Lesson 3 - Spain and the Philippines in the 19th Century

1. What were the major political and economic developments in Spain in the 19th

century? How did these developments affect the Philippines?

The country of Spain experienced several political and monarchical

instability, uprisings and unstable governments that slowed or undermined economic

progress. In the space of 64 years (1812 to 1876), five constitutions were proclaimed

(eight if the brief Statute of 1834, the addenda of 1856-57, and the proposed

Republican Constitution of 1873 are included). By 1825 Spain had also suffered the

devastating loss of all its overseas possessions, except Cuba, Puerto Rico and the

Philippines. The Spanish-American war took place during his reign, and Spain lost

Cuba and the Philippines and after the end of the war, Spain lost all its other

territories in South America. Economic developments in the Spain was heavily

focused around agricultural goods, they discovered new energy sources, new

industries developed such as metalworking industry in Seville, Barcelona, Basque

Provinces, Galicia, chemical industry, car industry, etc. The success of Spanish

industry in increasing output and productivity for the domestic market was not

matched in exporting. Spain became isolated from the growing international financial

markets, they were low on industrial development and the quantity of foreign capital

entering the country declined sharply after 1883. The Spanish government

participated financially in the origination of utility companies (steam navigation,

telegraphy); western investors entered some joint ventures with local capital (rice,

sugar mills, textile industry, railroads and electricity), and domestic businessmen
 invested in the tramways and created the brewing industry. This political instability in

Spain adversely affected Philippine affairs because it brought frequent periodic shifts

in colonial policies. The frequent change of colonial officials hampered the political

and economic development of the Philippines.

2. How was the Philippines by the Spanish colonial officials in the 19 th century?

The Philippines were forced by the Spanish colonizers to accept Spanish

culture and religion. They became slaves as Spaniards claimed their taxes and they

forcefully worked under the power of the Spaniards, who were corrupt officials such

as the so-called ”Alcalde” that is considered as the most corrupt over the other

corrupts, and they denied Filipino’s their human rights and discriminated them. The

courts of justice were notoriously corrupt, justice was costly, partial, and slow. Poor

Filipinos had no access to the courts because they could not afford the heavy

expenses of litigation. The Philippines suffered at the hands of the Spaniards

economically as well, since the slow development of the economy was due to most

Spanish officials that were lazy, incompetent and inefficient. The corrupt officials

were enriching themselves instead of developing the country’s natural resources,

some of them also depended on government employment to earn a living. Several

revolutionaries emerged with extraordinary leaders advocating reforms such as the

recognition of Filipinos as free and equal citizens to the Spanish.

3. Why were the friars and the guardia civil the dominant institutions of power in the

country during the 19th century?

Government and the Church. In the Spanish colonial rule, the power of religious

orders are in a different level, it is the most powerful weapon. The colonial

authorities, from the governor general down to the alcaldes, mayores, were under

the control of the friars. Friars could send a patriotic Filipino to jail or to denounce

him as a filibustero. Spanish friars belonging to different religious orders were the

richest landlords, for they owned the best haciendas in the Philippines. While

Guardia Civil’s purpose was to maintain the internal peace and order in the

Philippines, they later became infamous for their rampant abuses, such as

maltreating innocent people, looting their carabaos, and valuable belongings, and

raping helpless women.

4. What were the notable characteristics of the social structure of the Philippine society

in the 19th century? Explain each briefly.

First is the highest class wherein people that belong in this class consists of

the Spanish officials or Spaniards, Peninsulares and Friars. Peninsulares are

Spaniards who were born in Spain, they held the most important government jobs

and made up the smallest number of the population. Then Friars are members of

any of certain religious orders of men, especially the four mendicant orders

(Augustinians, Carmelites, Dominicans, and Franciscans). The highest class have

the power and authority to rule over the Filipinos, they enjoyed their positions and do

what they want. Second is the Middle Class where the people that belongs into this

class includes the natives (pure Filipino), mestizos (Filipinos of mixed indigenous
 Filipino or European or Chinese ancestry) and the criollos. Last is the lowest class

which only includes the Filipinos or Indios that are poor people ruled by the

Spaniards.

5. How were the Filipinos affected by the application of the doctrine of limpieza de

sangre by the Spanish colonizers?

Limpieza de sangre, "cleanliness of blood" and meaning "blood purity", was a

system of discrimination used in early modern Spain and Portugal. Spain created a

rigid pyramidal social stratification from the simple social organization of the Filipino

natives. The social structure implemented by Spain was pyramidal due to the

colonizers’ adherence to the doctrine of limpieza de sangre or purity of blood. The

structure was divided into three, those Spanish blood, those with money and power,

and the indio class, the group having lowest or zero rights, power and authority.

Filipinos were affected by the social classes through several discriminations and

violations of human rights.

6. What were the major features of the educational system the Spaniards implemented

in the Philippines? Comment on its curriculum and pedagogy.

The educational system heavily emphasized the teachings of the Catholic

religion starting from the primary level to the tertiary level of education. As well as

having limited curriculum which only focused on readings Spanish books, learning

Latin, Christian Doctrines and many more. Students back then would have very little

knowledge about which are very essential to learn, they would also know little of our
 culture, our country and its people. Aside from that, there are poor classroom

facilities, teaching methods are outdated and there’s lack of teaching materials, if

there are materials such as those used in experiments like test tubes, it is hidden for

the purpose of conserving it instead of being used in class, teachers would just draw

these in the board. It is quite ridiculous since the absence of materials and outdated

methods lessen the capacity of the students to learn in full potential through those

teachings, demonstrations and resources. They also do not learn anything aside

from memorizing contents in the book. Education is important, but education in these

kind of cases are questionable since it is not being processed and understood by

each student especially if not taught to them properly.

7. How did the opening of the Philippines to the world commerce and trade affect the

country and its people?

In the half of the 19th century, it gave a salutatory rise in the level of foreign

trade, majority exports of the Philippines came from cash crops like tobacco, sugar,

cotton, indigo, abaca and coffee. The economic development precipitated social,

political, and cultural developments as well. As Manila became a trading center, it

was open to foreign merchants almost without restriction with in demand products

such as sugar and abaca (hemp) grew apace. It became viable destination for

people seeking better opportunities or those wanting to escape the worsening

conditions in the farmlands. It brought prosperity to the Filipinos and Chinese

mestizo resulting to the existence of middle class. The lands became the primary

source of wealth because of the cash-crops, and being able to afford constructions;
 it gave rise to technological interconnections among the separated islands of the

Philippines. The Philippines’ regional diversity became interconnected by railroads,

steam ships, and advance in communication.

8. Concept mapping: create a poster that will show the most pressing issues of the

Philippines today, which in your opinion, you should give attention for its alleviation

or eradication. The poster should also convey possible solutions which you can do.
References:

 History of Spain.19th Century. Overview. Retrieved from

https://www.spainthenandnow.com/spanish-history/19th-c-spain-overview-politics

 DEVELOPMENT OF THE ECONOMY. Retrieved from

http://countrystudies.us/spain/50.htm

 Economy and society in Spain during the 19th century (2015). Retrieved from

https://www.slideshare.net/papefons/economy-and-society-in-spain-during-the-

19th-century

 Simpson, J. Economic development in Spain 1850-1936. Retrieved from

https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/29428326.pdf

 19th century Historical Context. Retrieved from

https://www.classicspanishbooks.com/19th-cent-history.html

 Legarda, B (2001). After the Galleons: Foreign Trade, Economic Change and

Entrepreneurship in the Nineteenth-Century Philippines. Retrieved from

https://eh.net/book_reviews/after-the-galleons-foreign-trade-economic-change-

and-entrepreneurship-in-the-nineteenth-century-philippines/

 Philippines in the 19th Century. Retrieved from

https://dimasalanglaonglaan.wordpress.com/philippines-in-the-19th-century/

 Herrera, D. (2015). The Philippines: An Overview of the Colonial Era. Retrieved

from https://www.asianstudies.org/publications/eaa/archives/the-philippines-an-

overview-of-the-colonial-era/

 11 simple ways to care for each other during the COVID-19 Coronavirus

pandemic (March 27, 2020). Retrieved from

each-other-during-the-covid-19-coronavirus-pandemic/