Lesson 3 Social and Political Structure in the 19th Century Caraga State University PDF

Caraga state university Ampayon, Butuan City 8600, Philippines URL: www.carsu.edu.ph Lesson 3 The Philippines in the 19th Century: Social and Political Structure  Glossary of Terms Peninsulares- they were pure Spani...

Caraga state university Ampayon, Butuan City 8600, Philippines URL: www.carsu.edu.ph Lesson 3 The Philippines in the 19th Century: Social and Political Structure  Glossary of Terms Peninsulares- they were pure Spaniards who were born in Spain but/and lived in the Philippines Insulares- also known as criollos in Spanish-held country in South America. They were pure Spaniards who were born in the Philippines. Some historians called them Filipinos Indio/s-refer to native Filipino Mestizos- were of mixed ancestry, example Chinese-Filipino, Spanish- Filipino  The Filipino The term Filipino was used only in 1898 or after the Spanish rule. The use of the term Filipino in this discussion is only to refer the natives of the country in our context. But then again, it was used only after the Spanish rule.  Filipino Social Structure The feudalism established by the Spanish colonial government in the Philippines in the 19th century resulted to master-slave relationship by the Spaniards. The Spanish government imposed and collected all forms of taxes and tributes from the native Filipinos and even required them to render polo y servicio or forced labor to the government and the Catholic church. Lands were owned by the wealthy Spanish officials, businessmen and even friars. The native Filipinos became tenants of their own land due to transfer of ownership.  The photo above is the social pyramid. The level 1 is the Upper Class which enjoyed by the peninsulares or the Spaniards born in Spain. They held the most important government jobs, and made up the smallest number of the population. Also in the upper class is the group of friars who were members of any of certain religious orders of men, especially the three mendicant orders such as Augustinians (1565), Dominicans (1587), and Franciscans (1577). Because of the union of Church and State, these people in the upper class have the power and authority to rule over the native Filipinos.  The level 2 is the Middle Class which include the insulares or Spaniards born in the Philippines, the Spanish (or European) and Chinese mestizos, and the principalia or the ruling class of native elites composed of the gobernadorcillo, cabeza de barangay, landowners, merchant and wealthy native families. The level 3 or the lowest level is the Lower Class which placed only the native Filipinos known during that time as the indios.  The social pyramid during Spanish colonial government manifested the superiority complex, and social tensions were prevalent as the lower class were victimized by the Upper class. However, racial discrimination came to be institutionalized which Rizal even experienced it inside the schools he attended. Members of the middle and lower classes were considered inferior by the upper class and unworthy of education and higher government positions. However, in the next chapter of Philippine history, these two social ranks were those who criticized the government and church and worked for to claim freedom from Spanish tyranny.  Social Structure: Highest Class Highest class – the people that belong in this class include the Spaniards, peninsulares and the friars. They have the power and authority to rule over the Filipinos. ✓ The Spanish officials ✓ The Peninsulares (Spaniards who were born in Spain). They held the most important government jobs, and made up the smallest number of the population.  Social Structure: Highest Class ✓ The Friars are members of any of certain religious orders of men, especially the four mendicant orders (Augustinians, Carmelites, Dominicans, and Franciscans).  Social Structure: Middle Class 1. Middle Class – the people that belongs into this class includes the natives, mestizos and the criollos (Insulares was the specific term given to criollos, a full- blooded Spaniards born in the colonies; Philippines or the Marianas) Natives – the pure Filipinos  Social Structure: Middle Class The Mestizos are the Filipinos of mixed indigenous Filipino or European or Chinese ancestry.  Social Structure: Lowest Class Lowest class – this class includes the Filipinos only. The Indios are the poor people having pure blood Filipino which ruled by the Spaniards.  On Education ✓ The social pyramid manifested also the privileges and rights of the people according to their rank in the society. Thus, it affects their social relationship, economic development, and attainment of education. ✓ The first schools were the parochial schools opened by the missionaries in their parishes. In addition to religion, the Filipino native children in these schools were taught reading, writing, arithmetic and some vocational and practical arts subjects but most of the time centered on the teaching of fear of God and obedience to the friars. ✓ These schools were under the control of the friars up to the middle of the 19th century. However, the primary education was not given attention despite the establishment of parochial schools in the towns of the provinces. Many of the Filipino native children attended these schools were not able to develop self-confidence in their ability to learn and only developed inferiority complex.  On Education ✓ The separate colleges for boys and girls were also opened by the missionaries. These colleges were the equivalent of our high schools today. The subjects taught to the students included history, Latin, geography, mathematics and philosophy. Some of these colleges offered degree which is equivalent to present degrees in colleges ✓ Originally, these colleges were open only to the Spaniards and those with Spanish blood or the mestizos. It was only during the 19th century that these colleges began accepting native Filipinos. The university education was started in the Philippines during the early part of the 17th century. By the end of the 19th century, only the University of Santo Tomas remained as the higher education institution in the country. ✓ On 1853, the Educational Decree was implemented in the country which required the establishment of one elementary school for boys and one elementary school for girls in each town of the Philippine provinces. The decree also provided for the establishment of school for the training of teachers mostly girls with a mastery of the Spanish language as the medium of instruction in all schools but under the direction of the Jesuits.  On Education ✓ The friars reacted negatively to the teaching of the Spanish language to native Filipinos. For the friars, the learning of Spanish language to Indios would lead to their knowledge and development of political and social awareness about the Spanish government. These friars suppressed the opportunity to learn and thus wanted the Filipino natives or Indios to remain ignorant.  Political System (administrative organization) Only the peninsulares or pure blooded Spaniards could have a higher position in the government. Mostly, the positions were done by appointment. The Philippines was governed by the Spanish Crown thru the Ministry of Colonies (1863-1898) in the 19th Century. The government was unitary as policies implemented by colonial administrators to the entire country emanated from Manila as the seat of the central government. It was centralized colonial government in the Philippines that was composed of a national government and the local governments that administered provinces, cities, towns and municipalities with roles: Maintained peace and order Collected taxes Built schools and other Public works  Political System (administrative organization) ✓ Governed directly by the Spanish Crown thru Ministry of Colonies (appointing Governor-General) ✓ Policies were unitary ✓ Manila was the seat of government  Political System (administrative organization) Governor-General Head of the Spanish colonial government ✓ Head of the Spanish colonial government in the country; thus, he represented the Crown in all governmental matters. ✓ He was the Vice Royal Patron over religious affairs; thus he could choose priests for ecclesiastical administration of the parishes. ✓ He was the Commander-in-Chief of the colonial army. ✓ He was an ex-officio president of the Royal Audiencia; the Supreme Court in the Philippines during Spanish colonial period ✓ He had legislative powers to make laws for the colony. ✓ He had the power of cumplase or the power to decide which law or royal decree should be implemented or disregarded in the colony. ✓ He had the power to appoint and dismiss public officials  Political System (administrative organization) ✓ Governed directly by the Spanish Crown thru Ministry of Colonies (appointing Governor-General) ✓ Policies were unitary ✓ Manila was the seat of government Political System (administrative organization)  Political System (administrative organization) The pacified provinces were known as the alcaldias and unpacified provinces or not yet fully under Spanish control were known as corregimiento. The alcaldias were headed by alcalde mayor who represented the Spanish king and the governor general in their respective provinces. They managed the day-to-day operations of the provincial government, implemented laws and supervised the collection of taxes and enjoyed the indulto de comercio, a privilege to engage and monopolize commercial matters.  Political System (administrative organization) The Residencia To ensure the government efficacy, a residencia was created. It was a special judicial court that investigates the performance of a governor general who was about to be replaced. The residencia, of which the incoming governor general was usually a member, submitted a report of its findings to the King. The Visita The Council of the Indies in Spain (1565-1837) sent a government official called the Vistador General to observe conditions in the colony. He reported his findings directly to the King.  Political System (administrative organization) Union of the Church and State ✓ Friars were supervising representatives of the Spanish government for local affairs. Guardia Civil ✓ Organized in 1867 as a corps of native police  References https://dimasalanglaonglaan.wordpress.com/philippines-in-the-19th- century/ Garcia, C. & Cruz, C. (2005). Rizal and the Development of Filipino Nationalis: A Textbook on the Life, Works and Writings of our National Hero. Mandaluyong City: Books Atbp.Publishing Corp. https://www.teacherph.com/history-system-education-philippines/ last retrieved December 27, 2020 https://www.slideshare.net/MsKrabbs19/rizal-in-the-19th-century-philippines last retrieved December 28, 2020