I.

The political policies of Spain in the Philippines include the Bandala System, in
which Filipinos are mandated to retail their agricultural goods to the Spanish
government. The second one is the collection of taxes or tribute, spearheaded by the
Residencia Governor General; these taxes are in a form of cash or goods to signify the
acknowledgement on the Spanish government, and also, to take up the expenses of the
Spanish colony. The third one is the Galleon Trade; this is more on the trades being
bartered on Asia and other countries, as similar to this, Royal Company of the
Philippines is also included, this also involves trade, but does not comprise any forms of
taxes given to the countries that are involved. One of the most known policies, which is
the fifth one, is the Polo or forced labor, this requires all men to work for at least forty
days a year, and the age ranges from sixteen to sixty years with exemption for the
elderly, disabled, and those who recompense. Mercantilism is also emphasized, aiming
for the increase of exports rather than imports.

In addition to this, Higher education is also restricted. And the absolute

ownership of land is being implemented. Under this absolute ownership is the claim of
fields cultivated by their respective retainers. Indulto De Comercio, is also being
exercise, which is the right to participate in the Galleon Trade during the Spanish era.

Considering that it is also the Governor General who crafts policies during that
time since the there are no legislative branch yet, one of the political policies that are
being exercised by the Governor General is the power to appoint and dismiss Public
Officials except those personally chosen by the King of Spain. Mainly, Royal Decrees
and Laws from the Spain are the ones that is being implemented in the Philippines
during this period, and the above mentioned are the political policies being executed.

II.
Jose Rizal’s political ideologies are more inclined on liberalism. His writings that
are influenced by the socio-political situation especially during his era illustrate that even
though it was indirect, but Rizal was influenced by Voltaire and Rousseau’s ideals. He
believes that there should be a separation between the Church and the State as similar
to Voltaire. And his ideology is also coherent in Rosseau’s theory on education. That the
children can be developed to their highest potential without unjustified constraints as
dictated by the society, both in education and their morals. His liberalist idea mainly
portrays the power of reason. It also focuses on the aspect of equality, individual
uniqueness, and freedom.

Equality, in terms of the equal rights pointing that Filipinos should also have the
same opportunity analogous to those with the Spaniards during his time period to
govern. He also pointed out that those who will be appointed in the office should pass
any form of government examination to ensure their competitiveness and their capability
to rule effectively. Rizal also stimulated his idea that bureaucrats, in terms of good
governance, should not only base on their educational attainment or skills that they
possess, but the commitment and integrity that is being exhibited by them in their
governmental post. Rizal also portrayed that the people has the duty to be involved with
the government. In order to have good governance, the participation of the public is also
needed to guarantee that this will flourish efficiently. Rizal even said in one of his
writings that “Peoples and Government are correlated and complementary…” and that,
“there are no tyrants when there are no slaves….”

Rizal believes that justice should serve as the grounds or foundation of the
government and the society. He is firmly against on the injustices that are occurring on
the society particularly on his time period. And he aims for a social change influenced
by national sentiments.

Comparatively, Marcelo H. Del Pilar’s political ideologies reflect a pragmatist;

dealing with the conflicts on particular approaches, with a presented possible solution
rather than just illustrating the ideal situation. His ideals include the secularization of the
Church akin to Rizal’s political beliefs, but Del Pilar is more aggressive in terms of
emphasizing this thought. He even wrote a parody to the Apostle’s Creed, Hail Mary,
and Glory Be and has distributed discreetly other religious derisive, inside of the Church
during his era.

He agrees that People should have an active participation with governmental

affairs. And that Filipinos should also represent in the Spanish Cortes, given the limited
rights given by the Spaniards to the Filipino. It is also during this time period that he
promotes the freedom of speech, of the press and of the assembly. In his political
ideologies, he emphasizes that people should have basic rights in expressing
themselves through speech, and in attaining social freedom and political
independencies. Del Pilar also stresses assimilation, but unlike Rizal, who aims for a
social change without arms, Marcelo H. Del Pilar presented this idea in a militant and
progressive outlook, this idea even influences Andres Bonifacio, and when expenses in
publications are running out, armed revolts have spiraled.

Secularization is the most common political ideologies of Marcelo H. Del Pilar

and Rizal, since the power of the Church is highly evident and often abused as
observed by them. The only difference is that Rizal is more on the idealist side,
emphasizing the value of the power of reason and education, whilst Del Pilar aims to
promote the solutions that can be taken to exercise our basic rights that is being
restricted by the Spaniards, promoting nationalism, and enumerating anti-friar ideas to
awaken the minds of the Filipino that they are not meant to be abused and be taken
advantage of especially on their home country, aiming to encourage for a militant
approach.

III.
The aim of La Liga Filipina as transcribed is to “unite the archipelago into one
humongous body, mutual protection to every want and necessity, defense against all
violence and injustices, encouragement of instructions or education, agriculture and
commerce, and application of reforms.”

This pillar reflects the plea of the founders to stop the oppression that is being
experienced by the Filipinos through the hands of the abusive Spaniards. It is clarified
through research articles that the La Liga Filipina doesn’t aim for a violent revolt, but the
Spanish government still feels alarmed with this organization’s existence, thus, even if it
was initially indicated that there are no implications in terms of an armed revolt, the
occurrence of such is still inevitable.

Does it have any political implications? Yes. Because by analyzing the aim of the
League’s per se, they are already promoting political independencies from the Spanish
Government. Back then, the Philippines is a Centralized Colonial Government;
legislative branches are non-existent because policies are coming from the orders of the
Governor General. The Royal Decrees from Spain are the ones being implemented in
the Philippines. In the first aim, which is to unite, the organization calls out for the
Filipinos to gather into a one firm assembly, unification which will later translate into a
local government, the second one which is for mutual protection, it indicates that we,
ourselves as one nation are capable to provide for our every want and necessity
implicating internal sovereignty, the third which is the defense against all violence and
injustices portrays external sovereignty and our independency as a nation, though not
recognized at that time. The fourth which is the encouragement for education
encourages that Filipinos are also capable to rule or govern; by using this medium,
political policies are established, in consideration with the individual rights of each
persons.

Agriculture and Commerce also depicts that aside from the implication of external
sovereignty on this fourth aim, international relations can also be established by the
means of trade, and the basic necessities as a nation can also be met. In the fifth and
last aim, of the application of reforms, it also portrays the aforementioned analyzed
context, in which political independencies are sought out by the founders of the League.