The World and the Philippines in Rizal’s Time

To understand and appreciate the life of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, it is necessary to learn about the historical
conditions of the world and the Philippines during his time. After all, heroes are said to be the products
of their particular settings and the conditions of their times.

Rizal was born and raised in the 18th century, a period of massive changes in Europe, Spain, and
the Philippines. During this era, the glory and power of Spain had waned both in her colonies and in
the world. Conversely, one cannot fully understand Rizal’s thoughts without understanding the social
and political context of the 18th century. Social scientists marked the 18th century as the birth of
modern life as well as the birth of many nation-states around the world. The birth of modernity was
precipitated by three great revolutions around the world: the industrial revolution in England, the
French Revolution in France, and the American revolution.

Aside from the three great revolutions, the birth of social sciences such as sociology, history, and
anthropology also had a significant influence on the intellectual movement called “the
Enlightenment”. The Age of Enlightenment is a term used to describe a time in Western philosophy and
cultural life centered upon the 18th century in which reason was advocated as the primary source and
legitimacy for authority.

The Philippines during Rizal’s time

These are the relevant events and conditions of the Philippines before, during, and after Rizal’s time
which contributed to the development of Filipino nationalism.

Social System
Before the Spanish conquest in 1565, Filipinos had their own indigenous culture, their
government, and their religion. The Spanish colonizers forced them to accept the foreign culture
and Catholicism that they never completely understood. They lost their ancestral lands to the
colonial masters by way of the encomienda system. The Spaniards brought with them their
doctrine of “Limpieza de Sangre” (purity of blood) into the Philippines, thereby creating a social
ranking among various groups, namely: Spanish peninsulares, insulares, Spanish mestizos, the
Chinese mestizos, and the Indios referring to the natives.
Encomienda System was a labor system instituted by the Spanish crown in the American
colonies. In this system, a Spanish encomendero was granted several native laborers who would
pay tributes to him.

Political System
Spain governed the Philippines through the Ministry of the Colonies (Ministro de Ultramar)
based in Madrid. The ministry helped the Spanish king manage the affairs of the colonies and
administer the Philippines through a central government in Manila.

The Governor-general headed the central government who was appointed by the King of
Spain. He was the King’s representative in governmental matters and was the Vice Royal Patron
over religious affairs. Next to the central government was the Alcaldia or Provincial government
who was headed by an alcalde mayor. The Pueblo, composed of the barangays was the local
government unit. The Gobernadorcillo was the chief executive and chief judge. The smallest
political unit was the barangay (barrio) headed by the Cabeza de barangay. The Guardia civil
was a corps of native police led by the Spanish officers. It was the most feared instrument of
summary arrest at any time of the day or night of persons denounced by the friars as filibusteros.
The Royal Audencia was the highest court headed the judicial system.

Educational System
The first schools established were Parochial Schools with the Spanish missionaries as teachers.
Fear of God was emphasized and obedience to the friars was instilled in the minds of the people.
The Indios were constantly reminded that they had inferior intelligence and that they were fit
only for manual work. The friars decided what to teach to the children. Teacher discrimination
against Filipinos was present in the higher levels of learning.

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 Majority of the friars assigned to implement the Educational Decree of 1863 were against
the teaching of Spanish in the colony. They believed that knowledge of the language would
develop social and political awareness among the natives, and they might be inspired by the
liberal ideas about freedom and independence.

Frailrocracia
The principle of the union of church and state that was practiced by almost absolute
monarchial states spawned in the colony an invincible government called “frailocracia”
meaning the rule of the friars. From 1849 to 1898, 45 governor-generals had been assigned to
the colony and each one of them sought the counsel of the friars who had been permanently
residing in the country. They became very influential and so powerful that the Spanish civil
authorities, including the governor-general, feared them.

Opening of the Philippines to World Commerce

In 1834, Spain, following the economic policy of other European countries, officially opened
Manila to world commerce. From 1834 to 1873, more ports were opened to foreign trading like
Sual, Iloilo, Zamboanga, Cebu, and Legaspi. This stimulated vigorous economic activity in the
colony that brought prosperity to some Filipinos, mostly Spanish and Chinese mestizos. As a result,
there emerged a new class: the Filipino middle class. They did not only acquire material wealth
but also improve their social standing and influence. Consequently, with the newly found
prosperity and growing influence, the middle-class Filipinos clamored and agitated for social
and political equality, and from their children emerged the initial propagators of the reform
movement.

Opening of the Suez Canal

Suez Canal was opened to international shipping on November 17, 1860. This canal, 103
miles long, connects the Mediterranean to the Gulf of Suez and to the Red Sea and the Indian
Ocean. With the opening of this canal. The distance of travel between Europe and the
Philippines was significantly shortened bringing the country closer to Spain. In previous years, a
steamer from Barcelona had to sail around the Cape of Good Hope and reached Manila after
a hazardous voyage of more than three months. With this canal, the trip was reduced to only
32 days.

The opening of the Suez Canal facilitated the importation of books, magazines, and
newspapers with liberal ideas from Europe and America which eventually influenced the minds
of Jose Rizal and other Filipino reformists. The shortened route also encouraged the Ilustrados
led by Rizal to pursue higher studies abroad and learn liberal and scientific ideas in the
universities of Europe. Their social interaction with liberals and scientific ideas in foreign lands
influenced their thinking on politics and nationhood.

The Secularization Movement

Since 1565, the religious orders took possession of the parishes for the conversion of the
natives to Catholicism. This was a violation of the decision of the Council of Trent (1545-1563)
that parishes were to be administered by secular priests. But there were few available secular
priests since many of them were earlier sent to other Spanish colonies in the Americas. By the
18th century, many Filipinos had become secular priests, but the regular priests called friar
curates did not want to relinquish their parishes to the secular. The movement gradually became
a racial and national conflict with the friar curates on one side and the Filipino clergy on the
other.

The Democratic Rule of Gov. General Dela Torre

The first-hand experience of what it is to be liberal came from the role modeling of the first
liberal governor-general in the Philippines - Governor-General Carlos Maria Dela Torre. The
political instability in Spain resulted in frequent changes of Spanish officials in the Philippines
which caused further confusion and increased social and political discontent in the country. But
when the liberals deposed Queen Isabela II in the 1868 mutiny, a provisional government was
set up and the new government extended to the colonies the reforms they adopted in Spain.
These reforms included the grant of universal suffrage and the recognition of freedom and
conscience, the press, association, and public assembly. General Dela Torre was appointed by
the provisional government in Spain as Governor-General of the Philippines in 1869.

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 The rule of the first liberal governor-general became significant in the birth of national
consciousness in the 18th century. His pro-people governance gave Rizal and other Filipinos a
foretaste of a democratic rule and way of life. He put into practice his liberal and democratic
ways by avoiding luxury and living a simple life. He recognized the freedom of speech and of
the press which are guaranteed by the Spanish Constitution. His greatest achievement was a
peaceful solution to the land problem in the province of Cavite.

The Cavite Mutiny and the martyrdom of GOMBURZA

Two historical events in the late 18th century that hastened the growth of nationalism in the
minds of Rizal, the reformists, and the Filipino people were the Cavite mutiny and the martyrdom
of Fathers Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora, popularly known as GOMBURZA. The Cavite mutiny was
a failed uprising against the Spaniards due to miscommunication between Sgt. Lamadrid and
the Filipino soldiers in Manila on January 20, 1872. Many Spanish officers were killed by the Filipino
soldiers and, as revenge, many mutineers were killed, including Lamadrid. The survivors were
subdued taken prisoners and brought to Manila.

This unfortunate incident in Cavite became an opportunity, however, for the Spaniards to
implicate the three Filipino priests who had been campaigning for Filipino rights, particularly the
rights of Filipino priests to become parish priests-the “Filipinization” of the parishes in the country.
They magnified the event and made it appear as a “revolt” against the government. The three
priests were arrested and charged falsely with treason and mutiny under a military court. With a
farcical trial, a biased court, and a weak defense from their government-hired lawyer, the three
priests were convicted of a crime they did not commit, Governor Rafael Izquierdo approved
their death sentence and at sunrise of February 17, 1872. Fathers Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora
were escorted under heavy guard to Luneta and were executed by garrote before a vast
crowd of Filipinos and foreigners.

The execution of GOMBURZA hastened not only the downfall of the Spanish government but
also the growth of Filipino nationalism. The Filipino people resented the execution of the three
priests. They knew that they were innocent and were executed because they championed
Filipino rights.
Among those in the crowd who resented the execution was Paciano, the older brother of Rizal,
who inspired the national hero the cause of the three priests. Rizal dedicated his novel “El
Filibusterismo” to GOMBURZA to show his appreciation of the latter’s courage, dedication to
Filipino rights, and a sense of nationalism.

REFERENCES
• Mariano M. Ariola (2013). Life, Works, and Writings of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, 61 Ground floor, Herald Building, Muralla St. Intramuros, Manila:
Purely books trading and publishing corp.
• Lomibao, Somera, Camus-Rivera, and Dulos, © 2011, Rizal’s life, works and writings, IPM Publishing, Culiat, Tandang Sora, Quezon
City.

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