Learning Module in GE Rizal 1- Life and Works of Rizal

I. Title: THE WORLD IN THE 19TH CENTURY

II. Topics:

1. Instability of colonial administration

2. Philippine Representation in Spanish Cortes
3. Human Rights Denied to Filipinos
4. No Equality before the Law
5. Maladministration of Justice
6. Racial Discrimination
7. Frailocracy
8. Haciendas Owned by the Friars
9. The Industrial Revolution
10. How Spain governed the Philippines

III. Time Frame: 6 hours

IV. Introduction:

By the late 18th century, political and economic changes in Europe were finally
beginning to affect Spain and, thus, the Philippines. Important as a stimulus to trade was the
gradual elimination of the monopoly enjoyed by the galleon to Acapulco. The last galleon
arrived in Manila in 1815, and by the mid-1830s Manila was open to foreign merchants almost
without restriction. The demand for Philippine sugar and abaca (hemp) grew quickly, and the
volume of exports to Europe expanded even further after the completion of the Suez Canal in
1869 (Britannica 2020).

With this, learners are able to engage into the situation of the 19 th century Philippines
especially in the area of politics and economics. In this chapter also, the early Filipinos
emerged their sense of nationhood

V. Objectives:

At the end of this module, the students should be able to:

1. Analyze critically the social, political, economic and cultural changes that occurred in
the 19th century;
2. Cite the significance of the participation of the Philippines to the World Trade; and
3. Make a critical analysis on how the colonial government governed/imposed its colonial
dominance to her colony.

VI. Pre-Test: Write the correct answer on the space provided.

___1.Rizal’s parents belonged to the;

A. Peninsular B. Insular C. Principalia D. all of the

above

___2.It was a century of ferment caused by the blowing winds of history;

GE Rizal- Life and Works of Rizal 1

 A. 18th C B. 19 th C C.20 th C D. all of the
above
___3. In the 19th Century this European country emerged as the world’s leading imperialism
power;
A. England B. Russia C. America D. none of
the above
___4.The imperialist powers were enjoying the fruits of their colonial ventures and achieving
global prestige this country once a upon a time the “Mistress of the World” was stagnating as
a world power;

A Germany B. Spain C. Portugal D. none of the above

___5.He was the most respected man on earth in those times;

A. King B. Queen C. Holy Pope D. all of the

above

VII. Learning Activities

The times of Rizal

saw the boom of Western
imperialism, England
emerged as the world’s
leading imperialism power.
On account of her invincible
nave and magnificent army,
and was able to conquer
many countries through the
world and to establish a
global colonial empire. Other imperialists, following Britain’s example, grabbed the weak
countries in Southeast Asia and colonized them. In 1858-1863, France, with the help of
Filipino troops under Spanish officers conquered Vietnam. Czarist Russia, unable to expand
westward to Europe, turned eastward to Asia, conquering Siberia and later occupied
Kamchatka, Kuriles and Alaska. On July 8, 1853, An American squadron under the command
of Commodore Matthew C. Perry Century re-opened Japan to the world. After this event,
which ended Japan’s 214-year isolation (1639-1853), Emperor Meijie (Musuhito) modernized
the country by freely accepting Western influences, including imperialism.

Germany became a sovereign state in January 1871, and was late in the scramble for
colonies in Asia and Africa. In search for colonial stakes, she turned to the island
archipelagoes of the mid-Pacific world. The German seizure of Yap Island engaged Spain,
who claimed sovereignty over the Carolines and Palaus by right of discovery. It should be
noted that the island of Yap was discovered by the Manila galleon pilot, Francisco Lezcano
who named it Spain, which name was applied to the other islands. Spanish German relations
grew critical. In Madrid, the Spanish populace rose in violent riots, demanding war against
Germany. To avert actual clash of arms, Spain and Germany submitted the Caroline’s.

The Holy Father, after careful study of the pertinent documents submitted by both
parties, issued his decision on October 22, 1885 favoring Spain-recognizing Spain’s
sovereignty over the Carolines and Palaus, but granting two concessions to Germany (1) the
right to trade in the disputed archipelagos and (2) the right to establish a coaling station in Yap
for the German navy. Both Spain and Germany accepted the Papal decision so that the
Hispano-German War was aborted. While the imperialist powers were enjoying the fruits of

GE Rizal- Life and Works of Rizal 2

their colonial ventures and achieving global prestige, Spain, once upon a time the “Mistress of
the world” was stagnating as a world power.

During the times of Rizal, the sinister shadows of Spain’s decadence darkened
Philippine skies. The Filipino people agonized beneath the yoke of Spanish, misrule, for they
were unfortunate victims of the evils of an unjust, bigoted, and deteriorating colonial power.
Among these evils were; (1) Instability of colonial administration; (2) corrupt officialdom; (3)
No Philippine representation in the Spanish Cortes (4) Human rights denied to Filipinos, (5)
no equality before the law , (6) maladjustment of justice , (7) racial discrimination (8)
frailocracy (9) forced labor, (10) haciendas owned by the friars, (11) the Guardia civil.

1. Instability of Colonial Administration

The turbulent reign of King

Ferdinand V11 (1808-1833)
marked the beginning of political
chaos in Spain. The Spanish
government underwent frequent
changes owing to biter struggles
between the forces of despotism
and liberalism and the explosions
of the Carlist Wars. 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.

Spanish War

2. Philippine Representation in Spanish Cortes

To win the support of her overseas colonies during Napoleonic invasion, Spain
granted the representation in the Spanish Cortes (Spanish Parliament). Spain’s first
democratic constitution, and was one of the 184 signers from 1810- [Link] constitution was
extended to the Philippines. Another achievement of Delegate Delos Reyes was the abolition
of the galleon trade. The first period of Philippine representation in the Spanish Cortes was
thus fruitful with beneficent results for the welfare of the colony. However, in the second and
third representation from 1829-1837 were less fruitful because the Philippine delegates were
not as energetic and devoted in parliamentary work as Delos Reyes.

3. Human Rights Denied to Filipinos

Since the adoption of the Spanish

Constitution of 1812 and other constitutions in
succeeding years, the people of Spain enjoyed
freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom
of association, and other human rights (except
freedom of religion). The Spaniards ardently
guarded these rights so that no Spanish monarch
dared abolish them.

4. No Equality before the Law

It is true that the Leyes de Indias (Laws of

Indies) were promulgated by the Christian monarchs

GE Rizal- Life and Works of Rizal 3

of Spain to protect the rights of the natives in Spain’s overseas colonial laws, infused as they
were with Christian charity and justice, were rarely enforced by the officials in the distant
colonies, particularly the Philippines. Consequently, the Filipinos were abused, brutalized,
persecuted, and slandered by the Spanish masters, being dispensed by Spaniards, was only
for the white Spaniards.

Activity 1

(Provide your answer on the box below)

1. Cite at least 3 examples of no equality before the law during the 19th century
Philippine.

5. Maladministration of Justice

The courts of justice in the Philippines during Rizal’s time were notoriously corrupt. They
were courts of “injustice”, as far as the brown Filipinos were concerned. The Spanish judges,
fiscals (prosecuting attorneys), and other court officials were inept, venal, and oftentimes
ignorant of laws. Justice was costly, partial, and slow. Poor Filipinos had no access to the
courts because they could not afford the heavy expenses of litigation. Wealth, social prestige,
and other color of skin were preponderant factors in winning a case in court.

6. Racial Discrimination

Spain introduced Christianity into the Philippines

with its beautiful egalitarian concept of the
brotherhood of all men under god the father. The
Spanish authorities, civil as well as ecclesiastical,
zealously propagated the Christian faith, but
seldom practiced in its sublime tenets. They
regarded the converted Filipinos not as brother
Christians, but as inferior beings who were infinitely
undeserving of the rights and privileges that the
white Spaniards enjoyed.

GE Rizal- Life and Works of Rizal 4

7. Frailocracy- Owing to the Spanish
political philosophy of union of
Church and State, there arouse a
unique form of government in
Hispanic Philippines called”
Frailocracy” (frailocracia) , so named
because it was a “government by
friars”. History discloses that since
the days of the Spanish conquest,
the friars (Augustinians, Dominicans,
and Franciscans) controlled the
religious and educational life of the
Philippines, and later in the 19th
century they came to acquire
tremendous political power,
influence, and richness.

The Philippines under Frailocracy

Known as the Polo, it wascompulsory

labor imposed by the Spanish colonial
authorities on adult Filipino males in the
construction of churches, schools, hospitals;
buildings and repair of roads and bridges, the
building of ships and other public works. Filipino
males from 16 to 60 years old were obliged to
render forced labor for 40 days a year. Later,
the Royal Decree of July 1883, implemented by
the New Regulations promulgated by the
Council of State of February 3, 1885, increased
the minimum age of the polistas(those who
performed the forced labor) from 16 to 60 and
reduced the days of labor from 40 to 45.

8. Haciendas Owned by the Friars-Spanish friars belonging to different religious orders were
the richest landlords, for they owned the best haciendas (agricultural lands) in the Philippines.

Guardia Civil-The last hated symbol of

Spanish tyranny was the Guardia Civil
(constabulary), which was created by the Royal
Decree of February 12, 1852, as amended by
the Royal Decree of March 24, 1888, for the
purpose of maintaining internal peace and
order in the Philippines. It was patterned after
the famous and well-disciplined Guardia Civil in
Spain.

Guardia Civil

GE Rizal- Life and Works of Rizal 5

9. The Industrial Revolution- It
refers to the transformation of
manufacturing brought about by
the invention and use of
machines. This started in
England and later on spread into
Belgium, France, Germany, and
even the United States. The
invention of machines and their
use in manufacturing brought
about by this development
include the following:

INDUSTRIALIZATION

 The rise of the factory system;

 Mass production of essential and non-essential goods;
 Improvement of people’s standard of living;
 Greater Urbanization of Society;
 Beginnings of specialization or division of labor;
 Invention of labor-saving devices;
 The beginnings of industrial capitalism;
 Fostering of liberalism and nationalism; and
 Encouragement of people’s mobility.

The Advance of Science-The rapid expansion of scientificknowledge profoundly

influenced Western thought on the 19th century (Hunt et al, 1995).Breakthroughs in industrial
technology enormously stimulated scientific discoveries from 1830’s onward. These
theoretical discoveries were increasingly transformed into material improvements fir the
population. The translation of better scientific knowledge into practical benefits was evident in
biology, medical sciences, and chemistry.

Science was not given emphasis in the Philippines in the 19th century. Rizal stressed
this point in his novel, El Filibusterismo. University students in their Physics were not given
the opportunity to undertake experiments to prove or disprove scientific hypotheses.

Activity No.2 Online research on the technologies in the 19th Century

Provide the advantages/disadvantages on the use of technologies in the 19th Century

The Galleon Trade is the only major

economic activity during Spanish time.

GE Rizal- Life and Works of Rizal 6

This was the annual trade between Manila and Acapulco in Mexico, a Spanish colony in
America. Spanish traders in Manila would export these products to Mexico where they would
be sold for a big profit.

ObrasPias – a trust funds set up by the rich to be used for charitable purposes, lending
money to those who needed capital for the goods that they wanted to ship to Mexico.

Confradiasisa religious organization that managed the funds.

Spanish Efforts at Economic Development- the first organized and systematic approach
to the economic development of the Philippines was made during the administration of
Governor-general Jose Basco y Vargas. The chief executive from 1778 to 1789, the first to
devote much attention to improving the economy of the Philippines

Some of these steps were the following:

1. Development of Agriculture
2. Establishment of the Economic Society of Friends of the Country

3. Establishment of the Tobacco Monopoly

4. Establishment of the Royal Company of the Philippines-similar to the big

trading companies

5. Opening of Manila to Foreign Trade

[Link] of Transportation and Communication

The Opening of the Philippines to

World Commerce-The opening of the country to
world commerce was a consequent Spain’s
adoption of the laissez-faire policy. With the
entry of foreign products and businessmen, the
economic isolation of the Philippines was ended.
From their contact with peninsular Spaniards,
Filipino intellectuals were able to learn Locke’s
Theory of Revolution and Rousseau’s Social
Contract Theory. They learned that people could
overthrow a government that is not working for
the good of the governed. They also realized
that a government is an agreement between
the ruler and the ruled to govern for the welfare.

The Rise of the Middle Class -The rise of the anew middle class or class media, can
be traced to the prosperity of a relatively small class of mestizos and the principalia or ruling
elite who benefitted from the opening of the country to foreign commerce and trade. Families,
which prospered during this time, were able to send their sons for an education in Europe.
Being educated in the difference of European and Filipino societies and being able to witness
the more progressive state other countries in the continent, these European-educated
Filipinos became disillusioned with Spain. From their ranks emerged Filipino propagandists
clamoring for change in the Philippines.

10. How Spain Governed the Philippines

GE Rizal- Life and Works of Rizal 7

The king of Spain ruled the Philippines. He was aided by the Council of the Indies, which
was created in 1524. The Council relayed all the king’s decrees and instructions to the
Viceroy of Mexico, then, relayed them to the governor-general in the Philippines.

1565-1821, Spain ruled the Philippines through Mexico. From Mexico also came the
financial aid or subsidy (real Situado), that the colony needed for salaries of the civil and
religious officials. This arrangement ended when the Mexican rose in revolt and overthrew
Spanish rue in 1821, from then, Spain ruled the Philippines directly. The Philippines was
placed under the Ministry of the Colonies, the office that replaced the abolished Council of
the Indies. The Ministry was assisted by a Council of the Philippines whose members
were knowledgeable about the Philippines

Laws of the Indies (Recopilacion de los LeyesReynos de lasIndias)-the general

law for Spain’s overseas colonies, including the Philippines. It was not the intention of Spain
to abuse and oppress the native Filipinos; in fact most of the laws issued by the King of
Spain were aimed at improving the condition of the natives.

Cumplase is a veto power to the governor-general on the legislative power of the

king. The reason for giving the unusual power to the governor-general was that he was in a
better position than the king in Spain to know what was good or bad for the colony. Thus, if
the governor-general felt that a royal decree would not be good for the colony, he could
choose not to enforce the decree. This power was often abused by the governor-general for
selfish reasons.

The Governor-General is the highest colonial

official in the Philippines, who was appointed by the
king. He exercised executive, legislative and judicial
powers. As the chief executive in the colony, the
governor-general appointed all the subordinate
officials of the colonial government, including the
provincial governors (Alcaldes mayors), his duty was
to enforce Spanish laws in the colony.

The Governor-General: An Appraisal- A total of

122 governors-general governed the Philippines
from 1565 to 1898. The first was Miguel Lopez de
Legazpi from 1565 to 1572. The last was General
Diego de Los Rios, who served as the colony’s chief
executive during the closing days of Spanish rule in
the Philippines in 1898.
Gov. Gen. Dela Torre

The Royal Audiencia- was the

highest court in the Philippines during the
Spanish era. Just as the Supreme Court is
the highest court in our country to date. The
Audiencia was composed of the governor-
general as the presiding officer, three
Oidores or judges and a fiscal or
prosecutor.

The Encomienda System- was an

old practice in Spain designed to reward
those who had served the king especially
in wars and other military missions. The
encomiendero would receive the income

GE Rizal- Life and Works of Rizal 8

from the land with the right to receive the income from the land and to govern the people
living in it.

The encomienda system that Spain adopted in the Philippines was different from the
practiced in Spain. In the Philippines what the encomiendero received was not the land but
the right to collect tribute or taxes from the inhabitants of a definite territory.

Three classes of encomienda system in the Philippines

1. Royal encomienda- those set aside for the crown

2. Ecclesiastical encomienda- those assigned to the different religious

Orders

3. Private encomienda- were those given to the Spaniards who helped in the
conquest and colonization of the Philippines

The encomienda system caused much hardship among the natives because most of
the encomienderos abused their power. The abuses were noted by the priests and
missionaries. Some of whom shocked by the injustices committed by the encomienderos,
event went to the extent of denouncing the abuses of the system to the king of Spain.

Christianization of the Filipinos is one significant consequence of the Spanish

colonization of the Philippines. Christianity is Spain’s enduring legacy top the Filipinos. The
seeds of Christianity were first planted in the Philippines by the Magellan expedition in 1521.
But it was Legazpi expedition that began to pursue in earnest in 1565 the Christianization of
the archipelago.

In the Legazpi expedition were five Augustinian friars from Mexico headed by FR.
Andres de Urdaneta, they were the first missionaries in the Philippines. The Augustinians
were followed in subsequent years by other religious orders- the Franciscan in 1581, the
Recollects in 1606 and the Benedictines in 1895 first century of the Spanish rule.

VIII. Self-evaluation: Answer the following questions below

1. How did the opening of the Philippines to world commerce and trade affect the country
and its people?

GE Rizal- Life and Works of Rizal 9

2. Define Imperialism in your own words.

IX. Review of Concepts

Imperialism is a policy or practice by which country increases its power by gaining control
over other areas of the world. The effect that a powerful country or group of countries has in
changing or influencing the way people live in other poorer countries.

Nationalism is a sense of loyalty of psychological attachment members of a nation share,

based on common language, history, culture, and desire for independence (Jackson
&Jackson, 2000). It is a feeling that drives a people together as a nation. It is love of country
expressed in devotion to the advocacy of national interest and independence.

X. Post Test: With your knowledge in this chapter, answer the following questions
below. Write your answer on the given box.

1. Create a narrative analysis on the changes occurred in the Philippines based on social,
political, economic and cultural in the 19th century.

GE Rizal- Life and Works of Rizal 10

[Link] Revolution was a boom of technology; explain its impact in the world of
imperialism/colonialism.

3. Create a narrative analysis on how the colonial government governed/imposed its colonial
dominance to the Philippines in the 19th Century.

GE Rizal- Life and Works of Rizal 11

XI. References:

Ocampo, A. R. Rizal without the Overcoat. Metro Manila: Anvil Publishing, Inc.

Romero, Ma. C. S. et al. Rizal and the Development of National Consciousness. Quezon
City: JMC Press, Inc.

Habulan, Avi V.(2011). The Anvil Jose Rizal [Link] the Occasion of the
Sesquicentennial of his Birth ((1861-2011).Manila: Anvil Publishing Inc.

Borinaga, Rolando O. et al. (2013). The Journal of History. Manila: Philippine National
Historical Society. Vol. LIX,

Santos, delos Santos [Link]. (2013). A Review on the Life & Works of the First
[Link] City: Jimczcyville Publications.

Peraz, A. (2011, February 1). The Philippines Under the Frailocracy. Retrieved from
[Link]

GE Rizal- Life and Works of Rizal 12