19th Century Philippines in Rizal's Time

Comprehensive practice flashcards reviewing the political, socio-cultural, economic, and educational conditions of the Philippines during the 19th century (Rizal's time).

Who discovered the Philippines in the year $1521$?

Ferdinand Magellan

Who colonized the Philippines starting in the year $1565$?

Miguel Lopez de Legazpi

What was the first Spanish settlement established in the Philippines?

Cebu

What official title was given to Maynilad as the Spanish capital settlement?

Insigne y Siempre Leal Ciudad

What was the Spanish settlement located in the north of the Philippines?

Villa Fernandina (Vigan)

From which Spanish word is 'encomienda' derived, and what does it mean?

It comes from the Spanish word 'encomendar', which means 'to entrust'.

What was the earliest political system used during the conquista period in the Philippines?

The encomienda system

What authority was granted to an encomendero under the encomienda system?

The right to collect tributes or taxes from the native inhabitants in an assigned geographic area as a reward for service to the Spanish Crown.

Was the encomienda system considered a land grant?

No, it was not a land grant, but rather an administrative unit and public office used to extract tribute.

How was the encomienda system officially introduced in the Philippines?

It was introduced when Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, in compliance with a decree issued by King Philip II in $1558$, distributed lands and favors in Cebu.

What was the political structure of the Spanish colonial government in the Philippines?

Centralized Unitary Government

How many Spanish Governor-Generals ruled the Philippines during the colonial era?

There were $115$ Spanish Governor-Generals.

Who were the first and last Spanish Governor-Generals in the Philippines?

The first was Miguel Lopez de Legazpi ($1565$-$1572$) and the last was Diego de los Rios ($1898$).

What were the key executive and military powers held by the Governor-General?

He served as chief executive, commander-in-chief of colonial armed forces, appointed and removed colonial officials (except those appointed by the King), served as vice-royal patron, could declare war or peace, and could veto royal decrees or laws from Spain.

What additional judicial role did the Governor-General assume starting in $1861$?

He served as president (chief justice) of the Royal Audiencia (Supreme Court).

What were the two types of provincial local government units established by the Spaniards, and who headed each?

Alcaldia (headed by the Alcalde Mayor) and Corrigimiento (headed by the Corregidor).

What were the primary duties of the Alcalde Mayor in provincial government?

Representing the Spanish king and Governor-General, managing day-to-day provincial operations, implementing laws, and supervising tax collection.

What was the role of the Gobernadorcillo in a town or pueblo?

A municipal judge or governor ('mayor'), Justice of the Peace, and port captain directly responsible to the provincial governor for local leadership, economic, and judicial administration.

What specific functions did the Gobernadorcillo perform for the colonial government?

Preparing pardon or tribute lists, recruiting and distributing men for draft labor (Polos y servicios), overseeing communal public work, managing military conscription, acting as postal clerk, and serving as judge in civil suits involving $44\text{ pesos}$ or less.

Who was the Cabeza de Barangay, and how was this position acquired?

The leader or chief of a barangay during the Spanish period, inherited from the first datus who became cabezas de barangay when independent barangays became tributary vassals of the Spanish Crown.

What term refers to the supreme political and economic influence exercised by Spanish friars in the Philippines?

Frailocracy (Supremacy of the Friars)

Who was the last archbishop to hold the position of Governor-General prior to $1762$?

Manuel Rojo

What social doctrine based on blood purity governed social stratification during Spanish rule?

Doctrine of Limpieza de Sangre (Purity of Blood)

How was society structured under the Pyramidal Social Structure during the Spanish period?

$1$. Peninsulares and Insulares at the apex, $2$. Spanish mestizos, Principalia, and Chinese Mestizos in the middle, and $3$. Indios or natives at the base.

What were the four major social consequences of the Doctrine of Limpieza de Sangre?

$1$. Racial Discrimination, $2$. No equality before the Law, $3$. Maladministration of Justice, and $4$. Human Rights denied to Filipinos (natives).

What was the Cedula Tax implemented in $1884$?

A form of taxation that served as paper proof of being a colony of Spain and a legitimate member of a pueblo, which all residents of the Philippines were required to pay.

What was the tithe in the Spanish colonial taxation system?

The payment of $10\%$ of an individual's annual income to the government.

What were the sanctorum and tribute (buwis) taxes under Spanish rule?

Sanctorum was tax paid as support to the church; tribute (buwis) was tax or rent given to a landlord in cash or kind, fixed at $8\text{ reales}$ and later increased to $15\text{ reales}$.

What was the Bandala System, and how did it impact farmers?

A system where farmers were forced to sell their produce to the government, but were only given promissory notes instead of actual payment.

What were the rules and consequences of the Tobacco Monopoly?

Farmers were required to produce a specific quota of tobacco and sell leaves to the government at very low prices; failure to meet the quota resulted in fines.

What obligations and negative effects were associated with forced labor (Polo y servicios)?

Filipinos were obligated to construct buildings and churches and cut trees for logs; they were unpaid, separated from families, denied required food, and overworked.

How was education managed in the Philippines prior to the Education Decree of $1863$?

Friars established parochial schools linked with churches to teach catechism in local dialects; education was non-uniform, unstructured, lacking grade levels, and strictly controlled by friars.

What changes were introduced by the Education Decree of $1863$ in the Philippines?

It established a formal educational system requiring primary schools for boys and girls in every town, accepted Filipino students (leading to the emergence of intellectual Filipinos), and created the Normal School offering a $3$\text{-year} primary teacher education program.