Submitted by: Krizza P.

Saya-ang
HUMSS- PLATO

Submitted to: Amormia J. Dela Peña

Teacher II- POLITICS Teacher
ASSESSMENT

The Philippines was first colonized by the Spaniards, followed by the Americans
who shaped most of modern Filipino culture, economy, religion, architecture, and even
its political system. One of the reasons why Philippines was easily colonized was
because on that time, Philippines has a lack of military capability of the multiple
barangays unlike to the Spanish Military forces wherein they had a lot of equipment
such as metal armor, muskets, and especially the cannons that they usually use during
war. Combined also with the disciplined military trainings by the Spanish Military that
would make any Native Filipino tremble in fear. In terms of the cultural system of the
Philippines, Spaniards supplanted the native Filipino’s ‘indigenous baybayin’ alphabet
with their Latin alphabet and even prohibited the use of their dialects which resulted
most of the Filipino to forget their previous identity since they began to forget their
former culture. It is sad to know that native Filipinos on that time did not have a more
permanent way of preserving its culture.

When Americans arrived and colonized Philippines in the 19th Century wherein
they structured the government, justice system, senate and provincial division according
to their way, Americans indirectly gave every Filipino an ideal government of
democracy. However, the reason why political dynasty is quite prominent in the
Philippines is also because of the Americans who monopolize the ownership of all the
resources, major functional industries, and other public works which made the country
relied on American heavy and imported products which affects also the economic
system of the Philippines. Other American companies and political elite still dominate
the country’s economy. Philippines is one of the few countries that has been
experiencing decline in literacy rate from the 80’s until 21st Century. Unfortunately, its
unemployment is still at all-time high, and up until now, its economy relied on sending
away every Filipinos to other countries to work for their families because they believe
that they could get more income in working abroad which results to a massive brain
drain.
ANALYSIS

There are many tactics that the Spaniards made use of in order to
colonize the Philippines. They even use religion in order to pacify the Filipinos much
easier and that was the time Spaniards colonized the country. During colonization of the
Spaniards to the Philippines, the Spanish were able to gain control of the coastal areas
of the northern and central islands where Islam and other indigenous tribes were deeply
rooted in there. But when other groups like the Igorots resisted about the Spanish
controlling their living, they burned Igorot villages, even destroyed their crops and raped
some women and yet, the Igorots were never conquered in 350 years of Spanish
occupation. Somehow in this way, still there are many native Filipinos came to live on
land that was owned by the Spanish and became tenants or paid laborers. The Spanish
rule were such trying times for Filipinos. There was a drain ad harassment from
enemies outside the country. During Spanish occupation in the Philippines, Spaniards
were threatened by the invasions of Portuguese, Dutch, Englishmen and even disturbed
by the growing number of Japanese and Chinese immigrants in Manila. Despite of
these, the Spaniards still maintained their rule over the islands of the Philippines which
resulted to every Filipinos sense of loyalty. This shows that Filipinos are quite docile at
some times.
IMPACT
The colonization happened in the Philippines brought a big change and
great influence in terms of its cultural, religion, economic and political system of the
Philippines. After the colonization of the Spaniards to the Filipinos, its cultures and
traditions are widely practiced and even patronized by non-Filipinos. The Filipinos can
speak many local languages and dialects and also, their way of clothing, forms of
amusement, eating gestures and many more has already changed and it’s because of
the influence of the Spanish cultures which brought the Philippines into the attachment
of the Western culture. As for the political system of the Philippines, its government
aside from being ruled by the friars and the governor-general from Spain, was
dominated by male servants which has been continued to exist nowadays. But even
though women are already allowed to have a government seat, but to sum up all the
positions in the government, women are only less in number.

On the other hand, the Americans introduced modern technology of the

early 20th century, improving healthcare, communication, port facilities and
transportation access in the Philippines and even throughout the archipelago which
gave a big contribution on the economic system in the country. However, in terms of the
education and its cultural development brought by the Americans, the most common
and still a great issue nowadays is the using of the English language taught by the
Americans. Most Filipinos believe that an educated person is based on English
proficiency. The fact that Filipinos were taught that English language was the language
of democracy became a barrier to democracy itself. In the political independence
colonized by the Americans, Filipinos were made to believe in certain political doctrine
is absolute, and equal for all people.

With all these influences and effects above and there are still more, it shows that
there has been really a big impact about the Spaniards, Americans and the Japanese
who colonized the Philippines.