The Philippines in Rizal’s Time

The Philippine policies during Rizal’s time wore generally coming from Spain
and implemented by the Governor General and the Catholic Church, Laws that
were implemented in the country were generally for the improvement of intellectual
and collective ideals. This was the time when Filipino priests became an important
figure in the Catholic Church. Governor Generals also left their imprint, either
detrimental or positive for Filipinos, from 1850 to 1896.
 In 1850, Filipino priests or seculars already hold positions as parish priests,
auxiliary or in acting capacity.
 In 1854, the Spanish government in the Philippines implemented the “cartas
de radio” (special radius permit) whose primary aim was to ensure public
safety from strangers. A Filipino traveling in another province should carry
an identification paper.
 In response to the Royal decree on the opening of ports in the Philippines to
prevent the uncontrolled entrance of radical books and literature in the
country, the Catholic Church and Spanish government created a permanent
Board of Censorship in 1856.
 In 1857, Governor General Norzagaray, in answering problems of banditry
and theft, publicized executions of bandits and thieves, dead or alive.
Under the administration of Norzagaray, the country was generally peaceful
and enjoyed minimal progress. School for Girls, School for Botany and Agriculture
were established. The Governor General was given absolute powers in exercising
authority. Due to additional funds the military was expanded to fourteen thousand
five hundred troops. Governor General resigned in January of 1860, which was
one year before the birth of Rizal a circular was approved on august 10, asking the
cooperation of friars who owned education institutions in the country to teach the
Spanish language in their respective schools.
From 1861 to 1872, were the years that Rizal was born and reared by his
mother, father, sisters, and older brother. This was the time when the young mind
was being prepared for further and harder studies to come. These were the years
of artistic awakening for the boy Rizal, with the proper guidance of his mentors.
Rizal became an artist capable of composing written literary forms and paintings.
This was also the time when he witnessed the Spanish brutality against his mother
Dona Teodora and felt its impact to the family. The boy Rizal witnessed also the
melancholy of his older brother Paciano, when the three priests, know in history as
GOMBURZA, were executed in Bagumbayan.
In February 1861, five months before the birth of Rizal, Board of Reform in the
Philippines met and discussed the further promotion of the teaching of Spanish
Language in the country. Influential friars argued in that meeting that knowledge of
the Spanish language, if made available to the common Filipinos in the provinces,
might endanger the spiritual faith of the people due to readings of radical Spanish
sources, which contained anti-religious writings that reached the provinces.
However, other members of the board insisted on the promotion of Spanish
language in the Philippines, so the measure was approved, in reality because the
friars owned most of the educational institutions in the country, the teaching of
Spanish language in the provinces of the Philippines was not followed.
In September 1861, three months after the birth of Rizal, a Royal Decree was
issued that threatened the Filipino clergy who were already administering parished
in Manila at that time. They were asked to turnover their respective parished to the
Spanish friars. Father Pedro Pelaez, who was born of
Spanish and Filipino parents held the position of Ecclesiastical Governor of the
Philippines, he opposed the decree and secure it’s revocation in 1862.
Improvement of Philippine Education under Spain
The succeeding events had a direct impact on the life of Dr. Jose Rizal. The
Philippines, under Spain, would experience continuous social, educational, and
economic changes primarily because in Spain, changes in political and social
aspects occurred rapidly and radically. Liberal ideals, also during this time, started
to root deeply in the Philippines. They were brought by liberal Spaniards for the
Filipinos to learn and practice at the risk of their lives.
Education Reform of 1863: This education reform benefited Rizal in his formal
schooling in Binan, Laguna and Ateneo de Manila. This was considered in Rizal’s
time as the modern system of state-regulated education established in the
Philippines with the following provisions:
 Primary instruction was made compulsories for all children between ages
seven and twelve. Rizal on his part availed of the law when he was nine
years old.
 Parents and guardians were to send their children or wards to the public
schools, unless they showed that the latter were receiving adequate
instructions at home or in a private school.
 Non-fulfillment of this legal duty was punishable with fine.
 The subjects to be taught in schools in the country were: Christian doctrine,
reading. Writing, Spanish, arithmetic, geography, agriculture good manners,
and music.  
 Female students studied the same subjects with male students   except
agriculture and geography, which were substituted with sewing
and embroidery.  
 Also established by means of decree was the founding of a Normal School
in line with European countries
 The Moret Decree of 1870. This was imposed against the will of the friars in
the Philippines, which secularized higher education in country, giving
opportunities or ay Filipinos to teach in university and colleges  
 Under Governor General Rafael Izquierdo, he decreed the creation of
schools’ tor boys, girts and adults in every tow with financial support from
the government.  
Great Filipinos During Rizal's Time  
The Philippines tad its share of great Filipino men, whom Rizal
most certainly heard during his time, as a young bay playing in Calamba. First
was Father Pedro Pelaez, who was born in 1812. He was the son of Jose Pelaez,
the Spanish Alcalde Mayor of Laguna and Josefa Sebastian, a Filipina. He
studied  at the University of' Santo Tomas, where the finished the following
degrees*  Bachelor of Arts (1829), Bachelor of Theology {1833), Licentiate in
Theology  (1836) and Doctor of Sacred Theology (1844). He became the parish
priest of  Manila Cathedral, and in 1862 at the age of 50, he became the first
Filipino to  is as Ecclesiastical Governor of the Philippines. Fr. Pelaez was active
in both  public press and private negotiations, fighting for the unfair treatment by
spanish friars of the Filipino clergy. His legacy after his death in 1863, was his best
students, Father Jove burgos, one of the three priests known as GOMBURZA  
whom later, Rizal would dedicate the Ei Fihbusterismo. Second was francisco  
Baltazar or popularly known as Balagtas, who died on February 20, 1862. he  was
the talented student of the poet Jose Batute better known "Joseng  Sisiw."
Balagtas became popular with his literary masterpiece, florante at laura," a
symbolic piece written in Tagalog as a song of love, ordeals and miseries of his
native land, which was published in 1838. 

Philippines social system in Rizal’s time

The succeeding statements presented the social condition of the Philippines from
Rizal's birth to 1872. Were some incidents involved Rizal and his family:
 As decreed by the Spanish government, censorship of written material was
limited to points of faith and morals. For other aspects, a Government
Permanent Censorship Commission was to suffice This is the reason why
RizaL was not immediately arrested when he wrote the Noli Me tangere and
El Filibusterismo upon his return to the Philippines in 1887 and 1892. The
Governor-Generals of those times did not find his two novels subversive or
threat to the government.
 There was also the organization of the "Guardia Clivi to ensure
interprovincial peace and order in the Philippines.
 Manila group of liberal intellectuals, joined by some Spanish liberals,
submitted in 1869 a formal petition to the Spanish provisional government
asking or the grant universal suffrage for the Filipinos
Governor General Carlos Marie De La Torre (1869-1871)
 In July of 1869, while Rizal was studying in a school in Biñan, Laguna, for
the 1st time, a public rally was held in Manila, publicity announced by
Governor-General De la Tore. This won the favors of liberal-minded Filipino
intellectuals. The Governor General even ordered the bronze monument of
Queen Isabel II melted down, but the monument was saved by the city
council of Manila.
  Civil Liberties for Filipinos: Governor General De la Torre abolished
Censorship of the press and encouraged open discussion on the problems
of the country. He declared the freedom of speech and press the
Philippines.
 He protected Filipino priests from disrespect against Spanish friars, and at
one point, he even rebuked erring friars in such practice. He also pushed for
the Filipinization of Guardia Civil as part of his liberal reforms
When Rizal was in Ateneo in 1872, t was already Governor General Rafael
izquierdo who held the absolute power in the country, representing King Amadeo
Savoy of Spain. In this era, major portions of the Pilipino society had thoroughly
assonated with western culture and had manifested their interest in arts and
sciences. Many had already adopted Spanish way of dressing for both men and
women, at the same time retaining their native virtues Filipinos were very religious
and faithfully complied with their church and spiritual duties. Despite western ideas
that were introduced in the country, this had never curtailed the Filipinos honesty
and hospitality.
The Spanish Oppressive System
Political Instability in Spain
The 19Century was a turbulent century of politics in Spanish story Zaide,1944). It
was a period of political instability owning to the frequent and fall of ministries and
constitution to save the country from political disunity. From 1834 to 1861 Spain
had adopted four constitutions, elected 28 parliaments and installed no less 529
ministers, with portfolios; followed in subsequent years by party strife’s, revolutions
and other political upheavals

The political instability in Spain had an adverse effect on the Philippines. There
was also frequent change on colonial administration in the Philippines. Spanish
officials became inefficient due to the unstable tenure of office
Corrupt Governmet Oficlals
A big number of the colonial officials sent to the Philippines in the 19th Century
were corrupt. They leave Spain poor and come back millionaires. They permit
illegal gambling by accepting bribes and permit to evade in exchange of gifs and
treasures.
Human Right Denied to Filipinos
Spanish Constitution of 1812 and the succeeding constitution provides for
freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of association and other human
rights except freedom of religion but these freedoms were never enjoyed by the
Filipinos.
Racial discrimination
 Racial discrimination was prevalent in all parts of the Philippines. Filipinos
were called-Indios! because of the browned-skinned and fat-nosed while the
Spaniards were called -bangus! because of their pale-complexioned and high
nose. A Spaniard no matter how stupid he was occupied a high position in the
community.
Maladministration of justice.  
There was injustice in the courts during the Spanish period Spanish judges and
fiscal are often times ignorant of laws. Filipinos cannot go to court because justice
is costly, partial and stow. They cannot afford the heavy expenses of litigations.
Wealth and color of the skin were the prime factors to win the case  
Frailocracy
The Frias are very powerful during the Spanish period due to the policy of the
unity of the church and the state. The friars practically rule the country. They can
dictate the governor- General on decision making, There were times were
archbishop ruled as governor-general. Archbishop Francisco  dela Cuesta(1719-
1721)and Archbishop Manuel Rojo(1761-1762) and Bisho  Guande Arrechedarrcia
and Obispo Manuel (1745-1750), Lino de Espiritu  (1759-1761). in the
municipalities were the highest lender is the elected Filipino . A gobernadorcillo,
act as puppet to the Spaniard friar who dictates what  he is supposed to exercise
in his position.  
Force Labor.  
Filipinos regardless of age and health render forced labor or (polo) to the Spanish
government. Well-to-do among them were able to escape this manual labor by
paying the falla, to be exempted from the polo. The forced labor created bato on
the Filipinos because of the abuses connected with it.  
Abrasive Guardia Civil  
They are Constabulary created by Royal Decree of March 24, 1838, for the
purpose of maintaining internal peace and order in the Philippines. This Guardia
civil abused their authorities. They maltreated the innocent people, looting their
properties and even rape women.  
No Philippine Representation to the Spanish Cortes.  
In 1810 to 1813 the Philippines experienced her first period of
representation in the Spanish Cortes. It was_ Ventura de los Santos who
became the  first representative and tools active in framing the Constitution
of 1812 and  was able to abolished the galleon trade. The representation to
the Cortes was abolished 1837, since then the Philippines had no means to
exposed the anomalies perpetuated by the Spanish officials in the
Philippines.  
Calamba, Laguna at the Time of Rizal's Birth  
 Calamba is an enchanted town as described by Palma (1949), It is situated
between Laguna de Bay and Mt. Makiling, it is gifted with picturesque  beauty that
provided he young Rizal the inspiration and spring board to tone  his poetic and
artistic sensibilities.  

The town at time of Rizal was an agricultural from which is virtually owned
by the Dominican friars. It became a prosperous town due to its specialization in
the production of sugar. With its fertile soil and favorable climate, the people were
able to raise a harvest not only sugar but different kinds of crops. Since the
farmers are mare tomato, their lives are full of hardships which was intensified by
the maltreatment they suffered in the hands of the Guardia Civil and the
Dominican friars. The hard situations of the farmers had ingrained in the mind of
Rizal, the hatred to the oppressors and exploiters of the weak by powerful
Spaniards.