PHILIPPINES IN 19TH CENTURY
GLIMPSE OF THE WORLD IN THE 19th CENTURY
The 19th century refers to the period between January 1, 1801 and December 31, 1900.
The 19th century was a period of social change. The significant social changes that were seen during this
period were the beginning of abolition of slavery and the massive urbanization brough out by Second
Industrial Revolution.
The 19th century is marked by the collapsed of what used to be strong and huge empire such as the Spanish,
Napoleonic, Holy Roman and Mughal Empire.
When the French Empire and its allies in the Napoleonic Wars were defeated, the British and Russian Empires
expanded greatly, becoming the World's leading powers.
By the end of century, the British empire controlled a fifth of the world's land and one quarter of the world's
population.
19th CENTURY ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT
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 grew rapidly and the
volume of exports to Europe expanded even further after the completion of Suez Canal in 1869.
The growth of commercial agriculture resulted in the appearance of new class. Alongside the landholdings of
the church and the rice estates of the pre-Spanish nobility, there arose haciendas of coffee, hemp, sugar and
tobacco often the property of enterprising Chinese Filipino mestizos.
Benito Legarda in his article: The Economic Background of Rizal's Time published in the Philippine Review of
Economics asserted that at the end of 19th century, Philippine real wage rates were the highest in east and
south asia higher even than industrial Japan.
Economically the Philippines had risen in a globalized world without the compulsion and plantation of other
colonies. At the end of 19th century (Rizal's Century) Philippine foreign trade accounted for 36% of GDP.
PHILIPPINES IN 19TH CENTURY
19th CENTURY EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT
Not until 1863 was there public education in the Philippines and even the church controlled the curriculum.
Less than one fifth of those who went to school could read and write and far fewer could speak it properly.
The limited higher education in the colony was entirely under clerical direction but by 1880s many sons of the
wealthy were sent to Europe to study.
Spanish Colonial Education aims in he 19th century
1. Promotion of Christianity
2. Promotion of Spanish Language
3. Imposition of Spanish Culture
Spanish Colonial Education System
Curriculum was formal, organized and religion-oriented.
Spanish missionaries were the teachers or tutors.
What were taught: Christian Doctrine, prayers and sacred songs
3Rs were only given to brighter pupils (reading, writing and religion)
Teach catechism to natives
Study of the Spanish language was compulsory
Education was considered as a privilege not a right.
Education for elite was controlled by the friars
Educational Decree of 1863
Access to education by the Filipinos was later liberalized through the enactment of Educational Decree of
1863
It provided for the establishment of one at least primary school for boys and girls in each town under the
responsibility of the municipal government.
It provided for the establishment of normal school for male teachers under the supervision of the Jesuits.
The Spanish schools started accepting Filipino students.
It was during this time when the intellectual Filipinos emerged.
The Basic Education Spanish Colonial Curriculum
1. The Spanish curriculum consisted of 3Rs.
2. The schools were parochial or convent schools.
3. The main reading materials were the Cartilla, the Caton and the catecismo
4. The method of teaching-learning was pre-dominantly individual memorization.
5. There were three grade levels: Entrada, Acenso and Termino
PHILIPPINES IN 19TH CENTURY
The curriculum required the study of:
Christian Doctrine
Values
History
Reading and Writing in Spanish (steno)
Mathematics
Agriculture
Etiquette
Singing
World Geography
Spanish History
As a result of increasing number of educated Filipinos, a new social class raised that come to be known as
ILLUSTRADOS. The most prominent of the illustrados is Jose Rizal who inspired the desire for independence
with his novels written in Spanish.
Other Filipino intellectuals were Graciano Lopez Jaena, Marcelo H. Del Pilar, Mariano Ponce or Antonio Luna
19th CENTURY SOCIAL STRUCTURE
The 19th century Philippines was a feudalistic society as a consequence of encomienda system imposed by the
colonizers. The Spaniards collected all forms of taxes and tributes from the Filipinos and even required the natives
to render poloy servicio or forced labor to the government and to the catholic church. This forced labor was also
linked to the Spanish doctrine of Limpieza de Sangre or cleansing blood, cleanliness of blood or blood purity.
Social Ranking was created in the society by the virtue of Encomienda System. A system of social discrimination
came to be institutionalized. High positions in the government were opened only to the pure-blooded Spaniards.
Members of the middle class and the Indios were considered inferior by the upper classes and unworthy education.
Social Structure in the 19th century
Highest Class (Spanish Officials, Peninsulares, Insulares, Friars)
Middle Class (Spanish Mestizos, Chinese Mestizos, Criollos and Principalia)
Lowest Class (Indios or Native of the masses)
PHILIPPINES IN 19TH CENTURY
HIGHEST CLASS
Spanish Officials- Peninsulares and Insulares who gave official government designations starting from
Governor-General.
Peninsulares- are Spaniards who were born in Spain. They held the most important government jobs and
made up the smallest number of population.
Insulares-are Spaniards born in the Philippines. They are considered inferior Spaniards compare to those who
were born in Spain.
Friars-are members of any certain religious orders of men especially the four religious orders (Agustinian,
Carmelites, Dominicans and Franciscans)
MIDDLE CLASS
Spanish Mestizos-are of mix Spanish and Indigenous Filipino ancestry.
Chinese Mestizos-are of mix Chinese and Indigenous Filipino ancestry.
Criollos-a person of mixed European and black descent especially in the Caribbean.
Principalia-ruling class of native elites, gobernadorcillo, cabeza de barangay, landowners, merchants, wealthy
native families(mga Filipino na mayayaman)
LOWEST CLASS
Indios-are the poor natives or poor people having Filipino pure blood.
PHILIPPINES IN 19TH CENTURY
Since the Spain is very far from the Philippines, the King of the Spain ruled the islands through the Viceroy of
Mexico, which was then another Spanish colony.
KING OF SPAIN
VICEROY OF MEXICO
PHILIPPINES
But when Mexico regained its freedom in 1821, the King of Spain ruled the Philippines through the Governor
General in the Philippines.
KING OF SPAIN
GOVERNOR-GENERAL (PHILIPPINES)
THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
Maintained peace and order
Collected taxes
Built schools and other public works
THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL
Salary 40,000 pesos
The King's representative and the highest-ranking official in the Philippines
Head of the Spanish Colonial Government
Appointed by the Spanish Monarch
Represented the crown in all government matters
Vice Royal Patron in all religious affairs
He had Great Powers
Had the power to appoint and dismiss public officials except for those personally chosen by the King.
PHILIPPINES IN 19TH CENTURY
He could nominate priests for ecclesiastical administration of the parishes.
He was commander in chief of the colonial army.
He supervised all government offices and collection of taxes.
He was also the president of Real Audiencia (Like the chief justice of the Supreme Court today)
He had legislative powers. He can legislate laws for the colony. Laws enacted by the by the Governor-General
are called Actos Acordados.
Qualification: Must be a Peninsulares or Spanish born in Spain.
There were 115 Spanish Governor-General in our country. The first one was Miguel Lopez de Legaspi (1565-
1572) and the last was Diego de los Rios (1898)
The Governor-General and other government officials had so much power that it was commonly abused. To
investigate the abuses, there were bodies created: The Residencia, The Visita and the Real Audiencia.
THE RESIDENCIA
This was a special judicial court that investigates the performance of a Governor-General who was about to be
replaced
The incoming Governor-General was usually a member and submits a report of findings to the King.
THE VISITA
The Council of Indies in Spain sends a Spanish Official called Visitador-General to observe conditions in the
colony.
The Visitador-General reported his findings directly to the King.
THE REAL AUDIENCIA
The highest court in the land during Spanish times.
Served as an advisory body to the Governor-General and checks and reports his abuses.
The Governor-General is the head of this body.
Audits the expenditure of the colonial government.
Sends a yearly report to the Spain.
PHILIPPINES IN 19TH CENTURY
THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT
The Spaniards created Local Government Units for the provinces. There were two types of local government units:
1. Alcaldia
2. Corrigimiento
ALCADIA
The Alcaldia led by the Alcalde-Mayor governed the peaceful provinces.
The Alcalde Mayor was a civil official.
Replaced the Encomendero and ruled over the provincial government.
Performed judicial functions in his capacity as the highest official in the province.
This position remained appointive and open only to Spaniards Peninsulares or Insulares.
Salary 300-2000 pesos before 1847 and 1500-1600 after 1847.
Duties of the Alcalde Mayor:
Represented the Spanish King and the Governor-General
Exercised executive and judicial functions.
Managed the day to day operations of the provincial government.
Implemented laws and supervised the collection of taxes.
ALCALDIA
This was considered as the most corrupt unit in local government due to Indulto de Commercio or right
to participate in the Galleon Trade.
CORRIGIMIENTO
A province where conditions of peace and order were less stable.
Under the rule of military officer called Corregidor
Duties: Governed the provinces that were not yet entirely under Spanish Control
PHILIPPINES IN 19TH CENTURY
THE CITY GOVERNMENT
Larger towns became cities called Ayuntamiento.
Became center of trades industry
City Head: Alcalde en ordinario (City Mayor)
The Ayuntamiento had a city council called Cabildo
The Cabildo is composed of:
Alcalde (City Mayor)
Regidores (Councilors)
Alguacil Mayor (Police Chief)
Escribano (Clerk of Court and Official Notary)
THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
Pueblos(Towns)
Head: Governadorcillo (Little Governor)
A position given to Filipinos
Occupied by formaer Datus
Salar: 24 Pesos (exempted from taxation)
DUTIES OF GOBERNADORCILLO
Preparation the tribute list (padron)
Recruitment and distribution of men for draft labor, communal public work and military conscription (quinto)
Postal Clerk
Judge in minor civil suits
Intervene in all administrative cases pertaining to his town: lands, justice, finance and municipal police
Qualification:
Any Native/Chinese Mestizo
At least 25 years old
Literate in oral and written Spanish
A Cabeza de Barangay for 4 years
Example: Emilio Aguinaldo was a Chinese Mestizo and was the Gobernadorcillo of Cavite El Viejo (now Kawit)
The officials of the Pueblo were taken from the Principalia, the noble class of the pre-colonial origin. Their
names are survived by prominent families in contemporary Philippine Society such as Duremdes, Lindo,
Tupas, Gatmaitan, Liwanag, Pangilinan, Balderas, Agbayani, Apalisok and Aguinaldo to name a few
PHILIPPINES IN 19TH CENTURY
DUTIES OF GOBERNADORCILLO
Four lieutenants aided the gobernadorcillo in his duties
The Teniente Mayor (Chief Lieutenant)
The Teniente de Policia (Police Lieutenant)
The Teniente Sementeras (Lieutenant of the Field)
The Teniente de Ganados (Lieutenant of the Livestock)
BARRIOS (BARANGAY OR CABECEIRAS)
Head: Cabeza de Barangay (Head of Barangay)
A position given to Filipinos
Occupied by former Datus
Filled by Hereditary Succession or Appointment
Duties:
Maintain peace and order
Collect taxes and tributes in barangay
Recruit men for communal public works
Qualifications:
Literate in Spanish
Has Good Moral Character
Cabezas who served for 25 years were exempted from forced labor
PHILIPPINES IN 19TH CENTURY
19th CENTURY ROLE AND RULE OF THE FRIARS
The Friars from different Religious Orders came to the Philippines in batches:
1565-Agustinians with the Legaspi Expedition
1577-Franciscans
1581-Jesuits
1587-Dominicans
1606-Recollects
1895-Benedictines
PATRONATO REAL
System in Spain (and a similar padroado system in Portugal) was the expression of royal patronage
controlling major appointments of Church officials and the management of Church revenues, under terms of
concordats with the Holy See. The resulting structure of royal power and ecclesiastical privileges, was
formative in the Spanish colonial empire. It resulted in a characteristic constant intermingling of trade,
politics, and religion. The papacy granted the power of patronage to the monarchs of Spain and Portugal to
appoint clerics because the monarchs "were willing to subsidize missionary activities in newly conquered and
discovered territories.
CURA PAROCCO (Parish Priest) The most powerful figure in town/pueblos
