Readings in Philippine History

Lesson 1: Learning History

URDUJA - said to have ruled the kingdom of Tawalisi in the province of Pangasinan in ancient times

MELCHORA AQUINO - "Grand Woman of the Revolution" and the "Mother of Balintawak"

MANUEL L. QUEZON - Filipino lawyer, statesman, soldier and politician who served as president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines from 1935 until his death in 1944.

JOSE P. Laurel - He was a Filipino politician and judge, who served as the president of the Japanese-occupied Second Philippine Republic, a puppet state during World War

SINULOG FESTIVAL - annual cultural and religious festival held on the third Sunday of January in Cebu City, and on the fourth Sunday of January in Carmen, Cebu, and is the center of the Santo Niño Catholic celebrations in the Philippines.

BACOLOR - In the year 1762 after the fall of Manila to the Englishinvaders, Governor General Simon de Anda retreated and made _________ the seat of the Spanish Government. It was the seat of government from October 6, 1762 to May 30, 1764, and practically served as the Capital of the Philippines.

MARCELA AGONCILLO - She was a Filipina who was the principal seamstress of the first and official flag of the Philippines, gaining her the title of "The Mother of the Philippine Flag.”

IBONG ADARNA - It is a 16th-century Filipino epic poem. It is about an eponymous magical bird. The longer form of the story's title during the Spanish Era was "Korido at Buhay na Pinagdaanan ng Tatlong Prinsipeng Magkakapatid na anak ni Haring Fernando at ni Reyna Valeriana sa Kahariang Berbanya"

BAKUNAWA - It is a serpent-like dragon in Philippine mythology. It is believed to be the cause of eclipses, earthquakes, rains, and wind. The movements of this creature served as a geomantic calendar system for ancient Filipinos and were part of the shamanistic rituals of the babaylan.

HISTORY - A branch of knowledge that records and explains past events.

What is History?

  • Etymology of the word History: History was derived from the Greek word historia which means “knowledge acquired through inquiry or investigation”. The English word history is derived from the Greek noun istoiα (historia), meaning learning.
  • Aristotle - history meant a systematic account of a set of natural phenomena, whether or not chronological factoring was a factor in the account
  • In the course of time, however, the equivalent Latin word scientia (English, science) came to be used more regularly to designate non chronological systematic accounts of natural phenomena; and the word history was reserved usually for accounts of phenomena (especially human affairs) in chronological order. By its most common definition, the word history now means, “the past of mankind.”
  • To make sense of history, it is necessary to first understand what it is all about.
  • It is a historian’s duty to draw insights from the ideas and realities that have shaped the lives of men and women and the society. And in understanding these ideas, a historian can comprehend how situations happened, identify their elements, and think of how these situations can solve today’s predicaments and help plan for the future.
  • The study of history - study of the beliefs and desires, practices, and institutions of human beings
  • history - active factor in the study of Philippine society
  • It also includes a look into the development of Philippine culture through time, especially with the influences of the colonial period that would eventually shape the present Philippine identity. \n

The Filipino Traits and Values

a. Hospitality

  • How guests are warmly greeted at homes and public places

b. They maintain close Family Ties(Filial Piety)

  • Filial Piety is a virtue of respect for one's parents, elders, and ancestors.

c. Respect for the Elders

  • Filipinos are taught to become polite and respectful individuals.

d. The Filipino is Sentimental

  • Strongly influenced by feelings rather than by careful thought and judgment based on facts.

e. Pakikisama or Togetherness

  • Typical trait of a Filipino, in its simplest sense meaning “getting along with others \n

f. Utang na loob

  • One does not forget the good deeds that others have done to him or her especially in times of great need.

g. Hiya or Shame

  • "Hiya" or "shame" is a related value to Amor Propio.
  • One will do everything, even if it is beyond his means just to save his reputation as well as the family’s.

h. Fatalistic (Bahala na)

  • "Come what may."
  • Comes from the word “Bathala na," which means God ("let God take charge of the affairs;")

i. Crab Mentality

  • Kanya-kanya syndrome, talangka [crab] mentality, isip talangka

j. Colonial Mentality

  • Internalized attitude of ethnic or cultural inferiority felt by people as a result of colonization, i.e. them being colonized by another group. It corresponds with the belief that the cultural values of the colonizer are inherently superior to one's own.

k. Ningas Cogon

  • “Ningas Kugon” is a local Tagalog idiom that means “Not Being Consistent”

l. Mañana Habit

  • "Mañana" which means "tomorrow”
  • Procrastination

m. Resilient

  • Aware of situations, own emotional reactions, and behavior of those around them
  • Can maintain control of a situation and think of new ways to tackle problems
  • People emerge stronger after such difficulties

n. Faith in God

  • Known for their strong religious faith
  • Even during the most trying moments of their collective history, their faith remains steadfast.

Lesson 2: Encounters with the West

  • At the start of the 16th century, Europe had tremendously advanced in politics and sciences which brought fast changes in many parts of the world.

Circumnavigation

  • Travel around the world with a ship

The Spanish Expedition

Fernao De Magalhaes (Ferdinand Magellan)

  • Portuguese Explorer
  • Credited as the first person to circumnavigate the globe.
  • Led the 1519 Spanish expedition.

Antonio Pigafetta

  • Was the Chronicler of Magellan's expedition
  • One of the survivors
  • A sailor and scholar
  • Wrote detailed journals throughout the voyage recording all that happened.

Enrique

  • Was the interpreter who accompanied Magellan.
  • Malay slave who accompanied Magellan
  • Interpreter of the voyage

Five Ships (From King Charles I)

  • Victoria

    • Only ship that completed the circumnavigation and returned to Spain
    • Part of the Spanish expedition to the Moluccas commanded by the explorer Ferdinand Magellan

  • Trinidad

    • Main lead ship

  • Conception

  • Santiago

  • San Antonio

  • Ferdinand Magellan presented his daring plan to King Charles I of Spain to reach the Spice Islands by sailing west.

  • Why King of Spain, not Portugal? King Manuel of Portugal refused to back up Magellan in finding Spice Island >> rebelled by traveling without permission which is against the law >> bumabalik ng Portugal pero hindi tinanggap ng King of Portugal >> King of Spain accepted Magellan’s offer, gave him 5 ships, and gave food to accommodate the 237 crew to last for two years, with addition of weapons and navigational instruments

THE JOURNEY

September 20, 1519

  • Magellan expedition left San Lucas, Spain.

October 21, 1520

  • Magellan discovered a strait in the southernmost part of South America and called it “Strait of all Saints”, currently called “Strait of Magellan.”

March 17, 1521

  • Landed in the Island of Homonhon (Samar) at the entrance of the gulf of Leyte. Magellan called it “The Archipelago of Saint Lazarus”

March 25, 1521

  • Reached Limasawa, Leyte
  • Blood compact between Rajah Kulambu of Limasawa and Rajah Siagu of Butuan.

March 31, 1521

  • The first Christian mass - Limasawa, Leyte
  • Father Pedro de Valderamma.

April 08, 1521

  • Reached Cebu which was ruled then by Rajah Humabon
  • Sought friendship among the natives and took special pride in converting them to Catholicism.

Sto. Niño

  • gift given by Magellan to Queen Juana, wife of Rajah Humabon (+ Mama Mary & Crucifix)

Magellan’s Cross

  • Put up by Magellan in Cebu to mark the first conversion of the Filipinos

Lapu - Lapu

  • Mactan chieftain
  • Refused the presence of the Spaniards and declared war against them

April 28 1521

  • Battle of Mactan occurred due to refusal of chieftain to recognize the Sovereignty of Spain with ships
  • Magellan died in the battle (shot by poisonous arrow sa hita)

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The Philippines in Spanish Times

Legazpi-Sikatuna Blood Compact (Sandugo)

  • Island of Bohol
  • Miguel López de Legazpi (Spanish explorer) and Datu Sikatuna (Chieftain of Bohol) on March16, 1565, to seal their friendship as part of the tribal tradition
  • Considered as the first treaty of friendship between the Spaniards and Filipinos \n
  • Under the command of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and other Spanish forces, the Philippines was under the colony of Spain and it lasted for three hundred and thirty-three years. (333 years)

3 Reasons for Spanish Conquest in the Philippines

3G’s

Gold, Glory, God

(1) find the Spice Island

(2) spread Christianity

(3) add glory to Spain

Spanish Contributions

  1. Catholicism
  2. Cuisine
    • Lechon, Kare-kare, Puchero, Sinigang, Paella, Lumpia Embutido, Leche Flan, Corn, Sausage
  3. Language
  4. Values
    • Pagmamano, Siesta, Manaña Habit, Simbang Gabi, Prayer, cock fighting (Sabong)
  5. Education
    • Western System of Education.

The Caste System

  • Social classes in Spanish era

Peninsulares

  • Spaniards born in Spain

Insulares

  • Spaniards born in the Philippines
  • took important government positions

Mestizos

  • Filipinos mixed with other blood
  1. Mestizo de Espanyol
  2. Mestizo de Sangley
  3. Tornatras

Indios

  • Filipinos with Austronesian blood.

Philippine Government under Spain

Political System

  • Encomienda system (abused labor system, similar to Polo y Servicio), which resembled the feudal system in Medieval Europe

Conqustadores, Friars, Nobles

  • Given estates and other riches in exchange for pledging their services to the king of Spain

Encomendero

  • Provide military services and governance to the inhabitants

National Government

**   **

Governor-General

  • Most-powerful person in the entire country next to King of Spain.
  • Representative of King of Spain
  • Headed the Supreme Court (Royal Audiencia), was Commander-in-chief of the army and navy, and was the economic planner of the country
  • Executive power of the Local government stemmed from him.
  • Yearly salary: P40,000
  • Usually, a Peninsulares

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Provincial (Alcaldia) Government

Alcalde Mayor

  • Annual salary - from P300 to P2,000 before 1847 and P1,500 to P1,600 after it.
  • Headed City Governments (Ayuntamientos)
  • Their salaries were augmented through the special privilege of “Indulto de Commercio” where all people were forced to do business with him.
  • Usually, an Insulares

Corregidores

  • Headed the unpacified Military Zones (Corrigimiento)

  • Alcalde Mayors and Corredores exercised multiple prerogatives as Judge, Inspector of Encomiendas, Chief of Police, Tribute collector, Capital-General of the Province, and even Vice-Regal Patron.

Municipal Government

Gobernadorcillo

  • Preparation of the tribute list (Padron)
  • Recruitment and distribution of men for draft labor
  • Communal public work and Military conscription (Quinto), Postal Clerk and Judge in minor civil suits
  • intervened in all administrative cases pertaining to his town: Lands, Justice, Finance and the Municipal Police.
  • Annual salary: P24 but exempted from taxation
  • Any native or Chinese mestizo, 25 years old, literate in oral or written Spanish and has been a Cabeza de Barangay of 4 years can be a Gobernadorcillo.

Barrio Government

Cabeza de Barangay

  • Barrio government rested on the Barrio Administrator (Cabeza de Barangay).
  • Peace and Order and recruited men for Communal Public Works

Residencia and Visita

  • To check the abuse of power of Royal Officials, these two ancient Castilian Institutions were brought to the Philippines
  • Not biased

Residencia

  • Public investigation and trial of outgoing colonial officials in order to ascertain whether they had committed abuses in the performance of their duties.
  • From Spain

Visita

  • Secret investigation of an official's conduct as a public servant
  • Local

Economic Status

Galleon Trade

  • During most of the Spanish colonial period, the Philippine economy depended on the Galleon Trade which was inaugurated in 1565 between Manila and Acapulco, Mexico.
  • Manila became the most important center of trade in Asia between the 17th and 18th centuries.

Taxation

  • To support the Colony, several forms of taxes and monopolies were imposed. The Buwis (Tribute), which could be paid in cash or kind.
  • Initially fixed at 8 reales (centavos) and later increased to 15 reales

Polo Y Servicio

  • Forced labor for 40 days of men ranging from 16 to 60 years of age  who were obligated to give personal services to community projects
  • Could be exempted from polo by paying the falla (corruption of the Spanish falta, meaning “absence”), a daily fine of one and a half real.