Introduction for 19th Century Philippines

Flashcards cover major events, people, organizations, and sources from the notes on 19th-century Philippines, including trade reforms, reform movements, literature, religious confraternities, and photography.

What major trade policy was abolished in 1815 in the Philippines?

The galleon trade.

In what year did the Philippines open to international trade, marking a shift in its economy?

1834.

What economic model emerged after the abolition of the galleon trade?

An export-oriented, cash crop economy.

Which social group formed the new ‘middle class’ due to 19th-century economic changes?

Indios naturales who gained wealth.

What did the wealth of the new middle class enable some families to do?

Send their children to Europe to study.

What characterized the overall economic development in the 19th-century Philippines?

It was uneven, with the laboring classes often in material deprivation.

What broad political change did the notes say was ultimately influenced by reformist and revolutionary groups?

Ending Spanish control of the islands in 1898.

Who was Marcelo H. del Pilar?

A Filipino reformist writer born in 1850 who founded Diariong Tagalog and edited La Solidaridad; author of Aba Guinoong Baria.

What is Aba Guinoong Baria about?

A satirical piece criticizing the avariciousness and corruption of the friars.

What role did Del Pilar play in La Solidaridad?

He served as editor of La Solidaridad from 1890 until its end.

What is John Bowring’s A Visit to the Philippine Islands?

An account of Bowring’s 1858 visit to the Philippines, describing political, economic, and socio-cultural life; published in 1859.

What subject does Bowring describe in the excerpt provided?

Cockfighting (cock-fighting) and the gallera system.

What is a gallera?

A cockfighting arena—large buildings with a stage, seats, and revenue from betting.

Who wrote The State of the Philippines in 1810 and why is it significant?

Tomas de Comyn; it provides a general overview of the Philippines on the eve of the galleon trade abolition and opening to international trade.

Name the four classes of landowners identified by Comyn in the Estates excerpt.

1) Religious orders; 2) Spanish proprietors; 3) principal mestizos and natives; 4) other natives.

What policy did Comyn advocate regarding vacant lands?

Confiscate unused lands and transfer them to active owners with due notice, to promote estate formation and reduce strife.

Who wrote The Internal Conditions of the Philippines and what are its three core principles for maintaining control?

Sinibaldo de Mas; (1) reduce the Spanish-Filipino population, (2) people of color must respect and obey whites, (3) complete reform of administration.

What educational reforms does Mas advocate for in the Philippines?

Limit education to primary schools; close male colleges; keep liberal ideas suppressed to prevent insurgency.

What was La Solidaridad and its primary aim?

A propagandist newspaper (1889–1895) that defended progress, promoted liberal ideas, and sought democratic rights for the Philippines.

Who wrote The Causes of the Distress of the Philippines and what problems did it identify?

Graciano Lopez Jaena; criticized education that focuses on religious instruction rather than useful knowledge, colonial bureaucracy, and proposed reforms like free ports.

What educational critique did Jaena voice regarding Philippine schooling?

Education emphasized reading and praying but not practical knowledge like physics, chemistry, geography, or agriculture.

What reforms did Jaena advocate to reactivate the colonial economy, especially regarding ports and trade?

Establishment of free ports, freedom of commerce, abolition of differential duties, and better treaties with China/Japan.

What is the Cofradía de San José and who founded it?

A lay Catholic confraternity in Tayabas founded in the 1830s by Apolinario dela Cruz (Hermano Puli); it operated secretly and was suppressed in 1841.

What were the three duties of Cofradía members?

Recite the Pater Noster, Ave Maria, and Gloria Patri seven times daily; pay monthly dues; attend the Misa de Gracia on the 19th.

How much were the Cofradía monthly dues called dies y nueve (dizeneuve)?

One real per month (twelve reales a year).

What was the Misa de Gracia and its significance for the Cofradía?

A monthly Mass celebrated on the 19th in honor of Saint Joseph to foster unity and grant indulgences.

What role did alms play in the Cofradía and how were funds used?

Alms funded Cofradía activities, including purchasing the Esclavitud camisas and supporting the Chest of Saint Joseph and Masses.

How did the Cofradía expand membership?

Cabecillas recruited new members; a member who recruited twelve new members could become a cabecilla and receive a voto.

What is the Esclavitud ng mahal na Virgen?

A title used to empower a cabecilla within the Cofradía; associated with leadership and privileges.

What devotion besides prayers was central to the Cofradía’s practices?

The rosary and novenas, integrated with special feast-day observances and occasions of gratitude.

What is Álbum de Filipinas and why is it significant?

A late 19th-century album of photographs documenting Philippine life, housed at the Biblioteca Nacional de España, illustrating social, economic, and urban life.

What does Guardiola’s El Imaginario Colonial cover?

The beginnings and development of photography in the Philippines (1840s–1860s) and its role in illustrating colonial life.

What do the albums and photographs reveal about Manila’s late 19th-century modernity?

Modernization of the port, Pasig River improvements, new bridges, plazas, and changes in urban space.