CHAPTER 2

What we'll
discuss
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Introduction
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 POLITICAL CONTEXT
• The 19th century was marked for its tremendous social
change. Europe prospered like never before and England led
the way as the growing imperialist power.
• In 1858-1863, France conquered Vietnam, Cambodia, and
Laos. Later, Dutch colonized Netherland East Indies
(Indonesia). Other countries soon followed Britain’s
imperialists’ examples.
• From being considered the “mistress of the world”, Spain
continued despotic colonial rule in its remaining colonies –
Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines. During this time,
Rizal witnessed the flowering of Western imperialism and the
downfall of the Spanish colonial rule.
 POLITICAL CONTEXT
• In the context of the Philippines, the country suffered from
different social issues as a result of the Spanish despotic
colonial rule.
• The Filipino people were exposed to the evils of colonial rule
such as maladministration of justice, no equality before the
law, racial prejudice, forced labor, frailocracy and lack of
representation in the Spanish Cortes.
• Internally, Spain was suffering from frequent constitutional
and governmental changes that led to colonial instability.
 POLITICAL CONTEXT
• In a short span of 28 years (1834-1862), the Spanish
government:
➢ Adopted 4 constitutions;
➢ elected 28 parliaments; and
➢ installed 529 ministers.

• It also suffered from internal party strife, revolutions and other

political upheavals.
• Due to the instability of Spain as a government, it directly
affected the Philippines as one of its colonies.
 POLITICAL CONTEXT
One example is given by Zaide (1999) in his book “Jose Rizal Life, Works,
and Writings”.
“There was this Spanish judge who was appointed to the Royal Audencia of
Manila (the Supreme Court). He left Madrid with his whole family and went
cruising at sea along the route via Cape of Good Hope. After a leisurely voyage of
about six months, they arrived in Manila. To his dismay, he found out that he was
out of a job. Another judge had arrived earlier to fill up his position. During the six
months when he was cruising at the sea, the Spanish Government fell in Madrid
and the new Government sent his new successor. The second judge took the
shorter route via the Suez Canal and reached Manila ahead of him.”

• The constant shift of these political policies also disrupted the

way Spain governed the Philippines.
 POLITICAL CONTEXT
1. There was maladministration in the delivery of justice.

• The court would often favor a Spaniard.

• Most Filipinos have to suffer from the costly, unfair and partial
trial.
• This condition could be attributed to their skin color, political
affluence and economic affluence in society.
 POLITICAL CONTEXT
2. There was no equality before the law.

• The native nobles and pure-bred Spaniards enjoyed legal

preference both in law and social justice.
• In law, the Spanish Penal Code imposed heavier penalties on
Filipinos.
• In social responsibilities, the Filipinos were tasked to render
forced labor and paid tributo to the colonial Government.
However, most Spaniards were exempted.
 POLITICAL CONTEXT
3. Racial prejudice against native Filipinos became prevalent.

• As evident by the words of Father Burgos, he provided

unequivocal evidence of how racial discrimination was
prevalent even among native clergies.
“The Filipino by his nature, by his character, by the influence of the climate or the
race, is not good for undertaking lofty offices. It is a common saying that the
Tagalog is an excellent soldier, an ordinary corporal, a bad sergeant, cannot
discharge the post of an officer at all, because he is unfit for it. In the same way,
the Filipino who is consecrated to the service of the altar ordinarily carries out
well the discharge of the routine offices in the church, but he never succeeds in
excelling when he is found possessing the priesthood…”
 POLITICAL CONTEXT
4. The mandatory exercise of forced labor oppressed the Filipinos
further.

• Also known as polo y servicio, all Filipino males (polistas) with ages
ranging from 16-60 were required to render forced labor by the
Spanish Government.
• They were tasked to perform general public and building works
(churches, schools, roads, bridges, ships, etc.)
• Exempted from polo (mandatory labor) – aristocracy or principalia,
well-off Filipinos (paying falla – 7 pesos), government officials
(gobernadorcillos or cabeza de barangay, and school teachers –
legally exempted).
 POLITICAL CONTEXT
5. The existence of frailocracy or the “government rule of the friars”.

• In the 19th century, there was no separation between the Church and
the state.
• The friars became so powerful that it resulted to the abuse of
Filipinos. These friars contributed to the rise of agrarian unrest, the
secularization movement and Filipino abuses in many forms.
• Friars were tasked to report whatever is happening in their parishes
and friar-estates. However, instead of reporting the deplorable
conditions of the Filipinos, they chose to close their eyes, cover their
ears, and open their purse.
 POLITICAL CONTEXT
6. The Philippines suffered from a lack of representation in the
Spanish Cortes.

• Ideally, the colonial government should open its parliament to

colonial representation. This is one way of hearing and improving
conditions of its colonies.
• On year 1811, a 71-year old Filipino-Spanish merchant Ventura de los
Reyes represented the Philippines. However, his diligent
representation was one reason why the galleon trade was abolished
for its reported abuses.
• Despite its emerging advantages, it was only short-lived. Thus, social
injustices continually oppressed and marginalized the Filipinos
during the 19th century Philippines.
 ECONOMIC CONTEXT
The second half of the 19th century was a period of rapid economic
growth.
• In Europe, the use of increasingly expensive, powerful and productive
steam engines resulted in the use of machinery in the manufacturing
sector in the cities of Europe.
• The invention of tools, ships and other types of machinery brought
trade, governments and people closer to each other.
• To remove these external barriers, the Suez Canal was constructed.
The Suez Canal is a waterway that connects Europe to Asia by
creating a direct shipping route without having to circumnavigate the
African continent.
• This new infrastructure brought about by the economic
developments in Europe brought Spain closer to the Philippines.
 ECONOMIC CONTEXT
The opening of Suez Canal also brought advantages to the Philippines.

1. The distance travel between Europe and Philippines was significantly shortened.
2. It brought the country closer to Spain. (from 2 months to 30 days)
3. The Filipino principalia were able to send their children to universities in Europe.
- The education gained by these ilustrados opened their minds to the opposing
conditions that are happening in the colony (Philippines) and the mother country
(Spain).

On this notion, the call for reforms had been constantly waged by the ilustrados abroad like
Rizal. They organized the Propaganda Movement that aimed to expose the deplorable
conditions of the Filipinos in the Philippines so that Spain may remedy them.
 SOCIO-CULTURAL CONTEXT
The 19th century also brought socio-cultural changes in Spain and the
Philippines.

1. There came the rise of enlightenment period, where people began to rely
on human reason rather than faith and religion.
- In the Philippines, information through books and print media began to
spread across the seas. The opening of Suez Canal made these pieces of
information readily available to the Filipinos by mail or hand-carried by travelers.
- The political and social developments of other countries (France and
America) also reached the Philippines which became an inspiring lesson to the
Filipinos, especially the ilustrados.
- The desire for freedom and independence continued to grow among them.
 SOCIO-CULTURAL CONTEXT
2. The 19th century Philippines saw the rise of middle-class, the
principalias.
- With the increasing demand for abaca and other crops in Europe, there
was a need for more Filipino to cultivate lands. Manila became a free port in
1834 primarily to European traders. After several months, provincial ports in the
Philippines were also opened to world trade.

To further the economic gain of Spain, the Spanish officials recommended the
exploitation and cultivation of the Philippine resources to expand its trade
relationship with Asia and Europe.
 SOCIO-CULTURAL CONTEXT
To enhance their trading capacities, Spain implemented the following
measures:
1. Reformation of the Galleon Trade;
2. Settlement of the Spaniards in the provinces for agricultural and trade
purposes; and
3. Government expropriation of the landed estates of the friar corporations.

With these measures, the Spanish government was now duty-bound to

allow Filipinos to rent and cultivate agricultural lands. To achieve this, more
families had to engage in farming.
Among those principalia families who benefited from leasing the land
owned by the Dominican estate was the family of Rizal. They planted crops like
abaca, corn, sugarcane and others. They also domesticated animals like
turkeys.
 SOCIO-CULTURAL CONTEXT
However, despite these social developments, agricultural unrest continued to
grow.
• Friars who owned the land exploited the tenants through flimsily increasing
land rentals and taxes.
• Most of the lands rented by the Filipinos from these friars estates were
reduced due to several factors such as: land reform, church donations,
inheritance, revolt, or misfortune. Rizal fought heavily alongside the farmers.
Understanding Rizal in the
Context of the 19 th Century
Philippines
 The political, economic, and social conditions of the 19th century shaped
the kind of Rizal that we know today in history.
Without an understanding of that milieu, one can scarcely understand
Rizal’s enduring importance to the Filipino people nor the relevance of his ideas
and ideals today.

For this reason, this Chapter seeks to answer how the political, economic, and
socio-cultural events of the 19th century shaped Rizal’s ideals for nationalism
and Filipino identity.
1. Rizal is a product of the 19th century.
- Would Rizal be who he is today if the Philippine context in the 19th century
were different? Definitely, yes.
- He was at the right time, with the right people, and with the right context to
campaign for nationalism.
-His life, works, and writings helped shape our history. He used his
knowledge for the betterment of the Filipino people and the Philippines.

2. Rizal responded to the needs of the time.

- The Filipinos’ deplorable political and social conditions paved the way for
Rizal to rise against the Spaniards and call out inefficiency, injustice, and racial
discrimination.
- He took an active role through the Propaganda Movement so that Spain
may remedy them. From his study abroad and observance of the European laws,
ways and cultures, he realized that the Philippines could be a better place if only
Spain would take proactive steps in protecting its colony.
3. Rizal’s idea of a Filipino nation would not be possible without the events
of the 19th century.
- The success of Rizal and other people to achieve independence was a
response to fulfill their growing desire for justice, equality and freedom.
- The world and the Philippine context of the 19th century molded the
environment that Rizal lived. He responded to what the people needed and used
his capabilities to achieve Filipino identity.

The independence that we have today is the result of how Rizal, together
with other Filipino heroes in history, fought hard to achieve the blessings of
independence and democracy.