History of the Philippines (1521–1898) Spanish Colonial Times

In 1521, Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer who was serving the Spanish crown, landed in Samar Island on his voyage to circumvent the globe. He explored the islands and named it Archipelago of San Lazaro. Magellan was killed during a rebellion led by a Datu named Lapu Lapu in Mactan Island (adjacent to Cebu Island). Spain continued to send expeditions to the island for financial gain and on the fourth expedition, Commander Ruy Lopez de Villalobos, named the islands: Philippines, after Prince Philip (later King Philip II), heir to the Spanish throne. Spain ruled the Philippines for 356 years.

In 1565,King Philip II appointed Miguel Lopez de Legazpi as the first Governor-General of the Philippines. Legazpi chose Manila to be it's capital because of it's natural harbor. Spain's legacy was the conversion of the people to Catholicism and the creation of the privileged landed class.

The Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade was the main source of income for the colony during its early years. Service was inaugurated in 1565 and continued into the early 19th century. The Galleon trade brought silver from New Spain, which was used to purchase Asian goods such as silk from China, spices from the Moluccas, lacquer ware from Japan and Philippine cotton textiles.

In February 17, 1872, Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jocinto Zamora (Gomburza), all Filipino priest, was executed by the Spanish colonizers on charges of subversion. The charges against Fathers Gomez, Burgos and Zamora was their alleged complicity in the uprising of workers at the Cavite Naval Yard. The death of Gomburza awakened strong feelings of anger and resentment among the Filipinos. They questioned Spanish authorities and demanded reforms. The martyrdom of the three priests apparently helped to inspire the organization of the Propaganda Movement, which aimed to seek reforms and inform Spain of the abuses of its colonial government.

The Death of Gomburza & The Propaganda Movement

Because of abuses and suppression of the Spaniards, a Propaganda Movement emerged with the aims for equality between Filipinos and Spaniards. The arrest of propagandist Dr. Jose Rizal and execution in 1896 gave fresh momentum to Filipino rebels to fight against Spain.

June 19, 1861 – December 30, 1896) was a Filipino nationalist ,novelist ,poet ,ophthalmologist ,journalist, and revolutionary .He is widely considered one of the greatest heroes of the Philippines. He was the author of Noli Me Tángere, El Filibusterismo and a number of poems and essays. He was executed on December 30, 1896, by a squad of Filipino soldiers of the Spanish Army.

José Protacio Rizal Mercado Y. Alonso Realonda

Rizal Park

The secret society of the Katipunan, founded by Andres Bonifacio attacked the Spanish Garrison in San Juan with little success, while Katipuneros in Cavite Province headed by Emilio Aguinaldo defeated the Guardia Civil in Cavite. Aguinaldo's victories lead him to be elected as head of the Katipunan.

Kataastaasang Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng mga anak ng bayan

The Biak-na Bato Republic :Emilio Aguinaldo-established his headquarters in Biak-na-Bato in Bulacan province. The news immediately spread throughout the country, and the revolutionaries were once more in high spirits. General llanera, who was in Nueva Ecija, declared his support for Aguinaldo. In July 1897, Aguinaldo established the Biak-na-Bato Republic and issued a proclamation.

Spanish GovernmentEncomienda SystemAs part of the Spanish economic policies during the start of colonization, the encomienda system was employed by the Miguel Lopez de Legaspi to organize the new Spanish colony (Philippines).The word encomienda comes from the Spanish word encomendar which means "to entrust". The Spanish conquistador Legaspi distributed 98 encomiendas among the first Spanish colonists, following the practice that begun in the Americas during the time of Christopher Columbus..

Under the encomienda system, the native inhabitants in a given geographic region were entrusted to an encomendero or trustee as a reward for his service to the Spanish Crown. This system was not a land tenure. The encomendero had specific responsibilities such as, to protect and to educate the natives in reading, writing and Catholic doctrines. In return, the encomendero was authorized to collect tribute from the natives and to recruit workers for the polos y servicios. The encomendero also had no political authority or jurisdiction over the Filipinos but he could be appointed to a post in the colonial government.

National Government:On the national level, the King of Spain, via his Council of the Indies (Consejo de las Indias), governed through his representative in the Philippines, the Governor-General of the Philippines (Gobernador y Capitán General). the Governor-General was given several duties: head of the supreme court, the Royal Audiencia of Manila; Commander-in-chief of the army and navy, and the economic planner of the country. All executive power of the local government stemmed from him and as vice-regal patron, he had the right to supervise mission work and oversee appointments. His yearly salary was 40,000 pesos. The Governor-General was usually a Peninsulars, a Spaniard born in Spain, to ensure loyalty of the colony to the crown.

Provincial GovernmentMain article: Provinces of the PhilippinesOn the provincial level, heading the pacified provinces (alcaldia), was the provincial governor (alcalde mayor). The unpacified military zones (corregimiento), such as Mariveles and Mindoro, were headed by the corregidores. City governments (ayuntamientos), were also headed by an alcalde mayor. Alcalde mayors and corregidores exercised multiple prerogatives as judge, inspector of encomiendas, chief of police, tribute collector, capitan-general of the province and even vice-regal patron.

His annual salary ranged from P300 to P2000 before 1847 and P1500 to P1600 after it. But this can be augmented through the special privilege of "indulto de commercio" where all people were forced to do business with him. The alcalde mayor was usually an Insulares (Spaniard born in the Philippines).

Municipal GovernmentMain articles: Municipalities of the Philippines and Cities of the PhilippinesThe pueblo or town is headed by the Gobernadorcillo or little governor. Among his administrative duties were the 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. He intervened in all administrative cases pertaining to his town: lands, justice, finance and the municipal police.

Barrio  GovernmentEvery pueblo was further divided into "barrios", and the barrio government (village or district) rested on the barrio administrator (cabeza de barangay). He was responsible for peace and order and recruited men for communal public works.Cabezas should be literate in Spanish and have good moral character and property. Cabezas who served for 25 years were exempted from forced labor. In addition, this is where the sentiment heard as, "Mi Barrio", first came from.

Culture And Lifestyle Of

Filipino People

Houses

The Philippines is one of two predominantly Roman Catholic countries in Asia, the other being East Timor. About 90% of the population are Catholics. About 5% are Muslim, and about 5% practised other religion, and those with no religion.Filipinos at home set up altars in the Hispanic tradition, adorned with Catholic images, flowers, and candles.

During fiestas, most communities organise church services and religious processions in honour of a patron saint, hold funfairs and concerts, and feast with a variety of Filipino foods.

CULTURE

MUSIC and DANCE

Tinikling This Dance is one of the most popular traditional Philippine dances. It originated during the Spanish colonial era and is danced to rondalla music, a sort of serenade played by an ensemble of stringed instruments which originated in Spain during the Middle Ages. The dance involves two people beating, tapping, and sliding bamboo poles on the ground and against each other in coordination with one or more dancers who step over and in between the poles in a dance. The name is a reference to birds locally known as tikling, which can be any of a number of rail species; the term tinikling literally means "tikling-like."

ART

POTTERY AND SCULPTING