Human Rights denied to Filipinos –In the middle

of these human rights were freedom of the press,

freedom of speech, right to a fair trial in court, right
to form associations, and right to petition the
government for redress of grievances. These human
rights were enjoyed by Spaniards in Spain, but were
deprived(Lacking in advantage, opportunity, or
experience) of to Filipinos in the Philippines. Thus
Don Sinibaldo de Mas bewailed( To express
sorrow or unhappiness) over in 1843: “Why do we
fall into an anomaly(Deviation or departure from
the normal or common order, form, or rule),
such as combining our claim for liberty for ourselves,
and our wish at the same time to impose our law on
remote people? Why do we deny to others the
benefits which we desire for our fatherland?
Limited rights to participate in Governing the
country – All high positions in the government,
armed forces and the Church occupied by the
Spaniards. Merely a few Filipinos with intelligence
and affluence were chosen to some position of
standing. Elections were permitted only for selecting
municipal officials; however the right to vote and to
be chosen to local offices was enjoyed only by the
marginal principalia. The masses remained
disenfranchised. After 1837 Philippine depiction to
the Cortes was abolished and was never restored.

· Corrupt Spanish rule in the Philippines –

Several Spanish colonial officials were corrupt,
ineffectual, and worse, rude. They were frequently
the impoverished job-seekers, carpet-baggers, and
vagabonds who came to the Philippines, where they,
regardless of their lack of education and good moral
quality, established good jobs as alcades mayores
(mayor) , politico-military governors, and army
officers. A few Spanish governors general in the 19th
century became infamous for enriching themselves
in office. For example, General Weyler arrived in
Manila in 1888 as bankrupt debtor, hounded by his
creditors. At the end of his period he returned to
Spain as millionaire. Another Spanish governor
general who illegally enriched himself was General
Primo de Rivera who accepted bribes from the
gambling syndicate in Manila.

· Abusive and Immortalities of Bad Friars –

several Friars in the Philippines during early 19th
century were very abusive. Filipinos came to hate
the friars for their abuses and immortalities, that
they wanted them to be expelled from the country as
attested by the “Anti-Friars Manifesto of 1888”. This
was also the aims of the Propaganda movement. Dr.
Jose Rizal portrayed the friars in his novels Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo, and by Graciano
Lopez Jaena in his novelette, Fray Blood. These bad
friars were arrogant, abusive, and immoral. Quite a
number of them had illicit relations with the native
women, by whom they sired bastard children. In
public hearing conducted by the First Philippine
Commission in 1900 at Manila, Attorney Felipe G.
Calderon testified, mentioning the names of many
friars in Manila and the provinces and the names of
their children by their native mistresses. He also
said: “My mother is the daughter of a Franciscan
Friar”.

· Racial Discrimination - The Spanish

authorities regarded the brown Filipino as an low-
grade people and sarcastically called them “Indios”.
This racial discrimination against the native Filipinos
existed in the government offices, in the armed
forces, in the universities and colleges, in courts of
justice, and in high society. In an 18th century
pamphlet written by a Franciscan Friar, portrayed
Filipinos as a low mentality, unable of acquiring
education, and was fitted only to take care of the
carabao and plow the fields.

· Persecution of Filipino Patriots - The

Filipino patriots were leaders who had great courage
to denounce the evils of the colonial administration
and to advocate reforms, but instead the Spanish
regime called them Filibusteros and persecuted.
Many of them were sent to prison, exiling them to
Mindanao, Marianas and other places, or the worst
execute them in front of the masses.

Among all grievances the persecution of Filipino

Patriots was the trigger of the many revolts against
the Spaniards.