CHAPTER 2

Introduction to the Ilustrado Class

Who were the Ilustrados?

• Term Ilustrado means “the enlightened ones.”
• Educated Filipino elite that emerged in the 19th century during Spanish colonial
rule.
• Exposed to modern, liberal, and nationalist ideas through education, trade, and
travel.
• Role: shaped Filipino nationalism, led Propaganda Movement, and influenced
Revolution.

Historical Context of Emergence

Economic Changes
• 1834: Philippines opened to international trade – growth of capitalism.
• Export crops: sugar, tobacco, abaca, coffee.
• Wealthy principalia families sent children to study in Manila & Europe – rise of
Ilustrados.
Educational Developments
• Early Spanish period: education focused on religion only.
• Educational Decree of 1863: established public primary schools in towns – rise
of literacy.
• Wealthy Filipinos gained access to higher education in Manila & Spain.
Social Stratification
• Peninsulares – Spaniards born in Spain (top).
• Insulares – Spaniards born in the Philippines.
• Mestizos – Chinese/Spanish blood, traders/landowners.
• Principalia – native elites.
• Indios – majority, poor peasants.

Characteristics of the Ilustrados

• Education: law, medicine, politics, philosophy, literature.
• Social position: middle-to-upper class, intermediaries between colonizers and
Filipinos.
• Cultural identity: adopted European culture but still proud of Filipino roots.
Prominent Ilustrados
• José Rizal – national hero, author of Noli Me Tangere & El Filibusterismo.
• Marcelo H. del Pilar – journalist, editor of La Solidaridad, “Father of Philippine
Journalism.”
• Graciano López Jaena – orator, founder of La Solidaridad.
• Antonio Luna – pharmacist/scientist, later a brilliant general.
• Apolinario Mabini – “Brains of the Revolution,” “Sublime Paralytic,” great political
thinker.
Contributions of the Ilustrados
1. The Propaganda Movement (1872–1892)
• Aimed at peaceful reforms, not independence.
• Demands:
o Representation in Spanish Cortes.
o Secularization of parishes.
o Equality before the law.
o Freedom of speech, press, assembly.
• Used newspapers, essays, speeches.
Literary & Intellectual Legacy
• Rizal’s novels awakened national consciousness.
• Literature became a weapon of resistance.
Transition to Revolution
Spain ignored reforms – Rizal executed in 1896.
Sparked radicalization – Rise of Katipunan & armed struggle.
First Philippine Republic (1899)
• Ilustrados helped draft the Malolos Constitution (first democratic constitution in
Asia).
• Divided: some wanted compromise with Spain/US, others fought for full
independence.

Socio-Political Context of 19th-Century Philippines

Central administration: Governor-General (absolute power), Royal Audiencia (court),
Ministerio de Ultramar (Spain).
Provincial & Municipal Rule: Gobernadorcillo & principalia enforced taxes/labor.
Maura Law (1893): last municipal reform; reorganized towns; gave limited role to local
elites.
Social control: Guardia Civil & censorship; widespread abuses.
Church & Friar Power
• Friars controlled parishes, schools, land (haciendas).
• Conflict with Filipino secular priests – 1872 Cavite Mutiny.
• Execution of GomBurZa priests – inspired Rizal & Ilustrados.

Enlightenment Ideas & Influence

• Enlightenment (17th–18th century): “Age of Reason” – liberty, equality,
secularism.
• Key thinkers: John Locke, Rousseau, Voltaire, Montesquieu, Kant.
• Reached Philippines via:
o Overseas education.
o Trade (1834 opening of Manila).
o Printing press (La Solidaridad).
 José Rizal’s Political Ideology
Full name: José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda
Birthday: June 19, 1861
Parents: Francisco Rizal Mercado & Teodora Alonso Realonda
Major Works: Noli Me Tángere and El Filibusterismo
Final Months: December 30, 1896, Rizal Park, Manila

Reformist, not revolutionary – wanted gradual reform under Spain, not immediate
revolt.
Education = foundation of freedom.
Believed Filipinos could achieve nationhood through unity, dignity, and enlightenment.
Famous line: “Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan.”

Rizal’s Major Works

Noli Me Tangere (1887): exposed abuses of friars & officials.
El Filibusterismo (1891): darker, more revolutionary tone.
The Indolence of the Filipinos (1890): argued laziness was due to colonial oppression.

Marcelo H. Del Pilar and Graciano Lopez Jaena

and
the Political Ideology of Greogorio Del Pilar

• Gregorio del pilar was one of the youngest generals in the Philippine revolutionary
forces. At the age of 20 he graduated at ateneo de manila and stop his studies to
join the insurgencies when the war broke out between Philippine revolution against
spanish rule.
• The social, cultural, and economic conditions of the colonial Philippines were
published in La Solidaridad.

The propaganda movement objective:

1. Equality of Filipinos and Spaniards before the law;
2. Assimilation of the Phi8lippines as a regular province of Spain;
3. Restoration of Philippine Representation in the Spanish Cortes
4. Filipinization or secularization of the Philippine parishes; and
5. Individual liberties for the Filipino people, such as freedom of speech, freedom of
press, and the freedom of redress of grievances

• Three days after the founding of the La Liga, Rizal was arrested by order of
Governor General Despujol and deported to Dapitan on July 15, 1892 and
remained exiled in that place before the outbreak of the Revolution of 1896. With
 his deportation of Dapitan the La Liga Filipina died its natural death and
subsequently split into two branches.
• The rightist wing came to be called Cuerpo de Compromisarios, while the leftist
wing came to be known as the Katipunan.
• To prevent the Spaniards from discovering the true identity of the contributors to
the Sol, Filipino reformists used pseudonyms.

Marcelo del Pilar - Plaridel

Jose Rizal - Laon Laan/Dimasalang
Mariano Ponce - Kalipulako or Tigbalang
Antonio Luna - Taga-llog

All Propaganda movements and reforms lead to failure.

1. Spain was very much preoccupied with their own internal problems
2. Petty quarrels among the reformists made them disunited.
3. Lack of finances to support the propaganda activities in Europe.

Rizal’s Retraction and Legacy

On Dec 29, 1896, priests claimed Rizal retracted his anti-Church views.
Document: Said Rizal returned to Catholic faith, rejected Masonry.
Debate:
• Pro: Priests + handwriting match + married Josephine.
• Anti: Document appeared late + missing original + Mi Último Adiós shows no
regret.
Legacy: Debate continues, but Rizal remains a hero.

Ilustrados vs. Katipunan

Ilustrados
• Elite, educated Filipinos (studied in Spain).
• Wanted reforms, not independence.
• Leaders: Rizal, Del Pilar, López Jaena, Paterno.
• Weakness: Lacked funds, internal conflict, afraid of revolution.

Katipunan (KKK)
• Founded by Andrés Bonifacio (1892).
• Goal: Total independence through armed struggle.
• Members: workers, farmers, common people.
• Symbols: blood compact, red flag with “KKK.”
Ilustrado Legacy Today
• Positive: Promoted education, civic freedoms, nationalism.
• Negative: Elitist, left out the masses, some allied with colonizers.
• Today: Politics still dominated by elites → inequality continues.
• Lesson: Reforms must include the people, not just the elite.

Ilustrados vs. Modern Intellectuals

Similarities
• Both want social change and influence public thought.
• Both sometimes seen as disconnected from the masses.
Differences
• Ilustrados: Under Spain, used books/newspapers, reforms within system.
• Modern intellectuals: Independent PH, use social media, face issues like
disinformation and corruption.
Challenges Today
• Fake news, inequality, climate change.
• Need to connect knowledge with grassroots action.