Contributory Factors to the Rise of Nationalism
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Figure 1: Tribes in the Philippines
Austronesian Heritage
Austronesian Heritage
Before Spanish came, Filipinos already have a common austronesian lineage with different cultures. Yet we do not have a shared national identity, due to regionalism
Before Spanish came, Filipinos already have a common austronesian lineage with different cultures. Yet we do not have a shared national identity, due to regionalism
The Spanish took advantage of these regional differences, completely pacifying the archipelago for the next 300 years. The archipelago was even named after the Spanish king at that time, King Philip
That is, until the final years of the Spanish empire’s hold on the islands, only Filipino nationalism showed up.
💸 ECONOMIC IMPACT 💸
💸 ECONOMIC IMPACT 💸
Opening of the Philippines to world trade (1834)
King Charles III of Spain made a royal decree on September 6, 1834, ending the monopolistic trade of the Royal company.
This opportunity gave the Philippines material progress, especially on the agricultural aspect, to export. Such increase became a source of income to the elites, which allows them to send their children to urban Manila or abroad. This resulted to a large influx of middle class in the social hierarchy, along with the rise of illustrados.
Material Progress and its impact
Correspondingly, world trade also allowed Filipinos to gain knowledge from the outside world, such as liberal and political ideas.
Jefferson, Locke, Rousseau, and other philosophers
Example: one of Andres Bonifacio’s favorite books is Les Miserables.
The opening of the Suez Canal (1869) allowed ships to travel faster and safer compared to the Manila-Acapulco route, contributing also to the transfer of knowledge and ideals from the French and American Revolution.
📜 POLITICAL FACTORS 📜
📜 POLITICAL FACTORS 📜
The liberal administration of Carlos Maria de la Torre
The liberal administration of Carlos Maria de la Torre
The first liberal governor-general urged Filipinos to join the government and express their opinions for the advancement of his administration. Those who lived under his liberal reign learned a lot from this method of governing.
Solely due to the Glorious Revolution of September 6, 1868 that he’s a part of. So naturally, freedom of speech was encouraged. Is also close friends with the illustrados.
One is UST’s Juventud Escolar Liberal, which pushes for a new curriculum. Paciano Rizal and Felipe Buencamino are one of its prominent members.
Supported Spain’s educational decree of 1863, allowing students to learn Spanish.
Smoothened the agrarian troubles in Cavite.
In March 1872, he requested to be retired from his position.
The shift to conservative rule under Rafael Izquierdo.
In office: April 4, 1871 to January 8, 1873
His harsher and conservative ruling gave a significant factor to the 1872 Cavite Mutiny and the revolutions that followed.
Such iron-fisted rule abolished the liberal laws his predecessor established.
He uplifted the exemption of paying tax from the soldiers of Fort San Felipe in Cavite, leading to a failed uprising.
🧍 SOCIAL CLIMATE 🧍
🧍 SOCIAL CLIMATE 🧍
The secularization issue and the role of Filipino priests
Seculars are priests with no affiliated religious order, mainly Filipino priests. Regulars are the opposite, which are the friars.
Seeing de la Torre’s rule, Filipino intellectuals and seculars took this chance to push for reformation.
Due to the widespread abuses and prejudice committed by the friars against the seculars, as well as the regular priests' (friars') attempt to wrest leadership of parishes from the secular priest, a conflict between regular and secular priests developed. Padre Mariano Gomez and Padre Pedro Pelaez organized the secularization in secret.
The Cavite Mutiny and its aftermath
High taxes, unfair wage deductions, and prejudice against Filipino soldiers by Spanish soldiers are all present. The harsh policies of Izquierdo led to a failed uprising (Cavite Mutiny) on January 20, 1872.
This led to the alleged involvement of the liberals and the seculars in this conspiracy, following the execution of GomBurZa on February 17, 1872, claiming that they are charged with being the Cavite Mutiny commanders.
Francisco Zaldua testified against the three priests.
Father Mariano Gomez - head priest of Bacoor, the second-richest parish in Cavite based on the amount of tributes collected. Because of his commitment, he was adored by the people during his 48 years of service in the aforementioned parish.
Father Jacinto Zamora - chief priest in Marikina. He backed the Filipino priest's fight for equality and the right to serve as a church leader.
Father Jose Burgos - The youngest of the three, continued the works of his former mentor, Father Pedro Pelaez (the father of secularization), assuming leadership of the movement.
Padre Burgos with his students, Felipe Buencamino and Paciano Rizal in the GomBurZa movie (2023) by Pepe Diokno
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