RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL

PROGRESS UNDER SPAIN

SUBMITTED BY:
MARIZ FRANCHESCA FERRER
Education in the Philippines during Spanish
rule
During the Spanish colonial period in the Philippines (1521–1898), the different
cultures of the archipelago experienced a gradual unification from a variety of native
Asian and Islamic customs and traditions, including animist religious practices, to
what is known today as Filipino culture, a unique hybrid of Southeast Asian and
Western culture, namely Spanish, including the Spanish language and the
Catholic faith.
Spanish education played a major role in that transformation. The oldest universities,
colleges, and vocational schools, dating as far back as the late 16th century were
created during the colonial period, as well as the first modern public education system
in Asia, established in 1863. By the time Spain was replaced by the United States as
the colonial power, Filipinos were among the most educated peoples in all of Asia,
boasting one of the highest literacy rates in that continent. Simultaneously, the
knowledge of Filipinos about neighboring cultures receded
Education and Filipino nationalism
 As a result of increasing the number of educated Filipinos
a new social class raised, which came to be known as the
Ilustrados. Furthermore, with the opening of the
Suez Canal in 1869 travel to Spain become quicker, easier
and more affordable, and many Filipinos took advantage of
it to continue higher education in Spain and Europe, mostly
in Madrid and Barcelona. This new enlightened class of
Filipinos would later lead the Philippine independence
movement, using the Spanish language as their main
communication method. The most prominent of the
Ilustrados was José Rizal, who inspired the desire for
independence with his novels written in Spanish. Other
Filipino intellectuals, such as Graciano López Jaena,
Marcelo H. del Pilar, Mariano Ponce or Antonio Luna,
who had also studied in Spain, began contributing to the
cause for Filipino self-government and independence.