CHAPTER 6

The Rise of Filipino

Nationalism

Objective :
To

be able for student to

know the important events
and important names of
people and their contributions
in different revolts in the
Philippines.

Filipinos Reaction To Spanish

Rule
Despite the three hundred thirty year, three
years of Spanish colonization and political
rule the Spaniards had not really conquered
the Filipinos.Thoughout the island, there
were Filipinos who opposed Spanish
sovereignty.This opposition was expressed
openly and at times violently.

Common causes of the revolts are

the following :
Personal desire for power and
freedom by former political
Datus,Maginoos, and Maharlikas
and Religious leader Babaylan or
Katalonas.
2. The resistance to oppressive
Spanish-introduced the
economic programs and
problems.
1.

Different Revolts in the Philippines

1574

Lakandula and Suliman

Limahong attacked the poorly-protected
Intramuros.Before Legazpi Demise, Lakandula was
baptized as Carlos Lakandula, and he and his
descendants (with Raja Suliman),were justly
compensated with exemption from the tributed
and forced labor,with their families annoyed until
1884.Another fringe benefits the Lakandula and
Suliman families got was the exclusive right to
keep their families named.However with Legazpis
death in 1872,his successor Lavesaser,sequesterd
their landed properties and even tolerated the
encomenderos abuse and oppression of their
people,hence the revolt in 1574.

 In1589

- Uprising broked out in Cagayan and

Ilocos in protest against the excessive tributed
imposed by the Spaniards.
In1596 - A Filipinos name Magalat from Cagayan
wage a battle in Spanish leaders; he was
assassinated by Filipinos hirelings of the Spanish
Leaders.
In 1601 the Igorot of the northern Luzon
bitterly fought in an attempt to convert them.
In 1621-1622 a series of revolt broke out in
various regions in Bohol, a native religious leader,
Tamblot, called upon his people to invoke the
protection of their forefathers and deities to
overthrow the Spanish rule.
(They were eventually pacified by an aged friar,but ember
of disconetent flared up again in 1625-1627, 1639 and
1763)

Futhermore a short-live insurrection recued in

Caragga in Mindanao in 1729-1730, but in
Bulacan in 1643, in Visayas again in 1663,
and in Zambales in 1681-1683.
Pangasinan-

Andres Malong following his

successes in Lingayen, Zambales, Ilocos, and
Pampanga, Malong declared himself as king
of Pangasinan and the surroundings regions.

The eighteenth century also witnessesd

numerous revolt. The longest one was that in
Bohol , which smoldered from 1744 until
1829. It was sparked by the refusal of the
Spanish priest to give a Christian burial to a
Filipino constable who has died in a dual with
a fugitive; the constable brother, Francisco
Dagohoy, immediate rallied over three
thousand followers under his goverment in
exilein the mountains.It took twenty five
years, twenty Spanish governorgenerals,innumerable engagement, and
finally offer of peace and pardon, before the
twenty thousand descendants of Dagohoys
army agreed to lay down arms and accepted
resettlement on the plains.

During 1745-1746, agrarian unrest led to a

chain of revolt in the provinces around in
Manila, Bulacan, Batangas, Laguna, Cavite
and Rizal. Filipino peasants were provoked
by the usurpation of their land by the
Spanish religious orders which, however,
continued their ownership of the lands in
dispute even after official investigation.

DIEGO SILANG

from Vigan Ilocos Norte, heightened the spirit of the

Ilocano resistance.

He had, for some time, planned an uprising against

Spanish authorities in Manila , and was work as a
priest messenger.
He discerned the British capture of Manila of
opportune time to overthrow Spanish rule.
He organized swiftly a conspiracy in Binalatungan
which spread toward Vigan.

March

4, 1763 - Silang issued a

proclamation stating that the British
have goodwill toward the people
unlike the Spaniard and the friars.
May 28, 1763 Silang was murdered
by his personal enemy, Miguel Vlcus, a
mestizo, who served as a Spanish
Agent, from then on Silangs wife
Gabriella with the help of his uncle,
Nicolas Cario.

The

revolt was crushed when

Gabriella was captured and executed
together with many other leaders. ,
As usual the Philippnes rebel was
eliminated by the Spanish with the
active help of other Filipinos. Gabriella
Silang has gone down in the Philippine
nationalist anthology as the Ilocano
Joan of Arc

November

1762 Another political

uprising occurred in the Pangasinan
during the British occupation.
March 1764 - The Pangasinan revolt,
led by Juan de la Cruz Palaris, was
widespread and tenaciously carried
out. It was finally put down with the
help of many Ilocanos, now subdued
into loyalty. Palaris and his court were
executed. Unlike Silangs Palaris does
not seem to have tried to forge
collaboration with the British.

December

1832 Ermano Pule only

eighteen. Together with other Filipinos secular
priest Br. Ciriaco de lo Santos, and eighteen
other from Tayabas (now Quezon) province,
founded the confradia centering around the
cults of San Francisco and the famous image
of Our lady of Peace and Good Voyage of
Antipolo. Later he was appointed as principal
founder of promoter with Octavio Ygnacio de
San George of Majayjay, Laguna as Hermano
Mayor. The confradias existence was unknown
to the Spanish authorities until 1840, although
as early as 1883, certain Filipino priests have
already noticed the groups movement in the
areas of mounts San Cristobal and Banahaw.

 Ermano

Pule was an ex-done (lay associate) in

the San Juan de Dios Hospital, and he was
admitted to the confradia de Jose who was
open only to native burn but not to white or
mestizos. He was not admitted to the religious
order because he was an Indio. Restiveness
among the confradias member started when it
was outlawed by the governor Marcelo de Arra
in 1841 and members were arrested, including
its secretary, Octavio Ygnavcio de San George.
Ermano Pule himself was captured and shot to
death in November of the same year. His body
was quartered; his severed head was hung in
front of their house in Lual St. In Lucban; and
his two hands two feet hung inside cages and
placed in the guardhouse of Tayabas.

Why the Revolt Failed

Moreover, the Filipinos were not prepared
to fight. Lacking in training in warfare
and without superior arms to fight with,
they failed miserably. Failure of the
Filipino revolts stemmed from the
following reasons :
1. Absence of national leaders ;
2. Lukewarm spirit of nationalism among
Filipinos ; and
3. Inadequate training and preparations
for warfare.

Development and Growth of Filipino

Nationalism
A national pertains to stable and historically
developed community of people with territory,
economy, culture and common language united
under one goverment. The development of a
national is a slow difficult process. It takes many
years, even centuries, before a country can
transform itself to a nation.
The Filipino nation did nit exist during the preSpanish period. People lived in villages ruled by a
native chief called Rajah or Datu, who were
independent of each other. However they
possessed the basic qualities of a nation, common
cultural heritage and common love of freedom.

What is Nationalism?
Nationalism is a love for ones country
and people. It includes pride in ones
cultural heritage, support for the
countrys aspirations, patriotism, and
advocacy of national independence.
Before 1872, the Filipinos did not have
a feeling of oneness and a desire for
freedom. It took three centuries before
a feeking of national consciousness
eventually developed among the
people.

Certain Events During the 19th

Century in Filipino Nationalism
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

The influx of liberal ideas for Europe.

The introduction of the modern technology.
The opening of the Philippines to world trade.
The opening of the Suez Canal.
The rise of a new middle class.
The secularization issue.
The Cavite Munity of 1872.
The executaion of the three priest-Father Gomez,
Burgos, and Zamora.
The disillusionment over Spanish rule were prime
movers which prompted the Filipinos to unite and
to realize that there was a need for change.

World Trade: The

PhilippinesWindow to the World
Spains trade monopoly in the
Philippines ended in 1834, which also
marked the opening of Manila to world
trade. Soon after, other parts were
opened to foreign and local goods in
Philipppines markets as well as in
foreign markets.

Foreign trade encourage agriculture and

industry to expand its avtivies to meet the
increasing demand for local products. The
system of communication and transportation
was improved to facilitate the transport of raw
materials from the provinces to the cities.
Roads and bridges linked far-flung rural areas
to areas of trade and industry. Through trade,
Filipinos had the opportunity of
communicating with their countrymen as well
as with foreigners. Exchanging ideas
broadened Filipino knowledge and created
awareness among the Filipinos that other
people share the same thoughts, feelings and
sentiments in politics, society, religion and
culture.

Opening of the Suez Canal

In 1896, the Suez Canal was formally
opened. The canal contructed acroos
the narrow Isthmus of Suez in Egypt
joined two important waterways, the
Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea.
This new development encouraged
many Europeans to travel to Asia and
facilitated communication between
peoples and countries of the two
countries.

Advent of Liberal Ideas from

Europe
The ideas of liberalism a product of
the French Revolution. The motto
Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity
became the battle cry, especially of
people who were under foriegn rule.
The political theories critized
absolutism. These ideas spread to thr
Philippines and helped erase from the
mind of certain Filipinos, notably the
intelligentsia, false ideas about human
rights.

Formation of an Influential
Filipino Middle Class
A new group in Philippines society
emerged as a result of the economic
prosperity brought about by the
opening of the Philippines to world
trade. The middle class was composed
og businessmen, farmer, teachers,
and other professionals who were
greatly benefited by the improved
economy of the ecology.

Among the prominent member of this

class were:
1. Dr. Jose Rizal
2. Marcelo H. Del Pilar
3. Graciano Lopez-Jaena
4. Pedro Paterno
5. Jose Burgos
6. Mariano Ponce
They started a campaign for
peaceful reforms utilizing their
talents in writing and public
speaking

Political Reforms Under GovernorGeneral Carlos Maria Dela Torre

Three political groups fought over the
control of the government- the conservative or
reactionaries, the moderates and the liberals.
Carlo Maria dela Torre governor-general to
the Philippines. Of all the governor-general
assigned in the country , dela Torre easily won
the hearts of the Filipinos because on his
liberal ideas. He mingled freely with the
Filipinos, dismissed his bodyguards and
walked alone in the streets. He treated the
Spaniards and the Filipinos alike. He listened to
the Filipinos complaints against the Spaniards.

Governor dela Torres administration

did not last long. He was called when
the liberal government collapsed in
Spain. The conversatives took over and
appointed Governor-General Rafael
Izquierdo to replace him

Disillusionment over Spanish

Rule
Spain, adhering to the policy of
mercantilism, regarded her colonies as
sources of revenues and markets for her
products. Thus, Spanish colonies were
subjected to heavy taxation and numerous
trade restriction subject were denied
education and enjoyment of the basic
freedoms such as speech, press and
worship. Common sufferings under the
tyrannical rule of the Spaniards fostered a
feeling of unity among the Filipinos more
than anything else

Secularization Issue
Two kinds of priest worked in the Philippines
during Spanish period:
Regular Spanish priest who belong to any
religious orders, namely Franciscans,
Augustinians, Jesuits, Recollects or
Dominicans. Their main task was to
established religious missions and to
propagate the catholic faith.
Seculars were priest who obtained their
religious training in the Philippines and who
were under the direct control of the bishops
and archbishops

In 1774, a royal decree was

issued ordering the secularization
of the parishes. Parishes held by
the regular were turned over to
secular priest.
In 1776 hthe king issued another
degree restoring the regulars to
their parishes and ordering church
officials to provide further training
to the Filipino priest.

Filipino priest was directly affected

by the controversy. They were not
only denied acces to the parishes,
but some of them were even
removed from their parishes to
accommodate the regulars. It was
at this point that the issues of
secularization which started at the
religious question turned out to be
a form of racial discrimination
against Filipino secular priest.

Cavite Uprising
In

1872, La Madrid, a Filipino

Sergeant and the soldiers and
workers at the Cavite.
The uprising was planned in
Cavite and Manila on the evening
of January 20, 1872.
The uprising was put down by the
forces headed by General Felipe
Genovas.
To silence the priest, Father

Trial and Executaion of Father

Gomez, Burgos and Zamora
The fiscal, judge, and defence lawyers were
biased against the defendants. At the end of
the trial, the priest were found guilty and
sentenced to die by garotte at bagumbayan.
Governor general Izquerdo requested
Archbishop Milton Martinez to defrock the
priest. However, the archbishop refused and
instead orders the tolling of the church bells
as a sign of mourning.
The execution of the three priests further
aggravated the hatred of the Filipinos against
the Spaniards.