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LESSON 2: 19th Century as Rizal’s Context

ABOUT THE LESSON:


To fully appreciate Rizal's life, thoughts, and works, one must place him within the
broader context of the nineteenth-century Philippines. This lesson will discuss the changing
economic landscape of the Philippines in the nineteenth century and the impact these changes
had on the society in which Rizal grew up, matured, and was eventually martyred. It will begin
by examining the phenomenal economic growth that began in the late eighteenth century as a
result of a variety of factors. This lesson will then examine the effects of economic
developments on Spanish policies affecting education, social life, and the Filipino people.
At the end of the lesson, you will be able to:
LO1. Discuss the interplay of several factors that contributed to the changing
landscape of Philippine society and economy;
LO2. Analyze the various economic, social, and political changes that occurred
during the 19th century; and
LO3. Appraise the link between the individual and the society.

LEARNING OUTPUTS/REQUIREMENTS: Reaction Paper, Quiz

LESSON TIME ALLOTMENT: 3 weeks / 9 hours

LEARNING ACTIVITIES:

GANITO KAMI NOON… PAANO KAYO NGAYON?

Kindly watch the video entitled “Ganito Kami Noon… Paano Kayo Ngayon?

A copy of the video is uploaded on your UBian LMS under Module 1, Lesson 2.

Address: Governor Feliciano Leviste Road, Lipa City 4217, Batangas, Philippines
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UNVEILING THE VARIOUS ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND POLITICAL
CHANGES THAT TRANSPIRED DURING THE 19TH CENTURY
FOCUSING ON RIZAL’S VIEWS AND EXPERIENCES

I. THE ECONOMIC CONTEXT

At least four historical factors largely define the economic context of the era in which Jose
Rizal was born. (a) the end of the Galleon Trade, (b) the Suez Canal’s Opening, (c) the rise
of the export of the crop economy, and (d) the Philippines’ established monopolies.

A. END OF GALLEON TRADE

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B. 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.

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Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
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C. 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.

The Philippines was well on its way to developing an export crop economy
between 1820 and 1870. Sugar, Manila hemp, and coffee were produced for
foreign markets, while imported manufactured goods from Europe found their way
into many parts of the Philippines.

SUGAR MANILA HEMP COFFEE

The development of the Philippines' export crop industry was facilitated by the
commercial activities of North European and North American merchants, who
provided capital, organization, and access to foreign markets and sources of
import. However, because they were based in port cities, particularly Manila,
they needed agents who could distribute imports throughout the country and
purchase goods for export. This role was primarily assumed by the Chinese.

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D. 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.

OPIUM MONOPOLY
During the 1840's, the Spanish government legalized opium use
(as long as it was restricted to Chinese) and established a
government monopoly on opium importation and sales. The
Chinese held the majority of contracts in the monopoly.

Even prior to 1850, monopolies had been established on a


number of products, which were largely controlled by the colonial
government. There were monopolies on a variety of crops and
products, including spirituous liquors (1712-1864), betel nuts
(1764), tobacco (1782-1882), and explosives (1782-1882).
(1805-1864). Perhaps the most contentious and oppressive of
these monopoly systems was the tobacco monopoly.

TOBACCO MONOPOLY
On March 01, 1782, Governor General Jose Basco placed
government control over the Philippine tobacco industry,
thereby establishing the tobacco monopoly. It lasted 100 years
before being repealed in 1882.

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Tobacco Monopoly

AIM ORDER
In the provinces of Cagayan Valley,
Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union,
Its purpose was to increase
Isabela, Abra, Nueva Ecija, and
government revenue, as the colony's
Marinduque, an order was issued
annual subsidy from Mexico was no
authorizing widespread tobacco
longer sufficient to maintain it.
cultivation.

MONOPOLY SYSTEM
The system established the minimum
These provinces grew nothing but number of tobacco plants that each
tobacco and sold it exclusively to the family must sell to them. Nobody was
government at a predetermined price, permitted to keep even a few tobacco
leaving local farmers with little or no leaves for personal use, obliging local
profit. farmers to purchase tobacco grown by
the government.

EXPORTATION
FINES

Fines and / or punishments were


Tobacco was exported by the colonial
sanctioned to anyone who would
government to other countries and to
transgress any of the decrees under the
Manila's cigarette factories.
system.

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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

A. EDUCATION IN THE 19TH CENTURY

With the arrival of the Spanish colonizers, the archipelago


gained some exposure to the European educational system.
Catholic missionaries established and administered schools. To
convert the natives to the Catholic faith and to instill obedience
in them, the colonial government and the Catholic Church
mandated religion as a mandatory subject at all levels.

MANDATE

The Leyes de Indias (Indianas Laws) of King Philip II


mandated that Spanish authorities educate locals, teach
them to read and write, and to learn Spanish.

SPANISH MISSIONARIES
The Spanish missionaries established schools and somewhat
educated the locals, but did not teach them the Spanish
language seriously, fearful that the Indios would acquire such
knowledge and turn out to be their co-equal. Fewer than a fifth
\
of those who attended school could read and write Spanish, and
even fewer could communicate effectively in the language.

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FIRST FORMAL SCHOOLS

The land's first formal schools were parochial schools


established by missionaries such as the Augustinians,
Franciscans, Jesuits, and Dominicans in their parishes.

SUBJECTS TAUGHT
Apart from religion, native children were taught to read,
write, and do basic arithmetic, as well as some vocational
and practical arts subjects. Aside from Christian doctrines,
students were also taught Latin (the official language of
the Catholic Church) instead of Spanish.

SPANISH WAY OF TEACHING

The Spanish friars believed that the natives would be


incapable of matching their abilities, and thus one way for
them to quickly learn was through strict discipline, such
as corporal punishment.

CO – EDUCATION Later on, colleges (the equivalent of today's high schools)


for boys and girls were established. During the Spanish
regime, there was no co-education; boys and girls
attended separate schools. College students are taught
history, Latin, geography, mathematics, and philosophy.

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UNIVERSITY EDUCATION
University education was opened in the country during the
early part of the 17th century. Initially, colleges and
universities were restricted to Spaniards and those
descended from Spaniards (mestizos). These universities
began accepting indigenous Filipinos only in the 19th
century.

PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM In 1863, a royal decree established the Philippines' public
school system. Previously controlled by religious
authorities, education in the nineteenth century was finally
administered by the government in the latter half of the
century, though the church retained control over its
curriculum. Previously exclusive for Spaniards and
Spanish mestizos, universities opened their doors to
natives, though they limited accommodations to the sons
of wealthy Indio families.

B. 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.

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The Chinese were predated in terms of overseas trade by Malay seafarers from the
1 Champa and Sri Vijaya Empires. In comparison to the Malays, the Chinese were
latecomers to the Philippines in terms of trade and migration.

The Pandanan wreck site in southern Palawan revealed what appeared to be a


2 Chinese vessel based on the cargo of porcelain plates and jars that remained intact.
Chinese commerce began much later, around 900 AD, via Chinese vessels.

By the time of the Ming Dynasty, during the reign of Emperor Yungle (Yung Lo),
3 China's gates had been opened to the world, and the Chinese ports of Amoy and
Swatow were the origins of Southeast Asia's boat trade.

Chinese first arrived in the Philippines during the Ming Dynasty. They traded with
4 and lived among the indigenous people. The Ming Shih or Ming Annals contain
descriptions of the indigenous people's honesty despite their barbarian nature.

The Chinese were permitted to live within what is now Intramuros upon the

5 establishment of Spanish rule. This was the original Parian or Chinese community
in Manila, providing Spaniards with access to the Chinese's skills as bakers, cooks,
stonemasons, and shoemakers.

Many of the Chinese immigrants to the Philippines were illiterate and extremely
impolite. During the first Chinese revolt, the Chinese almost routed the
6 Spaniards had it not been for the help and support of Japanese mercenaries and
indigenous troops. They were routed and driven away.

However, the expulsion had a devastating economic impact on the newly formed
7 colony, as there were no more shoemakers, bakers, or even laundrymen to serve
the Spanish community. They were eventually allowed to return to the Philippines.

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They were initially permitted to establish themselves outside the city, in what is now

8 the Manila Post Office. They were later relocated across the Pasig River to the
Binondo district. At all times, the Chinese community at Intramuros was within range
of Spanish guns.

Other Chinese revolts occurred in the Philippines. The last significant one occurred
9 in 1762, during the British invasion of Manila. The Chinese were ruthlessly routed
in all revolts. Thus, their community recovered following the British invasion.

As an ethnic group, the Chinese, dubbed sangleyes by the Spaniards, were among
the lowest rung of the colonial society, just above the Moros or Muslims and the
10 Infleles, or what the Spaniards referred to as the Philippines' uncivilized peoples,
which included the Tinggutanes, Igorots, and Aetas.

In order to be accepted into the colonial society and to be allowed to stay in the

11 islands first, the Chinese had to be baptized. The institution of baptism also allowed
the pagan Chinese to link up with people with influence. Spanish officials and the
religious stood as godparents to the newly baptized Chinese.

Not only did becoming Christians enable the Chinese to remain on the islands, but
12 also to conduct business with the Spaniards. The Spaniards were reliant on the
Chinese due to their skill as artisans and laborers.

The Spaniards were reliant on the Chinese due to their skill as artisans and laborers.
Without the assistance of Chinese printers, the first book printed in the Philippines, the
13 Doctrina Christiana, would not be possible. The book was printed not just in Spanish
but also in Chinese and in Tagalog using the Chinese method of wood block printing.

Numerous religious images, most notably that of Nuestra Señora de la Naval, were

14 carved by Chinese artisans, who left their mark on the statue with the Virgin's
Chinese-looking almond eyes and the three lines around her neck, a Chinese
symbol for a person of high rank and morality.

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As for the Chinese community, they achieved economic power through their

15 diligence and economic acumen. Additionally, they intermarried with the indigenous
population, forming a new social caste known as the mestizo sangley or the
Chinese mestizo, the counterpart to the mestizo Español or Spanish mestizo.

In 1741, a new social classification was established for taxation purposes - a pure

16 Chinese was taxed at 6 pesos; a mestizo Chinese was taxed at 3 pesos; and an
Indio was taxed at 1.50 pesos. Spaniards and mestizos from Spain were
exempted from the aforementioned tax.

As the local Chinese and Chinese mestizo community became more prosperous,
they began to demonstrate their wealth through their way of life. Mestizos invented
17 clothing by embroidering intricate designs on piña cloth, resulting in the barong
Filipino, and by adorning their headwear and altars with silver.

The wealthy mestizos' homes became known as the Bahay na Bato. Mestizo
Chinese also advanced beyond the friars' basic education, with a number pursuing
18 higher education. Other Chinese-Filipinos excelled in other fields, such as Tomas
Pinpin, who was dubbed the "Prince of Filipino Printers."

The Chinese community developed into a vital economic force in the Philippines.

19 They controlled the majority of the country's shopping malls, banks, airlines, and
shipping lines. They also contributed to causes such as providing police officers with
patrol cars.

As a result of their wealth, they became targets for corrupt politicians seeking campaign
funds as well as kidnap for ransom groups. Additionally, they were charged with causing
20 or abetting corruption through bribery. Similarly, they had criminals among their ranks.
Wherein, several of them were involved in illegal drug trafficking and smuggling.

To assume that the Chinese were prosperous people, one must bear in mind that

21 many of them arrived in the Philippines impoverished and nearly penniless. Many
began as small business owners but rose to prominence as industry leaders due to
their business acumen and discipline.

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01 INFLUX OF CHINESE SETTLEMENT 02 CHINESE: NECESSARY OUTSIDERS

Spanish suspicion of the Chinese grew as a The Chinese established themselves as


result of the influx of Chinese settlements in "necessary outsiders" in the colonial society
the Philippines. These sentiments resulted in of the Philippines. While the Spaniards were
the establishment of stringent state policies suspicious of the Chinese, they recognized
toward the sangley, ranging from increased the critical role they played in sustaining the
taxes to the restriction movement associated economy. The Chinese infused the economy
with the establishment of the Chinese enclave with vitality, from the goods loaded on
(Parian) to outright expulsion policies. galleons to the development of retail trade.

03 04 THE CHINESE MESTIZOS


BIRTH OF CHINESE MESTIZOS

Throughout the Spanish colonial period,


These Chinese eventually integrated into
Chinese mestizos played a significant
colonial society, resulting in intermarriages
economic role. They shaped the changing
with Indios and the birth of Chinese
economy of the 19th by acquiring land,
mestizos.
amassing wealth, and wielding influence.

C. 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 19th
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.

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Due to the fact that the friars and Spanish were typically
absentee lords, estate management was typically delegated to an
administrator who was a lay Spanish mestizo or Filipino lay brother.

At harvest time, the inquilino paid the land rent, separated


the seed, and divided the remaining crop equally between
the sharecropper and himself.

01 During harvest time, the administrator would collect the rent of


inquilinos, organize the delivery of the harvests to the local market
or to Manila, and remit the income from sales and rents to the estate
owners.

02
Inquilinos paid a fixed rent determined by the quality of the land
under cultivation.

03 With the expansion of missionary congregations' land holdings, the


proportion of farmlands leased to inquilinos increased as well,
allowing many of them to sublease parcels of their land to
sharecroppers or kasamas.

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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.

A. 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.

It began as a political revolution in Europe, and then spread


to other parts of the world. With the battle cry of 'Liberty,
REVOLUTION

Equality, and Fraternity,' this revolution ushered in a period


FRENCH

of profound change in France's political history, as the


French governmental structure was transformed from
absolute monarchy to a more liberal system based on the
principles of citizenship and inalienable rights.

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Spain later endured a turbulent century of political turmoil
as a result of the French Revolution, which included
SPAIN’S POLITICAL
DISTURBANCES

"numerous changes in parliaments and constitutions, the


Peninsular War, the loss of Spanish America, and the
struggle between liberals and conservatives." In Spain,
liberals viewed the Catholic Church as a foe of reform.
They sought to contain the organization's influence on
political life and education. This anti-clericalism movement
gained strength in the nineteenth century.

Liberals also introduced radical changes to the structure of


government in Spain. These political shifts had their
POLITICAL
CHANGES

repercussionsthe Philippines, "cracking the fabric of the old


colonial system and introducing perilous possibilities of
reform, equality, and even emancipation through the
cracks."

When the Philippines was opened to world trade in the 19th


(19TH CENTURY)
WORLD TRADE

century, liberal ideas from America carried by ships and


people from foreign ports started to penetrate the country
and sway the ilustrados. These political thoughts included
the ideologies of the American and French revolutions.

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The opening of the Suez Canal eased importation of books,
magazines and newspapers with liberal ideas from the
West, which eventually influenced the thinking of local
OPENING OF THE
SUEZ CANAL

reformists such as Jose Rizal. Additionally, it enticed an


increasing number of liberal Spaniards and Europeans to
visit the country and mingle with the indigenous people.
Moreover, the shortened route has encouraged ilustrados
such as Rizal to pursue higher education abroad and study
liberal ideas in European universities.

The Philippines' actual experience of liberalism stems from


Governor-General Carlos Maria De la Torre, the
country's "first liberal governor-general". Following the
1868 mutiny in which liberals in Spain exposed Queen
Isabela II, a provisional government was formed, and the
EXPERIENCE OF LIBERALISM

new government extended the reforms implemented in the


PHILIPPINES’ ACTUAL

motherland to Spain's colonies. The liberal General De la


Torre was appointed Governor-General of the Philippines
by the provisional government. He held the position from
1869 to 1871 and is widely regarded as the most loved of
all Spanish Governors-General assigned to the country. GOVERNOR-GENERAL
CARLOS MARIA DE LA TORRE
General De La Torre’s rule was essential in the dawn of
national consciousness of the locals in the 19th
century. Jose Rizal and the others had seen a preview of a
democratic rule and way of life under his liberal and
democratic governance.

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B. IMPACT OF THE BOURBON REFORM

When the Spanish Bourbon King Philip IV (1700 – 1756) assented to the throne, he and his
successors, Ferdinand VI (1746 – 1759), Charles II (1759 – 1788), and Charles IV (1788 – 1807),
advocated a century-long effort to reform and modify the Spanish empire. These policy changes
were known jointly as the Bourbon Reforms.

KING PHILIP V FERDINAND VI CHARLES III CHARLES IV

AIM The Bourbon Reforms sought to curb illicit commerce, reclaim


control over transatlantic trade, limit the power of the church,
reform state finance in order to replenish the dwindling royal
coffers, and tighten administrative and political control within the
empire.

REFORM POLICIES Bourbon reform policies were advantageous to the Philippines,


which was under Spain from 1565 to 1898. They undoubtedly had
an effect on how Spanish administrators ran the colony, but only
to a limited extent. For one thing, the Philippines was practically
inaccessible to Spain, making it difficult for Bourbon advocates to
monitor whether reform policies were being implemented properly
in Spain’s Colony in the Far East.

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REFORM
PROCESSES The reform process was seen as so complex, much so that
Spanish reformers sometimes promoted distinctly different kinds
of policies for provinces in its diverse empire. Furthermore, by the
mid-1790s, there were instances when European conflicts forced
Charles IV to switch policies in order to finance Spain's wars.

EFFECTIVENESS
There were questionable matters as regards the effectiveness of
OF THE REFORM
the Bourbon reform project. The policies were incompatible with
the diverse and frequently contradictory objectives of Madrid's
policymakers, who struggled haltingly to balance the crown's
numerous commercial, administrative, fiscal, and military
objectives.

C. CADIZ CONSTITUION

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.

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CADIZ The Cadiz Constitution was Europe's first constitution to
CONSTITUTION address national sovereignty, recognizing that sovereignty
originates with the people, not the king. Unlike the French
Constitution, which applied to all French-speaking citizens in
France, the Spanish Constitution of 1812 was universal in scope,
as it included residents of foreign countries such as the Italian
Kingdoms and even the Philippines.

PROMULGATION OF
In the Mediterranean port of Cadiz, a group of approximately 300
THE CONSTITUTION
deputies from Spain, Spanish America, and the Philippines
promulgated a liberal constitution during the French army's
occupation of nearly the entire Iberian Peninsula that fateful year.
This was made possible by the British navy's protection of the city.

1ST DELEGATES FROM


THE PHILIPPINES
The first delegates from the Philippines were Pedro Perez de
Tagle and Jose Manuel Coretto who took their oath of office in
Madrid.

Soon after, the constitution was formally implemented in Manila,


CONTENT OF THE
CADIZ CONSTITUTION establishing universal male suffrage, national sovereignty,
constitutional monarchy, and press freedom. Additionally, it
argued for land reform and free enterprise. Concerning Spain's
colonial policies, including those toward the Philippines, the
constitution issued a decree "granting all its colonies
representation as provinces in the Spanish Cortes through
deputies chosen by the various capital cities."

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CONSTITUTIONAL
MONARCHY The constitutional monarchy that the Cadiz Constitution attempted
to establish did not materialize because King Fernando VII
declared it invalid in May 1814 and restored absolute monarchy.

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.

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Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
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ECONOMIC CONTEXT

End of Galleon Trade

1 2

The mango de Manila, tamarind and On the other hand, the return voyage
rice, carabao, cockfighting, Chinese introduced a variety of valuable flora
tea and textiles, fireworks display, and and fauna to the Philippines, including
tuba making all made their way to guava, avocado, papaya, pineapple,
Mexico via the trans-Pacific trade. horses, and cattle.

3 4

Manila developed into a trading hub, With the massive migration of Chinese
where China, India, Japan, and as a result of the Galleon Trade, the
Southeast Asian countries Spaniards feared them, taxed them,
consolidated their goods for shipping. exiled them to the Parian, and
Those who run the hub and did most of eventually massacred some of them
the work were primarily Chinese. when tensions rose.

5 6
The Manila Galleon Trade allowed for
the introduction of modern, liberal The 250-year trade came to an end on
ideas to the Philippines, eventually September 14, 1815, when Mexico
inspiring a gradual movement for declared independence.
independence from Spain.

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Opening of the Suez Canal

1 2

It developed into a significant


The Suez Canal reduced the voyage
advantage in commercial enterprises,
from over three months to between 32
particularly those between Europe and
and 40 days.
East Asia.

3 4
It expedited the importation not only of
commercial products but also of books,
It served as a significant factor
magazines and newspapers with
development of Jose Rizal's and other
liberal ideas from America and Europe,
Filipino ilustrados' nationalistic desires.
which ultimately affected the minds of
Rizal and other Filipino reformists.

5 6

The canal enabled the ilustrados,


The political views of Western liberal
particularly Jose Rizal, to pursue
thinkers entered the Philippines.
higher education abroad and study
Additionally, the shortened route
science and liberal arts in European
stimulated more Spaniards and
academic institutions. Their social
Europeans with liberal ideas to the
dealings with Western liberals
country, where they interacted with
shaped their views on nationhood,
local reformists.
politics, and government.

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Rise of the Export Crop Economy

Numerous economic activities in the country's new export-crop economy provided


numerous opportunities for the growing Chinese population. Previously concentrated
in Manila, many Chinese relocated to provinces known for their export crops: the
hemp-growing regions of Southeastern Luzon and the Eastern Visayas, the sugar-
producing regions of the Western Visayas, and the tobacco-producing regions of
Northeastern Luzon.

Monopolies

1 2
The tobacco monopoly benefited the
government by increasing revenue The monopoly resulted in food
and elevating Philippine tobacco to shortages, as basic crops such as rice
prominence throughout Asia and were neglected and abandoned.
some parts of Europe.

3
A century of hardship and social injustice
brought about by the tobacco monopoly
compelled Filipinos in general, and Novo
Ecijanos in particular, to seek
independence from colonial servitude.

Address: Governor Feliciano Leviste Road, Lipa City 4217, Batangas, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
Website: www.ub.edu.ph
THE SOCIAL BACKGROUND

Education in the 19th Century

With the opening of the Suez Canal,


As a result of the growing number of
which made travel to Europe faster,
educated natives a new social class
easier, and more affordable, many locals
known as the ilustrados emerged in the
took advantage of the opportunity to
country. Despite their wealth and
pursue a higher education on the
education, the ilustrados were still
continent, typically in Madrid and
regarded as inferior by the Spaniards.
Barcelona. There, in the liberal
One of the ilustrados' objectives was to
environment, nationalism and a desire for
achieve parity with the proud Spaniards.
reform flourished.

The new enlightened class in Philippine society would later


lead the Philippine independence movement using the
Spanish language as their key means of communication.
Out of this talent group of students from the Philippines
arose what came to be known as the Propaganda
Movement. The most prominent of the Ilustrados was Jose
Rizal, who inspired the craving for freedom and
independence with his novels written in Spanish.

Address: Governor Feliciano Leviste Road, Lipa City 4217, Batangas, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
Website: www.ub.edu.ph
The Rise of Chinese Mestizo

The rapid pace of economic development in the Philippines during the nineteenth
century, accelerated by several of the factors mentioned above, resulted in the
emergence of a new breed of wealthy and influential Filipino middle class.
Previously unheard of in earlier centuries, this class of Spanish and Chinese
mestizos rose to prominence in Philippine society and eventually became leaders
in education and finance.

The Rise of the Inquilinos

The inquilino system became so lucrative


There were also conflicts between estate
that some inquilinos acquired their own
owners and their workers. These arose as
land and ventured into other lucrative
a result of excessive taxation and land
commercial ventures. Some inquilinos
rent collection, the decline of sharing
even abandoned farming altogether,
agreements, excessive labor demands,
delegating the task entirely to their sub-
and capricious crop price fixing.
tenants.

Peasants have taken up arms in protest of alleged Jesuit,


Dominican, Augustinian, and Recollect abuses and
usurpation of their lands. The relative freedom acquired
by the inquilinos through subleasing their farms gave
them a tactical advantage in organizing and leading
these peasant protest movements.

Address: Governor Feliciano Leviste Road, Lipa City 4217, Batangas, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
Website: www.ub.edu.ph
POLITICAL LANDSCAPE

Bourbon Reforms

There were very different impacts of reforms in the diverse Spanish empire,
having deep consequences of colonial policy innovations in areas, such as
Mexico, while in some other regions, such as the Philippines, Chile and New
Granada, the reforms had a much more limited impact. Overall, it gave people,
especially the natives of the Philippines, the idea that colonization could be done
without much intervention from Catholic Church.

Cadiz Constitution

Cadiz was a very significant period in the political history of the Spanish-speaking
world at least. For the locals in the Philippines, one critical creed enshrined in the
constitution was the exemption of the natives from paying tribute and performing
public services under the constitution's equality clause.

For the Philippines' freedom-loving people in the nineteenth century, the


constitution was extremely influential because it was a liberal constitution that
vested sovereignty in the people, recognized men's equality and the citizen's
individual liberty, and granted the right of suffrage.

Address: Governor Feliciano Leviste Road, Lipa City 4217, Batangas, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
Website: www.ub.edu.ph
REACTION GUIDE

Based on the movie, “Ganito Kami Noon… Paano Kayo


Ngayon?”, answer the following questions:
1. Describe the nineteenth century as represented in the
film.
2. What is the main question that the film seeks to
answer?

Reminder!
ü Your reaction paper must be composed of 3 paragraphs with 5 sentences each.
i. 1st Paragraph – Introduction
ii. 2nd Paragraph – Body
iii. 3rd Paragraph – Conclusion / Learning and Insight
ü Upload your reaction paper on our UBian LMS.

ASSESSMENT TIME!

Prepare for a 20-item test that will be


posted on the Assignment Tab of your
UBian LMS.

Address: Governor Feliciano Leviste Road, Lipa City 4217, Batangas, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
Website: www.ub.edu.ph
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.

Address: Governor Feliciano Leviste Road, Lipa City 4217, Batangas, Philippines
Telephone Numbers: +63 43 757 5277
Website: www.ub.edu.ph

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