🌷͙֒✧˚.

🎀༘⋆
𝓐𝓵𝓲 ˚˖𓍢ִ໋

LESSON 6: THE PHILIPPINES UNDER SPAIN Juan de Plasencia

- Franciscan missionary. He Wrote “Customs of
TREATY OF TORDESILLAS (1494) the Tagalog”
- The Treaty of Tordesillas of 7 June 1494 involves - Authored the first book ever printed in the
agreements between King Ferdinand II of Aragon archipelago “Doctrina Cristiana” (1593)
and Queen Isabella I of Castile and King John II of - Concerned with the welfare of the Filipino.
Portugal establishing a new demarcation line - Reading and writing Spanish should also be
between the two crowns, running from pole to taught to Filipinos.
pole, 370 leagues to the west of Cape Verde
islands. Reason for writing “Customs of the Tagalogs”

- “Obtain the simple truth by weeding out much of

the foolishness, in regard to their government,
administration of justice, inheritances, slaves, and
dowries.”

1521 - First contact with the Spaniards. Customs of the Tagalog (1589)
1565 - Start of Spanish colonization. Lasts for 333 - Earliest descriptive written work on early Filipino
years. Ended the year 1898 Society, giving us the witness view of our
ancestors’ customs and traditions.
Samuel Tan
- Filipino Historian & Framed Filipino’s response to Plasencia used “Tagalog” because Tagalogs
Spanish colonization as: inhabited Manila.
• Socio-political structure
INDIOS - Inhabitants who were Christianized. • Loans
MOROS - Islamized in the late 14th Century • Marriage, constitution of the family,
LUMADS - Neither of the two. Able to retain their inheritance and dowry
traditions • Belief system

JUAN DE PLASENCIA’S CUSTOMS OF THE SOCIO-POLITICAL STRUCTURE OF EARLY

TAGALOG TAGALOG

Miguel Lopez de Legazpi Dato - Served as war captains. Ruled as many as

hundred houses.
- Was a Spanish explorer who established Spain’s
dominion over the Philippines that lasted until the Barangay - “Tribal” gathering
SpanishAmerican War of 1898.
- Established Manila as the Capital of the Spanish Castes / Classes:
Colony in the Philippines.
- The practical move was to study the subjects of - Maharlica: Nobles
this new colony, hence, several Spanish writers - Aliping Namamahay: Commoners, served their
wrote about the Filipinos. master
- Aliping sa Guiguilir (Saguiguilid): Slaves, they
could be sold.
 🌷͙֒✧˚.🎀༘⋆
𝓐𝓵𝓲 ˚˖𓍢ִ໋

We have to understand that Plasencia was

writing from Spaniard’s view and assigned Separation: Separation was possible under
terms to the Filipinos that were otherwise certain conditions, such as infertility, infidelity, or
actually foreign such as “knights” and other personal disputes. The terms of the
“castes”. separation were usually settled between the two
families, and dowries or gifts might be returned or
Some of the customs/traditions written by kept depending on the circumstances
Plasencia:
- Loans Constitution of the family
- Marriage and constitution of the family Extended Family System: The Tagalog family
- How disputes were settled in the was typically composed of the immediate family as
community well as extended relatives, all of whom were
- Belief System expected to support one another.

(For better understanding, read the excerpt from the book)

Patriarchal Structure: The family was generally
patriarchal, meaning the male head of the family
Loans (often the father) had authority over other family
- Plasencia observed that when someone members.
borrowed money or goods (like rice or animals),
they were expected to return the loan with interest Roles within the Family: Each member of the
or an agreed-upon additional payment. family had a defined role. Men were often
- Debtor is condemned to a life of toil (exhausting responsible for farming, hunting, or warfare, while
physical labor). women managed domestic tasks and cared for the
- Borrowers become slaves, and after the death children.
of the father the children pay the debt. (LCI)
Dowry / Bigay-Kaya
Plasencia believed that this system should and Dowry as a Marriage Gift: The bigay-kaya was a
can be reformed. form of dowry given by the groom or his family to
the bride’s family. It was an important part of the
Marriage marriage contract and served to compensate the
Arranged Marriages: Marriages were often bride’s family for their loss of a family member.
arranged by the parents of the bride and groom.
The choice of a partner was influenced by social Types of Dowries: The dowry could consist of
status, wealth, and alliances between families. gold, land, slaves, or other valuable items,
depending on the family’s wealth and status.
Ceremony: The marriage ceremony included
several stages, including negotiations between the Use of Dowry: The bride’s family would
families and the exchange of gifts. sometimes keep the dowry, while in other cases,
the bride herself could retain it as her personal
Monogamy and Polygamy: Monogamous property, which would give her financial security.
marriages were common, but men of higher
status, such as datus, could have multiple wives,
especially if they could afford to support them. The
primary wife, however, held a special status.
 🌷͙֒✧˚.🎀༘⋆
𝓐𝓵𝓲 ˚˖𓍢ִ໋

How disputes in the community were settled

- Investigations made and sentences passed by • Lic-ha - Images with different shapes
Maca - Afterlife, “paradise” / “village of
the dato must take place in the presence of those rest”. Those who go to this place are just.
of his barangay.
- If any of the litigants felt aggrieved, an arbiter • Casanaan - “A place of anguish”. A place of
was unanimously named from another village or punishment
Sitan - Demon
barangay.
- Some persons, known as fair and just men, were
said to give true judgment according to their ANALYSIS OF THE CUSTOMS OF THE
customs. TAGALOG

Controversy between two chiefs: - The Spanish commissioned Plasencia’s work to

identify the best strategy to organize their newly
When they wish to avoid war, they also summon found colony.
judges to act as arbiters; they did the same if the
- Spanish were more interested in the
disputants belong to two different barangays. In Socio-political structure of the early Filipinos.
this ceremony they always had a drink, the plaintiff (whom they called indios)
inviting the others. - Evidence that the early Filipinos had a system of
governance, customs, and beliefs.
Belief System - Plasencia narrated that filipinos would enslave
each other because of unpaid debts and how the
• There are no temples consecrated to slave status was inherited by their children.
performing sacrifices.
- Plasencia wrote it in a European Perspective:
• Idolatry - Worship of idols Example: “They adored the stars although they
don’t know their names”
• Simbahan - Temple or place of adoration - Spiritual practitioners = ‘Priests of the Devil’
such as catalonan, mangcocolam.
• When they wish to celebrate a festival, which
they called pandot, or “worship”, they - Presence of Badhala
celebrated it in the large house of a chief.
- Practices were combined with Catholic Beliefs
• Nagaanitos - practice of worshiping or honoring (Folk Catholicism)
these spirits through rituals and offerings. Example: Crucifix used as anting-anting.
- The Idea of Barangay was changed.(Bayan)
• Badhala - “all powerful” or “maker of all (Plasencia misused the word, boat)
things”
- Revisiting and reanalyzing primary sources allow
They also worship the sun, moon, and stars, us to contextualize the same concepts we use
although they did not know them by their names, today.
as the spaniards and other nations know the
planets.
ANTONIO DE MORGA’S SUCESOS DE LAS
• Tala - Morning star ISLAS FILIPINAS
• The Pleiades - “Seven little goats”, the
Pleiades is one of the nearest star clusters to Antonio De Morga
Earth and is easily visible to the naked eye - Studied civil law in Spain
- Was called to serve as assistant to the
• Change of seasons - “Mapolon” (deity GovernorGeneral in the Philippines in 1593
associated with afterlife), “Balatic” (deity arriving in Manila in 1595.
associated with agriculture and
fertility)
 🌷͙֒✧˚.🎀༘⋆
𝓐𝓵𝓲 ˚˖𓍢ִ໋

- It was in Mexico that he published his Chiefs, slaves, marriage, inheritance, loans,
experiences and observations in “Sucesos de las crimes, religion, the coming of Islam, arrival of
Islas Filipinas” in 1609. Spaniards and the foundation of Manila.

Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas - Islamic Influence: Before the arrival of the
Spaniards, Islam had begun spreading in the
- Translation: Events in the Philippine Islands southern regions of the Philippines, particularly in
- The book has 8 chapters which talks about all of Mindanao and Sulu. Islamic missionaries and
De Morga’s observations in the places he had traders from neighboring regions introduced the
known. faith, and several local rulers converted to Islam.
- Mentions the provinces in Luzon, Visayas, and
Mindanao. - Sultanates: In these areas, the political structure
Describes: evolved with the establishment of sultanates,
- Locations -Weapons where Muslim rulers (sultans) wielded significant
- Trade Products - Language power and influence. Morga noted that the spread
- Flora and Fauna of Islam was ongoing at the time the Spaniards
- Food, Houses, Clothing arrived in the archipelago

Observations of Antonio De Morga: New political arrangement under the Spanish

SKIP TO PAGE 6 FOR SUMMARY colonization.

- Barangay System: De Morga noted that early Governor-General: Under Spanish rule, the
Filipino society was organized into small, highest authority in the Philippines was the
independent communities called barangays. Each Governor General, appointed by the Spanish
barangay was led by a datu (chief or leader), who crown. The Governor-General had extensive
wielded both political and military power. The datu powers, overseeing all political, military, and
was responsible for the welfare, protection, and religious matters in the colony. Morga described
governance of his people. how the Governor-General acted as the
representative of the Spanish king and was
- Alliances and Warfare: Barangays often formed responsible for implementing royal policies,
alliances, typically for defense or trade purposes, maintaining order, and defending the colony from
and inter-barangay warfare was common. Raids external threats.
were conducted to capture resources or even
slaves. Audiencia (High Court): Along with the
Governor-General, the Spanish established the
Natives throughout the islands can write Audiencia, a royal court that served both as a
excellently with certain characters. judicial and advisory body. The Audiencia helped
- Widespread Literacy: Morga was administer justice, handle appeals, and assist in
impressed by the fact that many Filipinos, governance
both men and women, had the ability to
write. This contradicts the misconception New political arrangement under the Spanish
that indigenous populations were illiterate colonization.
or uncivilized before the arrival of the
Spanish. - The datus became cabezas de barangay
- “Natives throughout the islands can whose job is to collect taxes to be paid to the
write excellently with certain characters encomendero.
almost like the Greek or Arabic”
- The cabeza de barangay was appointed as the
local leader of the barangay, acting as an
intermediary between the colonial authorities and
the indigenous people. The cabeza was
 🌷͙֒✧˚.🎀༘⋆
𝓐𝓵𝓲 ˚˖𓍢ִ໋

responsible for collecting tribute (taxes) from the - Morga notes that the natives already had
local population and ensuring that Spanish policies established techniques for extracting and
were followed at the community level. processing gold. The Spaniards aimed to
capitalize on this indigenous knowledge by
- One of the main changes implemented under controlling gold-rich areas and imposing tribute
Spanish colonization was the imposition of the and forced labor systems to ensure a steady
tribute system. All Filipino males were required to supply of the precious metal.
pay tribute/tax (Tributo) to the Spanish crown,
either in the form of goods (such as rice, tobacco, Manila Galleon Trade / Manila-Acapulco Trade
or cotton) or money. This system was a key source The Manila Galleon Trade began in 1565 and
of revenue for the Spanish administration and was lasted until 1815, establishing a direct maritime
overseen by the local cabezas de barangay route between Manila, the capital of the
Philippines, and Acapulco, Mexico. Morga
- Polo y Servicios (Forced Labor): The polo y discusses the strategic importance of this route in
servicios was a system of forced labor where fostering trade between the Spanish colonies in
Filipino men between the ages of 16 and 60 were Asia and the Americas.
required to provide labor for public works projects,
such as building roads, and churches. The galleon trade was crucial for the Spanish
economy. It enabled the transfer of valuable
- Encomenderos: In the early period of Spanish goods, particularly from Asia to the Americas.
colonization, the encomienda system was Morga highlights how the trade facilitated the
introduced. The Spanish crown granted export of Chinese silk, spices, and other luxury
encomiendas (land and its inhabitants) to Spanish items to Mexico, which were highly sought after by
settlers or soldiers, known as encomenderos. European markets.
Encomenderos had the right to collect tribute from
the indigenous population living within their The ships used for this trade were called galleons,
territories. which were large, multi-decked sailing ships
designed to carry substantial cargo across the
- Role of the Church: The Catholic Church played Pacific Ocean. Morga details the construction of
a central role in the new political order. Spanish these vessels and the challenges of navigating the
missionaries, particularly the Augustinians, treacherous waters of the Pacific, emphasizing the
Franciscans, Dominicans, and Jesuits, were not bravery and skill required of the sailors.
only responsible for converting the local population
to Christianity but also wielded considerable Morga elaborated on the economic activities in
influence in the governance of the colony. Morga the Philippines and how Spain’s revenue from
noted how the Church’s role in education, local the Philippines is low, compared to it’s other
administration, and moral guidance became colonies
intertwined with political authority - Revenues in these islands are so limited
and expenses so great, the royal treasury
Described some of the Philippine Islands that falls short.
have gold that the Spaniards wanted to extract - The King of Spain sustains the
and Sell. Philippines only for the Christianization and
conversion of the natives
- The primary reason for Spain’s interest in these
islands was the lucrative potential of gold mining. Observations of Antonio De Morga: (Summary)
Gold was a highly valuable commodity that could
be sold and traded with other parts of the Spanish - Socio-cultural and political aspects of early
empire and beyond. The Spanish crown hoped to Filipino society.
increase its wealth by monopolizing gold extraction
- Natives throughout the islands can write
in the Philippines. excellently with certain characters.
 🌷͙֒✧˚.🎀༘⋆
𝓐𝓵𝓲 ˚˖𓍢ִ໋

- Chiefs, slaves, marriage, inheritance, loans, FRANCISCO DE SANDE’S LETTER TO

crimes, religion, the coming of Islam, arrival of ESTEVAN RODRIGUEZ DE FIGUEROA
Spaniards and the foundation of Manila.
Early Spanish Texts:
- New political arrangement under the Spanish
colonization. - Recounted the presence of the “Moros”.
(Mahometan)
- Datus became the cabezas de barangay whose - Spanish arrival stopped the spread of Islam.
job is to collect taxes to be paid to the (unfavorable and evil)
encomendero, a Spaniard who helped colonize - The Spanish were determined to subdue Jolo
the Philippines. and Mindanao for their strategic location for trade
as well as natural materials that could be
- Introduction of Tax or tributo. developed to become expensive trade products.
- Economic policies were imposed by the Spanish
to seize and control the trade and commerce in the About the letter:
Philippines aggressively. (Manila Galleon - A letter from Governor Francisco de Sande
Trade) (3rd Spanish Governor General of the Philippines),
instructing Captain Estevan Rodriguez de
- Described some of the Philippine Islands that Figueroa to subdue the islands of Jolo, an island
have gold that the Spaniards wanted to extract known for extraordinary pearls.
and sell. - Dated 23 May 1578.

ANALYSIS OF THE SPANISH SOURCE AND ANALYSIS OF THE LETTER

FILIPINO ANNOTATION
- The purpose of the letter was to further the
- We see a shift in political, economic, and cultural Spanish hold into Mindanao for potential revenues
practices of the Filipinos. to add to Spanish coffers.
- Moro’s belief (Islam) is evil, and Christianity
- Christian doctrines was adopted by the Filipinos alone is good.
who believed in Anitos and nature spirits. Spanish Goal in Jolo
- Brought about Creolization: A group of people - Mainly Economic. Collect taxes from Jolo
who blended elements of different cultures.
- Make Jolo cultivate their lands and produce raw
- The Spanish arrival is seen as an interruption to materials.
the trade relations that has been flourishing in
Southeast Asia. - Diving for pearls
- Trade only with the Spaniards.
- The Philippines was pressured to intensify
agriculture, produce raw materials, and provide - Spaniards would later send more expeditions to
labor and even seafarers for the export of goods; Mindanao.
the Manila-Acapulco galleon trade supplanted Corcuera Expedition (1630’s) – First of
the Southeast Asian trade and only to the benefit many small advancement.
of the Spanish government and Chinese Fort Pilar (Real Fuerza de San Jose) –
merchants. Built in Zamboanga, 1635. First Spanish
hold in Mindanao.
- Jose Rizal took interest and annotated De - Spaniards attacked other areas, especially Sulu
Morga’s work. (1890) and Maguindanao.
- A significant source on Philippine History as it
described Philippine Life and society at the turn of - In the turn of 17th century, Spaniards used
17th century. Filipino men and resources to subdue Mindanao.
- This defense would come in many forms through
centuries that would be labeled as the “Moro
Wars”.
 🌷͙֒✧˚.🎀༘⋆
𝓐𝓵𝓲 ˚˖𓍢ִ໋

- This left a lasting split between the Christianized Diego Silang’s Letter
and the Islamized people of the archipelago.
- Addressed to Dawsonne Drake, British
Governor of Manila.
LESSON 7: REVOLTS AND REVOLUTION
- Proclaimed his allegiance to the British crown.
DIEGO SILANG’S LETTER TO THE BRITAIN
- Praised how the British seized and governed
Diego Silang Manila.
- Born in the province of Pangasinan. - Silang claimed that he is an influential leader and
- An orphan who lived with the parish priest of that all of Ilocos consented to realigning
Vigan. themselves for the British.
- Worked as a Messenger who frequently traveled
to Manila ANALYSIS OF DIEGO SILANG’S LETTER
- Received education under the friars.
- Married a young widow, Gabriela. - Silang’s convictions did not possess an
anti-colonial character.
British Occupation of Manila (1762) - In the process of going against the Spaniards, he
was willing to make himself and his province
- Britain’s capture of Manila exposed Spain’s subject to another colonial power.
weakness and vulnerability.
- Silang felt that Ilocano’s need to protect What we need to understand about Silang’s
themselves from the British because Spain could context:
not defend them. 1. The idea of Nation was still nonexistent in 1762.
Silang’s imagination was limited to his locality.
- Silang insisted that since British captured the
power of the Spaniards, the people should stop 2. Silang’s demands/revolt was anchored on
paying their taxes, and instead focus their practical matters and not on some ideals.
resources on defending themselves from the (Burden to the common masses).
British.
- Historian Renato Constantino saw the first - Revolts that took place during the Spanish period
phase of Silang’s revolt as Reformist. were not always anti-colonial. They rebelled
- When Spanish authorities refused to give in to against the abuses but have not thought of a
his particular demands, Silang started to take future without a colonial power.
bolder actions.

Actions done by Diego Silang: HERMANO PULE’S COFRADIA DE SAN JOSE

THROUGH THE HYMNS
1. Expelled the alcalde and all the Spaniards from
Vigan. Apolinario Dela Cruz/Hermano Pule
2. Abolished tributes, forced labor, and freed the
people from their obligation to serve the - Born in 1814
principales. - Native of Tayabas Province (Quezon)
- Aspired to live the monastic life and went to
3. Imposed 100 pesos fine from each Priest.
Manila to pursue his dream.
- Upon receiving an ultimatum from the Spaniards, - Being an Indio precluded him from entering the
Silang turned to the British for Protection. Monastery.
- Pule became a lay preacher, demonstrating an
Shift in Diego Silang’s Revolt: uncanny ability to move his audience’s heart with
ease.
First phase of revolt – He intended to protect the - In 1832, at the age of 18, Pule organized 19 of
Spanish Crown and the church from the British. his fellow Tayabasin in a confraternity called
Second phase of revolt – He proclaimed Hermandad de la Archi-Cofradia del Glorioso
allegiance to the British andsought their protection. Senor San Jose y de la Virgen Del Rosario.
 🌷͙֒✧˚.🎀༘⋆
𝓐𝓵𝓲 ˚˖𓍢ִ໋

- This organization would be more popularly

known as COFRADIA DE SAN JOSE.

Cofradia de San Jose

- Cofradias: Organizations that perform acts of

charities and conduct different religious activities.

- Cofradia de San Jose started with such

characteristics.

- From 1839 to 1840, it expanded across

provinces and recruited a number of followers.

- The Parish of Lucban was alarmed and ordered

a raid in one of it’s gatherings.

- Hermano Pule sought recognition, however, were ANALYSIS OF COFRADIA DE SAN JOSE’S
Denied. DALIT SA CALUWALHATIAN

- In 1841, the Governor – General suspect the - The dalit was distributed as a prayer pamphlets
among members of Cofradia year 1839 – 1840
organization as a rebellion and ordered the arrest (Increase of members)
of Hermano Pule and other leaders and members
of the organization. - The poem was a characterization of a condition
of perfection for the faithful once they ascend into
Heaven.
- The Cofradia hid on the slopes of Mount San
Cristobal in Tayabas. - This hymn inspired the cofradia’s knowledge as
they lived according to the teachings of Hermano
- In October 1841, Spanish forces attacked Pule.
Cofradia killing hundreds of it’s members and - The dalit of the Cofradia de San Jose is an
capturing and executing Hermano Pule. essential text that tells of the inner history of those
who left the mainstream colonial society and
“Dalit sa Caluwalhatian sa Langit na established a spiritual community that was free
from impositions and regulations of the Spanish
Cararatnan ng mga Banal” colonial authorities.
- Reynaldo Ileto: A Filipino Historian who sought
to unravel the inner history of the Cofradia through SELECTED PRIMARY SOURCES ON THE
their prayers and hymns. PHILIPPINE REVOLUTION
- One of the Hymns or dalit of Cofradia de San PHILIPPINE REVOLUTION
Jose was a 42-stanza poem titled “Dalit sa
Caluwalhatian sa Langit na Cararatnan ng mga - The Philippine Revolution signaled the end of the
Banal”. long Spanish Era.
- The revolution started in August 1896, upon the
- The poem was written in archaic tagalog and was discovery of the Katipunan.
made by Fray Padro de Herrera.
- The Katipunan was led by Andres Bonifacio.

“Dalit sa Caluwalhatian sa Langit na

Cararatnan ng mga Banal” KKK
 🌷͙֒✧˚.🎀༘⋆
𝓐𝓵𝓲 ˚˖𓍢ִ໋

- Kataastaasan, Kagalang-galang na Katipunan

ng mga Anak ng Bayan, or Katipunan.
- Envisioned a united Filipino nation revolting
against the Spaniards for the total independence
of the country from Spain.

Katipunan
- Revolt
- Total separation of the Philippines from Spain
Ilustrados
- Propaganda Movement
- Does not envision a total separation
- Only demanded equal rights, representation, and
protection from the abuses of the Friars.

KARTILYA NG KATIPUNAN
• The Kartilya ng Katipunan embodied the values • Reading the memoirs would give us a view on
of KKK and served as the code of Katipuneros. the internal dynamics of the revolution.
• The rules that are listed in the Kartilya can be • The memoirs of Aguinaldo provide us with an
classified into two. The first group comprises rules important perspective on the revolution. They can
that will make the member an upright individual. give us an idea on how Aguinaldo led the
The second includes rules that will guide the way revolution and what motivated him to do the things
they treat their fellow. that he did as the leader.
• The Kartilya is a reaction and a response to DECLARATION OF PHILIPPINE
certain value systems that they found despicable
in the colonial state under Spain. INDEPENDENCE

• The Kartilya embodied the ideals of the • The Philippine Independence was declared on
Katipunan upon its foundation in 1892. June 12, 1898, and the most important document
of this day was the Declaration of the Philippine
• Original title of the Kartilya: “Manga Aral Nang Independence.
Katipunan ng mga Anak Nang Bayan”.
• The document gives insights on how the
• Written by Emilio Jacinto. He joined the revolutionaries perceived the history of the
Katipunan at the age of 18, and became a Spanish colonization and the justification of the
commander at the age of 22. revolution.

EMILIO AGUINALDO’S MGA GUNITA NG • The conspicuous absence of the Katipunan in

the narrative contained therein is indicative of the
HIMAGSIKAN persisting faction in the revolutionary movement.
• The Philippine Revolution was eventually turned
over to the leadership of Emilio Aguinaldo. • The American colonization was also
Aguinaldo’s ideas and perspectives embodied the foreshadowed in the document.
character of the revolutionary period that he led.
Such were contained in his Gunita. • The Declaration of the Philippine Independence
is an important document that tells us about the
• Aguinaldo started writing this memoir in 1928, mentality of the revolutionaries and how they
more than three decades since the events took analyzed the situation of the Philippines.
place. He wrote until the 1940s, and the volumes
were not published until the year of his death in
1964.
• Aguinaldo’s memoir demonstrated the conflict
between the Magdalo and the Magdiwang
chapters of the Katipunan and his differences
with Bonifacio.