8/10/2019 Filipinos Under the Spanish Colonization

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Ma. Crestina D. Gono History (2:30-3:30 PM)AB Applied LinguisticsI Mr. Chrionni Decrepito

Filipinos Under The Spanish Colonization

Spain ruled the Philippines for more than 300 years. Prior to the Spanish colonization,the country was consisted of independent and well-organized villages called barangays. Each

barangay was headed by a tribal leader, who later formed part of the elite ruling class called the

Principalia. Under the Spanish rule, the independence of the barangays was gradually lost as

Spains political system was introduced into the country.During the Spanish regime, the people

became highly centralized under the influence of the Catholic Church. However, despite the

unification of the region, people started to build resentment against the Spanish rule.

The government restrictions and control made the lives of the native Filipinos extremely

hard and difficult as the foreign invaders made changes to the countrys economic situation.

Tribute, Encomienda, Polo (or forced labor), Tobacco Monopoly and etcetera - the natives were

of no consequence to the Spaniards, except as a source of revenue. People started harboringgrievances and began clamoring for independence from the control of Spanish rule. However,

the early revolts have failed because Filipinos were not united in their struggle against the

Spanish colonial rule.

During the time of Spanish regime, the Filipinos were divided into two social class

groups: the masses and the elites. Filipinos were made to fight one another by their Spanish

colonial masters. In fact, in trying to free themselves from the Spaniards, they failed to realize

that they had a common enemy, and that together they could better stand against the Spanish

colonial rule.

Masses were struggling for true justice, true equality and true freedom of the country.They organized the separatist movement the Katipunan in order to make known their

nationalist sentiments. Masses were largely composed of petty clerks, laborers, peasants and

uneducated Filipinos who possessed primitive ideas which were often fanatical and influenced

by traditions and religious beliefs.

The elites were composed of educated Filipinos who were influenced by western ideas.

Like the masses they also struggled for radical changes but not because they wanted to redeem

the country's mortgaged sovereignty and a final break up from social slavery but because they

wanted to be treated equal with the Spaniards. In effect, they used the masses for their own

interest and gave rise to a nationalist sentiment that would focus on the abuses of the Spaniards

particularly the friars. Unlike the masses, they wanted a rather peaceful rebellion against theSpaniards, that they used pen and paper to agitate nationalist sentiments among the masses.

The masses staged a revolution challenging the establishments, disordering society and

believing in taking arms rather than relying on divine providence. In contrast, the revolution of

the elites was rather peaceful because they used pen and paper in their revolution against the

Spaniards instead of holding arms in the battlefield to fight for freedom.