10.

We Already Had An Excellent Public School System Before The Americans

Came.
Although we cannot discount all the good things the Americans did to improve the country’s
system of education, the Spanish do deserve credit for their own contributions.
Contrary to popular belief that Filipinos lived like uneducated medieval peons during the
Spanish era, the inhabitants were actually one of the most educated peoples in all of Asia, and
its thanks largely to the implementation of the public school system by the Spanish government
which started with the Educational Decree Act of 1863.

The act provided for the creation of separate public schools for Filipino boys and girls
and the teaching of free compulsory education, a first for any European colony.
Surprisingly, the girls were taught not only “domestic” lessons but also subjects such as
Spanish and French languages and the sciences.  Manuel Quezon, himself a product of
the Spanish public school system, attested to the existence and excellence of Spanish
education long before the Americans came.

Unfortunately, American propaganda against the Spanish, coupled with the fact that
local friars tried to subvert the system, made for a very negative impression of the
Spanish educational system.

9. Jose Rizal Disliked The Chinese.

Other than campaigning against Spanish oppression, Rizal would also end up fighting
what he perceived to be the Chinese exploitation of his countrymen. He viewed the
Chinese primarily as unscrupulous traders and businessmen who liked to take
advantage of Filipinos for profit even if it meant kowtowing to the Spanish.

Rizal’s dislike for the Chinese could be seen in his letter to his mother, in which he
complained of being embroiled in a lawsuit with a Chinese and promised never to buy
any products from him, and from his novel El Filibusterismo, where he portrayed the
character of Quiroga (who was reportedly based on a real Chinese businessman) as a
shrewd and cunning individual.

While Rizal’s anti-Chinese sentiment could be attributed to his nationalist drive, some historians
think he may have gone too far by putting all Chinese in the same category as those he had
encountered. Not only that, he ironically disowned his own Chinese ancestry by claiming he had
no Chinese blood and was pure Filipino.

However, to some historians, Rizal was merely expressing his wish to be viewed as a full-
blooded Filipino no matter his heritage. In addition, general sentiment at that time ran high
against foreigners regardless whether they were Chinese or Spanish.

Jose Burgos Was Framed For The Cavite Mutiny.

We all know that Gomburza—Fathers Mario Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora—very
much had nothing to do with the 1872 Cavite Mutiny and that it was launched by some
disgruntled soldiers after discovering they were now forced to pay personal taxes as well as
perform forced labor,  both of which they had been previously exempted from.

However, according to the accounts of two Spanish clergymen captured during the Revolution,
the failed mutiny was, in fact, a plot by the Spanish friars to eliminate Jose Burgos who was
then the foremost champion of secular priests. To that end, they sent a Franciscan friar named
Claudio del Arceo to Cavite and foment unrest among the soldiers, promising them money and
that a great fleet from the United States in the name of Father Burgos would arrive to assist
them.

After the mutiny unfolded, the friars then convinced Rafael de Izquierdo that Burgos planned it
all by giving him a banquet as well as a huge bribe.

7. The Americans Used Pigs’ Blood And Body Parts On Moro Insurgents.
Other than the infamous “water-cure” method the Americans used on captured Filipino
combatants during the Philippine-American War, they would also reportedly employ the
unconventional method of using pigs to pacify the Moro fighters in the second half of the same
war.

Specifically, they were said to have executed captured insurgents or “juramentados” (an

assassin gone amok) with bullets dipped in pig’s blood, or bury them along with dead pigs. The
Americans believed that the Moros—who detested pork—would not be able to go to the afterlife
if they had any contact with the animals and so hoped to dissuade further attacks.

The originator of this method was supposedly none other than US General John “Black Jack”
Pershing, the first and only man to have ever been promoted to General of the Armies during
his lifetime (Washington was promoted posthumously). Although the method is unsubstantiated,
many books and websites regularly quote it as one way to fight Islamic terrorists.

6. The Jabidah Massacre Never Happened.

While we may all be familiar with the alleged massacre of disenchanted Muslim recruits
in Corregidor in 1968, many historians have disputed as to whether the massacre really
happened at all.
Contrary to popular belief, then-Senator Benigno Aquino did not believe Jibin Arula who
claimed to be the massacre’s sole survivor. For him, the massacre reeked of a hoax.
However, he did accuse President Ferdinand Marcos of plotting to build up a personal
elite force for his “garrison state,” as well as planning for the takeover of Sabah.
Rigoberto Tiglao even states that the Jabidah Massacre was, in fact, a brilliant
propaganda campaign pulled off by Malaysia, a belief accepted again by Ninoy.

Supposedly, a number of the recruits were, in fact, Malaysian counter-agents tasked to foment
dissent among the members, thus ensuring that Marcos’ plan would never go off. In a way, the
alleged plan to sow chaos in Sabah boomeranged right back into the Philippines’ own backyard
—Mindanao.

5. A Filipino Helped Found Los Angeles.

While not directly concerning the country, this little historical controversy is somewhat of
a heated issue especially within the Fil-Am community of Los Angeles.

Although there is no doubt given to the eleven founding settlers who helped to found
Los Angeles in 1781, the same cannot be said for Antonio Miranda Rodriguez.
Supposedly, he was a skilled gunsmith from Manila who journeyed there with his
daughter via the galleon trade but arrived much later after suffering from smallpox.
Later, he came to be feted as the 12th settler of Los Angeles.

However, some historians have disputed that recognition on the argument that Rodriguez never
actually reached the settlement. Upon arriving in California, he was reportedly sent to Sta.
Barbara instead as an armorer due to his skills as a gunsmith and was said to have died in that
place after only eight months. Also, his name cannot be found in any of the plaques and
markers honoring the founders of LA.

4. Gregorio del Pilar Was Aguinaldo’s Assassin.

Admittedly, most of del Pilar’s fame comes from his death defending Tirad Pass from advancing
American forces during the Philippine-American War. Yet for all his bravery (or foolhardiness,
depending on one’s view), del Pilar also has his own plethora of controversies.

Aside from the controversy of reportedly indulging in a drinking spree and an orgy the night
before his big battle, it is alleged that del Pilar was also Emilio Aguinaldo’s
“hatchetman.” As someone who reportedly exhibited sadistic tendencies on captured friars (he
made one clean the toilet with his bare hands according to one story) and with his unwavering
loyalty to the president, del Pilar was the ideal “berdugo” for Aguinaldo.

Accordingly, it is believed that del Pilar and his men were behind the killing of Antonio Luna after
being ordered by Aguinaldo to eliminate him. By extension, del Pilar was also said to have
personally conducted the arrests, torture, and execution of many of Luna’s officers.

3. Bonifacio ‘Acted Like A King’ In Cavite.

Although many would undoubtedly choose Bonifacio over Aguinaldo as their hero, the
former does deserve his fair share of criticism, mainly because he was said to have
“acted like a king” upon his arrival in Cavite after being invited to mend the growing rift
between the Magdiwang and Magdalo factions.

According to Nick Joaquin, Bonifacio turned off the Caviteños when he showed up and
began barking orders and behaved like “Caesar without the crown.” He adds that
instead of capitalizing on the golden opportunity to stop the infighting among the
revolutionaries who were at the time facing a Spanish offensive, Bonifacio just added
more fuel to the fire by openly taking sides.

After the Tejeros Convention, he nullified all appointments and had Artemio Ricarte intercept
Magdalo reinforcements to Pasong Santol, resulting in the death of Aguinaldo’s brother Crispulo
who was defending that area. At that point,  Aguinaldo and the rest of Cavite must have decided
Bonifacio was too dangerous to leave alone.

2. Miguel Malvar, Not Manuel Quezon, Should Be The Second Philippine

President.
On par with the perennial argument of whether Andres Bonifacio should be recognized as the
country’s first president is the question of whether Miguel Malvar, and not Manuel Quezon,
rightfully deserves the title as the country’s second president.

According to his supporters (Jejomar Binay is one of them), Malvar deserves to be recognized
as such in line with the natural order of succession.  With the capture of Aguinaldo and the
surrender of Mariano Trias, his designated successor and Malvar’s direct superior, it fell upon
the general from Batangas to lead the remnants of the revolutionary forces.

His presidency was also recognized as legitimate by members of the “Hong Kong Junta,” the
overseas council which procured arms and campaigned for foreign recognition of Philippine
independence. During his period of resistance up until his surrender, Malvar ran the fledgling
republic as a chief executive and as head of the armed of forces—just as a real president
would.

1. An Ancient Family Owns The Entire Philippines.

Did an ancient family rule the Philippines before the coming of the Spaniards?
According to the modern-day descendants of the Tagean-Tallano clans, their ancestors
used to rule over a land called “Maharlika,” an empire which consisted of the
Philippines, the rest of Southeast Asia, the Marianas Islands and even Hawaii.

The clan counts Lapu-lapu, Soliman, Lakandula, and other prominent Filipino rulers as
their descendants. Under the rule of Luisong Tagean Tallano, Maharlika was said to
have been one of the most prosperous countries in Asia. The clan also claims that their
sovereignty over the Philippines was recognized by the different colonial powers (Spain,
Britain, and the US) through the issuance of three documents, all of which were
unfortunately thrown out by the Court of Appeals in 2002 for being “spurious.”