SPANISH

COLONIZATION
of Spanish Colonization The Spanish Colonial System Early Filipino Revolts Against Spanish Rule
Aims

The Philippine islands first came to the attention of Europeans with the Spanish expedition around the world led by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521. Magellan landed on the island of Cebu, claiming the lands for Spain and naming them Islas de San Lazaro.

He set up friendly relations with some of the local chieftains and converted some of them to Roman Catholicism. However, Magellan was killed by natives, led by a local chief named Lapu-Lapu, who go up against foreign domination.

Over the next several decades, other Spanish expeditions were send off to the islands. In 1543, Ruy Lpez de Villalobos led an expedition to the islands and gave the name Las Islas Filipinas (after Philip II of Spain) to the islands of Samar and Leyte. The name would later be given to the entire archipelago.

Aims of Spanish Colonization

It is summed with three words: God, Gold, and Glory. (The 3 Gs)
God: Spanish colonizers actually went to the Philippines to fulfill the deathwish of Isabel I, who said that "she would donate all her wealth for the conversion of the Indies". This was fulfilled by Felipe I.

During the early 1600s, Spain considered abandoning the Philippines, but was reminded by a Spanish friar of Isabel I's wish - so instead of abandoning it, Spain sent notices to all provinces of Spain and Mexico for stevedores and workmen to enlist as priest and undergo training.

After they finished training, they were all sent to the Philippines under different orders to serve as religious priests. So now, 85% of the Philippine population is Roman Catholic (......and 35% are partly of Spanish descent).

Gold: It was the dream of then king of Spain, Charles I, to obtain the Philippines in order to increase his personal fortunes and treasury. In fact, after ordering the soldiers to ransack several Latin American territories for gold, they were sent to the Philippines to discover such too, although efforts were futile - gold was never found by the Spanish in the Philippines

because of the hostile mountain tribes. Gold was later discovered by Americans during their occupation of the Philippines. Actually, the Philippines was thought of a colony to be abandoned (as mentioned above) because it was "a drain to Spain's treasury".

Glory: Ultimately, it was not just Isabel's wish which helped the Philippines to be retained by Spain. It was the glory - they would not abandon the Philippines to either British or Portuguese because this would bring shame to Spain. Instead, a Felipe III boasted that the sun never sets on Spanish soil (because of the Philippines).

When Spain acquired the Philippines, it astonished European nations, such as Sicily and Netherlands, who then surrendered without a fight because of what they thought was the superior forces of Spain. Eventually though, the Spanish were ousted out of the islands by Americans on 1898.

This caused the Spanish civil war eventually because of shame for its loss of colonies and paved the way for the eventual downfall of Spanish economy during the 1930s.

The Spanish Colonial System

SOCIO-ECONOMIC LIFE

SOCIAL CLASSES
Peninsulares

- Full-blooded Spanish living in the Philippines and born in Spain. Insulares - Full-blooded Spanish living in the Philippines and born in the Philippines as well. Ilustrados(The Enlightened Ones) Wealthy group of individuals born in the Philippines and were able to study abroad.

Chinese/Spanish

Mestizos - People with mixed racial origins and economically sufficient.

Indio

- Native/Full-blooded Filipinos.

Sangley

- Full-blooded Chinese living in the Philippines.

SOCIAL PYRAMID

Peninsulares/ Insulares

Ilustrados

Chinese/Spanish Mestizos

Indio/Sangley

ROMAN CATHOLICISM IN THE PHILIPPINES

Magellan's

Arrival to the islands of the Philippines mark the first attempt to convert the Filipinos to Christianity. This conversion was received by mixed responses. Most of the Filipinos received the conversion with open arms, and were happily converted to Christianity. Some did not like the conversion, such as Lapu-Lapu.

 He

did not believe that the Filipinos needed to change, so he killed Magellan, making him the first ever Philippine hero. The religion slowly spread throughout the Philippines, evident in present Filipinos, most of whom are Christians. Thats not to say that Christianity should not have been spread to our country, because if not, the Philippines would mostly be a Muslim country

 After

Magellan, the Spanish sent Miguel Lopez de Legaspi to the Philippines, and he conquered the Muslim settlement in Manila during 1570. The religion slowly spread throughout the Philippines, evident in present Filipinos, most of whom are Christians.

SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY IN THE PHILIPPINES

Mass

Baptism - Baptizing the Filipinos is very large groups at once. It is said that the Filipinos interpreted Baptism as healing, which relies on the presence of Holy Water. Reduccion Policy - Moving small groups of Filipino settlements into one, large town. This was to regulate the Filipinos, and teach them the basics of Christianity.

 Early

Attitude of the Spanish Clergy - early on, the Spanish clergy was forced to learn the Filipinos' native language if they want to teach them. Without Spanish schools, the priests were forced to say Mass in the Filipinos' native languages. Adaptation of Christianity to the local culture - The Filipinos believed in spirits, which were responsible for the good, and bad.

They

had statues and altars, all of which were destroyed by the Spaniards. They replaced them with Christian adaptations of their early beliefs, and used theatrical presentations of Bible stories to appeal the Filipinos.

MERCANTILIST SYSTEM
An

economic theory and policy influential in Europe from the 16th to the 18th century that called for government regulation of a nation's economy in order to increase its power at the expense of rival nations. Mercantilism's emphasis on the importance of gold and silver holdings as a sign of a nation's wealth and power led to policies designed to obtain precious metals through trade

TAXATION SYSTEM
Cedula

Tax - A form of taxation implemented in 1884. This served as a paper which was used as proof that one was a colony of Spain and a legitimate member of a pueblo. Before, Filipinos and Chinese only had to pay tribute, but it was revised that all residents of the Philippines were obliged to pay the cedula.

BANDALA SYSTEM
A

form of direct taxes that the Spaniards implemented in which the natives were coerced to sell their products to the government at very low prices.

KASAMA SYSTEM
Under

this arrangement, the landowners supplied the seed and cash necessary to tide cultivators over during the planting season, whereas the cultivators provided tools and work animals and were responsible for one-half the expense of crop production. Usually, owner and sharecropper each took one-half of the harvest, although only after the former deducted a portion for expenses.

POLO Y SERVICIO
A

system of forced labor for 40 days for men ranging from 16 to 60 years of age who were obligated to give personal services to community projects. One could be exempted from polo by paying the falla (corruption of the Spanish Falta, meaning "absence") daily.

 Bahala

Na- It comes from the words "Bathala Na" more or less meaning "Leave It To God' or "Come What May". It means that we are defeatist in our attitude to life and we are only willing to do as much as what is necessary. Padrino System- It is the value system where one gains favor, promotion or political appointment through family affiliation or friendship, as opposed to one's merit.

 Veneration

Of Saints- It is the special act of honoring a saint. It is often shown outwardly by respectfully bowing or making a sign of the cross before a saint's icon relics or statues. It is practiced by Catholic Churches. Praying of the RosaryIt is the act of recalling in a prayerful manner, the life of Jesus in which it is categorized into several mysteries, whose names are according to the emotion during those periods of Christs life.

DECLINE OF THE SPANISH RULE

THE RISE OF THE ILUSTRADOS

In

1781, the Philippines was now administered directly from Spain. Developments in and out of the country helped to bring new ideas to the Philippines.

 The

opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 cut travel time to Spain. This prompted the rise of the Ilustrados, an enlightened Filipino upper class, since many young Filipinos were able to study in Europe. Enlightened by the Propaganda Movement to the injustices of the Spanish colonial government and the "frailocracy", the Ilustrados originally clamored for adequate representation to the Spanish Cortes and later for independence.

Jos

Rizal, the most celebrated intellectual and radical Ilustrado of the era, wrote the novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, which greatly inspired the movement for independence.

The

Philippine Revolution began in 1896. Rizal was implicated in the outbreak of the revolution and executed for treason in 1896.

The Early Filipino Revolts Against Spanish Rule

During the History_of_the_Philippines (1521-1898)|Spanish colonization of the Philippines, several revolts against Spain were undertaken for various reasons. However, it can be agreed upon that the common underlying cause of these revolts were the generally repressive policies of the Spanish colonial government against the native Filipinos. Many of these revolts though have failed.

Revolts in Manila (1570)

Sulayman welcomed the Spanish conquistadors, Martn de Goiti and Juan de Salcedo soon after they arrived. He befriended and offered them spices and women as gifts. But as the weeks passed on, the Spaniards began to abuse him and he soon realized that they were not there just to visit the Islands,

but to take control and steal the rich resources of his land. He opposed the Spanish settlements and led a coup to throw the Spaniards out of the city. On the morning of May 24, 1570, the Battle of Bangkusay, a district of present day Tondo, took place between thousands of native warriors against 300 Spanish soldiers. Defenceless against steel, and also the fury of rival and

Christianized tribes, the Spaniards quickly defeated Sulayman, Lakandula and Matanda's armies and burned the city to the ground. The 3 kings, were captured and held as a prisoners by Martn de Goiti. Sulayman's surviving troops along with Rajah Lakandula and Matanda's defeated warriors,

retreated to the jungles of Manila and later organized a rebellion were they laid numerous sieges on the Spanish settlement for several months. The Spaniards eventually drove them out and on June 24, 1571 after many months of fighting, the natives surrendered soon after the Spanish General,

Miguel Lpez de Legazpi arrived. They were converted to Roman Catholicism and served as a puppetruler for the Spanish government.

Lakandula Revolt The Lakandula Revolt also known as the Manila Revolt or the Sulayman Revolt happened in 1574. It was a rebellion against the Spanish rule led by Rajah Lakandula and Rajah Soliman in Tondo,Manila.

In 1571, Rajah Lakandula, the native Muslim ruler of Tondo, made a pact with Miguel Lopez de Legaspi to submit his land to him and to hand over his throne which led to Manila being the capital of the Spanish colony. When a Chinese pirate named Limahong planned to conquer Manila, Lakandula helped resist the attack.

When Lopez de Legaspi died in 1572, Governor-General Guido de Lavezaris took his place but did not honor the agreements done between Lakandula and his predecessor and even tolerated Spanish abuses. The Spanish took over their lands and encomienderos oppressed Filipin os.

Because of this, Lakandula together with Rajah Sulayman led a revolt against the Spanish in the villages of Navotas. The revolt did not succeed and Governor-General Lavezaris, with the help of Spanish and Filipino colonial troops, was able to stop the rebellion and restore order in Manila.

First Pampanga Revolt (1585)

The First Pampanga Revolt in 1585 was undertaken by native Kapampangan leaders against Spanish encomienda |encomenderos due to abuses felt by the natives inflicted by the encomenderos. The revolt included a plot to storm Intramuros.

However, the plot was foiled before it was even implemented, since a Filipina married to a Spanish soldier reported the plot to Spanish authorities. For their actions, the leaders of the revolt were ordered executed..

Revolt Against the Tribute (1589) The Revolt Against the Tribute occurred in the present day provinces of Cagayan, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur in 1589. The natives, which included the Ilocanos, Ibanags and others, rose in revolt over alleged abuses by tax collectors, such as the collection of unjust taxes.

Governor-General Santiago de Vera sent Spanish troops to pacify the rebels. They were eventually granted pardon, along with the overhaul of the Philippine tax system..

Tamblot Uprising (1621) The Tamblot Uprising was a revolt in Bohol led by Tamblot in 1621. Being the more religious revolt of Bohol, Tamblot, a babaylan or native priest, urged Boholanos to return to the old native religion of their forefathers after the arrival of the Jesuits in 1596, and the eventual conversion of the Boholanos to the Catholic faith.

The revolt, which was undertaken at a time when the Jesuit fathers who administered the island were in Cebu celebrating the feast day of Francis Xavier|St. Francis Xavier, was crushed on New Year's Day, 1622. After the revolt, the Spaniards strengthened their hold over Bohol.

Sumuroy Revolt (1649-50)

In what is today the town of Palapag in Northern Samar, Juan Ponce Sumuroy, a Waray, and some of his followers rose in arms on June 1, 1649 over the polo system being undertaken in Samar. This is known as the Sumuroy Revolt, named after Juan Ponce Sumuroy.

The government in Manila directed that all natives subject to the polo are not to be sent to places distant from their hometowns to do their polo. However, under orders of the various town alcaldes, or mayors, Samarnons were being sent to the shipyards of Cavite to do their polo, which sparked the revolt.

The local parish priest of Palapag was murdered and the revolt eventually spread to Mindanao,Bicol and the rest of the Visayas, especially in places such as Cebu, Masbate, Camiguin, Zambo anga, Albay, Camarines and parts of northern Mindanao, such as Surigao.

A free government was also established in the mountains of Samar. The defeat, capture and execution of Sumuroy in June 1650 led to the end of the revolt.

Dagohoy Rebellion (1744-1829

In what is today the town of Palapag in Northern Samar, Juan Ponce Sumuroy, a Waray, and some of his followers rose in arms on June 1, 1649 over the polo system being undertaken in Samar. This is known as the Sumuroy Revolt, named after Juan Ponce Sumuroy.

In 1744 in what is now the province of Bohol, what is known today as the Dagohoy Revolt was undertaken by Francisco Dagohoy and some of his followers. This revolt is unique since it is the only Philippine revolt completely related to matters of religious customs, although unlike the Tamblot Uprising before it, it is not a complete religious rebellion.

After a duel in which Dagohoy's brother died, the local parish priest refused to give his brother a proper Christianity|Christian burial, since dueling is a mortal sin. The refusal of the priest to give his brother a proper Christian burial eventually led to the longest revolt ever held in Philippine history: 85 years. It also led to the establishment of a free Boholano government.

Twenty governors-general, from Juan Arrechederra to [Mariano Ricafort Palacn y Ararca, failed to stop the revolt. Ricafort himself sent a force of 2,200 troops to Bohol, which was defeated by Dagohoy's followers. Another attack, also sent by Ricafort in 1828 and 1829, failed as well.

Dagohoy died two years before the revolt ended, though, which led to the end of the revolt in 1829. Some 19,000 survivors were granted pardon and were eventually allowed to live in new Boholano villages: namely, the present-day towns of Balilihan, Batuan, Bilar (Vilar), Catig bian and Sevilla (Cabulao).

Agrarian Revolt (1745-46)

The Agrarian Revolt was a revolt undertaken between the years 1745 and 1746 in much of the presentday CALABARZON (specifically in Batangas, Laguna and Cavite) and in Bulacan, with its first sparks in the towns of Lian and Nasugbu in Batangas.

Filipino landowners rose in arms over the land-grabbing of Spanish friars, with native landowners demanding that Spanish priests return their lands on the basis of ancestral domain.

The refusal of the Spanish priests resulted in much rioting, resulting in massive looting of convents and arson of churches and ranches. The case was eventually investigated by Spanish officials and was even heard in the court of Philip IV of Spain|King Philip IV, in which he ordered the priests to return the lands they seized.

Silang Revolt (1762-63)

Arguably one of the most famous revolts in Philippine history is the Silang Revolt from 1762 to 1763, led by the couple of Diego and Gabriela Silang. Unlike the other revolts, this revolt took place during the British invasion of Manila.

On December 14, 1762, Diego Silang declared the independence of Ilocandia, naming the state "Free Ilocos" and proclaimed Vigan the capital of this newly-independent state. The British heard about this revolt in Manila and even asked the help of Silang in fighting the Spanish.

However, Silang was killed on May 28, 1763 by Miguel Vicos, a friend of Silang. The Spanish authorities paid for his murder, leading to his death in the arms of his wife, Gabriela. She continued her husband's struggle, earning the title "Joan of Arc of the Ilocos" because of her many victories in battle.

The battles of the Silang revolt are a prime example of the use of divide et impera, since Spanish troops largely used Kampampangan soldiers to fight the Ilocanos. Eventually, the revolt ended with the defeat of the Ilocanos. Gabriela Silang was executed by Spanish authorities in Vigan on September 10, 1763.

Basi Revolt (1807) The Basi Revolt, also known as the Ambaristo Revolt, was a revolt undertaken from September 16September 28, 1807. It was led by Pedro Ambaristo with its events occurring in the present-day town of Piddig in Ilocos Norte. This revolt is unique as it revolves around the Ilocanos' love for basi, or sugarcane wine.

In 1786, the Spanish colonial government expropriation expropriated the manufacture and sale of basi, effectively banning private manufacture of the wine, which was done before expropriation. Ilocanos were forced to buy from government stores.

However, wine-loving Ilocanos in Piddig rose in revolt on September 16, 1807, with the revolt spreading to nearby towns and with fighting lasting for weeks. Spanish troops eventually quelled the revolt on September 28, 1807, albeit with much force and loss of life on the losing side.

Pule Revolt (1840-41) One of the most famous religious revolts is the Pule Revolt, more formally known as the Religious Revolt of Hermano Pule. Undertaken between June 1840 and November 1841, this revolt was led byApolinario de la Cruz, otherwise known as "Hermano Pule".

De la Cruz started his own religious order, the Confraternity of Saint Joseph (Spanish language|Spanish: Confradia de San Jos) in Lucban, located in the present-day province of Quezon (then calledTayabas), in June of 1840.

Due to the concentration of Spanish religious power and authority in the already-established religious orders (the Augustinians, Jesuits and Franciscans to name a few) and the concept that Filipino priests should only stay in the church and not the convent and vice-versa (although this was not always followed), the Spanish government banned the new order,

especially due to its deviation from original Catholic rituals and teachings, such as prayers and rituals suited for Filipinos. However, thousands of people in Tayabas, Batangas, Laguna and even Manila already joined. Because of this, the Spanish government sent in troops to forcibly break up the order, forcing De la Cruz and his followers to rise in armed revolt in self-defense.

Many bloody battles were fought with the order's last stand in Mount San Cristobal, near Mount Banahaw, in October of 1841. The Spaniards eventually won, and Apolinario de la Cruz was executed on November 4, 1841 in the then-provincial capital, Tayabas.

It did not end there, though. Many members of the Spanish armed forces' Tayabas regiment, based in Malate in Manila, had relatives that were members of the order, of which many of those relatives were also killed in the ensuing violence. On January 20, 1843, the regiment, led by Sergeant Irineo Samaniego, rose in mutiny, eventually capturing Fort Santiago in Intramuros.

The next day, however, the gates of Fort Santiago were opened by loyalist soldiers. After a bloody battle, the mutineers were defeated by loyalist troops, resulting in the execution of Samaniego and 81 of his followers the same day.

Cavite mutiny (1871)

During the Spanish colonial period, rigid class distinctions were effectively observed between Peninsular Spaniards, those born in Spain or 'Peninsulares,' those born in the colony of Peninsular parents, or 'Insulares,' those born in the Philippines of mixed Spanish blood or Spanish Mestizos, Chinese and Chinese Mestizos, and, finally, Indios (Natives).

Father Burgos was Spanish Mestizo, a Doctor of Philosophy whose prominence extended even in Spain, such that when the new Governor and Captain-General Carlos Maria de la Torre arrived from Spain to assume his duties, he invited Father Burgos to sit beside him in his carriage during the inaugural procession, a place traditionally reserved for the Archbishop and who, as expected, was a Peninsular Spaniard.

The arrival of the liberal governor de la Torre was not welcomed by the ruling minority of friars, regular priests who belonged to an order (Dominicans, Augustinians, Recollects, Franciscans) and their minions in civil government, but mistakenly embraced by the secular priests, majority of these Mestizos and natives or Indios assigned to parishes and far-flung communities, who believed the reforms and the equality they sought with Peninsular Spaniards were at hand.

In less than two years de la Torre was replaced by Izquierdo who turned out to be a pliant tool of the friars. The so-called Cavite Mutiny of workers in the arsenal in the naval shipyard over pay reduction owing to increased taxation produced a willing witness to implicate the three priests, who were summarily tried and sentenced to death by 'garrote.' Father Gmez, the oldest, went to his death heroically.

Father Zamora, the youngest, guileless and totally befuddled, died with a whimper. Father Burgos, hoping for a reprieve which never came and scanning the distance till the very last moment, met his death soaked in his own tears. Significantly, in the archives of Spain, there is no record of how Izquierdo, himself a liberal, could have been influenced to authorize these executions.

The aftermath of the witch hunt produced scores of suspects most of whom were exiled to Guam in the Marianas, who, except a few who managed to escape to other ports like Hong Kong, died there in penury. It was a period when a pall of hopelessness enveloped the country, steeling the resolve and patriotism of a sentient minority, giving rise to a new generation of heroes of whom the Rizal family was to become the standard bearer.

The End