John N. Schumacher, S.J.

(1927–2014) was a prominent American Jesuit historian who made

significant contributions to the study of Philippine history, particularly during the Spanish colonial
period. He is best known for his research on the Philippine revolution, nationalism, and the role
of the Catholic Church in the Philippines.

Some of his key works include:

● "The Propaganda Movement, 1880–1895" – a detailed study of Filipino reformists in

Europe who advocated for greater representation and rights under Spanish rule.
● "Revolutionary Clergy: The Filipino Clergy and the Nationalist Movement,
1850–1903" – an exploration of the role played by Filipino priests during the reform and
revolutionary periods.

Spanish colonization of the Philippines began in 1565, when Miguel López de Legazpi
established the first permanent Spanish settlement in Cebu. The colonization lasted until 1898,
when Spain ceded the Philippines to the United States after its defeat in the Spanish-American
War through the Treaty of Paris.

Jose Rizal's nationalist thought must be understood within the larger context of the economic,
political, cultural, and religious developments of the 19th-century Philippines. While Rizal is a
key figure in Filipino nationalism, his evolving ideas were shaped by the circumstances of his
time.

-We must see Rizal more than just a symbolic national hero and rather focus on the contexts of
his ideas and that is what we’re going to talk todayrizalSchumacher resonated Renato
Constantino’s criticism of "veneration without understanding" suggests that true respect for
Rizal's legacy requires a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the historical forces that
shaped his nationalism.

-"Veneration without understanding" an essay of Constantino addressesing questions and

controversies over Rizal's status as a Filipino national hero.

Economic Development

● Economic Growth (Post-1830): Export economy flourished, leading to prosperity for

Filipino middle and upper classes, especially those in agriculture (sugar, rice, abaca).

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● Land Ownership: Large estates were controlled by Filipino hacenderos, friars, and
inquilinos who rented lands from friar estates and operated them in a semi-feudal
system.

Jose Rizal's Chinese ancestry, traced to his great-grandfather Domingo Lam-co, a successful
immigrant businessman, benefited from this as Rizal's family transitioned from small landholders
to significant renters, acquiring 390 hectares by the 1890s.
 ● Impact on Nationalism: Economic friction (due to increased land value and rent
disputes) between inquilinos and friars fueled resentment, contributing to questioning the
Economic success allowed the Filipino elite to question Spanish colonial rule.

Cabesang Tales, also known as Telesforo Juan de Dios, in El Filibusterismo who

symbolizes the struggles of Filipino farmers under Spanish colonial rule. Once a
hardworking farmer who became a cabeza de barangay, his land was unjustly taken by
the friars despite his efforts to pay increasing rent. As his family falls into poverty, with
his daughter Juli forced into servitude, Cabesang Tales transforms from a peaceful,
law-abiding man into a tulisan.

Political Developments

● Corruption in the Spanish colonial government led to inefficiency and instability.

They imposed high taxes on Filipinos but the funds were often misused and their policies
hinder progress and worsen the oppression’

1.TRIBUTE a type of tax collected by the treasury to fund the expenses of colonization.
The Principalia, military officials, missionaries and other servants of the church were
exempted from paying this tax.

2. POLOS Y SERVICIO A system of forced labor imposed by the Spaniards to the

Filipinos. All healthy males of the right age were required to do forced labor called
polistas

3. VANDALA Forced sale of products such as rice and other crops to the Spanish
government. These products were not paid, so it simply became the confiscation of
crops.

4. ENCOMIENDA the right to collect taxes from people living on their land/property.

● Opening of the Suez Canal (1869) increased exposure to European ideas, especially
liberalism.

The canal connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, allowing ships to travel between
Europe and Asia without navigating around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope.Not only
benefit us in trading, but help to be enlightened and cultivate the ideas of liberty, equality,
and nationalism.

● Inability to provide basic public services (schools, roads, peace and order), with a failing
taxation system that hindered modernization effort.

The government and church are failing to meet the needs of the Filipinos. Political appointments
were often used as rewards for party loyalists in Spain, resulting in a bureaucracy that had little
knowledge of or concern for the Filipino people. These officials typically arrived in the
Philippines to exploit resources rather than address local needs.
● Calls for reforms grew as it became clear that Spain wouldn’t provide them, pushing figures
like Rizal towards independence.

Cultural Development

● Spread of education, especially higher education, helped spread nationalist ideas.

It has become a commonplace to speak of the role of ideas learned by the

Europeaneducated ilustrados in the emergence of the nationalist

● Jesuits' return in 1859 and the establishment of schools like Ateneo Municipal provided
Filipinos with modern education, while the Escuela Normal de Maestros, founded in
1865 to train Spanish-speaking Filipino teachers, became a symbol of educational
progress.
● Expelled from the Philippines and the rest of the Spanish empire in 1768, they finally
returned in 1859 to take charge of the evangelization of Mindanao.They are believed to
be expelled because of political tension that they are interfering with the Spanish
Government. Rival religious orders, such as the Dominicans and Franciscans, accused
the Jesuits of political intrigues. King Charles III of Spain issued a royal decree expelling
the Jesuits from all Spanish territories, including PH.

When Rizal was already in Europe, he write to his Austrian friend Ferdinand Blumentritt,
concerning the young Filipinos in Spain:

“Almost all were educated by the Jesuits. The Jesuits have surely not intended to teach us love
of country, but they have showed us all that is beautiful and all that is best.”

● Rizal, influenced by German historiography, used modern methods to explore the

Philippines' past, emphasizing in Antonio de Morga's Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas
that history is essential to the nationalist cause.

In his annotation to the book, Rizal highlights evidence of a thriving Filipino civilization
before Spanish colonization and argues that the three centuries under Spanish leads to
pagbagsak imbes na pag-unlad. Pinuri din niya yung Filipino values, showing them as
different from and often superior to Spanish values. Although Rizal may have overstated
his case from a strict historical perspective, he successfully created a foundation for
national pride and identity.

4. Religious Developments

● Religion and politics were deeply intertwined, with Spanish friars holding significant
power over governance and land​.Even anticlerical Spanish governors like Rafael
Izquierdo acknowledged that friars were indispensable for maintaining Spanish control in
the Philippines. The friars' devotion to Spain and their influence on the local population
were seen as vital for sustaining colonial rule​

Spanish colonial authorities prioritized friars over government officials because the friars,
acting as intermediaries between the colonial government and Filipinos, held immense
influence and loyalty among the local population, were seen as crucial to maintaining
 Spanish control, and their religious and political power was deemed indispensable even
by anticlerical governors​

● A key aspect of religious development was the conflict between Filipino secular clergy
and Spanish friars, particularly over the control of parishes. Figures like Father José
Burgos championed the rights of Filipino priests, which evolved into a broader nationalist
movement. The 1872 execution of Burgos and other priests (GomBurZa) further
galvanized the nationalist cause, as it was seen as an unjust suppression of Filipino
equality and rights​

In recent years certain generalizations have been used concerning the nationalist movement of
the nineteenth century and the revolution that emerged from it. John Schumacher outlines five
main currents of 19th-century Filipino nationalism:

1. Reformist: Sought government reforms without demanding independence

Many Filipinos, including friars, sought reforms in the colonial government, such as
improvements in public services and governance, but without necessarily seeking
independence​

2. Liberal: Advocated civil liberties and opposed the friars' influence

Liberals advocated for civil liberties such as freedom of speech, the press, and
representation in government. They were often anticlerical, seeing the friars as obstacles
to progress​

3. Anticlerical: Targeted the friars' political and economic power​

This movement opposed the political and economic influence of the Spanish friars,
viewing them as suppressors of both liberal reforms and nationalist aspirations​

4. Modernizing: Focused on economic progress, often without pushing for independence

Focused on economic progress, this current supported modernization, but many

modernizers, including foreign businessmen, were more interested in economic gain
than national independence

5. Nationalist: Aimed for full independence and Filipino sovereignty​

True nationalists sought full independence from Spain, advocating for Filipino
sovereignty and a united national identity. They saw the struggle as not just for reforms
but for the creation of an independent Filipino nation​

The Tejeros Convention, held on March 22, 1897, was a pivotal event in the Philippine
Revolution against Spai:
● The convention aimed to resolve internal conflicts between factions of the Katipunan
(Magdiwang and Magdalo) and establish a unified revolutionary government​.
● The convention elected officers for a new government, with Emilio Aguinaldo being
elected as President (in absentia) and Andrés Bonifacio as Director of the Interior
 ● Bonifacio questioned the legitimacy of the election after being insulted by Daniel Tirona,
who questioned his qualifications for the position of Director of the Interior​
● In response, Bonifacio nullified the convention's results, citing irregularities, and issued
the Acta de Tejeros rejecting the authority of the new government​
● This event deepened the division between Aguinaldo's and Bonifacio's factions, leading
to further conflict and eventually Bonifacio's arrest and execution​

Background:

● The Katipunan was divided into two main factions in Cavite: the Magdalo faction led by
Emilio Aguinaldo and the Magdiwang faction led by Mariano Álvarez.
● Disputes arose between the two factions on how to manage the revolutionary efforts.
● A meeting was called at the Tejeros estate to address these conflicts and discuss the
defense of Cavite, but it turned into a political discussion about leadership.

Date and Venue:

● The convention took place on March 22, 1897, in Tejeros, located in the town of San
Francisco de Malabon (now General Trias), Cavite.

Objective:

● The initial goal was to resolve military strategies against the Spanish forces, but the
focus shifted towards forming a revolutionary government to replace the Katipunan.

Key Figures Present:

● Emilio Aguinaldo – leader of the Magdalo faction (absent as he was engaged in battle).
● Andrés Bonifacio – Supremo of the Katipunan and leader of the Magdiwang faction.
● Mariano Álvarez – leader of the Magdiwang faction.
● Artemio Ricarte, Severino de las Alas, Baldomero Aguinaldo, and other leaders.

Agenda Shift:

● A proposal was made to dissolve the Katipunan and establish a new government to lead
the revolution more effectively.
● Andrés Bonifacio presided over the meeting as the Supreme Leader (Supremo) of the
Katipunan.

Bonifacio's Reaction:

● When Bonifacio’s qualifications for the Director of the Interior post were questioned by
Daniel Tirona, who suggested a lawyer should hold the position, Bonifacio felt insulted.
● Outraged, Bonifacio declared the results of the convention null and void, invoking his
authority as Supremo of the Katipunan.
● He drew his revolver but was eventually calmed by others in attendance.

Aftermath:

● The division between the Magdalo and Magdiwang factions deepened following the
convention.
 ● Bonifacio attempted to establish his own government and declared the convention
invalid, leading to his eventual arrest and execution on orders from Aguinaldo’s camp.
● The Tejeros Convention marked a turning point, where Emilio Aguinaldo rose to a
leadership position that eventually paved the way for his later role as the first President
of the Philippines.

Purpose of the Convention:

● The primary goal of the Tejeros Convention was to resolve these internal differences and
establish a unified revolutionary government. It was also intended to strengthen the
military and political strategy of the revolutionaries.
● Andrés Bonifacio, as the leader of the Katipunan, presided over the meeting, and both
the Magdiwang and Magdalo factions participated. However, tensions between these
factions were high.

The Proceedings:

● The convention began with discussions on military matters, but it quickly turned into a
debate over the structure and leadership of the revolutionary movement. The Magdalo
faction, represented by Emilio Aguinaldo’s supporters, argued that the Katipunan was
no longer sufficient to lead the revolution and that a revolutionary government should be
established to give the movement legitimacy.
● The Magdiwang faction, loyal to Bonifacio, was hesitant to abandon the Katipunan, but
they agreed to hold an election to decide the leadership of a new revolutionary
government.

The Election:

● During the convention, an election was held to form the first revolutionary government.
Positions up for election included the President, Vice President, Captain-General,
Director of War, and Director of Interior.
● Emilio Aguinaldo was elected as the President of the revolutionary government, even
though he was not present at the convention (he was engaged in battle against the
Spanish forces at the time).
● Mariano Trías was elected Vice President, and Andrés Bonifacio, despite being the
presiding officer, was elected to a relatively lower position as Director of the Interior.

The Controversy:

● A controversial moment occurred when Daniel Tirona, a member of the Magdalo

faction, openly questioned Bonifacio's qualifications for the position of Director of the
Interior, claiming that someone with a formal education in law should hold the position.
 This public insult enraged Bonifacio, who declared the election void, citing violations of
the Katipunan's principles and election protocol.
● Bonifacio, in anger and feeling deeply insulted, drew his revolver on Tirona but was
restrained by others. He then declared that he, as the Supremo of the Katipunan, had
the authority to nullify the results of the convention.

Aftermath of the Tejeros Convention:

● Bonifacio, feeling betrayed and undermined by the election results, refused to recognize
Aguinaldo's leadership. In retaliation, he attempted to establish his own government in
Naic, Cavite, known as the Naic Military Agreement, where he declared the Tejeros
government illegitimate.
● In their memoirs, Santiago Álvarez and Gregoria de Jesús both alleged that many ballots
were already filled out before being distributed, and Guillermo Masangkay contended
there were more ballots prepared than voters present. Álvarez writes that Bonifacio had
been warned by a Cavite leader Diego Mojica of the rigged ballots before the votes were
canvassed, but he had done nothing.