PHILIPPINES WHEN

RIZAL WAS BORN

In the time that Rizal was born, the entire
Philippines was still under the Spanish
colonization, all the uprising of Filipinos against
the oppression of the Spaniards dos not prosper
due to the advantage of Spanish weaponry at that
time.
In 1861, a great crisis occurred in the church when
archbishop of Manila died and succeeded by a
Spanish mestizo, Father Pedro Pelaez who risen
the position of vicar capitulars.
In January 20, 1872 in Cavite, a mutiny of Filipino
soldiers peasantry leaded by a Mestizo Sgt. named
Fernando la Madrid took place at Fort San Felipe.
The cause of this military uprising is believed to be
the order of Governors-General Rafael Izquierdo
to subject soldiers to personal taxes, from which
they were previously exempted.
Izquierdo also added all liable to this treat to
security of the Spanish colony should be punished
by death.
In the midst of the situation, Rizal also witnessed the
cruelty and injustice of the Spanish authority, when
his mother became a victim of legal vengeance. His
mother, Doña Teodora Alberto de Alonzo was accused
of attempted murder when she allegedly tried to kill
her sister –in-law by poison.
A corrupt court lead her to incarceration of almost 2
and half years.
In Rizal’s time, Spaniards are not only in the control of
politics, the church but the education as a whole.
At first, the schools were only exclusive for Spanish
born citizen, not until start of 19th century tat it
was open for Filipinos of provided that you came
from a wealthy and known family of the society.
The Spanish government did not expect tat
educating Filipinos would mean danger on their
part.
Filipinos who bear the seals of Spanish “Coligeos”
are referred to as “illustrados”.
August 25, 1885 (German Warship)-
German flag hoisted and proclaimed the Caroline's
and Palau's archipelagoes as colonies of Germany.
Strangely, the Spanish governor of the Caroline’s
(Don Enrique Capriles) with two Spanish ships
moored at its arbor, but due to cowardice or other
reasons, he did not offer resistance to the German
aggression “Carolina”.
Holy father issued is decision on October 22, 1885
favoring Spain, recognizing Spain sovereignty over
the Caroline’s and Palau’s.
 Two granting concessions to Germany:
1. The right to trade in the disputed archipelagoes
and
2. The right to establish a coaling station in Yap for
the German navy.
 Spain stagnating as a world power. One with the
winds of time was the dalliance of the imperial
glory of her vanished Siglo de Oro “Golden Age”.
Evidently, Spain never learned a lesson from their
loss of these colonies fro se continued a despotic
rule in her remaining overseas colonies, including
Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines.
During the times of Rizal, the sinister shadows of
Spain 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 powers.
Instability ofcolonial
Administration
 The reign of the King Ferdinand VII (1808-1833) marked
the beginning of political chaos in Spain
 From 1834 to 1862, Spain ad adopted 4 constitutions,
elected 28 parliaments and installed no less than 529
minister with portfolios
 The political instability in Spain adversely affected
Philippine affairs because it brought about frequent
periodic shifts in colonial policies and a periodic rigodon of
colonial officials.
 From 1835 to 1897, the Philippines was ruled by 50
governors generals, each serving an average term of one
year and three months. At one time for a period of less
than a year, there were four governors-general.
 Corrupt Colonial Officials
With few exceptions, the colonial official sent by Spain
were either highly corrupt, incompetent, cruel, or venal
they symbolized the decadent Spain of the 19th century –
not Spain of the Siglo de Oro
General Rafael de Izquierdo (1871-73), a boastful and
ruthless governor general, aroused the anger of the
Filipinos by executing the innocent Father Mariano Gomez,
Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora, the “Martyrs of 1872”.
His successor, Admiral Jose Malcampo (1874-77), was a
good Moro fighter, but was an inept and weak
administrator
General Camilo de Polaveja (1896-97), an able
militarist out heartless governor general, was
widely detested by the Filipino people for
executing Dr. Rizal.

They became rich by illegal means or by marrying

the heiress of rich Filipino families.
 Philippine Representation in
Spanish Cortes
The Philippine experience her first period of
representation in the Cortes (Spanish Parliament)
from 1810-1813.
Ventura Delos Reyes, first Philippine delegate,
took active part in the framing of the constitution
of 1812 and also abolished the galleon trade.
Unfortunately, the representation of the overseas
colonies including Philippines in the Spanish
Cortes was abolished in 1837.
Since then, the Philippine condition worsened
because there was no means by which the Filipino
people could exposed the anomalies perpetrated
by the colonial officials.
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).
Strangely enough, the Spanish authorities who
cherished these human rights or constitutional
liberties in Spain denied them to the Filipinos in Asia.
 No Equality Before
the Law
 Christianity was introduced by Spanish
Missionaries as early as 16th century.
 Sates that all men was created by God equally.
 On the other hand, Spanish Colonial Authorities
did not implement Christ precept of brotherhood.
 They considered Filipinos as the subject to be
exploited and not to protect them.
 Leynes de Indias (law of indies) were
promulgated by Christian monarchs of Spain.
 Maladministration of
Justice
Court of justice in the Philippines during Rizal’s
time was CORRUPT.
Verily a courts of INJUSTICE.
The Spanish judges, fiscals and other court official
were inept, venal, and ignorant law.
Wealth, social prestige, and color of skin were
preponderant factors of winning a case in courts.
 Racial
Discrimination
Spain introduced Christianity into the Philippines
with the concept of brotherhood.
They considered Filipinos not as brother but as
inferior beings which is not deserving of rights and
privileges that Spaniards enjoyed.
During that time Filipinos were called “indios”
because of flat nosed and brown skin. In
retaliation Filipinos dubbed their complexioned
detractions with the term “bangus”(milkfish).
 Frailocracy
Spanish political philosophy of union of church
and state.
Arose a unique form of government in Hispanic
Philippines called “frailocracy” (a government by
Friars).
Friars controlled religious and educational life of
the Philippines.
At 19th century they came to acquire political
power, influence and riches.
 Forced Labor
 Polo - it was the compulsory labor imposed by the Spanish
colonial authorities on adults Filipino males.
The Royal Decree of July 12, 1883, implemented by the New
Regulations promulgated by the Council of State of February 3,
1885, increased the minimum age of the polistas from 16 to 18
and reduced the days of labor from 40 to 15.
The same royal decree provided that not only native Filipinos,
but also all male Spanish residents from 18 years old to 60 must
render forced labor, but this particular provision was never
implemented in the Philippines for obvious reasons.
The well-to-do among them were able to escape this manual
labor by paying the falla.
 Haciendas Owned by the
Friars
 During Rizal’s times the Spanish friars belonging to
different religious orders were the richest landlords, for
they owned the best haciendas in the Philippines.
 Te rural folks, who ad been living in these haciendas and
cultivating tem generation after generation became
tenants.
 One of these bloody agrarian revolts was the agrarian
upheaval in 1745-1746.
 As early as in 1768 Governor Anda, realizing the danger of
the friar-owned haciendas to Filipino-Spanish relations,
strongly recommended to the Madrid government the sale
of the friar estates.
Rizal, whose family and relatives were tenants of
the Dominican Estate of Calamba, tried to initiate
agrarian reforms in 1887, but in vain.
His advocacy of agrarian reforms ignited the wrath
of the Dominican friars, who retaliated by raising
the rentals of the lands leased by is family and
other Calamba tenants.
 The 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 Marc 24,1888, for the purpose of maintaining
internal peace and order in the Philippines.

 While it is true that the Guardia Civil in the Philippines

had rendered meritorious services in suppressing the
bandits in the provinces, they later became infamous for
their rampant abuses.
Rizal directed is stinging satire against the hated
Guarded Civil.
Through Elias in Noli Me Tangre, e exposed the
Guardia Civil as a bunch of ruthless ruffians good
only “for disturbing the peace” and “persecuting
honest men”.
Rizal and his fellow Illustrados established
organizations and publication which criticizes the
Spanish way of governing the Philippines. This also
led to a nationwide uprising of the Filipinos to
achieve independence leaded by Andres Bonifacio
and Emilio Aguinaldo.