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Brainstorm: The 19th Century Philippines

Immersive Reader

UNVEILING THE VARIOUS ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND

POLITICAL CHANGES THE 19TH CENTURY FOCUSING
ON RIZAL’S VIEWS AND EXPERIENCES
 1. OPENING OF THE SUEZ CANAL
Previously, Spain governed the Philippines from Mexico. The Spanish Crown assumed
direct control and administration of the Philippines from Madrid. This became more
convenient with the opening of the Suez Canal and the invention of steam ships, which
reduced the travel time from Spain to the country to 30 days.
 1. RISE OF THE EXPORT CROP ECONOMY

The majority of Spaniards in the Philippines were involved in maritime trading

between Manila and Mexico during the Galleon Trade. Exploitation of the Philippines'
natural resources and the development of an export crop economy were phenomena of
the nineteenth century, not of the Spanish rule’s early period.
 
1. MONOPOLIES
 Monopoly contracting was another significant source of wealth during the post-
galleon era. After 1850, for the first time, government monopoly contracts for the
collection of various revenues were opened to foreigners. The Chinese instantly took
advantage of this commercial opportunity immediately and dominated monopoly
contracting in the Philippines for the rest of the ninth century.
 THE SOCIAL BACKGROUND
            Concerning the social picture of the 19th century Philippines, at least three topics
are need to be discussed: (a) education; (b) the rise of Chinese Mestizo; and (c) the rise
of the Inquilinos.

1. EDUCATION IN THE 19TH CENTURY

2.
  

THE RISE OF CHINESE MESTIZO

The sectors that greatly benefited from the changing economy were the Chinese and the
Chinese mestizos. Since pre-colonial times, the natives of the Philippine had trade relations with
the Chinese. During the height of the Galleon Trade, it was also Chinese products that
comprised most of the goods being traded.
1. THE RISE OF INQUILINOS
       The term inquilino, at least in modern Spanish, has the same meaning as the
English word "tenant". In the context of the 19 th century inquilino system in the
Philippines, the term refers to a qualified system of tenancy or the right to use land in
exchange for rent.

     As previously stated, the end of the Galleon Trade and the opening of the Suez
Canal enabled more intensive rice cultivation and crop production, including sugar cane
and tobacco. As a result, many estates gradually adopted the inquilino system of land
tenure.
 THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE
      The so-called political influences that shaped the nineteenth-century Philippines
disproportionately impacted the locals, particularly Jose Rizal. Among these political
influences, the following are noteworthy: (a) Liberalism; (b) the Bourbon Reforms'
impact; and (c) the Cadiz Constitution.
 
LIBERALISM
 

Liberalism is a worldview founded on principles of freedom and equality. It

encompasses a diverse range of political ideologies that consider individual liberty to be
the most significant political goal, and underscore individual rights and opportunity of
equality. Liberals generally believe that government is necessary to protect individuals
from abuse by others, but they also recognize that government can pose a threat to
liberty.
IMPACT OF THE BOURBON REFORM
 CADIZ CONSTITUTION

In March 1812, during Napoleon's occupation of Spain, a liberal constitution was

promulgated in Cadiz. The Cadiz Constitution, drafted by elected representatives, was
implemented in almost all areas of the Hispanic Monarchy that remained under the
Spanish crown's control. The milestone constitution influenced numerous other
European constitutions, as well as the post-independence American states.
  

IMPACTS OF THE EVENTS THAT OCCURRED

DURING THE 19TH CENTURY
It is a widely accepted principle in various social sciences that we see an
individual's life through the lens of his or her society, and society through the lens of an
individual's life. This is precisely why the nineteenth-century Philippines is discussed
here as Rizal's society as a prelude to studying the hero's life and works.

However, one distinguishing feature of Rizal is that he does not only

possess valuable knowledge about his society but also a mentality that enabled him to
apply the information in such a way that he could think about what was happening in the
world and what might be happening within himself.
 
ECONOMIC CONTEXT
 
End of Galleon Trade
Opening of the Suez Canal
Rise of the Export Crop Economy

Monopolies
THE SOCIAL BACKGROUND
Education in the 19th Century
 
The Rise of Chinese Mestizo

The Rise of Inquilinos

POLITICAL LANDSCAPE
Bourbon Reforms

Cadiz Constitution
  
REFERENCES:
   Mañebog, J., et al. (2018). Life and Works of Rizal: Biography, Writings, and Legacies
Of Our Bayani. 105 Engineering Road, Araneta University Village, Potrero, Malabon
City: Mutya Publishing House, Inc.
    Obias, R., Mallari, A., & Estella, J. (2018). The Life and Works of Rizal. 839 EDSA,
South Triangle, Quezon City: C&E Publishing, Inc.
    Garcia, C., De Viana, A., & Cruz, C. (2015). Rizal and the Development of Filipino
Nationalism: A Textbook on the Life, Works, and Writings of Our National Hero. 707
Tiaga corner Kasipagan Streets Barangka Drive, Mandaluyong City: Books Atbp.
Publishing Corp.