19th

Century
Philippines
Under Spain

Unstable Spain
1. Turbulent year of King

Ferdinand VII reign from

1808-1833

a. Despotism vs. Liberalism

b. 3 Carlist Wars 1833-1876
c. 4 constitutions from 18341862

d. 28 parliamentary elections
e. Installation of 529 ministers
f.

Party bickering, revolutions,

and other forms of political
upheavals

Political Instability
1. Periodic shifting of colonial

policies and changing of colonial

rules

a. 50 governor generals from

1835-1897

b. Average term of office was 1

year and 3 months

c. From 1853-1854 there were four

assigned governor generals

.Appointed Oidor/Jurist for the

Royal Audencia and his family
took the long and leisurely trip to
the Cape of Good Hope for 6
months only to relaized when he
arrived that a new appointee is
already seated.

effects
1. Frequent changing slowed
down the political and
economic growth of the
country

2. Short and unstable term of

office led to the failure of
any capable and energetic
leader to function well.

3. Corrupting opportunities for

a leader to take advantage
of his rule

4. Uninspiring political

condition to perform well

4. Indifference of leaders

to the political condition

of the Philippines

5. Madrid to Manila

situational domino
effect

6. Systematic failure
7. Unsupervised political

and economic
performance of assigned
leaders in the
Philippines

Corrupt officials
Golden
rule

Miguel
Cervantes

Decaden
t rule

Rafael de
Izquierdo

Lope de
Vega

Jose
Malcamp
o

Calderon
dela
Barca

Fernando
Primo de
Rivera

El Greco

Valeriano
Weyler

St.
Theresa
of Avila

Camilo de
Poolavieja

Rafael de Izquierdo

Hated for

sentencing the
death of the
GOMBURZA
during the year
1872

Jose Malcampo

Good military in

Muslim Mindanao
but a weak
administrator

Fernando Primo de
Rivera

Ruled for 2

terms and
involved in
casino bribes

Valeriano Weyler
Branded as the Cuban
Butcher in Cuba

Received bribes of
diamond from the
Chinese

Able soldier but

heartless governor

Camilo de Polavieja

Able soldier but

detested for executing

Dr. Jose Rizal and for
loosing the Philippines
to USA.

His sash and sword

were presented by
Gov. Blanco to the
family of J. Rizal as an
apology

Other

Many assigned in

the Latin
American
countries are
degenerate, cruel,
jobseekers,
penniless,
protgs, and
pretenders.

In 1810, Tomas de Comyn,

Spanish writer and
government official revealed
the fact that ignorant barbers,
and lackeys were appointed
provincial governors

For district magistrates and

garrison commanders, rough
sailors and soldiers were
appointed.

Participation in the
Spanish Cortez
1. Napoleonic invasion and

representation in the Spanish

Cortez from 1810-1813

a. Ventura delos Reyes was one

of the 184 signers of the
democratic Constitution of
1812.

b. Abolition of galleon trade

2. Filipino representation during
1820-23 and 1834-37 were
not fruitful as the leaders
were less energetic and
devoted in parliamentary
work.

3. Abolition in 1837
a. Graciano L. Jaena- We

want representation in
the legislative chamber
so that our aspirations
maybe known to the
mother country and its
government.

b. Bitterness brought

about the given

representation to Cuba
and Puerto Rico from
1876-1898.

Denial of Human Rights

1. Constitution of 1812
.Enjoyment of freedom of
speech, freedom of the
press, freedom of
association and other
human rights.

.Liberals guarded for fear

that it will be abolished by
the Spanish monarch

2. Inconsistency in the

practice as observed by
Sinibaldo de Mas

Why do we fall into an anomaly, such

as combining our claim for liberty for
ourselves, and our wish to impose our
law on remote peoples? Why do we
deny to others the benefit which we
desire to our fatherland?

No equality before the

law

All men irrespective of color

and race, are children of God
and as such they are
brothers, equal before God

Issue of Christs precept of

the brotherhood of all men
under the fatherhood of
God.

Filipinos as inferior and as

subjects of the King.

Maybe equal before God but

not in law and justice.

Legal inequalities

Leyes de Indias was

promulgated by Christian kings
to protect the natives and
promote their welfare.

Spanish Penal Code imposed

heavier penalties on native
filipinos or mestizos and lighter
penalties to Spaniards

In the communication exchange

between Dr. Rizal and Prof. F.
Blumentritt, the latter
mentioned his irritation in the
blatant injustice embodied in
the law.

Maladministration of
justice

Court of Injustice of the inept,

venal and ignorant of law.

Justice was costly, partial and

slow.

Filipinos who are poor had no

access to the court.

Wealth, social prestige and color

of the skin are considered as
factors to win the case.

Justice delayed is justice denied.

There were a lot of noble victims

of miscarriage of justice.

Racial Discrimination

Brown-skinned and flat nose

indios.

Chongo vs. bangus

According to Fr. Burgos on

misconception that the merit
of a man lies on the pigment
of his skin, height of his nose,
color of his hair, and the
shape of his skull Why for
instance shall a young man
strive to rise in the profession
of law or of theology, when he
can vision no future for hmself
save that of obscurity and
jaunty unconcern?

Frailocracy

Union of the church and

state
Functions

1. Supervisor of local election

2. Inspector of schools and taxes
3. Arbiter of morals
4. Censor of books and
comedias

5. Superintendent of public
works

6. Guardian of peace and order

Filipino views:

1. Obscurantism
2. Fanaticism
3. Oppression
.According to Dr. J. Rizal,
they are enemies of
liberal reforms and
modern progress in the
country

.It has 2 faces

Forced Labor

Polo or compulsory labor

1. Construction of schools,
hospitals, buildings

Royal Decree of July 12,

1883

Polistas are from 16 to

60 years old for 40 days
and later reduced to 15
days every year.

Spaniards are to render

work but was not
implemented in the
Philippines

Falla is exemption from

polo

2. Repair of roads and bridges

3. Building of ships in the
shipyards

4. Other public works

Filipino hated polo

1. Spaniards are not

compelled to work

2. 2 pesetas equivalent to 50
cents

3. Caused inconvenience and

sufferings to people

Haciendas troubles

Friars obtained royal titles of

ownership from the Spanish
King

Hotbeds of revolts

In 1768 Governor Anda

recommended to Madrid the
sale of friar estate for he
saw the danger it could give
to Spain but was ignored.

Guardia Civil

Spanish Constabulary

Those in the Philippines

were the opposite of the
disciplined Guardia Civil in
Spain.

Rampant abuse of power,

maltreating the innocent
people, rape women, and
loot the carabaos, chickens,
and belongings of the
natives
Dr. Rizal and his mother
suffered from the cruelties of
the guardia civil

In Noli me Tangere,
exposed the ruthlessness
the guardia civil to
honest men.

Crisostomo to Elias is
a weapon in the hands of
a madman in a
defenseless multitude.

There was a proposal to

improve the military
organization by
recruiting educated and
principled men who
respect the limitations
and responsibilities,
authorities, and power.