Lesson 2 - THE 19TH CENTURY PHILIPPINES AS RIZAL'S CONTEXT
Lesson 2 - THE 19TH CENTURY PHILIPPINES AS RIZAL'S CONTEXT
Chapter: 2 Week: 3
Objectives:
At the end of this activity, the student should be able to:
Locate Rizal’s life in the Philippines within the wider context of the developments in the
nineteenth century.
Explain the important role of the Chinese Mestizos and their ranks within the changing
Philippine economy and society; and
Discuss the interplay of several factors that contributed to the changing landscape of
Philippine society and economy.
Discussion:
The Changing Landscape of Philippine Economy and Society
Many scholars consider the nineteenth century as an era of profound change in the
Philippines. During this period, vast economic, political, social, and cultural currents were felt.
Change, however had its initial ripples in the previous century. By the late eighteenth century,
the monarchy in Spain experienced a dynastic shift from the Habsburgs to the Bourbons. Under
the new leadership, Spain recalibrated colonial policies that would have an effect on the
Philippines. With the goal of invigorating the profitability of the colonies like the Philippines.
Bourbon policies and reforms were carried out. The first governor-general to the Philippines
under the Bourbon mandate was Jose de Basco y Vargas who arrived in the Philippines in 1778.
By the time Basco arrived, the Galleon Trade, the main economic institution existing in
the Philippines, was already a losing enterprise. As Spain sought ways to salvage the dwindling
economy of the empire. As many imperial powers in Europe and the West were undergoing
industrialization, an increased demand for raw materials presented an opportunity to look into the
agricultural potential of the Philippines Thus, it was viewed that the transformation of the
economy towards being export oriented, harnessing the agricultural products that could be
yielded from the archipelago, was the way to go
To better facilitate the envisioned reorientation of the economy, Basco established the
Royal Philippine Company in 1785 to finance agricultural projects and manage the new trade
being established between the Philippines and Spain (and Europe) as well as other Asian
markets. These changes, however, were met with lukewarm reception. Resistance also came
from various sectors like the Catholic Church that was not receptive of the labor realignments
entailed by the planned reforms, and traders that were still holding on the Galleon Trade. It also
did not help that the Royal Philippine Company was fraught with issues of mismanagement and
corruption. As Basco pushed for the reforms, he lifted a ban on Chinese merchants that
reinvigorated internal trade; initialized the development of cash crop farms; relaxed certain
policies that allowed the gradual opening of Manila to foreign markets; and established the
Tobacco Monopoly to maximize the production of this export good.
Global events continued to affect the Philippines at the beginning of the nineteenth
century. By 1810, the Mexican War of Independence rattled the Spanish empire, as it would
eventually lead to the loss of the precious Latin American colonies. With this came the eventual
end of the Galleon Trade which became a concern in the Philippines. As the Philippine economy
hung in the balance, policies were recalibrated and with the eventual closing of the Royal
Philippine Company, Manila was opened to world trade by 1834. As a result, foreign merchants
and traders came and eventually resided in Manila and took over the role of financing and
facilitating the burgeoning agricultural cash crop, export-oriented, economy. Some of the major
investments came from British and American traders that set up merchant houses in Manila.
As the Spaniards lost economic power in the nineteenth century, they asserted dominance
by virtue of their race. This issue brought complications with the rising principalia and mestizo
population who realized their indispensable position in society as movers and facilitators of the
economy. The renegotiation continued throughout the century as the mestizos and the principalia
elite eventually demanded social recognition that the pure-blooded Spaniards had consistently
denied them.
These wealthy mestizos and members of the principlia continued to amass economic and
cultural capital. They also availed themselves of the opportunity to obtain higher degrees of
education not only in the Philippines but also in Europe. These activities augmented their
relevance in society as it was from these ranks that articulations of nationalism would emerge.
Reference:
Wani-Obias et. al., (2018) The Life and Works of Rizal. Quezon City. C&E Publishing, Inc.