KASAYSAYAN 1 Review Notes
the King’s decree in the colony if he see it
Spanish colonial policies
Political Transformation
Unlike in the pre-colonial Philippine society, the
Spaniards began centralizing the power to an
authority. Under the colonial rule, the
recognized sovereign is the King of Spain.
The King has the privilege called the patronato
real, that was granted to him by the pope. From
this resulted in the so-called union of the church
and the state, wherein all religious officials also
became servants of the state and were paid by
stipends provided by the crown.
Under the King of Spain was the office of the
Royal and Supreme Council of the
Indies/Council of Indies. This office is
responsible for the administration of the
colonies and as well as the creation of laws for
these colonies. By 1861, this office will be
replaced by the Ministerio de Ultramar
The highest administrative position in the
Philippines was that of the Governador y
Capitan-Heneral which was usually referred to
as the Governor-General. The Governor-General
is chosen by the king upon the recommendation
of the Council of Indies.
The duties of the Governor-General were to
administer the colony and appoint colonial
officials (administrative). He also serves as the
commander-in-chief of the Spanish forces in the
Philippines. At the same time, he also
administers the port of Cavite (military). The
Governor-General also serves as the president of
the Real Audiencia. He is also considered as vice-
real patron, and as such it is also part of his duty
to nominate priest in ecclesiastical position
(ecclesiastical). He also supervises economic
affairs inside the colony. Distribution of
boletas/tickets to be able to take part in the
Galleon trade (economic).
The Governor-General may choose not to follow
detrimental to the colony’s overall welfare. This
power is called cumplaste.
In exchange for his service to the colony, the
Governor-General receives 40,000 pesos per
year.
At the end of his term, the Governor-General is
required by law to stay for another 6 months in
the colony. Within these 6 months he will be
tried by the Residencia. The Residencia is
composed of the newly appointed Governor-
General and the members of the Real Audiencia.
Besides the residencia, there is also the Visita
which is a secret agent of the King, to spy on the
colonial officials. Governor-Generals who were
proven to be corrupt are imprisoned and are
stripped of their wealth.
In the case of the Corregidor and Alcalde Mayor,
they are usually peninsulares and are trained
lawyers. They assist the governor-general in
collecting tributes, maintaining peace and order,
and judge in the tribunal. Compared to the
annual income of the Governor-General, an
alcalde mayor only receives around 24,000 pesos
a year. Nonetheless, other sources would have it
that he also takes part in the income from
indulto de comercio (business license) which
amounts to around 50,000 pesos.
The highest office in the colonial administration
that a native of the islands can hold was the
gobernadorcillo. They served as head of the
town and are more popularly called as capitan.
The gobernadorcillo of the town also has similar
functions as the alcalde mayor. The
gobernadorcillo is elected among the cabeza de
barangay of the town and usually serves only for
a year.
The system that the Spaniards employed to
facilitate the resettlement was the Reduccion.
The word Reduccion comes from the word
reducir. Reducir could mean several things like
to return from a previous state, change, to
shorten, to divide, or to discipline. This system
was first suggested by Friar Juan de Plasencia in
the Synod of Manila in 1582.
Under this system, the colonizers tried to
reorganize the natives in areas that are more
accessible to the government administrators and
friars. The places where the natives were
reorganized were called reducciones which later
on became the basis for the pueblos. It was said
that as long as an individual hears the ringing of
the church bells, he is part of the reduccion. Such
conception of the colonial space was called bajo
el son de la campana or bajo el toque de la
campana.
The most distinct and important characteristic of
the pueblo was the plaza complex. Inside the
plaza complex were the primary colonial
edifices/structures like the government
buildings, churches, markets, schools, and the
houses of the principalia. Another feature of the
plaza complex was a large open area in the
middle were most community activities and
festivities are done. The church bells also serve
as a warning signal for a Muslim raid.
Those who refuse to be part of the pueblo
considered as outsiders or tagalabas. They are
also called by several terms such as remontados,
tulisanes, vagamundos, malhecheros and
indocumentados.
Colonial Transformation
One that had the largest impact in the cultural
transformation of the Philippines was the
introduction of the Catholic religion in the
islands. Looking closely in the first years of the
colonial administration it was actually the
religious friars that bore the brunt of carrying out
Spanish aims and policies.
The religious orders in the Philippines were
deployed to different regions in the islands and
notably were only given in charge of one, or at
most two linguistic areas. Augustinians (Cebu,
Panay, Manila, and most of the Tagalog regions).
Franciscans 1577 (Southern Tagalog and Bicol).
Jesuits 1583 (Visayas, Cebu, Bohol, Samar, and
Leyte; and then to Mindanao). Dominicans 1587
(Bataan, Pangasinan, and Northern Luzon).
Recollects 1606 (northern Mindanao, Zambales,
and Palawan).
Several factors affected the transfer of cultural
items from the Hispanic society to the
indigenous society. (1) the Christian theology
satisfied certain needs in the native society
which the indigenous belief failed to provide. (2)
the friars were able to gain the trust of the
natives by speaking their own language and
working with them. (3) the clergy was able to
stabilize the transition from the previous cultural
practices into the new ones. (4) the friars as
members of the conquering society had high
prestige and bearers of novelty. In the
interaction between cultures, the weaker culture
may actually accept ideas from stronger society,
especially if the latter appears to be more
prosperous.
Economic Transformation
The encomienda system refers to the grants
given to certain individuals to collect taxes from
the natives in a specific area/s. The word
encomienda comes from the word encomendar,
meaning to entrust. The individual who was
given the right to collect dues is called the
encomendero. While on the otherhand, the land
in where he is collecting the dues is called the
encomienda.
Encomiendas are usually confused with the idea
of land grants but actually they are not. The lands
were not actually given to the encomenderos as
a personal property but instead only entrusted
to them along with the natives living within the
lands. Encomienda actually refers to the
obligation of the encomendero to collect taxes
within the encomienda.
In exchange for the collection of taxes, it is the
duty of the encomendero to: (1) provide
protection to those who live inside the
encomienda; (2) to maintain the peace and order
within; (3) must also ensure that there is an
adequate preparation against Muslim raids or
the tulisanes in his encomienda and (4) the
encomendero also has religious obligations as he
must help in the conversion of the natives and
provide protection to the friars who conducts
missionary activities. He also provides for the
funding use by the religious orders in building
churches and schools in the encomienda.
In the Philippines, there are 3 kinds of
encomienda. These encomiendas differs in size
and number of population. The first kind of
encomienda is the Encomienda de la Corona
(Crown Encomienda). This kind of encomienda
are found in lands that are productive and
abundant in resources. Pueblos with large
number of population are also found in these
encomiendas. These encomiendas are most
usually found near seaports.
The second kind of encomienda is the
Encomienda de Particulares (Private
Encomiendas) which is usually given to
individuals close to the king of Spain and those
who have served the colony well. Before, being
an encomendero is hereditary. It can be passed
down to two generations from the original
encomendero. However, because of the abuses
done by the encomenderos, the king of Spain
decided in 1721 that should an encomienda be
vacated, it will be automatically be a crown
encomienda.
The third type of encomienda are the
Ecclesiastical Encomiendas under the friars and
religious orders. Schools sponsored by the
religious orders also have their own
encomienda.
The cost of tax in the early part of the Spanish
colonial period was 8 reales or equivalent to 1
peso fuerte (Mexican Peso). It rose to 10 reales
in 1589 and reached up high to 15 reales by the
time the Spaniards left the Philippines.
Nonetheless with the shortage of monetary
coins in the islands, tributes were given in terms
of goods that can be used for trade such as silk,
animals and rice. The names of the people who
have to pay tribute is found in the document
called padron.
¼ of the tax collected by the encomendero went
into his personal purse. However,
encomenderos usually took more than what
they should. Because of the abuses by the
encomenderos many indios fail to pay tributes.
This is one of the reasons why many choose to
leave the pueblos and went up to the mountains.
While others who choose to stay were
imprisoned or whipped in front of the public.
Other taxes and economic policies imposed upon
the indigenous population were vandal,
vinta/falua, and polo y sevicio.
Galleon Trade was the term given to the
commerce and navigation line between the
Philippines and Mexico during the Spanish
period because the ships which carried it were
called Manila galleons. It lasted for 250 years
from 1565 when the San Pedro left Cebu to 1815
when the last Galleon sailed from the Philippines
to Mexico.
In 1572, the seat of government was transferred
to Manila and almost at the same time, direct
trading connections with China were opened.
The beginning of trade with China fixed the basic
pattern of the country’s economic life for the
next 200 years. The galleons were state vessels,
with the costs of construction and operation
borne by the royal treasury.
Looking more closely into the dynamics of the
Galleon Trade, the Manila was no more than a
transshipment port of goods coming from part of
Asia. A summary of the Galleon Trade is that it
attracted silks from the north, spices from the
south, and cottons and ivory from the west, in
exchange for silver and the Peruvian pesos that
became a standard of value in the eastern coast
of China.
Contemporary accounts suggest that carpets
from Persia, jewels from India, decorative mats
from Bengal, civet cats from China, and
silverware from Japan were also brought by
these galleons to Mexico.
Nonetheless, the lucrativeness of the trade
brought rise to tensions between the Spanish
merchants and the Peruvian merchants in South
America. Spain had always wanted to
monopolize the silk trade yet by 1582 it seems
that the silk coming from Manila was also
transported to Peru for the benefits of the
Peruvian merchants. Thus, the Royal Decree of
1593 prohibited trade between China and the
Philippines with all of Spain’s possessions except
for Mexico.
In the decree of 1593, limitations were set on
numbers of vessels (only two may cross yearly),
on the tonnage (not more than 300 tons each),
and on the value of their cargoes (250,000 pesos
outgoing and 500,000 returning).
In carrying out the decree, it is necessary to
measure the cargo space on the galleons and
allot rights to such space to shippers. The space
provided for the goods was called the bale or
fardo. Each space is subdivided into four
packages or piezas. The right to ship on the
galleon was represented by the boletas or a
ticket corresponding to one pieza. A boleta
usually cost 125 pesos. Galleons were usually
divided into 4000 boletas.
Reactions of the Filipinos to the colonial system
Sporadic Revolts
Hispanization usually refers to the process of
social and political transformation under the
Spanish colonizers. The term, however, cannot
be used in communities which were not brought
under the Spanish colonial institutions.
The uprisings against the Spaniards from the
16th-18th century are generally motivated by
three factors: (1) Reaction to the cruelty of the
colonial overlords associated with the collection
of tribute and forced labor; (2) Desire to return
to the pre-colonial belief system; (3) Forced
involvement in Spain’s imperialist agenda with
the indigenous being forced to wage wars that is
not theirs.
Resistance in Mindanao and Northern Luzon
Establishing settlements in Mindanao was of
great difficulty to the Spaniards as there were
already established strong polities in the island.
More so, the predominantly Muslim population
in the island also proved to be a great challenge
to the colonizers.
There are several factors why the Spaniards were
not able to establish complete control over the
island of Mindanao. (1) because of the strong
position of the Sultanates, like that of Sulu and
Maguindanao. These sultanates already have an
established control of the trade and politics in
the island even before the Spaniards came. (2)
what could have been a big blow to the Spanish
ambition in Mindanao was the coming of the
Dutch in Southeast Asia. The Dutch became the
allies of the Sultanates in its war against the
Spanish colonization. Additionally, the
sultanates also entered into an agreement with
the English who recognizes the Sultanates’
power. Despite the numerous Spanish
expedition sent to Mindanao. It was only in 1635
that the Spaniards were able to build a fort in the
island, the Real Fuerza de San Jose in the city of
Zamboanga. And it was only in 1851, that the
Sulu Sultanate was completely subjugated by the
Spaniards.
Besides converting the people into Catholicism,
the main objective of the expeditions to the
mountainous regions of Northern Luzon is to find
gold mines.
Despite the diversity of ethnic groups found in
this area like the Igorots, Ilongot, Ibanag, and the
Dumagat they are usually collectively called by
the Spanish term Ygolotes.
In the attempt to conquer the mountainous
areas of Luzon, the Spaniards used a specific
method, they sent the Missiones Vivas. These
missions are tasked to establish small
communities between the lowland settlements
and the mountainous regions inhabited by the
Ygolotes. These small settlements will serve as
buffer zones that will be inhabited by friars and
soldiers.
There are also several factors that affected their
failure in Northern Luzon. (1) because of the
mountainous terrain of the region which is
drastically different to the experience of the
Spaniards in the lowland. (2) The climate of the
region also had a negative effect on the weapons
used (esp. gunpowder) by the Spaniards. (3) The
expeditions also had a hard time recognizing the
trails as the due to the vastness of the
mountains.
The Philippines in the 19th Century
It is during this period that there have been many
changes in the political, economic and social
aspect of the lives of the people in the
Philippines. From this period, we can see the
context of the Propaganda Movement and the
Philippine Revolution of 1896 that consequently
change the course of our history.
The changes that occurred in the Philippines
during this particular century was preceded by
the events that happened in Europe. First of this
events was the transfer of power from the
Habsburg Dynasty to the Bourbon Dynasty in
France in 1700. The assumption of power by the
Bourbons led to a series pf political and
economic reforms not just in Spain but also in its
colonies. Such reforms were collectively known
as the Bourbon Reforms.
Economic Reforms
Part of the changes brought about by the
Bourbon Reforms was felt in the Philippine
islands during the time of Gov. Gen Jose Basco Y
Vargas. One of the primary steps he took was the
creation of an association that was to be known
as the Real Sociedad Economico de Amigos del
Pais (Royal Economic Society of Friends of the
Country) in 1870. This association is composed
of individuals that are experts in the field of
trade and economy particularly in agriculture
and industries. With the help of this association,
Gov.Gen Basco was able to produce the Plan
General Economico (General Economic Plan).
At the same time, King Charles III of Spain also
formally established the Real Compania de
Filipinas in 1785. The main task of this company
is to improve the quality of trade between the
Philippines and Spain. As such, direct trading
connection between these two place was
established.
With the conclusion of the Galleon Trade and the
Real Compania de Filipinas, the Spaniards shifted
their attention to the international trading
network. By the 1820s, the Philippines is slowly
opening up its ports to foreign shipping vessels
particularly of the Americans and the British. By
1834, the port of Manila was formally opened to
international market. This led to the growing
demand for the products produced in the
Philippines.
The agricultural produced that provided high
income for the colonial government was called
cash crops. These crops include, cotton, sugar,
tobacco, abaca and coffee. With the continuous
increase in the demands for these goods, the
Spaniards implemented several policies in order
to maximize their profits. It is during this period
that we can witness the massive
commercialization of Philippine agriculture.
Among these policies implemented by the
Spaniards are monocropping and monopoly.
Monocropping refers to the planting of a specific
agricultural product in a particular area. In the
case of the Philippines, the crown ordered the
planting of cash crops without taking into
consideration the needs of the colony.
There is also the massive implementation of
monopoly in key economic goods such as
tobacco, areca nuts, wine and explosives. Under
the monopoly, the government strictly oversee
the production and sales of such products.
Quotas are also imposed on the natives, and
those who fail to reach the quotas are coerced
by the Spaniards.
Though the colonial government succeeded in
gaining large profit in this economic endeavors
(in 1866 the government was able of gain P163,
400,000), we can also see several of its bad
effects. The agricultural products originally
planted by the Filipino slowly lost their
significance. And if in case they wish to buy
these products they have to pay for such in high
prices since the selling of such goods is also
taken over by the colonial government through
the “estancos.” Most of the time, the natives are
also in disadvantage as they usually don’t profit
from the said economic system. And since most
of the energy is directed to planting the cash
crops, most of the natives fail to produce the
goods that are essential to their needs
especially rice.
Hacienda and Inquilino
Because of the high profit in agriculture, primary
importance was given to land ownership.
Besides the Spaniards and the Friars, there are
also individuals who started buying large piece of
lands for the production of cash crops. These
large tracts of lands are called the Haciendas.
These haciendas are usually entrusted to
wealthy natives, especially of the principalia
class. They are called the inquilinos. The
Inquilinos supervise the hacienda and they are
also the one who provide the work force that will
work inside the hacienda. Those who work in the
hacienda are called the casamahanes. Division
of profit: 1/2 : ¼ : ¼
Entry of Foreign Merchant Houses
With the establishment of Manila as an
important international trading port, many
foreign investors were encouraged to establish
their offices in the city. They usually provided the
technological assistance in the planting and
processing of agricultural goods. These merchant
houses also funded several infrastructure
projects throughout the Philippines.
Changes in the Social Structure
Because of the growing trade in the primary
ports of the Islands like in Manila, Iloilo and Sual,
it is inevitable that there would be an influx of
foreign nationals in the country.
Besides the foreigners, the 19th Century also
witnessed the growing number of mestizos. With
such changes, Philippine society is again
changing. The most significant of such change
was the creation of the Clase Media.
The Clase Media or Middle Class slowly emerged
in the 19th century context. Their rise to
prominence is in the context of the economic
changes then happening. Most were inquilinos
and were able to join the international trade.
More so, members of this class are mostly
owners of haciendas. Though they were able to
live a life similar to the Spaniards, they cannot
totally surpass them since they were not pure
blood.
They were able to build large houses made of
stone and bricks which are usually near the town
plaza. They are also capable in buying furniture
from Europe which serves as status symbols.
They are also considered to be richer than the
peninsulares and as such they were called
bestias cargadas de oro or beast laden with
gold.
Educational Reform
Educational Decree of 1863

In 1863 the King of Spain released an Educational
Decree that aims to create a comprehensive
public educational program. The said decree
ultimately opened the colleges and universities
to the natives who are capable to pay the dues.
New courses were opened like Medicine, Law
and Priesthood. The Escuela Normal were also
established that aims to train teachers for the
primary and secondary levels of the public-
school system.
Secularization Movement and Religious
Reforms
With the implementation of the Educational
Decree of 1863, many students coming from a
clase media background chose to enter
priesthood. As a result, there was a growth in the
number of native priests in the Philippines.
It must be understood that the friars who went
to the Philippines are part of different religious
orders including the Augustinians, Franciscans,
Recollects, Jesuits and the Dominicans. The
priests who belong to these orders are part of
what is called the regular, or those who live
inside the monasteries. On the other hand, those
who don’t belong to any religious orders and are
directly under the supervision of the bishop and
archbishop are called the secular. According to
church law, only the secular priests are to be
allowed to administer the parishes and churches.
By the turn of the 19th century, there was already
a growing number of secular priest in the
Philippines that are mostly natives. With this the
secularization process was initiated under the
watch of Archbishop of Manila, Basilio Sancho
de Santa Justa y Rufina, who served from 1767-
1787.
Nonetheless the secularization of the parishes
was vehemently opposed by the regular priest
and by the peninsulares. They argued that the
native secular priests are not yet ready in
administering the parishes in the colony.
However, what seems to be the real reason for
this objection is that many of the regulars fear
losing the wealth they have accumulated while
serving as the parish priests.
Among the leaders of the secularization
movement is Pedro Pelaez. Though he made
several successful attempts to reinstate the
seculars in the parishes his untimely death in
1863 was a huge blow to the movement.
With his death, several secular priests took on
the reigns left by the archbishop. Included in this
are the GOMBURZA, Mariano Gomez, Jose
Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora. The GOMBURZA, on
the other hand would be executed in
Bagumbayan because of their alleged
involvement in the Cavite Mutiny of 1872.
The Propaganda Movement
Though the Cavite Mutiny is deemed as a turning
point in history, it in itself wiped out an entire
generation of Filipino intellectuals, priests,
lawyers and merchants including the likes of
Antonio Regidor and Jose Ma. Basa. The leaders
of the clergy were executed while their followers
exiled.
The parishes of the secular Filipino priests were
taken away from them and as well as their access
in the cathedral chapters. Teaching of Theology
in the universities was also suppressed. Many of
the exiled Filipinos during this time would later
on assist the Propaganda movement especially in
its anti-friar activities. However, as some puts it,
their assistance in the Propaganda movement
can be seen as a desire for revenge and hatred
for the friars.
From the clase media rose the generation of the
educated Filipinos, the Ilustrados, who were the
ones to bring the ideas of nationalism to the
Philippines. And in turn these Ilustrados will be
the ones leading the Propaganda Movement.
The Filipino Students in Spain
The aftermath of 1872 led to a lull in local
movements for reforms. Political agitation of any
kind was out of the question. Thus, the student
activism and as well as political lobbying would
shift to the mother country, in Spain itself.
Several factors made such shift possible and
necessary. The return of the Jesuits in 1859 led
to a series of educational reform making the
educational system in the Philippines more
innovative and progressive, especially with the
establishment of the Ateneo Municipal.
Another factor that encouraged more Filipinos to
study in Europe was the increasing prosperity of
the country. Land owners and tenants who
earlier only thought of sending their sons to
Manila to study have now the means to send
them to the Iberian Peninsula and even other
European countries. More so, the opening of
the Suez Canal in 1869, enabled the faster
exchange not just of trading goods but as well as
of ideas between Europe and the Philippines. On
the other hand, as soon as the Ilustrados reached
Spain they were welcomed by the ideas from the
French revolution.
In the early part of the movement, it aimed for
assimilation and not actually independence.
They also aimed that the Philippines be
recognized as a province of Spain and not its
colony; Equal treatment of the indio and the
Spaniards and as well as the abolishment of
tribute and force labor; a representation in the
Spanish Cortes; election of the secular priest in
the parishes and the removal of the regulars;
improvement of Philippine economy through
trade; and a public school educational system
free from the clutches of the Catholic church.
The propagandists employed various means in
order to forward their agenda. They published
the La Solidaridad to voice out their concerns.
They even went out to talk with Spanish
politicians to gain their support. And some even
joined the Order of the Masons in Europe to
further their goals.
The Failure of the Reform/Propaganda
Movement
The main possible reasons why the movement
failed were: (1) there was a violent opposition
on the part of the government and the friars to
the idea of changes in the political, social, and
economic fields; (2) the intelligentsia group
lacked the will to take advantage of the
situation in the Philippines.
With the failure of the movement, aggressive
and nationalistic elements of the population
particularly in Manila decided to proceed with
the revolutionary plan without the counsel of the
intelligentsia. Henceforth the Katipunan was
born.
La Liga Filipina
As soon as Rizal arrived in the Philippines in 1892,
he proposed the founding of a society that would
provide protection for its members. On the night
of July 3, 1892, at No.176 Ilaya Street, Tondo,
Rizal founded and inaugurated La Liga Filipina.
Rizal worked hard to expand its activities and to
enlist the sympathy and help of the intellectuals
and patriots. Among the leading members of the
association were Ambrosio Salvador, Bonifacio
Arevalo, Agustin dela Rosa and Deodato
Arellano.
The constitution of Liga gave its aims and ends
as:
(1) Unite the archipelago into one compact,
vigorous, and homogeneous body; (2) Mutual
protection in every want and necessity; (3)
Defense against all violence and injustice; (4)
Encouragement of instruction, agriculture and
commerce; (5) Study and application of
reforms.
These purposes were to be carried out through
the creation of a governing body composed of
the Supreme Council, Provincial Council, and
Popular Council. Members were required to pay
10 centavos a month and each of them also were
given the right to choose a symbolic name upon
their initiation into the society.
Rizal would be arrested and detained in Fort
Santiago. And by July 7, 1892 he would be
deported to Dapitan by Governor-General
Despujol.
After Rizal’s deportation, the Liga languished
until Andres Bonifacio and Domingo Franco took
the leadership. However, it only lasted for a few
months as some of the members became tired of
paying the dues as it seems that the cause is
already lost. The dissolution of the Liga led to a
split of its membership. On the one hand were
the intellectuals who were insistent in the belief
that something could be done miraculously by La
Solidaridad. This group was called the Cuerpo de
Compromisarios. On the other hand were the
plebeians headed by Andres Bonifacio, who had
lost all faith in the Spanish administration.
The Katipunan and Andres Bonifacio
On the night of Rizal’s deportation to Dapitan,
July 7, 1892, another secret organization was
being established. At No. 72 Azcarraga St,
several members of the now defunct La Liga,
including Andres Bonifacio, Deodato Arellano,
Valentin Diaz, Teodoro Plata, Ladislao Diwa,
Jose Dizon and a few others decided top create
the Kataastaasang Kagalang-galang na
Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan. The political
objective of the said organization was to
separate from the mother country. Its civic and
social aim is to help and defend the poor and the
oppressed. And its moral objective revolved
around the teaching of good manners,
democratic morality, attacking religious
fanaticism and the weakness of character.
The triangle method, used for recruiting and
indoctrinating the members to the principles of
Katipunan was known as hasik. The method was
not that effective as only 300 members were
recruited by the end of 1893. As a response, the
founding members of the Katipunan would later
on allow the new recruits to take on as many
candidates as possible.
As the Katipunan grew in number, it adopted a
system whereby members are divided into
grades. The first, the second and the third grade.
Those who belonged to the first grade were
known as katipon. They wore black hoods in all
meetings. The hood had a triangle of white
ribbons inside of which are the letters Z.Ll.B
corresponding to the Roman letters A and B
meaning Anak ng Bayan. They used Anak ng
Bayan as their password.
The second grade was called kawal. Members
belonging to this grade wore green robes with a
white triangle in meetings. At the three angles
were the letter Z.Ll.B. And then suspended from
their neck was a green ribbon with a medal in the
end with the letter K in bayabayin appearing in
the middle of the medal. They use gomburza as
their password.
The third grade, called bayani, wore a red mask
and sash with green borders which symbolizes
courage and hope. The front of the mask had
white borders that formed a triangle with the
three Ks arranged as if occupying the angles. At
the base are the letter Z.Ll.B. They use Rizal as
their password.
In 1893, the Supreme Council decided to include
women in its ranks. Prominent women joined
the women’s chapter of Katipunan. Josefa Rizal
served as its president while Gregoria de Jesus
its vice-president. Most of the members of the
women chapter are wives and daughters of the
of the Katipunan members.
The First Phase of the Revolution of 1896
The discovery of Katipunan’s existence forced
Andres Bonifacio to initiate the revolution
despite the apparent lack of preparation for
such. The Supreme Council along with the local
leaders of the Katipunan except for Teodoro
Plata agreed to initiate the planned revolt on the
29th of August 1896, a Saturday. The revolt was
signified when the Katipuneros tore their cedula
personales, now popularly known as the Cry of
Pugadlawin
After the Pugadlawin several skirmishes
between the Katipuneros and the Spaniards
occurred. One of the most famous of these
encounters was the Battle of Pasong Tamo.
Bonifacio, to initiate the revolution ordered his
men to simultaneously attacked Manila in the
midnight of the 29th. However, such attack did
not materialize most probably because of
insufficient arms. Instead, Bonifacio along with
Jacinto decided to attack the arsenal in San Juan
del Monte yet it was disastrous as about 80
Katipuneros died. Other attacks were also
initiated in Pasig and as well as in Pandacan
where about a thousand men marched and
attacked the guardia civil and the parish priest.
General Mariano Llanera of Nueva Ecija also had
some success in capturing small garrisons within
the province yet his successes were only short
lived.
As a response, Gov-Gen Blanco released a decree
placing the provinces of Manila, Cavite, Laguna,
Batangas, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac and
Nueva Ecija under Martial Law.
Despite the initial successes of the Katipunan it
would dawn upon most of its members that the
war for the liberation of the Philippines would
not be so easy. The success of the rebels can be
attributed to several factors: (1) Lack of Spanish
military personnel in the islands; (2) The unity
of the masses towards a common purpose: (3)
the moral bankruptcy of the ruling class.
Yet despite these the revolutionaries were
pushed back for they are not just lacking arms
and ammunitions but are also poorly trained and
lacked military leadership.
The Katipunan in Cavite
Unlike in other areas of the revolt, the one in
Cavite can be considered as probably the most
successful. Under the leadership of an able
military leader, the Katipuneros in Cavite were
able to win decisive battles against the
Spaniards. Starting with the capture of the town
of San Francisco de Malabon, the revolt spread
like wildfire as the towns of Noveleta, Kawit, and
Imus fell into the hands of the Katipuneros. More
so, it is in the battle for Imus that Aguinaldo
would be able to acquire his first war trophy, the
saber of General Aguirre.
The successes of the Katipunan in Cavite would
not be possible without the Magdalo and the
Magdiwang, two of the Katipunan’s branch in
the province. The first headed by Emilio’s
brother, Baldomero Aguinaldo and latter by
Bonifacio’s uncle-in-law, Mariano Alvarez.
Despite the initial cooperation between these
two faction, there is an atmosphere of animosity
between its members. Both faction exercised
sovereign power over a number of towns and,
including several in Batangas. More so, these
factions held separate elections thus
undermining the creation of a supreme council
that would hold sway over the entire province.
Leaders of both faction fell into dispute as to who
would lead the revolution in Cavite. To settle the
dispute, Magdiwang leaders invited Bonifacio to
mediate. After several invitations, Bonifacio
agreed and descended the mountains of
Montalban in December 1896. The succeeding
meeting between the two factions would be
known as the Imus Assembly. The discussion
was heated and did not accomplish any tangible
result
Tejeros Convention
On the 22nd of March 1897, another convention
was held in a state house in Tejeros. With the
failure of the Imus Assembly, an invitation was
sent by the Magdiwang to the Magdalo to attend
the meeting. The Magdiwang proposed to create
a government that will direct the revolutionary
effort. After a much-heated debate, the
assembly agreed on establishing a new
government with Bonifacio reiterating that the
results of the election be respected and obeyed.
Aguinaldo was elected as President of the new
government, while Bonifacio on the other hand
won the seat of Director for Interior.
Acta de Tejeros and Naic Military Agreement
A day after the convention, Bonifacio along with
45 of his men again met in the estate house in
Tejeros. They are convinced that the election
that was held was in malice and bad faith and
was invalid. Bonifacio along with his men agreed
to draw up an instrument denouncing the
election and setting forth the repudiations of the
results. The instrument is known as the Acta de
Tejeros.
Later on, Bonifacio along with 41 Katipunan
members released the Naic Military Agreement,
effectively creating a government different from
the one established in Tejeros. After such,
Bonifacio tried to establish contact with the
revolutionaries in Batangas.
Bonifacio’s Death
The numerous “seditious” acts committed by
Bonifacio against the established revolutionary
government lead Aguinaldo to order his arrests.
After a bloody skirmish, Bonifacio together with
his brother Procorpio were captured. Several of
his men lay dead and his wife almost raped by
Colonel Agapito Bonzon.
Bonifacio was tried in a Military Court on the 29th
of April 1897. He along with his brother were
accused of crime of sedition, treason and
attempting counter-revolution. After several
days of trial, Bonifacio and his brother were
declared guilty of the accuses and condemned to
death. But upon receiving the recommendations
of the Military Tribunal, Aguinaldo acting upon
his capacity as the President commuted the
sentence to exile. Nonetheless, Aguinaldo’s
order was rejected by Gen. Noriel and Gen. del
Pilar as they believed that keeping Bonifacio
alive will endanger the republic.
On that fateful day of May 10, 1897, Major
Lazaro Makapagal upon the orders of Gen. Noriel
took the brothers to Mt Tala.
The Republic of Biak-na-Bato
With the revolution in Cavite almost subdued,
the remaining revolutionaries retreated to the
mountains of the neighboring provinces like
Batangas and Laguna waiting for an opportune
time to launch a counter-offensive. Aguinaldo
established his new headquarters in Talisay.
Nonetheless, Talisay fell into the hands of the
Spanish government.
Later on, Aguinaldo moved his headquarters to
Biak-na-Bato in San Miguel de Mayumo,
Bulacan. The advent of the rainy season made
the Spanish campaigns more difficult forcing
Primo de Rivera to subject the Filipinos to
repression. On the other hand, Aguinaldo took
advantage of the lull in battle and release a
proclamation to the sons of the Philippines in
July 1897.
Nonetheless, by August 1897, Primo de Rivera
continued his offensive. The Spanish army
successfully contained the revolution in
Batangas and Laguna and began pushing for
Biak-na-Bato. Yet despite the preparations the
Spaniards failed dismally.
On November 1, 1897, the remaining
revolutionaries voted to continue the struggle
against Spain and voted for the establishment of
a Republican government. The constitution to be
agreed upon was subsequently known as the
Constitution of Biak-na-Bato, patterned after
the Cuban Revolution.
The Pact of Biak-na-Bato
As early as August 1897 there were already talks The Battle of Manila Bay
on peace that are on-going. A Filipino lawyer by
While Aguinaldo was negotiating with the
the name of Pedro Paterno, offered his services
Americans, Commodore George Dewey set sail
as a mediator.
for the Philippines to attack the Spanish fleet.
After months of negotiations, the two camps The succeeding battle resulted to the
agreed on the terms of the peace treaty. The annihilation of the Spanish navy in the
general provisions of the treaty are the ff: (1) Philippines.
voluntary exile of Aguinaldo and the leaders of
Aguinaldo arrived in the Philippines on May 19,
the revolution to another country; (2) and in
1898. By May 24, upon the suggestion of the
exchange the Spanish government will pay the
Americans, Aguinaldo established a dictatorial
leaders of the revolution and the
government. By June 12, despite the objection of
revolutionaries P800,000 to be paid in
Apolinario Mabini, the independence of the
installment; (3) compensation for the civilian
Philippines was declared. On June 23 the
victims and the family of the revolutionaries
dictatorial government was changed to a
amounting to P900,000. With the signing of the
revolutionary government. And on September
Pact, Aguinaldo along with several leaders of the
15 the Malolos Congress was inaugurated and by
revolution left for Hong Kong on December 27,
the September 21, the Malolos Constitution was
1897.
ratified.
Aguinaldo in Hong Kong and Singapore
Treaty of Paris
After going into a voluntary exile, Aguinaldo
Unbeknownst to the revolutionaries, peace talks
together with the remaining leaders of the
were already underway between the Spaniards
revolution decided to established the Hong Kong
and the Americans. On the 10th of December
Junta. To Aguinaldo, the revolution is yet to end,
1898, both countries agreed on the terms
and their stay in Hong Kong is only a brief
stipulated in the Treaty of Paris. The Philippines,
interlude. However, he would be forced to flee
together with other Spanish colonies of Guam
Hong Kong for Singapore after a case was filed
and Puerto Rico were transferred to the United
against him by Isabelo Artacho regarding the
States in exchange for the amount of
sharing of the revolutionary fund.
$20,000,000.
In Singapore, he would be called upon is by the
Though initially the US senate was adamant in
American Consul, Spencer Pratt about a
ratifying the treaty as the Philippines is more
possibility of an alliance against the Spaniards.
seen as a liablity rather than an asset for the
At the same time, the US Congress just declared United States, it would then concede right after
war against Spain believing that the latter is the event in San Juan Bridge on the 4th of
guilty of the sudden explosion of USS Maine then February 1899 which initiated the Filipino-
docked in the Havana harbor. American war.

Agreeing with the terms, Aguinaldo quickly went
back to Hong Kong to catch a ship back to the
Philippines. A portion of the revolutionary
money was entrusted to the American Consul in
Hong Kong, Rousenville Wildman, for the buying
of arms for the revolutionaries.
The American Colonial Period
Protocol Peace
Months before the Treaty of Paris,
representatives of both the United States
government and the Spanish government were
already in negotiations regarding the hostilities
between the two nation. The protocol stipulated
that Spain was to relinquish its sovereignty and
title over Cuba and Puerto Rico. In the case of the
Philippines, the protocol provided that the
United States will occupy and the city of Manila.
The protocol served as the basis for the Treaty of
Paris.
Benevolent Assimilation Proclamation
After the signing of Treaty of Paris, President
William McKinley issued a proclamation ordering
the military authority to extend American
sovereignty over the Philippine Islands. The
proclamation served as the first official
indication of American intentions to annex the
Philippines.
Schurman Commission
With the American government being vocal
about exercising its sovereignty over the
Philippines, they sent a commission tasked to
study the general situation in the Islands and
recommend a policy to be pursued. The
commission was also tasked to examine the
legislative needs of the people living in the
Philippines.
Yet, as the Philippine-American War was raging
at that time, the Commission was only limited in
surveying people living in Manila especially from
wealthy Filipinos, the Spanish Friars, and foreign
businessmen. Most of the recommendations
forwarded by the commission relates to matters
of taxation, improvement of infrastructure,
recognition of the political rights of Filipinos,
education and as well the kind of government to
be established in the Islands.
Taft Commission
Prior to the creation of a civil government in the
Philippines, most of the political affairs in the
Islands were placed under the jurisdiction of
military officers. Under the Taft Commission, a
more detailed survey of the conditions in the
Islands was done. At the same time the
Commission was also empowered by the US
Congress to serve as the legislative body in the
Philippines until 1907 when the Philippine
Assembly was created.
Later the Taft Commission was renamed as the
Philippine Commission with 3 Filipinos initially
serving as commissioners along with 4
Americans. Areas that are already pacified was
placed under the civil government headed by the
Commission.
Pacification and the Suppression of Nationalism
During the Philippine-American War, both the
Revolutionary government of Aguinaldo and the
American forces in the Philippines experienced
great difficulties. For the Filipinos, they were
forced to fight the new colonizers despite of the
shortage in ammunition while thousands of
American soldiers either succumbed to heat
stroke and tropical diseases like malaria.
In the waning days of the war, Luna ordered the
revolutionary army to employ guerilla tactics
against the Americans. In order to combat such,
Gen. Arthur McArthur ordered his men to
employ several methods not just against the
revolutionary army but as well as against civilians
suspected of helping them. Torture became
rampant thus adding to the atrocities
experienced by the Filipinos during that time.
The Americans also employed the building of
concentration camps in order to prevent the
civilian population from helping the guerillas.
Several Laws were also passed including the
Sedition Law, the Libel Law, the Brigandage
Law, and the Flag Law, which aimed to curtail
the growing nationalism among the Filipinos.
Nationalist political parties were also banned.
The Americans also created a local police force
known as the Philippine Constabulary in order
to support the military in the preservation of
order in towns. An elite unit of Filipino soldiers
under an American officer was also created and
became known as the Philippine Scouts.
Political Tutelage
Following the provisions of the Philippine
Organic Act, the Americans allowed the creation
of an all Filipino Legislature, the Philippine
Assembly. At the same time, scores of Filipinos
became actively involved in government affairs.
Two prominent political parties were established
– the Partido Federalista, calling for the
statehood of the Philippines, and the Partido
Nacionalista that seeks independence.
Economic Policies
The tumultuous years of the Philippine
Revolution and the Philippine-American War left
the economy of the Philippines in a state of
collapse. To increase economic activity in the
Islands, the Americans reduced the tariff by 25
percent on Philippine products entering the
United States Market.
Free Trade
By 1902, the United States Congress passed the
Payne-Aldrich Act establishing the free trade
relations between the United States and its
colony. The Act provided that US products are to
be admitted duty free into the Philippines.
Similarly, Philippine products especially sugar
and tobacco enjoyed the same privileges.
However, unlike the products from the US,
quotas were imposed on Philippine sugar and
tobacco.
Several Filipino politicians rejected Free Trade
with the United States due to several reasons: (1)
It will be detrimental to the Philippine economy
as it will become an economic dependency of the
United States; (2) It could delay the granting of
Philippine independence as American companies
profiting from the trade may pressure the US
congress to postpone it indefinitely; (3) It could
result to a revenue loss as the Philippines is
importing more products than it exports.
The Free Trade with the United States
significantly reduced the volume of trade which
the Philippines transacted with other countries
except the United States. By the 1920s, almost
71 percent of Philippine products are going to
the US market.
More so, as the Free Trade came into full effect,
Philippine market economy became primarily
dependent upon the exportation of agricultural
goods. More than 50 percent of American capital
in the country were invested in agricultural
production. Technological advances during the
period tended to enhance profit from
agricultural produce.
Infrastructures were also developed especially
the improvement of the road and railroad
system in the Islands. It is the aim of the
Americans to connect the rich agriculturally
producing regions to the markets and urban
centers. In the early years of the American
colonial period, around $3 million was
appropriated for road constructions and
improvements. The colonial government also
entered into agreement with several firms and
individuals in order to hasten the improvements
in the Philippines.
Land ownership was still a problem during the
American period and as such they ventured into
program making the ownership of lands
accessible to all Filipinos. The passage of Cooper
Law in 1902 enabled the sale of all public lands,
except for those with mineral deposits, to
Filipinos. However, it stipulated that individuals
are only allowed to buy up to 16 hectares of land
while allowing corporations to have 1024
hectares of land.
Filipinos from densely populated areas were also
encouraged to migrate to Mindanao. Such
strategy allowed the Americans to peacefully
assimilate the island to the American colonial
rulre. Those who wanted to migrate to
Mindanao must be between the ages of 18-50.
At the same time, he must own agricultural tools
and a carabao. Migrants were provided free
transportation and accommodations to further
encourage movement to Mindanao.
The Americans also passed the Friar Lands Act, in
an attempt to remove land ownership from the
hands of the religious corporations. However, as
it didn’t set a limitation to the size of land an
individual or a corporation can buy, in the end
the friar lands were only transferred to rich
individuals and corporations.
Social and Civic developments
Under the American colonial rule the public
education system in the Philippines was
strengthened. Public Schools were built in every
municipalities. Universities like the Philippine
Normal University and the University of the
Philippines were established to provide
professional training for Filipinos. The Americans
also sponsored several Filipinos to continue their
education in American and European
universities. These students, after returning to
the Philippines became members of the
American bureaucracy in the Philippines.
There were also several improvements done on
the aspect of health and sanitation. The Board of
Health was established. Policies were
implemented to reduced infant mortality and
the spread of epidemics like cholera.
Filipinization and the Independence Missions
embarked in the Filipinization of the colonial
government. He increased the number of Filipino
commissioners in the Philippine commission
from 4 to 5. American civil servants were also
replaced by Filipinos. By the 1920s around 90
percent of civil servants were Filipinos. Harrison
also had amicable relations with the leading
Filipino politicians especially Manuel Quezon.
In the United States, the Congress agreed to pass
the Jones Law stipulating that the United States
will recognize Philippine Independence as long
as the Filipinos can prove their capacity for self-
rule. The Jones Law also provided that all
secretaries of the executive departments, except
that for the department of public instruction,
should be a Filipino. More so, it removed the
legislative powers of the Philippine Commission
by establishing the Philippine Senate.
Unfortunately, by 1921, colonial policy would
again change as Leonard Wood replaced
Harrison as the Governor-General. Unlike
Quezon’s relationship with Harrison, his
relationship with Wood was far from being
amicable. They would usually argue in matters
relating to the granting of independence and
other government matters.
At around the same time, several Independence
Missions were sent to the United States to lobby
for Philippine Independence. At the same time in
the US, there was also a growing clamor to give
the Philippines its independence.
Independence Missions

The changing political climate in the United

States had an impact in the affairs in the
Philippines. With the election of a Democrat
In 1932, Osmena and Roxas were sent to the
president, colonial policy towards the Philippines
United States to lobby for a bill providing
also changed. The Democrats are more open to
Philippine Independence. The US Congress
granting the Filipinos their long desired freedom.
sponsored the Hare-Hawes-Cutting Bill. The Bill
Francis Burton Harrison was appointed as the
provided for the establishment of a 10 year
new Governor-General of the Philippines.
transitionart governmnent that will be called as
Harrison, after taking his oath of office, quickly
the Commonwealth. It is autonomous but not The Philippine Commonwealth
totally independent from the United States.
Problems and Programs
Matters relating to foreign affairs, justice, and
military are still under the jurisdiction of the Among the problems that the Commonwealth
United States. After the 10-year period, free government faced in its early years was the
trade between the United States and the defense of the Philippines. If became
Philippines will also end. As part of the Bill, only independent and was unable to protect itself, it
50 Filipinos are to be allowed to enter the United would only invite other powers to take over the
States a year. More so, the Bill also stipulates country. With McArthur providing the
that the Americans are given the right to build assistance, a plan for the creation of a small
and maintain military bases in the Philippines. regular army and a large reserve force was laid
out. However, the P16 million allotment for
From the United States, Osmena and Roxas
national defense is not enough for the training of
returned to the Philippines with the Hare-
the army. More so the American government
Hawes-Cutting Bill to be ratified by the Philippine
refused to provide the army with weapons
Legislature. However, Quezon as the senate
fearing of antagonizing the Japanese and a
president vehemently opposed the bill due to
possibility of Filipino insurrection in case they
three reasons; political (presence of military
were provided arms.
bases), social (discrimination against Filipinos),
and economic (end of free trade is detrimental Ten years was a short time to achieve
to the economy). The Philippine Legislature diversification of the Philippine economy.
rejected the bill and Quezon proposed to go to Several politicians and businessmen voiced out
the United States to lobby for a much better bill. their pessimism regarding the termination of
free trade. As such, the US government together
Unfortunately for Quezon, the US Congress was
with the Commonwealth government created
unwilling to concede to his demands. In the end
the Joint Preparatory Committee on Philippine
Quezon was forced to accept a similar bill to the
Affairs. It recommended solutions for the
Hare-Hawes-Cutting, the Tydings-McDuffie Bill.
economic problems in the Philippines. Among
The only difference between the two bill was the
their recommendations was the passage of the
wording for military bases which was changed to
Tydings-Kocialkowski Act which extended the
military reservations. Despite such, the Tydings-
time for the phaseout of free trade to provide an
McDuffie was ratified by the Philippine
ample time for the diversification of the
Legislature behind the encouragement of
economy.
Quezon.
Under Quezon's leadership, the Philippines tried
The passage of the Tydings-McDuffie bill laid the
to establish informal relations with China,
foundations for the Philippine Commonwealth. A
Mexico, and Japan. Some of Quezon's foreign
constitutional convention was called into session
trips were not even sanctioned by the
to create a Constitution for the newly
Americans. With the threat of Japanese
established government. After the 1935
expansion looming over Asia, Quezon sought to
constitution was ratified, the government called
obtain from Japan some promise of security and
for a national election to determine who would
the recognition of the neutrality of the
lead the Philippine Commonwealth. Quezon won
Philippines.
over Aguinaldo and Aglipay while his running-
mate, Osmena, dominated the vice-presidential
rate.