Lecture 12: Secularization, the Propaganda Movement, the Katipunan, the 1896 Revolution, and the Republic of Biak na Bato

1869 - The opening of the Suez Canal cuts travel time from Europe to Manila on steamships from three months to one month

The Late 19th Century

• There was a time of high inflation in Manila / high taxes on basic staples

Reminders of Colonial Rule (despite 19th century reforms and changes)

• Polos y servicios

  • reduced to 24 days in 1863

  • you could even get exempted by paying a falla

• Tribute replaced by cedula personal in 1884

The Friars and the Secularization Issue

• Nuestra Señora de la Paz y Buen Viaje

  • Arrived in 1626 aboard a galleon

  • Survived a fire during a Chinese rebellion in 1639

  • Placed on a galleon by the Archbishop in 1746 due to several failed voyages since 1739

  • Returned to Antipolo after the voyage, which has been a pilgrimage site up to this day (making it a wealthy parish)

  • It was under the Jesuits, but Antipolo became a secular parish when they were evicted in 1768 (following the Pragmatic Penalty of 1767)

• The Secularization Issue

  • The Regular Clergy

    • Augustinians, Dominicans, Jesuits, Recollects, Franciscans

    • Initially came to the Philippines to fulfill their missions

    • Once parishes have been established, they had to be taken over by the secular clergy

  • The Secular Clergy

    • Not members of any order (Diocesan priests)

    • Also included “native” priests

    • Enforcement of visitations in 1767 + Jesuit eviction in 1768 = more “native” priests

    • Secularization was ordered by Royal Decree in 1774

  • Jesuits returned in 1859 following a series of de-secularization decrees; the Royal Order of 1861 compensated Recollects for the curacies they vacated

  • Pedro Pelaez

    • Administrator of the Archdiocese of Manila, was the son of the alcalde mayor of Laguna and an expert in canon law who fought for the rights of the native clergy

    • He died during the Manila earthquake of 1863

  • Jose Burgos

    • A mestizo priest from the Cathedral of Manila and a follower of the canon of Pelaez, becomes spokesman for the rights of native priests

A Brief Period of Liberal Reforms

• Gov. Gen. de la Torre (1869-1871) encouraged secularization in education and lifted press censorship.

• Rebels were given amnesty and were allowed to join the Guardia Civil

• Allowed demonstrations for “Freedom and Sovereignty for the People”

  • Among the demonstrators were Jose Burgos

• Gov. Gen. Rafael Izquierdo y Gutierrez (1871-1873) reversed de la Torre’s liberal reforms

• He introduced new taxes to the crew at the Cavite Arsenal, who had enjoyed exemptions since 1740

• This led to the Cavite Mutiny on January 20, 1872, in which the mutineers were suppressed.

The Cavity Mutiny and the GOMBURZA Execution

• Gov. Gen. Izquierdo used the suppression of the mutiny as the opportunity to suppress democratic reforms.

• Jose Burgos (35yo) and Mariano Gomez (73yo), who had nothing to do with the mutiny, were executed on February 17, 1872 before around 40,000 people.

• The Propaganda Movement was an offshoot of this event

• The Propaganda Movement included mestizos whose nationalist ideals were inspired by the GOMBURZA execution

• Their liberal views were published in Barcelona and Madrid from 1889 to 1895 in La Solidaridad

Some Propagandista Publications

• Graciano Lopez Jaena - The Distressing Situation in the Philippines (1887)

  • Described the ineptitude of colonial government

  • Described how laws on employing “natives” in government were not being followed

• Marcelo H. Del Pilar - Monarchism in the Philippines (1888)

  • Fate / education of the poor is controlled by the friars

  • La Frailocracia Filipina (1889)

    • Education is considered subversive by the friars

• Jose Rizal - The Indolence of the Filipinos (1890)

  • People in government positions (Spaniards in the Philippines) set the examples for laziness

  • Lack of education

  • Lack of national sentiment

  • Subservience to the Church

  • Inability to protest

  • Lack of prosperity

  • Lack of REPRESENTATION

Letter of Miguel Morayta to the Minister of Ultramar (1889)

• The time has come… to grant to that Spanish region the fundamental rights which every Spaniard in the Peninsula… enjoy, such as:

  • REPRESENTATION in the Cortes Abolition of censure

  • An expressed and definite prohibition of the existing practices of exiling residents by purely administrative order, and without a writ of execution from the courts of justice

• Take note: They were NOT asking for Philippine Independence

Rizal’s Return to the Philippines

• He believed that the fight for reforms must take place in the Philippines

• La Liga Filipina is established on 3 July 1892

• Apolinario Mabini was among its members

• Rizal is arrested three days later and exiled to Dapitan where he stays until September 1896

• Some former La Liga members form a new movement

KKK (Kataastaasang, Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan) - 1892

• Most of its members were educated and gainfully employed

• Women were allowed to join in 1893

• Deodato Arellano (1844-1899)

  • The first president of the Katipunan, he was the brother-in-law of M.H. del Pilar; he was viewed by Bonifacio as an elitist

• Ramon Basa (1848-1897)

  • He became supremo of the Katipunan in 1893 and withdrew because of too much focus on the initiation, which was similar to freemasonry.

• Andres Bonifacio

  • Became president (supremo) in 1894

• Emilio Jacinto (1875-1899)

  • Joined in 1894 while studying law at UST; wrote the Kartilya and was editor of the Kalayaan, the KKK’s official organ.

Two works attributed to Bonifacio published in Kalayaan

• Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa

• Ang Dapat Mabatid ng mga Tagalog

On April 12, 1895, Bonifacio, Jacinto, and six other companions swore an oath to fight for Philippine independence and wrote “Viva la Independencia de Filipinas” on the cave’s walls in Pamitinan Cave.

On May 3, 1896, Pio Valenzuela, a physician with the Katipunan, met with Rizal to plan his rescue so that he could lead the revolution.

Rizal’s Opposition to the Revolution

• The Katipunan was unprepared against a strong nation which had a well-armed defense force

• He suggested that revolutionary leaders should ask rich and influential Filipinos to be part of it.

• He suggested seeking the services of Antonio Luna because of his military expertise and association with rich Filipinos.

The Discovery of the Katipunan (August 19, 1896)

• When Apolinario dela Cruz, an employee of Diario de Manila was given a 2 peso raise, Teodoro Patiño got upset and got into an argument with him

• He ranted about it to his sister, Honoria, at the convent where she was staying and ended up exposing secrets of the Katipunan

• One of the nuns saw her crying and convinced Patiño to tell the secrets to the parish priest of Tondo, Mariano Gil.

• Fr. Gil contacted the authorities and the printing shop was raided

• Documents related to the Katipunan were discovered, including a pamphlet

• The Spaniards arrest wealthy ilustrados suspected of being connected with the Katipunan

24 August 1896 at the Residence of Melchora Aquino (Tandang Sora)

• Declaration of nationwide armed revolution

• The transformation of the KKK from a secret society into a revolutionary government

• The Katipunan had about 30,000 members by this time

• Minor skirmishes with Spanish soldiers take place in Pasong Tamo (QC)

• Katipuneros retreat to Krus na Ligas

• El Polvorin - storage facility for gunpowder which was the objective during the Battle of San Juan del Monte on August 29, 1896

Early Defeats

• Attacks in Mandaluyong, Pandacan and Pasig were unsuccessful

• More than a hundred Katipuneros died during unsuccessful attack at San Juan del Monte

• A coordinated attack on Manila while Katipuneros from Cavite led by Emilio Aguinaldo did not materialize

• Gov. Gen. Blanco declares martial law in eight provinces that were hotbeds of the revolution on August 30 and concentrates forces in Manila

• Aguinaldo’s forces successfully control much of Cavite

“Manifesto to Certain Filipinos” - December 15, 1896 by Jose Rizal