2024 The Pueblo and the Reordering of Native Life

The Pueblo and the Reordering of Native Life

Colonial Laws and Settlement Creation

• Colonial laws aimed to congregate natives peacefully to facilitate conversion to Christianity.

• Success in establishing new villages varied; attempts were predominantly non-violent, though exceptions existed in certain instances.

Missionary Techniques and Indigenous Cooperation

• Attitudes of Coastal Areas:

  • Missionaries found success in coastal regions, except in heavily Islamized southern areas, using appealing ceremonies to draw natives to new settlements.

• Role of Elite Natives:

  • Influential local leaders acted as intermediaries, persuading fellow inhabitants to relocate and establish new homes.

  • By the late 16th century, the establishment of new villages unfolded, continuing into the 17th century.

Infrastructure and Land Management

a. Laws of the Indies Guidelines:

• Lands were mandated to have ample sources of water, wood, and cultivable land, along with communal areas extending a mile around pueblos for grass and wood collection.

• These regulations later produced disputes among neighboring pueblos during the 18th and 19th centuries due to population density.

Urban Development under Spanish Rule

• Achievements of the Spanish Mission:

  • The creation of towns marked a significant success for Spanish missionaries in the Philippines.

  • Towns transitioned from barangays, where Christian converts resided, allowing pagan residents to remain.

• **Structure of Towns:

  • Towns considered a Spanish contribution, encompassing several barangays, leading to the term "township."

  • Spatial arrangement followed a grid pattern centered around a plaza with the church.

  • Satellite barangays had chapels (visitas) for periodic visits from the parish priest.

Cultural and Civic Life

• Foundation of Philippine Civilization:

  • The población and satellite barangays established a foundational infrastructure for Philippine civilization.

  • Notable daily life elements included agriculture, transportation (wheel, plow), masonry, education (books, alphabets), and cultural artifacts (paintings, architecture).

Social Transformation and Public Life

• Broader Community Formation:

  • Anthropologist Fernando Zialcita noted barangay collections fostered broader community connections beyond familial ties.

  • The central role of the church in town life brought various cultural and life cycle events together, enhancing a communal identity.

  • Traditions such as burials for Christians in cemeteries indicated a shift from indigenous practices, fostering concepts of public and community.

Evolving Identity and National Consciousness

• Impact of Colonial Administration:

  • The Spanish political structure effectiveness facilitated the unification of diverse villages into broader communities, enabling abstract communal identities.

• 19th Century Transformations:

  • Spanish centralization efforts unintentionally shifted community identity towards secular nationalism.

  • Educational reforms and the introduction of the Spanish language fostered a collective Filipino consciousness, distinct from colonial identity markers such as creole, mestizo, or indio.

  • Ingrained discriminatory colonial policies worsened social divides and heightened nationalistic sentiment among Filipinos.

Illustrations and Historical Maps

• Series of Figures:

  • Figures from the 1734 Map of the Philippines, created by Fr. Pedro Murillo y Velarde and engraved by Nicolas De La Cruz Bagay, showcased the agricultural landscape and various inhabitants of the islands and the social life depicted in cartography.