The

Philippines
in the 19th
Century

Prepared by: Gwynette D. Baybay

College of Teacher Education
University of the Cordilleras
 Social Structure

1. Highest class
- have the power and authority to rule over the Filipinos
Peninsulares- Spaniards who were born in Spain
Friars - members of any of certain religious orders of
men, especially the four mendicant orders (Augustinians,
Carmelites, Dominicans, and Franciscans)
 Social Structure

2. Middle Class – the people that belongs into this class

includes the natives, mestizos and the criollos.
→ Natives – the pure Filipinos
→Mestizos – Filipinos with foreign blood
 Social Structure

3. Lowest class – this class includes the Filipinos only.

→ Indios - poor people having pure blood Filipino which
are ruled by the Spaniards.
 Political System and the Sources of
Abuses in the Administrative System

1. inferior qualifications – absence of moral values

2. functions of the church and state – too complicated
3. manner of obtaining the position – through highest bidding
4. term of office – dependent to the King of the country
Political System and the Sources of
Abuses in the Administrative System

5. Distance of the colony - Spanish officials traveled to various places

- inadequate support
- overlapping of powers and privileges of officials
6. personal interest over the welfare of the State
7. Corruption
- Alcalde/Alcadias- most corrupt
- administrators, judges and military commandants
- indulto para comerciar – monopoly trade
 Educational System

1. Overemphasis on religious matters - friars conducted

many of the executive and control functions of
government on the local level
2. Obsolete teaching methods – outdated
 Educational System

3. Limited curriculum
primary level – Christian Doctrines
- reading of the Spanish book and a little of the native
language
- Science and Mathematics – not prioritized
- Latin
4. Poor classroom facilities
 Educational System

5. Poor classroom facilities

6. Absence of teaching materials
8. Absence of academic freedom
- learning is by rote
- knowledge was measured in the ability of the students to
memorize
 Educational System

9. Prejudice against Filipinos in the schools of higher learning

- education was priviledged entirely to the Spanish students
10. Friar control over the system
- friars own schools
- missionaries took charge in teaching
Economic Development and the
Rise of Filipino Nationalism

– opened to foreign trade at the end of the 18th century

– stimulated agricultural production and export of sugar,
rice hemp and tobacco
– number of families prospered from foreign commerce
and trade
– Filipinos who were educated abroad were able to absorb
the intellectual development in Europe
 Factors Contributed to the
Development of Filipino Nationalism

1. Opening of the Philippines to International Trade and the Rise of the Middle
Class
- Manila was opened to foreign trade → prosperity of Filipinos and
Chinese mestizos
2. Influx of European Liberalism
– Ideas of the enlightened philosophers like John Locke and Jean Jacques
Rosseau, masonry and the French Revolution reached the Philippines.
– Liberty, religious freedom, democracy, human rights such as suffrage, freedom
of speech, press and form associations and assemblies
Factors Contributed to the
Development of Filipino Nationalism

3. Opening of the Suez Canal on November 17, 1869

Results:
a. Philippines became closer to Europe and Spain
b. encouraged European travelers to come to our country
c. exodus of literal ideas from Europe to the Philippines
d. more educated and young Filipinos were able to study
abroad
Spanish Revolution of 1868 and the
Liberal Regime of Carlos Maria Dela
Torre(1869-1871)
- Glorious September Revolution of 1868:
Queen Isabela II was overthrown
resulting to the rise of liberalism in Spain
- Generals Juan Prim and Francisco Serrano
appointed de la Torre
- dismissal of alabaderos
 Accomplishments

1. abolished censorship of the press and allowed unlimited

discussions of political problems and proclaimed freedom of
speech
2. abolished flogging as a punishment
3. curtailed abuses particularly the tribute and the polo
4. allowed secular priests to be assigned to vacant parishes or
seminaries and created an office which would prevent abuses by
members of the regular religious orders
 Accomplishments

5. reformed the Royal Audiencia to bring about speedier

administration of justice
6. decreed educational reforms, ordered the setting up of
medical, pharmacy, and vocational schools
7. created the Council of the Philippines on December 4,
1870 which was a consultative body to study Philippine
problems and propose solutions to them.