19th CENTURY PHILIPPINES AS RIZAL’S CONTEXT

 19th century was the era of challenges and responses.

 It is the period of major changes that affect man & society.
 Age of enlightenment.

POLITICAL CONTEXT – THE STRUGGLE OF NATIONALISM

a. The French Revolution

b. American Civil War

 CONSERVATISM VS. LIBERALISM – in spain there was the split among the intellectuals into
the irreconcilable camps, the conservatives and the Liberals, neither of which advantage
adequate practical solutions to end all strives.
 FRAILOCRACY- rule of the friars.

POLITICAL STRUCTURE DURING SPANISH COLONIAL PERIOD

ECONOMIC CONTEXT

INDUSTRIALIZATION- this generally applied to the extraordinary transformation in the method of:
production, transportation, and communication through the substitution of the manual labor to
machine.

1. ENCOMIENDA TO HACIENDA- encomienda and hacienda systems. Labor systems developed by

Spain granting large amount of land to settlers in the Americas and claiming ownership of all of
 the resources and of the natives. The Encomienda and hacienda systems developed an exchange
among the natives for work in return of protection and education.

2. GALLEON TRADE


Manila-Acapulo Galleon Trade
-
Was the main source of income for the colony during its early years. Service was
inaugurated in 1565 aand continued into early 19 th century.
- The galleon trade brought silver from New Spain and silk from China by way of
manila. This way, the Philippines earned its income through buy and sell--- that
is, they bought American silver for resale to china.
3. INDULTO DE COMERCIO – privilege of provincial governors to engage in and monopolize trade.
o Forced Labor (Polo y servicio)
- Is the forced labor for 40 days of men ranging from 16-60 years of age
who were obligated to give personal services to community projects.
One could be exempted from polo y servicio by paying the falla, a daily
fine of one and a half real.
- In 1884, labor was reduced to 15 days. The polo system was patterned
after the Mexican repartimento, selection of forced labor.

POLITICAL CONTEXT

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POLITICAL SYSTEM IN THE 19 th CENTURY:

 Centric
 Corrupt
 Complicated

In the 19th Century, politics was typified by the Liberals and Conservatives. This has led Rizal to clamor for
change and call for reforms in the government. The lack of concern of government officials motivated
Rizal to call for the education of his fellow Filipinos.

In sum, the political developments/changes:

 The rampant corruption of the government became one of the reasons why Rizal called for
reforms in government.
 The lack of concern of the government officials simply motivated Rizal call for the education of
his fellow Filipinos.
CULTURAL CONTEXT

The Illustrados, the enlightened ones, the educated class in the Philippines society, were instrumental in
paving the way for the creation of the Propaganda Movement. The rapid spread of higher education
among upper and middle class Filipinos accelerated Filipino nationalism.

After experiencing liberties in spain and noticing how it was different compared to the Philippines. They
saw backwardness of Spain compared to other European nations and saw how Spain cannot manage
their own political problems.

The Filipinos instilled in their minds a sense of pride and national identity and used Philippine History to
prove that the three centuries of Spanish rule did not lead to any progress but only declined. Rizal
averred that Filipinos could have developed on their own before the coming of Spaniards. In the second
book of Rizal entitled Morga, he stated that in order to understand the present one should learn or
familiarize the past fully. With this the realization of the significance of pride of being a Filipino.

In sum, the cultural development/changes:

 Education awakened the mids of Filipinos to critical liberal thinking.

 The interest in the Filipinos past led to acceleration of Filipino nationalism.

RELIGIOUS CONTEXT

Friars were the most influential persons. They are political instrument by the Royals to maintain Filipino
loyalty to Spain.

Frailocracy refers to “friar rule” friars used religion to maintain Spanish influence in the colony. This term
was coined by Marcelo H. Del Pilar, known for his Diyaryong Tagalog. The friars were considered as the
most evil of all men. Rizal considered them as his enemies.

In sum, Religious development/changes:

 The influence of Father Jose Burgos

 Frailocracy (friar rule) led to the Filipinos waiting to get rid of the friars
 The execution of GOMBURZA led to the creation of the Propaganda Movement.