The Philippines of Rizal's Time
The Philippines of Rizal's Time
Jose Rizal: Life, Works and Writings and Jacinto Zamora, the “Martyrs od
Second Edition 1872”.
By: Gregorio Zaide, Ph.D. His successor, Admiral Jose
And Sonia Zaide, Ph.D. Malcampo (1874-77), was a good Moro
fighter, but was an inept and weak
During the times of Rizal, the sinister administrator.
shadows of Spain’s decadence darkened General Fernando Primo de River,
Philippines skies. The Filipino people agonized governor general (1880-83 and 1897-
beneath the yoke of Spanish misrule, for they 98), enriched himself by accepting bribes
were unfortunate victims of the evils of an from gambling casinos in Manila which he
unjust, bigoted, and deteriorating colonial scandalously permitted to operate.
power. Among these evils were as follows: General Valeriano Weyler (1888-91),
a cruel and corrupt governor general of
1. Instability of Colonial Administration Hispanic-German ancestry, arrived in
The instability of Spanish politics since Manila a poor man and returned to Spain
the turbulent reign of King Ferdinand VII (1808- a millionaire. He received huge bribes
1833) marked the beginning of political chaos in and gifts of diamonds for his wife from
Spain. The Spanish government underwent wealthy Chinese who evaded the anti-
frequent changes owing to bitter struggles Chinese law. The Filipinos scornfully
between the forces of despotism and liberalism called him “tyrant” because of his brutal
and the explosions of the Carlist Wars. From persecution of the Calamba tenants,
1834 to 1862, Spain had adopted four particularly the family of Rizal. The
constitutions, elected 28 parliaments, and Cubans contemptuously cursed him as
installed no less than 529 ministers with “The Bucher” because of his ruthless
portfolios; followed in subsequent years by reconcentration policy during his brief
party strifes, revolution, and other political governorship in Cuba in 1896, causinf the
upheavals. death of thousands of Cubans.
General Camilo de Polavieja (1896-
This political instability in Spain adversely 97), an able militarist but heartless
affected the Philippine affairs because it brought governor general, was widely detested
about frequent periodic shifts in colonial policies by the Filipino people for executing Dr.
and a periodic rigodon of colonial officials. For Rizal.
instance, from 1835 – 1897, the Philippines was
ruled by 50 governor generals, each serving an Other Spanish colonial officials were of the
average term of one year and three months. At same evil breed of men as the corrupt and
one time – from December 1853 to November degenerate governor-generals mentioned
1854 – a period of less than a year, there were above. They were either relatives or protégés of
four governor-generals. civil officials and friars. Mostly ignorant,
profligate, they conduct themselves with
2. Corrupt Colonial Officials arrogance and superciliousness because of their
With few exceptions, the colonial officials alien skin and tall nose. They became rich by
(governor-general, judges, executives, etc.) illegal means or by marrying the heiresses of
sent by Spain to the Philippines in the 19 th rich Filipino families.
century were a far cry from their able and
dedicated predecessors of the 16th, 17th, and 3. Philippines Representation in Spanish
18th centuries. They were either highly corrupt, Cortes
in competent, cruel, or venal. Apparently, they To win the support of her overseas
symbolized the decadent Spain of the 19 th colonies during the Napoleonic invasion, Spain
century – not Spain of the Siglo de Oro (Golden granted them representation in the Cortes
Age) which produced Miguel Cervantes, Lope de (Spanish parliament). Accordingly, the
Vega, Calderon de la Barca, El Greco, Velasquez, Philippines experienced her first period of
St. Theresa da Avila, and other glories of the representation in the Cortes from 1810 to 1813.
Hispanic nation. History demonstrate that the first Philippine
delegate, Ventura de los Reyes, took active part
General Rafael de Izquierdo (1871- in the framing of the Constitution of 1812,
73), a boastful and ruthless governor Spain’s first democratic constitution, and was
general, aroused the anger of the one of its 184 signers. This constitution was
Filipinos by executing the innocent extended to the Philippines. Another
achievement of Delegate De los Reyes was the 5. No Equality before the Law
abolition of the galleon trade. The Spanish missionaries, who
introduced Christianity into the Philippines as
The 1st period of Philippine early as in the 16th century, taught that all men,
representation in the Spanish Cortes was thus irrespective of color and race, are children of
fruitful with beneficent results for the welfare of God and as much as they are brothers, they are
the colony. However, the 2nd and 3rd period of equal before God. Fascinated by this noble
representation were less fruitful because the concept of human relations and convinced by
Philippine delegates were not as active and the truths of the Christian faith, most Filipinos
devoted in parliamentary work as De los Reyes. became Christians.