Chapter 4 The Dawn of Filipino Nationalism The Emergence of the Filipino Sense of Nationhood.

Filipinos
development of their sense of nationhood started only during the
UNIFICATION OF THE PHILIPPINES UNDER SPANISH RULE last years of Spanish rule.

 Spain ruled the Philippines for more than 300 years. The following factors attributed to the development of Filipino
 Before Spain’s arrival, the Philippines consisted of nationalism:
independent and self-governing barangays, peopled by
diverse tribes. - Opening of the country to world commerce
 It was Spain who gave the Philippines its identity (Zaide, - Rise of clase media
1994). - Liberal regime of carlos ma. Dela torre
 The natives were pacified by the use of the Cross. - Racial discrimination
 The reduccion plan of Fr. Juan de Plasencia was - Secularization controversy
implemented. It transformed the Filipinos into law- - The cavite mutiny of 1872
abiding citizens under the Spanish Crown. Because of
The Opening of the Philippines to World Commerce. The opening
this plan, the independence of the barangays was lost.
of the country to world commerce was a consequence of Spain’s
 With the imposition of Catholicism and Spanish culture,
adoption of the laissez-faire policy.
the Filipinos were transformed into “little brown
Spaniards”.
 With the entry of foreign products and
 Spain’s political system was gradually introduced into businessmen, the economic isolation of the
the country. Philippines was ended.
 Barangays were merged to form pueblos, pueblos into  Liberal ideas also entered the country. John
alcaldias, in addition to the ayuntamientos established Locke’s “Theory of Revolution” and Jean Jacques
by the colonizers. Rousseau’s “Social Contract Theory” was
 Despite unification, the people started to nurture introduced.
resentment and dislike for foreign rule.
The Rise of Clase Media Class Media.
Early Resistance to Spanish Rule. The integration of the country CLASS MEDIA = new middle class
into the Spanish Empire resulted into the implementation of:
 The rise of this new social class came from a small
1. Taxation Without Representation class of mestizos and the principalia or the ruling elite.
2. Polo y Servicio = Forced Labor
 Families of this class benefited from the opening of the
3. Galleon Trade
country to foreign commerce and trade. Thus, they were
4. Indulto de Comercio = License to Trade
able to send their sons for education in Europe.
5. Government Monopolies
 Being educated in Europe, these sons of prosperous
families were able to see the difference of European
Government restrictions and control made the people
and Filipino societies.
experience hardships and miseries. They started harboring
grievances against the colonial administrators.  They became disillusioned with Spain after witnessing
how more progressive are the states of other countries.
Revolts and uprisings began. Majority of the cause for these  From their ranks emerged Filipino propagandists
uprisings is the desire of the people to regain their lost clamoring for change in the Philippines.
freedom. Examples of revolts under this cause:
Liberal Regime of Carlos Ma. dela Torre. The fall of Queen
a. Revolt of Rajah Sulayman and Lakan Dula Isabella and the triumph of liberalism in Spain resulted into the
b. Tondo Conspiracy appointment of dela Torre as Governor-General in the
c. Revolt of Malong Philippines.
d. Dagohoy’s Revolt
e. Revolt of Diego Silang  With his assumption into office, he demonstrated his
f. Revolt of Palaris democratic and liberal philosophy in governing the
country.
But, all of these did not last long. The early revolts against  This development was something the friars then did not
Spanish rule failed for a number of reasons. like. For the first time, the Filipinos were allowed to talk
about freedom and democracy openly.
a. owing to sectional jealousies  During his term of office, freedom of speech and of the
b. lack of communication in the provinces press as guaranteed by the Spanish Constitution was
c. absence of national leaderships recognized.
d. the implementation of divide et impera or “divide  Because of this policy, Father Burgos and other Filipino
and rule” clergy were motivated to work for the Filipinization of
e. Filipinos were made to fight one another by the parishes throughout the country.
colonial masters, failing to realize that their
common enemy was the Spaniards
 With the restoration of the Spanish monarchy and the  This mutiny was brought about by Izquierdo’s abolition
return of conservatism in Spain, dela Torre was of their exemption from tributes and forced labor, which
removed from office. the soldiers previously enjoyed.
 He was replaced by the reactionary Rafael de Izquierdo,  The Spanish authorities took advantage of the situation
who boasted that he came to the Philippines with a by arresting liberal-minded Filipinos. Nine Filipino
cross on one hand and a sword on the other. priests were deported to Marianas Islands, together with
thirteen lawyers and businessmen.
Racial Discrimination. Another factor that contributed to the  The incident was exaggerated by the Spaniards to
development of the Filipinos’ sense of nationhood. implicate Fathers José Burgos, Mariano Gomez, and
Jacinto Zamora, due to their active involvement in the
 The Spaniards considered the Filipinos an inferior race campaign for the secularization of parishes. These three
and sarcastically called them Indios. Discrimination priests were executed by garrote for alleged complicity
towards the Filipinos was prevalent in the universities, in the rebellion.
government offices, church, and the Court of Justice.  The Filipinos deeply resented the execution of
 Fray Miguel de Bustamente portrayed the Filipino in his GomBurZa, owing to their innocence of the crime for
pamphlet entitled “Si Tandang Basyong Macunat” as an which they were tried. They hailed the three Filipinos
individual with low mental ability, incapable of acquiring priests as true martyrs of the fatherland.
European education, and fitted only to work in the fields  The martyrdom of GomBurZa was a turning point in
and tend to carabaos. Philippine history. It ushered in an era of peaceful
 This kind of attack intensified the enmity between campaign for reforms to counter the evils of the Spanish
Filipinos and Spaniards. This led them to realize that the Regime, known in our history as the Propaganda
Spaniards and the Filipinos were two separate, distinct Movement.
peoples.
Rizal and the Cavite Mutiny of 1872. Rizal was still very young
Secularization Controversy. Secularization of parishes was the when the mutiny broke out. Although at his tender age, Rizal was
transfer of the ministries established by the regular Spanish already cognizant of the deplorable conditions of the country.
clergy to the Filipino seculars.
 Originally, his plan was to take up priesthood and
 The controversy began as a religious issue then later on become a Jesuit father. When he heard of the
became a racial controversy between the friars and the martyrdom of GomBurZa, he changed his mind and
Filipino secular clergy. swore to dedicate his life to vindicate the victims of
 Leading the Filipino seculars in the struggle was Fr. Spanish oppresion. He was only 11 years old at this
Pedro Pelaez, an insulares, who rose to the position of time.
vicar capitular of Manila. He led the fight against royal  In his letter to Ponce, he said: “ Without 1872 there
decrees turning secular parishes over to the friars. would not be now either a Plaridel, or Jaena, nor
 The Jesuits then returned to the Philippines. Parishes Sanciano, or would there exist brave and generous
under Filipino regulars in Manila were then turned over Filipino colonies in Europe; Without 1872, Rizal would
to the Recollects in exchange for the parishes held by be a Jesuit now and instead of writing the Noli Me
the Recollects in Mindanao. Tangere, would have written the opposite. At the sight of
 Fr. Pelaez appealed to Queen Isabella II for those injustices and cruelties, while still a child, my
ecclesiastical equality between the Spanish regulars imagination was awakened and I swore to devote
and Filipino seculars. myself to avenge one day so many victims, and with this
 But, the earthquake that occurred in Manila took the life idea in mind I have been studying and this can be read
of Fr. Pelaez. The struggle for equality was then in all my works and writings. God will someday give me
temporarily stopped. an opportunity to carry out my promise. Good! May they
 Fr. Burgos continued the struggle started by his former commit abuses, let there be imprisonments,
professor. He exerted all efforts to defend the Filipino banishments, executions, good. Let destiny be fulfilled!
clergy from the attacks of the Spanish regulars. The day they lay their hands on us, the day they
 The controversy led to the unification of the Filipino martirize innocent families for our fault, goodbye friar
clergy, which in effect, strengthened their sense of government, and perhaps goodbye Spanish
identity. government.”
 The former religious conflict took on racial overtones
because the friars were Spaniards and the seculars
were true-blooded Filipinos.
 For the first time, the word “Filipino” meant not only the
Filipino Spaniards; now it included the native clergy.

Cavite Mutiny of 1872. On the night of January 20, 1872, a