they also have different curriculums. For Male in secondary education is the Colegio Maximo de San Ignacio founded in1589, the College of San Idelfonso in1599, Ateneo de Municial in 1817. The curriculum for male includes Spanish, History, Latin, Philisophy, Canon, Civil law and Rhetoric. For Female is the Colegios of Santa Potenciana in 1591, Sta Isabel in 1632, Santa Catalina de Sena in1696, Sta. Rita College in1719, and in1868 is the establishment of Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion Concordia. The curriculum for females includes rules of courtesy, vocal music, language and sewing. The educational system is also used to pacify the Filipinos and train them in Catholicism and to follow laws imposed by the Spaniards. The Filipino students are not allowed to speak their own dialect in school, school buildings and other facilities are not enough for education the population of students. The Department of Education during the Spanish could not also provide enough books and other instructional material needed for the quality education. The parochial schools were established with Spanish missionaries as the teachers. The friars occupied the dominant positions. They decided what to be taught to the children. Learning in every level was by rote or memorization and the students memorized the contents of the book that they did not understand. The students were taught in the native dialects although there was a law requiring the children to be taught in Spanish. The Spaniards believed that learning Spanish would make the Filipino people to oppose Spanish rule. Religion was the most important subject. The natives were reminded that they had inferior intelligence and they were fit only for manual labor. The children attended classes on the ground floor of the convent, or in a stable in the “casa real” or in the darkest corner in the pueblo’s town hall. The friars maintained these miserable schools to repress human intellect rather than to cultivate and develop them. At the end of the Spanish period, the University of Santo Tomas (UST) was the only institution of university level in Manila. It was established in 1611 solely for the Spaniards and meztisos. It opens its doors to Filipino students four decades before the end of Spanish regime thus Jose Rizal and other heroes had come to study. The official secondary schools for boys were San Juan de Letran College and Ateneo De Manila. Secondary Education for girls was established in Manila; pioneered by Santa Isabel College, La Concordia, Sta Catalina College, Sta Rosa and Asilo de Lookan. Although the Spanish colonial administration issued the Educational Decree of 20 December 1863 (Educational decree of 1863) stating “that each major town in the Philippines should establish at least one primary school for boys and another for M. I Viloria girls, that the medium of instruction is Spanish”, the friars did not implement this decree because they believed that if the Filipinos will be educated, it might be inspired by new ideas of freedom and independence as well as justice. The Filipinos(natives) must be kept in the Dark. Thus, this explained why books read by the Filipino(native) people had to pass through rigid censorship by church authorities as well as the government. Another noble intention of Spain to improve the Educational System in the Philippines was the Moret Decree of 1870. This decree intended to secularize higher education in the colony; again the friars opposed the idea of the government’s control over education. __________________________________________________________________ Guide Questions 1. What is the center of educational system during the time of Dr. Jose Rizal? 2. What is the role of the friars (regular priests) in the 19th century educational system? Is there a good intention of Mother Spain (colonizer) to the colony (Philippines) in the aspect of Education? M. I Viloria