Module 3: Roots of Rizal's Nationalistic Fervor

Prelim Topic

• This was the century when Jose Rizal was Born.

• During this time, Spain’s glory and influence as a colonial power were already waning. Spain was caught up in the European wars that led to the collapse of its global empire.

Cuban War of Independence

• Spanish colonies in the Americas began fighting for their independence

• This war inspired many Filipino Ilustrados

Ilustrados

• These were the enlightened men who were exposed to the liberal ideology in Europe by studying and travelling in the continent.

• With this, the natives of the Philippines were slowly realizing the need to awaken their national consciousness.

Filipino

• It was Jose Rizal who first used this word to refer to the inhabitants of the country, whether they are of Spanish or Filipino blood.

Indios

• Under Spanish rule, the native inhabitants were called this term.

Insulares

• These are full blooded Spaniards born in the Philippines.

Industrial Revolution

• This is the transition to new manufacturing processes that made use of steam-powered machinery, factories, and mass-production in Europe. It had significant effects on the Philippine economy.

• Events around the world has contributed to the formation of national consciousness that influenced Rizal and other ilustrados during the 19th century

Middle-class Filipinos

• With newer production methods, Filipino merchants and small-scale industrialists became prominent in Philippine society.

• These new group of Filipinos had the means to provide education for their children.

• The ones who recognized the ills of the Spanish colonial government came from this class through their education

• Jose Rizal was among them.

Frailocracy

• The dominance of the friars in the country prompted Rizal and the propagandists to expose the abuse of their power and influence in the Philippines

• The Filipinos turned more and more to the friars for moral and political guidance as Spanish civil officials in the country became more corrupt and immoral.

Suez Canal

• The opening of this infrastructure paved the way for the importation of books, magazines, and newspapers with liberal ideas from Europe and America.

• This was instrumental to the Political awakening of Rizal because he was able to expand his perspective which shaped his nationalist sensibilities.

Governor-General Carlos María de la Torre

• His leadership gave the Filipinos a taste of liberal rule.

• During his leadership, media censorship became relaxed and limited secularization of education began.

• He gave amnesty to rebels and established the Guardia Civil

Governor-General Rafael Izquierdo

• He replaced Dela Torre

• He was the opposite of Dela Torre’s liberal minded rule. For him, the indios should not be given the same rights and freedom enjoyed by the Spaniards in the Philippines.

• He imposed harsh policies and laws. He removed the long-standing personal benefits of the workers under the encomienda system and forced labor exemptions among soldiers.

Cavite Mutiny

• Because of Izquierdo, this event was staged by about 200 military personnel of the San Felipe Arsenal in Cavite (January 20, 1872)

TRUE

• The Cavite Mutiny was a failed uprising against the Spaniards, resulting in disarmed, imprisoned, and dead Filipino soldiers.

• Those who were suspected to be involved in the mutiny were also arrested and executed.

Spanish Friars

• They conspired and accused the secular priests of planning to overthrow the government to establish a new one independent of Spain.

• They claimed that the secular priests were to elect a new ruler or king which is Father Jose Burgos.

GOM-BUR-ZA

• The Secular Filipino priests: Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos. and  Jacinto Zamora were executed by garrote at Bagumbayan on February 15, 1872 as ordered by Izquierdo.

• They accused them to be the instigators of the Cavite Mutiny.

El Filibusterismo

• Jose Rizal dedicated this novel to the 3 priests.

• The execution of GOMBURZA had an impact on Rizal and his family since Burgos was a friend to his brother.

• The martyrdom of the 3 priests awakened the desire for independence among many Filipinos.

Formation of National Consciousness

• Rizal’s aim to make the Philippines known as a country of writers and intellectuals was a result of his firsthand experience of racial discrimination when he was in Spain. Considered as an inferior race, Filipinos were not given access to public goods and experience rampant prejudice in government offices, schools, and society in general

• A number of economic, social, political, and cultural changes in the country and around the world contributed to the formation of Rizal’s national consciousness and his reformist agenda.

• The liberal and progressive ideas of Rizal, together with the other reformists, stirred the national consciousness of natives which eventually led to the Philippine Revolution of 1896