The World
when Rizal was
born…
THE PHILIPPINES OF
RIZAL’S TIME (19TH
CENTURY)
The Filipinos in this time were unfortunate
victims of the evils of an unjust, biased and
deteriorating power
These are:
1. Instability of colonial administration
2. Corrupt Colonial Officials
3. No Philippine Representation in Spanish Cortes
4. Human Rights Denied to Filipinos
5. No Equality Before the Law
6. Maladministration of Justice
7. Racial Discrimination
8. Frailocracy
9. Forced Labor
10. Haciendas Owned by the Friars
11. The Guardia Civil
Instability of Colonial Administration
• The instability of Spanish politics since the
turbulent reign of King Ferdinand VII (1808-
1833) marked the beginning of political chaos in
Spain.
• This political instability in Spain adversely
affected Philippine affairs because it brought
about frequent periodic shifts in colonial policies
and periodic rigodon of colonial officials.
• 1835 to 1897: 50 Governor-Generals each
serving an average term of only one year and
three months.
Corrupt Colonial Officials
• Spaniards arrogantly regarded the
brown skinned Filipinos as inferior
beings.
• Spanish Penal Code, which was
enforced in the Philippines,
particularly imposed heavier
penalties on Native Filipinos or
mestizos and lighter penalties on
white-complexioned Spaniards.
Corrupt Officials
Corrupt Officials
Corrupt Officials
Corrupt Officials
Corrupt Officials
Social Structure
₪ Philippine society was predominantly
feudalistic
₪Master-slave relationship between the
Spaniards and the Filipinos
₪Exacted all forms of taxes and tributes,
and drafted the natives for manual labor.
₪The poor becomes poorer and the rich
wealthier.
The pyramidal structure in the 19th century
Philippines favored the Spaniards.
Apex- Spanish officials, the peninsulares
and the friars,
Base- the Filipino majority, the Indios.
Racial discrimination was prevalent
the Spanish born peninsulares were given the
highest offices and positions in the society,
the criolles, the Philippine born Spaniards, the
half-breed or mestizos, enjoyed 2nd priority, and
the natives or Indios were looked down upon.
Political System
Spain govern the Philippines through the
Ministro de Ultramar (ministry of the
colonies).
Body that helped the Spanish monarch
manage the affairs of the colonies and
govern the Philippines through centralized
machinery.
Governor-General- headed the central
administration in Manila. (the king’s
representative)
Responsible for government and religious
activities
Local Government
Alcaldes mayors-provincial
governments
Alcaldes en ordinario-city governments
Gobernadorcillo- chief executive of a
town
Cabeza de barangay- barangay or barrio
Sources of Abuses in the Administrative
System
The appointment of officials with
inferiorqualifications,
without dedication to duty, and
moral strength to resist corruption for
material advancement.
overlapping of functions of the central
administrative officials
the union of the church and the state.
system of collection
the natural and constitutional rights and
liberties of the Indios were curtailed.
homes were searched without warrants
people were convicted and exiled for being
filibusteros
books, magazines and other written
materials could not be published and
introduced into the country without the prior
approval of the Board of Censors
meetings and assemblies for political
purposes were prohibited.
Judges were incompetent and corrupt.
Cases were settled not according to the
merit of the case but of such
considerations as:
Race,
Money,
Personal advantages
(ex. Imprisonment of Rizal’s mother)
Educational System
overemphasis on religious matters
Obsolete teaching method
Limited curriculum
Very poor classroom facilities
Absence of teaching materials
Primary education was neglected
Absence of academic freedom
The prejudice against Filipinos in schools of
higher learning
The friar control over the system
• friars occupied a dominant position in
the Philippine educational system for
religion was the main subject in the
schools.
• fear of God was emphasized and
obedience to the friars was instilled in
the minds of the people.
• they were constantly reminded that
they had inferior intelligence and they
were fit only for manual labor.
• Resulted in a lack of personal confidence and
development of inferiority complex.
• Friars believed that the knowledge of
the Spanish language would encourage
the people to oppose to Spanish rule.
• An enlightened people cannot be kept
long in subjugation.
• The Filipinos must therefore be kept in
the dark so that they would remain
isolated from the intellectual ferment
of the times; otherwise they might be
inspired by the new ideas of freedom
and independence.
Activity 3: 19th Century Philippines
In the study of the life of our hero why is
it important to discuss the setting and
conditions of their times?
Compare and contrast the government
of the Philippines during the Spanish
period with our present government
using Venn diagram.
Illustrate the 19th century Philippines
showing its centralized nature.
Activity 4: Graphic Organizer
Graphic organizer/table mapping the
changes in the 19th century Philippines,
categorizing social, political, economic
and cultural changes.
References:
Atutubo, J. et al. (2018). “Jose Rizal:
Social Reformer and Patriot, A study of
his life and times”. Rex Book Store.
Estella, J. et al. (2018). “The Life and
Works of Jose Rizal”. C&E Publishing,
Inc.
https://www.scribd.com/doc/168497886/
Philippines-during-Rizal-s-Time
