SPANISH PERIOD
CONTRIBUTIONS
EDUCATION colleges (University of Santo
Tomas)
MATH
RELIGION
CATHOLICISM
It was part of the Spanish conquest to convert all the
natives to Christ through their Catholic tradition. Today
as a result, the Catholic church still remains a very
powerful force in the Philippines. For example, divorce is
illegal there because of the Catholic church’s influence
in the government and law-making. Filipinos still
celebrate and participate in many Catholic holidays
and customs. Practically everywhere you go you will
see big Catholic cathedrals. In many homes, you’ll see
pictures of the virgin Mary or the last supper, and many
people carry around rosaries with them. On public
transportation are plastered posters of Jesus and Mary
and religious sayings. Because of the Spanish conquest,
there is a strong tradition of Christianity among the
Filipino people.
LANGUAGE
Diyos (God)
Eskwela (school)
Gwapo (handsome)
Kalye (street)
Kabayo (horse)
Kwento (story)
Karne (meat)
Pamilya (family)
Sapatos (shoes)
Bintana (window)
and many, many more. . .
FOOD
The Spanish also introduced forks, spoons, plates,
and cups to the Philippines. To this day, forks and
spoons are used when eating (but not knives).
However, some Filipinos still prefer to eat the truly
native Filipino way, without utensils.
Corn
Flour
Squash
Avocado
Sausage
Beef
Guava
Sapodilla (Chico fruit)
Papaya
Cabbage
Cocoa
Potatoes (white)
Ham
Coffee
Beer
Bread (made from wheat flour)
Pickles
Sardines
The Spanish also introduced forks,
spoons, plates, and cups to the
Philippines. To this day, forks and
spoons are used when eating (but
not knives). However, some
Filipinos still prefer to eat the truly
native Filipino way, without
utensils.
CAPITAL CITY AND COUNTRY NAME
Also interesting to note is that the Spanish were the ones
who appointed Manila as the capital city of the
Philippines. They also named the islands
“Filipinas” after Prince Philip os Asturias, who later became
the King of Spain.
WESTERN CULTURE
During the Spanish rule, westernized culture gradually
began to seep into the Filipino way of life. Western music,
dance, art, recreation and customs were adopted by
Filipinos. Even their beliefs and perspectives about life
experienced a bit of a drift away from Eastern muslim
philosophies to a more westernized perspective. One
example of this was the abolishment of slavery. Classes
between the rich and poor, however, remained.
LAST NAMES
One very interesting thing that the Spanish changed
about the Philippines was the use of native last names.
In 1849, the Governor sent out an order that all families
were to choose a new last name from a list of Spanish last
names (in order to create a more organized system of
keeping track of people). As a result, today there are
many Spanish last names still in use, such as Garcia, Cruz,
Reyes, Mora, Vasquez, Valdez, Flores, Ramos,
Perez, Villanueva, Ortiz, etc. However, there were some
Filipinos who did not want to change their native last
names, and so today there are still some native names
remaining. Examples of native Filipino last names
include Macaraeg, Matapang, Masipag, Dimaguiba,
Guinto, Magsaysay, Makapagal, Batungbakal, etc.
NUMBERS AND MONEY
The Spanish money system
(based on pesos) was
adopted into the Filipino
lifestyle as well as the use of
Spanish numbers in business
and money transactions.
Today, using Spanish
numerals is the marketplace
norm.
SPANISH PERIOD
BAHAY NA BATO
BAHAY NA BATO
(stone house)
PERMANENT HOUSE MADE OF STONE
FOR GROUND FLOOR AND WOOD FOR
SECOND FLOOR.
IT WAS PATTERND AFTER THE STONE-
CONSTRUCED, HUGE ANTILLAN HOUSE.
IT IS AN IMPROVED VERSION OF BAHAY
KUBO IN TERMS OF MATERIAL AND
SPACE ALLOCATIONS.
EARTHQUAKE PROOF: RESTING ON
WOODEN POSTS MORTISED ON STONE
BURNED ON THE GROUND TO “DANCE”
WITH THE EARTHQUAKE.
THE PEAK OF NATIVE PHILIPPINE
ARCHITECTURE: MADE THE BAHAY KUBO
BIGGER AND MORE EXTRAVAGANT BUT
RETAINED ITS CHARACTER
POSSIBLE ORIGINS
BAHAY KUBO
POINTED ROOF
CONCEPT OF SPACE
VENTILATION
SILONG
TRIBAL LEADER’S HOUSE
STRONG CONSTRUCTION
SPACIOUS WITH MANY FURNITURES AND ROOMS
ELABORATED DECORATION
BEST MATERIALS
CONVENTOS
ADJACENT TO THE CHURCH
PERMANENCE SPACIOUS
MAY HAVE BEEN THE LOCAL MODELS OF LUXURY AND
PRESTIGE
GROUND FLOOR
ZAGUAN
• (literally "passageway" in
Arabic) to
accommodate horse
carriages and carrozas
(processional carriages)
CUADRA
HORSES TABLE
BODEGA
STORAGE ROOM
FOR KEEPING OLF
FURNITURE AND
PALAY BINS
ENTRESUELO
A MEZZANINE ELEVATED ONE METER
ABOVE THE GROUND USUALLY LOCATED
ON THE FLOOR OF THE MASTER
BEDROOM RIGHT UNDERNEATH HIS BED.
IT IS WHERE THE VALUABLES ARE KEPT:
MAY ALSO HOUSE OFFICES OR
ADDITIONAL DWELLING UNITS.
PATIO
AN ENCLOSED
COURTYARD OPEN TO
THE SKY AND
ADJACENT TO
ZAGUAN
SECOND FLOOR
CEREMONIAL STAIRS
(piedrachina)
FIRST THREE STEPS ( DESCANZO)
MADE OF MARBLE TILES: LANDING
WITH BASTONERA: REMAINING
STEPS ARE MADE OF WOOD,
NARRA.
CAIDA
AN ANTESALA, AN ALL
PURPOSE ROOM ,
SPACIOUS HALL
SEPARATED BY CALLADO
FOR DINING, SEWING,
AND DANCING.
SALA
A LIVING ROOM FOR
FRIENDS AND
INTIMATES, DIVIDED BY
MOVABLE SCREENS OR
BIOMBO
COMEDOR
DINING ROOM
PLATERIA AND LONG
TABLE
COCINA
KITCHEN WHICH SOMETIMES BUILT
SEPARATELY BUT CONNECTED TO THE
HOUSE
CONTAINS THE PAMINGGALAN(
FOOD CABINET) AND DISPENSA (
RICE STORAGE)
DISPENSA
USE AS FOOD STORAGE, ADJACENT TO KITCHEN
BAÑO OR PALIGUAN
BATHROOM SEPARATELY
FROM THE TOILET
CUARTO
SLEEPING AREA---------
USUALLY THREE; CONTAINS
FOUR-POSTED BEDS,
ARMORIES, CHESTS;SAINTS
WITH IVORY HEADS AND
HANDS ARE PLACED AT THE
MASTER BEDRROM.
AZOTEA
OPEN TERRACE MADE OF STONE
AND CERAMIC PLACED NEAR
THE KITCHEN AND TOILET WITH A
CISTERN FOR GATHERING RAIN
WATER,
USE FOR LAUNDRY DRYING
SPACE
BALCON
OVERHANG BALCONY
IN THE LIVING ROOM,
OVER LOOKING THE
STREETS
ALJIBE
CISTERN STORAGE OF
COLLECTED RAIN WATER,
UNDERNEATH AZOTEA
COMON OR
LATRINA
TOILET , SOMETIMES TWO
PASSENGER WATER
CLOSET
ALCOVA
ADDITIONAL
QUARTOS
VOLADA FLYING GALLERY OVER
THE ZAGUAN
PROTECTS THE INTERIOR
FROM HEAT AND RAIN
DISTINCTIVE FEATURES
PERSIANA
LARGE WINDOWS WITH
SLATS COVERED WITH
THE CAPIZ TO FILTER
LIGHT (UNIQUE UN
SOUTHEAST ASIA)
VENTANILLA SMALL WINDOWS
USUALLY AT LOWER
PORTION OF THE WALL
CALLADO
OPEN WOOD WORK OR TRACERY;
FIXED OVER A WINDOW OR PLACED AS
SPACE DIVIDERS
BARANDILLAS
WROUGHT IRON TRACERIES ON
THE WALL
BANGGERA
WHERE THE DISHES
ARE KEPT
REGIONAL DIFERRENCES
ILOCOS-SOBER ARCHITECTURE;
VIGAN HOUSES ARE ENTIRELY MADE OF BRICKS PILASTER EMBEDDED ON
SIDES, DIGNIFIED WITHOUT TOO MUCH DECORATION
CEBU- EXPANSIVE
GROUND FLOOR MADE OF HUGE CORAL STONES
SOUTHERN TAGALOG- “AIRY”
SECOND FLANGES OVER THE WALLS OF THE GROUND
LAWS OF THE INDIES (Leyes de Indias)
The “Laws of the Indies” were
decreed by King Philip II in 1573.
The laws guided Spanish
colonists on how to create and
expand towns in Spanish
territories in America and in the
Philippines.
There were about 148 guidelines
It establishes the church as urban
landmark and plaza public
space.
DEFINITION AND CLASSIFICATION OF
THE MAIN URBAN TYPES
THE OLDEST COLONIAL SETTLEMENT ON THE
PHILIPPINE ARCHIPELAGO WERE ISOLATED
FORTS AND VILLAGES, SUROOUNDED BY
HOSTILE MUSLIM TERRITORIES AND LOCATED
AT THE COAST.
ALL OF THEM WERE DESIGNED
ACCORDING TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE
LAW OF INDIES ENACTED IN 1573 BY KING
PHILIP II OF SPAIN.
THE REPERCUSSIONS OF THESE LAWS ON THE PHILIPPINE
FOUNDATIONS HAD NOT THEN BEEN [Link] SHORT RESUME,
THEIR MAIN GUIDELINES WERE:
1. TO FIND THE MOST APPROPRIATE PLACE TO DEVELOPTHEIR MAIN
ACTIVITIES IN SAFE HARBOURS ON INLETS, BAYS, AND RIVER BANKS: AS
HEADLANDS TO CONTRIOL THE TERRITORIES OR THE FARMING
SETTELMENTS IN FERTILE PLAIN;
IT WAS ALSO NECESSARY TO PROVIDE THE EASIEST TERRESTRIAL AND
MARITIME CONNECTIONS TO OTHER SETTLEMENTS.
2. TO CHOOSE THE MOST HEALTHY PLACES
3. TO APPPLY THE REGULAR GRID AS AN EASY SUITABLE WAY OF
DEFINING THE NEW URBAN STRUCTURES, EASILY SEPARATING THE
SPANISH FROM THE NATIVE QUARTERS.
4. CITIES SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST TEN RESIDENTS, PREFERABLY FARMERS
AND CATTLE-RAISERS, TO WHOM A BLOCK IN THE CITY AND FOUR
LEAGUES OF LAND WAS GIVEN, AS WELL AS OTHER PRIVILAGES.
5. BUILDING AND PUBLIC SPACE DESIGN SHOULD
BE ADMIRED BY THE NATIVES, AS URBAN DESIGN
AND ARCHITECTURE PLAYED AN ESSENTIAL ROLE
IN THE POLITICAL PROPAGANDA AND IMAE OF
THE SPANISH EMPIRE.
6. TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO NATIVE
SETTLEMENTSAND THEIR RIGHTS.
COLONIAL STREET IN VIGAN
ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE
CARTOGRAPHIC DATABASES , AND THE EFFECTS OF THE SPANISH
LAWS ON THE PHILIPPINE TERRITORIES, THE AUTHORS CLASSIFIED
THE CITIES AS FOLLOWS:
1. ACCORDING TO THEIR FUNCTION:
1.1 PORT CITIES, MAINLY ENGACE IN LONG DISTANCE
FOREIGN TRADE WITH OTHER ASIAN PORTS [CANTON
MACAO,MALAKA],AND AMERICAN PORTS(ACAPULCO)
EXAMPLES:
MANILA
CAVITE
1.2 MILITARY PORT CITIES, ESSENTIAL TO MAINTAIN
SPANISH SEA POWER; FOR EXAMPLE, JOLO(JOLO
ISLAND), ZAMBOANGA, ILIGAN AND TANDAG
(MINDANAO ISLAND)
1.3 SECONDARY PORTS AND ANCHORAGES
WHICH WERE IMPORTANT PORTS OF CALL FOR
LOCAL TRADE LINES AND NATURAL HARBOURS IN
STORMY WEATHER
FOR EXAMPLE: SORSOGON, CEBU, SAMAR
1.4 FORTS ON HEADLANDS; FOR EXAMPLE, POLLOK(
MINDANAO), ISABELA (BASILAN ISLAND)
1.5. INNER PLOTS AND CITIES WHICH CONSOLIDATE THE
TERRESTRIAL ROUTES AND DEFENSES, AS WELL AS SOME
STRATEGIC EXPLOITATIONS SUCH AS WOOD SHIPYARDS
AND TOBACCO PLANTATIONS.
EXAMPLES: AMADEO( MINDANAO)
VIGAN
BALABAC
AND THE SETTLEMENTS IN CAGAYAN VALLEY
(LUZON)
1.6 CITIES AND RIVERSIDES, FOR EXAMPLE: COTABATO (
RIO GRANDE DE MINDANAO)
2. ACCORDING TO THE URBAN TYPE
2.1 REGULAR GRID CITIES, USUALLY COMPOSED OF RECTANGULAR
BLOCKS, FACING TWO DETS OF ORTHOGONAL STREETS; THAT
CONSTITUTE THE MAIN TYPOLOGY OF THE SPANISH COLONIAL
FOUNDATIONS BOTH IN THE AMERICAN AND THE PHILIPPINE
TERRITORIES
MAIN BUILDINGS FACING THE PLAZA MAYOR (MAIN SQUARE),
EXTENDING OVER AN AREA OF AT LEAST ONE BLOCK , AND WHERE
OUTSTANDING URBAN EVENTS TOOK PLACE; SECONDARY SQUARES
STRATEGICALLY PLACED FOR OTHER URBAN USES SUCH OS PORT OR
TRADING ACTIVITIES.
THE MOST RELEVANT EXAMPLE STILL EXTANT OF THIS TYPOLOGY IS THE
CITY OF VIGAN.
2.2 CITIES WITH DISTORTED GRID, MAINLY DUE TO THE
GEOGRAPHICAL CONDITIONS SUCH AS RIVERS AND HILLS THAT
DETERMINED THE URBAN BORDERS AND STILL CONTROL THE
URBAN SPRAWLS; AND EARTHQUAKES ARE COMMON
PHENOMENA IN THIS AREA , AND THEY HISTORICALLY
CONDITIONED THE URBAN DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS THE
HEIGHT OF THE HOUSING AND THE MAIN BUILDINGS, AND EVEN
OF THE BELL TOWERS.
2.3 CITIES PLACED ALONG AN ITERINARY; THIS IS AN OLD
EUROPEAN URBAN TYPOLOGY THAT THE AUTHORS NOTICED
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE PHILIPPINES: THIS TYPOLOGY
FORMERLY APPEARED ALONG THE COMMERCIAL OR
PILGRIMAGE ROUTES IN THE MIDDLE AGES, SUCH AS THE ROAD
TO SANTIAGO OF COMPOSTELA; EXAMPLES: MARILAO,
SINAIT AND BAMBAN.
2.4 IRREGULARLY SHAPED CITIES: THAT IS THE USUAL PLAN FOR
NATIVE SETTLEMENTS, AS WELL AS FOR SPONTANEOUS
SUBURBAN DEVELOPMENT. MAIN EXAMPLES ARE THE OLD
SUBURBS OF MANILA PREVIOUS TO URBAN REFORMS IN THE
18TH CENTURY, WHERE NATIVE ( SANGL EYES) OR FOREIGN
TRADERS ( MAINLY CHINESE AND MALAYSIAN) SETTLED
BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF THE SPANISH CONQUERORS;
ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS THE OLD TOWN OF JOLO (JOLO
ISLAND), WHOSE WOODEN HUTS EXTENDED OVER A FLAT
SEASHORE.
2.5 IDEAL PLAN TOWNS: IN THE PHILIPPINES THERE ARE NO
EXAMPLES OF THE PURELY IDEAL URBAN STRUCTURE (SUCH AS
RADIAL OR STAR-SHAPED(, BUT IT IS QUITE FREQUENT TO FIND
SQUARE GRIDS INSIDE MORE OR LESS REGULAR POLYGONAL
WALLS, ACCORDING TO THE INFLUENCE OF THE IDEAL TOWN
PLANNING OF RENAISSANCE AND FRENCH FORTIFICATION
TREATISES ( KONVITZ 1978). EXAMPLES ARE THE INNER CITY OF
MANILA (INTRAMUROS) AND BATANGAS.
EXAMPLES
1. No person, regardless of state or condition, should, on his own
authority make a new discovery by sea or land, or enter a new
settlement or hamlet in areas already discovered. If he were found
without our license and approval or by those who had our power
to give it, he would face a death penalty and loss of all his
possessions to our coffers. And, we order to all our viceroys ,
audiencias, and governors and other justices of the Indies, that
they give no license to make new discoveries without previous
consultation with us and only after having obtained our permission;
but we do consent that in areas already discovered, they can give
license to build towns as necessary, adhering to the order that
in so doing they must keep to the laws of February regarding
settlements in discovered lands, [and] then they should send us a
description.
2. Those who are in charge of governing the Indies, whether spiritually or
temporally, should inform themselves diligently whether within their districts,
including lands and provinces bordering them, there is something to be
discovered and pacified, of the wealth and quality, [and] of the peoples and
nations who inhabit there; but do this without sending to them war personnel
nor persons who can cause scandal. They [the governors]should inform
themselves by the best means available; and likewise, they should obtain
information on the persons who are best suited to carry out discoveries - and
with those who are best fit for this purpose, they [the governors] should inform
themselves by the best means available; and likewise, they should obtain
information on the persons who are best suited to carry out discoveries -and
with those who are best fit for this purpose, they [the governors] should confer
and make arrangements, offering them the honors and advantages that justly,
without injury to the natives, can be given them -and- before carrying out
what has been arranged or has been learned, give narratives to the viceroy
and the audiencias and also send them to the Council, which, after looking at
the case, will issue a license to proceed with the discovery, which should be
carried out in the following order:
3. Having made, within the confines of the province, a discovery by
land, pacified it, [and] subjected it to our obedience, find an
appropriate site to be settled by Spaniardsand if not, [arrange] for
the vassal Indians so they be secure.
4. If the boundaries of the settlement are populated, utilizing
commerce and ransom, go with vassal Indians and interpreters to
discover those lands, and with churchmen and Spaniards, carrying
offerings and ransoms and peace, try to learn about the place, the
contents and quality of the land, the nation(s) to which the people
there belong, who governs them, and carefully take note of all you
can learn and understand, and always send these narratives to the
Governor so that they reach the Council [Consejo de Indias].
5. Look carefully at the places and ports where it might be possible
to build Spanish settlements without damage to the Indian
population.
6-12. (These ordinances provide guidelines for discoveries that are
made by sea.)
13. Persons who participate in discoveries, whether by land or by
sea, should take possession, in our name, of all lands and provinces
they might reach and, upon setting foot on to land, perform the
necessary ceremonies and writs, thus providing public evidence
and faithful testimony.
14. Once the discoverers arrive at newly discovered provinces or
lands, together with the officials, they should name each land, each
province, and the mountains and principal rivers they might
encounter as well as the settlements and towns they might find or
that they may begin.
15-31. (These ordinances instruct the Spaniards on the formal issues
of encountering, greeting, teaching, and punishing the native
Indian population.)