GROUP 1 — THE 19TH CENTURY

PHILIPPINE ECONOMY, SOCIETY,

AND THE CHINESE MESTIZOS
 The Galleon Trade (1565–1815) was a  The rise of haciendas and land-
trade route between the Philippines and grabbing, which pushed small
Mexico (New Spain) during Spanish farmers into debt and led to
colonial rule. It involved huge Spanish widespread tenant farming
galleons transporting goods like spices, (kasama system).
silk, porcelain, and other luxury items
 Tenant farming (Kasama System)
from China and Asia to Mexico via
was a land tenancy arrangement in
Manila. In return, silver from the
the Philippines where small farmers
Americas was shipped back to the
(kasama) worked on land owned by
Philippines and Asia.
wealthy landlords (hacienderos) in
 The Royal Philippine Company (1785) exchange for a portion of the harvest.
was established to promote agriculture This system emerged as haciendas
and trade. expanded, forcing many farmers into
debt and dependency due to unfair
 The Royal Philippine Company
profit-sharing and rising land costs.
was established in 1785 by King
Since farmers had to borrow money
Charles III to boost the Philippine
for tools and seeds, they often
economy through direct trade with
remained trapped in a cycle of
Spain and Asia. Led by Jose Basco y
poverty, making landownership
Vargas, it promoted cash crops like
nearly impossible. Over time, this
tobacco and sugar to replace the
led to social inequality and fueled
declining Galleon Trade. However, it
agrarian unrest in the country.
faced opposition from Spanish
merchants and the Church, suffered  By 1810, the Mexican War of
from corruption and Independence disrupted Spanish
mismanagement, and was eventually rule, accelerating economic shifts in
dissolved in 1834, paving the way the Philippines.
for free trade policies.
 The Mexican War of Independence
 Industrialization in Europe increased (1810–1821) was a revolution that
demand for raw materials, positioning ended Spanish rule in Mexico, led by
the Philippines as a key supplier. figures like Miguel Hidalgo and
Agustín de Iturbide. Spain’s
 The opening of Manila to foreign
economic struggles and Napoleon’s
markets and the rise of cash crop
invasion weakened its control, and
economies (tobacco, sugar, cotton, etc.).
Mexico gained independence in
1821. This also ended the Manila-
 Acapulco Galleon Trade, cutting off  the Chinese became integrated into
Mexico’s support for the Philippines colonial society, giving rise to the
and accelerating its shift to foreign intermarriages with indios that gave
trade and economic changes. birth to Chinese mestizos
THE CHINESE AND CHINESE  the Chinese mestizos assumed an
MESTIZOS important role in the economy all
throughout the Spanish colonial
Early Trade Relations
period as they have influenced the
 Filipinos and Chinese traded even changing economy in the 19th
before the Spanish arrived. century by purchasing lands,
accumulating wealth and influence.
 The Galleon Trade relied heavily on
Chinese goods like silk, porcelain, LASTING IMPACT ON
and spices. PHILIPPINE SOCIETY

SPANISH CONTROL OVER THE  Food

CHINESE
 Language
 Spaniards became suspicious of the
Culture and Traditions
growing Chinese population.
IMPACT ON LIFE IN THE
 which led to stringent state policies
COLONY
towards the sangley ranging from
higher taxes and movement EDUCATION REFORMS
restrictions with the establishment
 The growing economy required a
of the Chinese enclave (The Parian)
more professional workforce.
 Some Chinese were even expelled
 In 1836, the colonial government
from the country.
ordered towns to set up primary
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE schools.
CHINESE IN THE ECONOMY
 In 1863, free primary education was
 Chinese proved themselves as the mandated.
“necessary outsiders” in the
 More schools, such as Ateneo
Philippine colonial economy and
Municipal, were established.
society
 Spaniards realized their economic
contributions in sustaining the ECONOMIC GROWTH &
economy. MIGRATION
THE RISE OF CHINESE  Manila became a major trade center,
MESTIZOS attracting many people.
  Overcrowding led to problems in  Principalia - Wealthy pure-blooded
housing, sanitation, and crime. native supposedly descended from
 Increased migration made tax the kadatoan class
collection more difficult.
 Indio - Pure-blooded native in the
GOVERNMENT REFORMS & Philippines.
CONTROL
 Chino infield - Non-Catholic pure-
 In 1849, Governor-General Narciso blooded Chinese.
Claveria required people to adopt
surnames.  As Spanish economic power declined in
the 19th century, they asserted
 The Guardia Civil was established
to enforce laws and maintain order. dominance through racial superiority.

Social Changes
GROUP 2 - AGRARIAN
 The mestizo and principalia class
grew in importance due to economic DISPUTES
success.
 Conquistador: Spanish conqueror.
 Wealthy mestizos and elites pursued
 Caballeria: A small tract of land
higher education in the Philippines
and Europe. included as a land grant.

RENEGOTIATING SOCIAL  Canon: Annual rent paid by the

STRATIFICATION inquilino.

 Peninsular - Pure-blooded Spaniard  Cavan: A measure equal to 75 liters.

born in the Iberiab Peninsula (i.e.,  Hacienda: Large estates used for raising
Spain). livestock and agricultural production.
 Insular - Pure-blooded Spaniard born
 Inquilino: A tenant who rented land
in the Philippines.
from the friars and subleased it to
 Mestizos - Born of mixed parentage,
sharecroppers.
a mestizo can be: Spanish Mestizo-
 Principales: Ruling elite class.
one parent is Spanish, the other is
 Sharecropper (Kasamá): An individual
native
who rented land from an inquilino and
 Chinese Mestizo- one parent is
worked the land.
Chinese, the other is native.
 Sitio de ganado mayor: A large tract of
land included in a land grant.
BRIEF HISTORY OF FRIAR ESTATES HACIENDA DE CALAMBA
IN THE PHILIPPINES: CONFLICT:
 Origins:  Early Ownership:
 Late 16th to early 17th centuries:  1759: Don Manuel Jauregui donated the
Spanish conquistadors received land land to the Jesuits.
grants, including large tracts (sitio de
 1767: Jesuits expelled; property
ganado mayor, ~1,742 hectares) and
managed by the Office of Jesuit
smaller plots (caballerías, ~42.5
Temporalities.
hectares).
 1803: Sold to Don Clemente de Azansa.
 Transition to Religious Orders:
 1833: Purchased by the Dominicans.
 Many Spanish landowners failed to
develop their lands due to transient  Rizal Family's Role:
residency, limited livestock markets, and
focus on the lucrative Galleon Trade.  Among the principal inquilinos, leasing
approximately 380 hectares.
 Religious orders acquired these lands
through donations, purchases, or by  Primarily cultivated sugar, a high-
taking over mortgaged properties. demand commodity.

 Expansion:  Emergence of Disputes:

 By the 19th century, friar estates  1883: Paciano Rizal reported that friars
comprised about 40% of the provinces of collected rents without issuing receipts.
Bulacan, Tondo (now Rizal), Cavite, and  1885: Tenants struggled with increased
Laguna. rents amid declining sugar prices; friars
 Agrarian Relations: threatened eviction but faced limited
interest from outsiders.
 Initially, estates were managed by lay
brother administrators with tenants  Escalation:
paying fixed rents.  Mariano Herbosa, Rizal's brother-in-law,
 Mid-18th century: Introduction of the highlighted issues like annual rent hikes,
inquilinato system, where inquilinos faulty irrigation, and lack of receipts.
leased land from friars and subleased to  1887: Tenants submitted a report,
sharecroppers (kasamá). authored by José Rizal, detailing
 This system created a three-tiered grievances to the colonial government;
structure: landlords (friars), inquilinos, some tenants withheld rent in protest.
and sharecroppers. Repercussions:
 1891: Friars began evicting non-
compliant tenants.
 Rizal's family faced persecution; his that favored Spanish regular clergy over
parents and siblings were exiled. Filipino secular clergy.
 These events profoundly impacted Rizal As the principles of liberalism began to
and influenced his novel "El permeate Filipino consciousness—
Filibusterismo." advocating for equality and equal
GROUP 3 - THE EMERGENCE OF opportunity—the secularization movement
NATIONALISM IN PHILIPPINE gained momentum. Many Filipino priests
SOCIETY demanded rights within the Church context,
and this struggle laid the groundwork for a
1. The Cavite Mutiny (January 20, 1872) distinct Filipino identity. This movement
eventually culminated in the establishment
To begin with, one of the most significant of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente by
events that contributed to the emergence of leaders like Isabelo de los Reyes and Fr.
Filipino nationalism was the Cavite Mutiny. Gregorio Aglipay during the Philippine
This uprising involved around 200 Filipino Revolution.
soldiers and laborers at the Cavite arsenal.
The mutiny was provoked by a decree from 3. The Execution of GOMBURZA
Governor-General Rafael de Izquierdo, Lastly, the execution of GOMBURZA on
which stripped the arsenal workers of their February 17, 1872, stands as a major
previous exemptions from tribute and forced catalyst for the emergence of nationalism in
labor, known as polo. the Philippines. The brutal method of their
The mutiny, which initially aimed to express execution—by garrote—in Bagumbayan
loyalty to Spain, ultimately failed. However, (now Rizal Park) drew outrage from the
the Spanish authorities used this incident to educated class, known as the ilustrados.
intensify their repression and suppress the Their deaths ignited a desire for reform
growing nationalist sentiments among among Filipinos, with many looking to the
Filipinos. Many participants were executed, future of their country through a
but rather than quelling the movement, the nationalistic lens.
harsh response from the colonial Prominent figures like José Rizal, echoing
government served as a catalyst for the the injustice of this event, dedicated his
burgeoning nationalist cause. novel Noli Me Tangerine to their memory.
2. The Secularization Movement The execution further solidified the concept
of “Filipino” identity. Organizations like the
Another important factor was the Katipunan began to emerge, inspired by the
Secularization Movement, which emerged in ideals of the GOMBURZA martyrs and the
the 19th century. This movement revolved revolutionary ideas circulating at the time.
around the call for racial equality between
Spanish and Filipino priests. The struggle, GROUP 4 — IMAGINING A NATION
led by notable figures like Fr. José Burgos, 1. Cortes - the legislative or lawmaking
sought to challenge the established hierarchy body of the Spanish government
2. Creole - a Spaniard born in the think, question, and imagine what a
Philippines nation is.
3. Mestizo - an individual born of mixed Circulo Hispano Filipino
ancestry, may refer to a Spanish mestizo
or a Chinese mestizo  The earliest attempt to unite Filipinos
studying in Spain was the formation of
4. Propaganda - information used to the Circulo Hispano Filipino, an
promote or publicize a particular cause organization under the leadership of a
or point of view creole, Juan Atayde.
5. Restoration - refers to the Spanish  It had the support of the Spaniards who
Restoration; -a period in Spanish history were sympathetic towards the Filipinos.
spanning the years 1874 - 1931 that saw
the restoration of a monarchy under Revista del Circulo Hispano-Filipino
Alfonso XII together with the  a bi-weekly newspaper published by
establishment of a bicameral legislature. the Circulo in 1882 which aimed at
End of 19th Century expressing thoughts about the abusive
Spanish government, but the
 Economic conditions improved in the organization and the newspaper itself
Philippines; it was already possible for were short-lived due to lack of funds
many creole and mestizos family to and conflicting political issues, thus
send their sons to school, not only in leading to the dissolution of the
Manila, but also in Europe. organization that lasted only until 1883.
19th Century Spain
 The Restoration - the monarchy of Los Dos Mundos
Alfonso XII was put back into place and
a bicameral legislature with a  One of the liberal newspapers in Spain
constitutional monarchy was that became sympathetic to the cause of
established. the Filipinos.

 The Constitution 1876 ensured  came out in 1883 with the intention of
political stability relied on the rotation demanding for the overseas Hispanic
of the Liberal and Conservative parties colonies equality of rights and equal
in the Government. This constitution opportunities for progress.
also declared Catholicism as the religion  Graciano Lopez Jaena and Pedro
of the state. Govantes y Azcarraga were involved
as staff members.

Political and Religious Institutions  Rizal and Eduardo de Lete also

contributed articles concerned with
 it could be questioned and attacked socio-political economic reforms the
without fear of reprisal. It was an Philippines
environment that allowed students to
España en Filipinas 3. The end of the practice of exiling
residents without due process
 It is a propaganda newspaper
advocating economic and  La Solidaridad also often ran articles
administrative reforms. It came out in dealing with the Spanish politics,
March 1887 during the time Rizal's first attacks on friars and reforms for the
novel Noli me Tangere Philippines. Aside from political and
economic content, it also gave space for
 Began its publication through the the publication of literary works as well.
support of Filipinos, Creoles, and The support for the newspaper gradually
mestizos, in Madrid. increased and its roster of writers grew.
 The newspaper was short lived as well Among those who contributed were:
because of glaring differences and
internal feuding among its staff.  Jose Rizal
La Solidaridad  Dominador Gomez

 January 1889 - the Filipino community  Jose Maria Panganiban

united its purpose to continue to  Antonio Luna
working for Filipino rights.
 Ferdinand Blumentrit
 Filipino in Barcelona began
preparations for the publication of a  Marcel H. Del Pilar - took on the
active role of running the paper and
new periodical. Mariano Ponce and
took it to Madrid.
Pablo Rianzares were the early
supporters who helped with finances. 1890
Graciano Lopez Jaena offered his sevice  Two of the most prominent members of
as editor and Marcelo H. Del Pilar also the Filipino community in Spain began
joined the efforts. to show differences in stance with
regard to Philippine affairs
 February 15, 1889 - La Solidaridad
was first released. Jose Rizal
 The staff defined its program as: "to  Always held the opinion that to serve
combat all reaction, to impede all the country better, one had to bring the
retrogression, to applaud and accept issues closer to home. He suggested that
every liberal idea, to defend all one had to speak to the Filipinos, rather
progress" than the Spaniards.
 Among the Reforms of the newspaper
were:
Marcel H. Del Pilar
1. Philippine representation in the Cortes
 Was a skilful politician who felt that
2. Freedom of the press efforts at persuading the Spanish leaders
and officials needed to be continued and
 that this was the best way to achieve the
reforms Filipinos were seeking
New Year’s Eve Banquet (1891)
 The Filipinos in Madrid proposed that
they elect a leader to unite their
community.
 Rizal did eventually win the position as
Filipino leader but only through the
manipulations of Mariano Ponce.
 In the end, Rizal felt his triumph was
shallow and left Madrid
 From this point onwards, Rizal stopped
from contributing articles to La
Solidaridad and focused instead on the
writing of his novels.
1895
 Periodicals continued to publish only
until this year because of lack of funds
and internal feuding.
November 15, 1895
 Date when the final issue of La
Solidaridad was released. In this issue,
the editor Marcelo del Pilar, had
written: ‘’We are persuaded that no
sacrifices are too little to win the rights
and the liberty of a nation that is
oppressed by slavery"