Philippine History: From Colonial Grievances to the 1896 Revolution

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards detailing the historical events, key figures, reform movements, and the 1896 Philippine Revolution from the 1872 Cavite Mutiny to the death of Andres Bonifacio.

Kilusang Agraryo (Agrarian Movement)

A series of farmer uprisings during the 18th and 19th centuries against the abusive land systems implemented by the Spaniards in the Philippines, fueled by exploitation, high taxes, and forced labor.

Hacienda System

A colonial agricultural structure where ancestral lands were claimed by the Spanish church and Spaniards as large estates, turning native Filipinos into tenant laborers (kasama) with unfair crop-sharing practices.

Opening of Manila to World Trade (1834)

A major economic turning point in 1834 that expanded international trade, enriched Filipino and mestizo families, provided educational opportunities for their children, and gave rise to an educated middle class.

Opening of the Suez Canal

The opening of an artificial waterway on November 17, 1869, that significantly reduced travel time between Europe and the Philippines, accelerating the arrival of liberal ideas regarding liberty, rights, and equality.

Carlos María de la Torre

The liberal Spanish Governor-General of the Philippines appointed in 1869 who introduced a more open administration, encouraged free expression, and inspired hope among Filipinos for colonial reforms.

Rafael de Izquierdo

The conservative Spanish Governor-General who succeeded Carlos María de la Torre in 1871 and revoked long-standing tribute and forced labor exemptions formerly granted to workers and soldiers in Cavite.

Cavite Arsenal

A Spanish military facility dedicated to war materiel where Filipino laborers and soldiers were stationed, which became the flashpoint of labor unrest over revoked exemptions and salary deductions.

Regular Priests

Spanish clergymen belonging to religious orders, such as the Dominicans and Franciscans, who controlled parishes and resisted transferring administration to native clergy.

Secular Priests

Priests who do not belong to a religious order—mostly native Filipinos during the 19th century—who demanded equal rights and the authority to administer parishes in the Philippines.

Secularization Movement

The organized campaign initiated by Filipino clergy advocating for secularization—the formal transfer of parish control from Spanish religious orders to secular priests.

Padre Pedro Pelaez

A Filipino priest who spearheaded the early secularization movement in defense of the native clergy until his death during the catastrophic earthquake of June 3, 1863.

GOMBURZA

The collective name for the three Filipino secular priests—Mariano Gómez, José Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora—who championed secularization and were wrongfully executed on February 17, 1872.

Mariano Gómez

A 72-year-old Filipino secular priest assigned to Bacoor, Cavite, who advised his visiting nephew on the eve of his execution not to weep and to remember love for the nation.

José Burgos

A 35-year-old highly educated secular priest and articulate advocate of church secularization who left final parting words emphasizing education and honoring the history of the ancestors.

Jacinto Zamora

A 36-year-old secular priest and champion of secularization who was falsely implicated in the Cavite Mutiny and sentenced to death by the garrote vil.

Cavite Mutiny

An armed uprising that took place on January 20, 1872, at Fort San Felipe in Cavite, involving approximately 200 Filipino soldiers and arsenal workers protesting against revoked tribute exemptions, salary deductions, and forced labor.

Francisco La Madrid

A leading figure in the Cavite Mutiny who died during the violent armed clash inside Fort San Felipe as Spanish forces suppressed the mutiny.

Francisco Zaldua

A key witness used by Spanish prosecutors whose testimony implicated Padre José Burgos in the Cavite Mutiny; he was the first individual executed by garrote on February 17, 1872.

Archbishop Gregorio Meliton Martínez

The Archbishop of Manila who refused Governor-General Izquierdo's request to strip GOMBURZA of their priestly vestments (abito) before their execution and ordered Manila church bells to toll in mourning.

Garrote Vil

The mechanical strangulation instrument utilized by the Spanish colonial authorities at Bagumbayan to execute Francisco Zaldua and GOMBURZA on February 17, 1872.

Ilustrados

Educated Filipino intellectuals exposed to European liberalism, civil rights, and governance who utilized literature, diplomacy, and political organizations to campaign for colonial reforms.

Kilusang Propaganda (Propaganda Movement)

A peaceful political campaign organized by Filipino ilustrados active between 1880 and 1895 (specifically 1872 to 1892) demanding legal, social, and administrative reforms from the Spanish colonial government.

Reforms Demanded by the Propagandists

Core demands that included equality between Filipinos and Spaniards under the law, Philippine representation in the Spanish Cortes, freedom of speech and the press, parish secularization, and just colonial administration.

José Rizal

A leading propagandist who exposed colonial corruption, hypocrisy, and discrimination through his novels Noli Me Tangere (1887) and El Filibusterismo (1891), writing under the pen names Dimasalang and Laong-Laan.

Marcelo H. del Pilar

A lawyer, journalist, and reform organizer who formerly edited Diariong Tagalog, later managed and edited La Solidaridad, and passed away from tuberculosis in Barcelona on July 4, 1896.

Graciano López Jaena

A writer and orator known as the 'Prince of Filipino Orators' (Prinsipe ng Pilipinong Orador), author of the satire Fray Botod, and the first editor of La Solidaridad, who died of tuberculosis in Barcelona on January 20, 1896.

Fray Botod

A satirical work written by Graciano López Jaena that criticized the greed, abuses, and hypocrisy of certain Spanish friars in the Philippines.

Mariano Ponce

A Filipino physician, writer, and primary coordinator of the Propaganda Movement who facilitated communication among reformists and raised financial backing, writing under the pen names Tikbalang, Kalipulako, and Naning.

Antonio Luna

A Filipino scientist, literary contributor to the Propaganda Movement under the pen name Taga-ilog, and later a key military general in the Philippine Revolution.

La Solidaridad

The principal fortnightly newspaper of the Propaganda Movement founded on February 15, 1889, in Barcelona, Spain, which published essays exposing colonial abuses until it ceased on November 15, 1895 (Volume 7, No. 160) due to funding shortages and censorship.

Asociación Hispano-Filipina

An organization based in Spain that united Filipino reformists and sympathetic Spanish liberals to coordinate lobbying efforts and build financial and political backing for Philippine reforms.

Pen Names of the Propagandists

Protective pseudonyms used by reformers: José Rizal (Dimasalang, Laong-Laan), Marcelo H. del Pilar (Plaridel, Piping Dilat, Dolores Manapat), Graciano López Jaena (Diego Laura), Mariano Ponce (Tikbalang, Kalipulako, Naning), Antonio Luna (Taga-ilog), Jose Maria Panganiban (Jomapa), and Juan Luna (Buan).

Eulogio Despujol

The Spanish Governor-General whom José Rizal met upon returning to the Philippines on June 26, 1892, and who ordered Rizal's arrest on July 6, 1892, and exile to Dapitan on July 7, 1892.

La Liga Filipina

A civic reform society established by José Rizal on July 3, 1892, at the residence of Doroteo Ongjunco on Ilaya Street, Tondo, aimed at unifying the archipelago and providing mutual protection.

Five Aims of La Liga Filipina

1. Unification of the whole archipelago into a 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.

Kataas-taasang, Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK)

The secret revolutionary society founded on July 7, 1892, on Calle Azcarraga in Tondo, Manila, by Andres Bonifacio, Teodoro Plata, Ladislao Diwa, Deodato Arellano, and Valentin Diaz to achieve independence from Spain through armed revolt.

Three Aims of the Katipunan

1. Political: Attain Philippine independence from Spain through revolution; 2. Moral: Promote good conduct, hygiene, morality, and reject blind religious obedience; 3. Civic: Defend and assist the poor and oppressed.

Pacto de Sangre (Katipunan)

The sacred blood compact ritual of the Katipunan where new recruits demonstrated commitment by signing their membership oaths using blood drawn from their own arms.

Three Tiers of Katipunan Membership

The organizational hierarchy of the KKK: 1. Katipon (first rank, password 'Anak ng Bayan', black hood with white triangle and letters Z. Ll. B.); 2. Kawal (second rank, password 'GomBurZa', green hood and medal with Baybayin K); 3. Bayani (third rank, password 'Rizal', red hood and red ribbon with jewels).

Kartilya ng Katipunan

The moral and ethical guidebook written by Emilio Jacinto that detailed the responsibilities, honor, human equality, patriotism, and respect for women required of every Katipunero.

Kalayaan

The official newspaper of the Katipunan managed by Emilio Jacinto that propagated revolutionary ideals and catalyzed a dramatic surge in society membership.

Teodoro Patiño

A Katipunero whose sister confessed the existence of the secret society to Father Mariano Gil on August 19, 1896, leading to raids, document confiscations, and the exposure of the Katipunan.

Cry of the Revolution (Punitan ng Sedula)

An August 1896 gathering where Katipuneros, commanded by Andres Bonifacio, tore their residence tax certificates (cedula personal) while declaring 'Mabuhay ang Katagalugan!' to signify open rebellion against Spanish sovereignty.

Battle of San Juan del Monte

An early revolutionary offensive on August 30, 1896, where Katipuneros attacked Spanish positions including an ammunition depot (polvorín); though repelled, it escalated the revolutionary conflict.

Martial Law of August 1896

The military decree enacted by Governor-General Jose Blanco declaring martial law over eight provinces that took up arms: Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, and Tarlac.

Magdiwang

A prominent Katipunan faction in Cavite led by Mariano Álvarez (uncle of Gregoria de Jesus), centered in Noveleta.

Magdalo

A prominent Katipunan faction in Cavite led by Baldomero Aguinaldo (cousin of Emilio Aguinaldo), centered in Kawit.

Casa Hacienda de Tejeros

A large religious estate house belonging to the Recollects (Recoletos) in Rosario, Cavite, where the Tejeros Convention was held on March 22, 1897, to resolve the Magdiwang-Magdalo rivalry and form a revolutionary government.

Tejeros Convention

The revolutionary assembly on March 22, 1897, chaired by Andres Bonifacio, where delegates voted to establish a formal revolutionary government, electing Emilio Aguinaldo as President on his 28th birthday while he fought in Pasong Santol, Cavite.

Daniel Tirona

The Magdalo delegate who managed ballot distribution at the Tejeros Convention and contested Andres Bonifacio's election as Director of the Interior, insisting the post required a lawyer like José del Rosario.

Diego Mojica

A Magdiwang leader who cautioned Andres Bonifacio before the Tejeros election voting began that several ballot sheets were already marked with candidate names.

Artemio Ricarte

The revolutionary officer elected Captain General at the Tejeros Convention who physically restrained Andres Bonifacio from drawing his gun and shooting Daniel Tirona.

Consejo de Guerra (Council of War)

The revolutionary court martial that tried Andres and Procopio Bonifacio on charges of sedition, treason, and attempting to assassinate Emilio Aguinaldo, sentencing both brothers to death.

Indukto of Emilio Aguinaldo

The executive commutation issued by Emilio Aguinaldo to reduce the Bonifacio brothers' sentence from execution to banishment, which Aguinaldo subsequently revoked on the counsel of Generals Mariano Noriel and Pio del Pilar.

Lázaro Makapagal

The military officer ordered by General Mariano Noriel to take Andres and Procopio Bonifacio to the mountains of Maragondon with a sealed letter that contained the instructions for their execution.

Execution of Andres and Procopio Bonifacio

The death by firing squad of Andres and Procopio Bonifacio on May 10, 1897, carried out by revolutionary forces under Lázaro Makapagal at the foothills of Mount Nagpatong (Bundok Buntis) in Maragondon, Cavite.