CONTRAST AND COMPARISON OF MANILA DURING THE SPANISH REGIME AND

AMERICAN COLONIZATION
During the Spanish regime, After King Philip II (for whom the islands are named) had
dispatched three further expeditions that ended in disaster, he sent out Miguel López de Legazpi,
who established the first permanent Spanish settlement, in Cebu, in 1565. The Spanish city of
Manila was founded in 1571, and by the end of the 16th century most of the coastal and lowland
areas from Luzon to northern Mindanao were under Spanish control. Friars marched with
soldiers and soon accomplished the nominal conversion to Roman Catholicism of all the local
people under Spanish administration. But the Muslims of Mindanao and Sulu, whom the Spanish
called Moros, were never completely subdued by Spain.
Spanish rule for the first 100 years was exercised in most areas through a type of tax farming
imported from the Americas and known as the encomienda. But abusive treatment of the local
tribute payers and neglect of religious instruction by encomenderos (collectors of the tribute), as
well as frequent withholding of revenues from the crown, caused the Spanish to abandon the
system by the end of the 17th century. The governor-general, himself appointed by the king,
began to appoint his own civil and military governors to rule directly.
Central government in Manila retained a medieval cast until the 19th century, and the governor-
general was so powerful that he was often likened to an independent monarch. He dominated the
Audiencia, or high court, was captain-general of the armed forces, and enjoyed the privilege of
engaging in commerce for private profit.
Manila dominated the islands not only as the political capital. The galleon trade with Acapulco,
Mex., assured Manila’s commercial primacy as well. The exchange of Chinese silks for Mexican
silver not only kept in Manila those Spanish who were seeking quick profit, but it also attracted a
large Chinese community. The Chinese, despite being the victims of periodic massacres at the
hands of suspicious Spanish, persisted and soon established a dominance of commerce that
survived through the centuries.
Manila was also the ecclesiastical capital of the Philippines. The governor-general was civil head
of the church in the islands, but the archbishop vied with him for political supremacy. In the late
17th and 18th centuries the archbishop, who also had the legal status of lieutenant governor,
frequently won. Augmenting their political power, religious orders, Roman Catholic hospitals
and schools, and bishops acquired great wealth, mostly in land. Royal grants and devises formed
the core of their holdings, but many arbitrary extensions were made beyond the boundaries of the
original grants.
MANILA DURING THE AMERICAN COLONIZATION
On April 21, 1898 the US declared war against Spain that involved campaigns in the Philippines
that eventually led to the treaty of Paris where Spain had given up reign over our country. After
the U.S. naval victory in the Battle of Manila Bay in May 1898, Aguinaldo and his entourage
returned to the Philippines with the help of Adm. George Dewey. Confident of U.S. support,
Aguinaldo reorganized his forces and soon liberated several towns south of Manila.
Independence was declared on June 12 (now celebrated as Independence Day). In September a
constitutional congress met in Malolos, north of Manila, which drew up a fundamental law
derived from European and Latin American precedents. A government was formed on the basis
of that constitution in January 1899, with Aguinaldo as president of the new country, popularly
known as the “Malolos Republic.”

Meanwhile, U.S. troops had landed in Manila and, with important Filipino help, forced the
capitulation in August 1898 of the Spanish commander there. The Americans, however, would
not let Filipino forces enter the city. It was soon apparent to Aguinaldo and his advisers that
earlier expressions of sympathy for Filipino independence by Dewey and U.S. consular officials
in Hong Kong had little significance.

By the time the treaty of Paris was ratified, hostilities had already broken out between U.S. and
Filipino forces. Since Filipino leaders did not recognize U.S. sovereignty over the islands and
U.S. commanders gave no weight to Filipino claims of independence, the conflict was inevitable.
It took two years of counterinsurgency warfare and some wise conciliatory moves in the political
arena to break the back of the nationalist resistance. Aguinaldo was captured in March 1901 and
shortly thereafter appealed to his countrymen to accept U.S. rule.
the juxtaposition of U.S. democracy and imperial rule over a subject people was sufficiently
jarring to most Americans that, from the beginning, the training of Filipinos for self-government
and ultimate independence—the Malolos Republic was conveniently ignored—was an essential
rationalization for U.S. hegemony in the islands. Policy differences between the two main
political parties in the United States focused on the speed with which self-government should be
extended and the date on which independence should be granted.
During American colonization, the evident difference was a false sense of freedom. The religious
freedom became another means of imprisonment to an invisible domestication. After the US take
over, people had the option to choose whatever religion they wanted whereas during the
Spaniards, it is strictly enforced that Catholicism is the only option. The Philippines had the
liberation to attain different forms of worship and religion while establishing their own names of
church and its house of worship, however, Catholicism still had their structures enduring the past
history and still stood up until now.
An accessible and liberating education. US sent teachers to help establish schools where Filipino
children could attain free education. Those teachers were called “Thomasites” that taught the
American language; English. Compared to the Spanish words, the freedom to learn English is
more commonly retained in our way of speaking. Science and Technology was also patronized
allowing Filipinos to establish buildings dedicated to these knowledgeable pursuits.
In 1901 the Bureau of Government Laboratory replaced the Laboratorio Municipal of Spanish
Era where they studied tropical disease and the creation of serums through labs. In 1933 the
Bureau of Science was established as Primary Research Center of the Philippines until WWII
In 1946, the institute of Science replaced the Bureau of Science. The Generation of Filipinos still
carry the influence of Spaniards. Intramuros still attains its remains of war and history, and
people still wear the Spanish-influenced theme of clothing. Carabaos and kalesa are the means of
transportation that walks the cemented roads of Manila. Rail roads and train are also patronized
as means of distanced travels. Tobacco and cigar also flourished as economic business.