Pre-Colonial Philippines (The Setting)
Pre-Colonial Philippines (The Setting)
(The Setting)
Lesson 1 – Part 1
The Setting
Location: Off the south-east coast of Asia and sprawls between Asia mainland and
Australia
Land Area: The Philippines has a total land area of approximately 343,448.32 sq.
km.2and comprises 7,107 islands, some 4,000 of which are named and 1,000 are
inhabited. The Philippine Archipelago is one of the largest island groups in the world.
Coastline: 36,289 km
1. Western Caraballo Mountain – runs from north to south and divides itself into central
and northern Cordillera.
2. Caraballo del Baler - begins from the town of Baler and ends in the strait of San
Bernardino. This mountain range includes Mayon volcano in Albay and Bulusan in
Sorsogon.
3. The Sierra Madre – also known as the pacific coast range begins- Baler Quezon,
Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Cagayan.
VISAYAS
• divided into two by a range running from Northwest to Southwest with Kanlaon
Volcano.
• Panay has range running from north to south that separates Antique from Iloilo,
the Capiz and Aklan.
1. The Surigao range which follows the contours of the pacific coast.
2. The Butuan range which extends to the south and forms the watershed of the Agusan
river
• The Philippines has extensive but small river system which mostly delineated by
the mountain ranges.
1. The Rio Grande de Cagayan and its tributaries which drain the Cagayan Valley.
2. The Agno Grande which drains Benguet and the valley of Nueva Ecija , Pangasinan
and Tarlac.
3. The Abra River system which receives its tributaries from the Cordillera and drains
Lepanto, Bontoc and Abra;
4. The Rio Grande of Pampanga and its tributaries which drains the fertile Valleys of
Nueva Ecija, Pampanga and Bulacan.
6. The Rio Grande de Mindanao drains the Central basin of Mindanao and receives the
waters of two lakes, Agusan which is second to the Rio Grande, draws the basin of
Surigao.
Volcanoes
• Volcanoes dot the three geographic regions of the country and have been for
centuries one of the natural causes of destruction of life and property.
Lesson 1 – Part 2
Common Traits
Hospitality
One patent Filipino trait that immediately commends itself to the foreigner is his
hospitality.
The Filipino opens his heart to you.
He makes you feel that he is honored by your invasion of his privacy.
This hospitality is often misunderstood.
Foreigners lead to thinking that the Filipino hospitality is a show of inferiority.
Family has been the unit of society and everything revolves around it.
The Filipino family consists of grandparents, parents, and children.
The father of the family rules.
The mother governs.
Grandparents, whose opinions and decisions on all important matters are sought.
Fatalistic
No amount of expostulation on the virtues of science and logic can dislodge him
from his idea of fatalism.
“Fate” (bahala na) – come what may.
Loyalty to a Friend
Sensitive
Tendency to be Indolent
Lack of Initiative
Curious
Individualistic
Helpful and cooperative, respectful and generous even to a fault, the Filipino is
nevertheless individualistic in a different way.
Jealousy
When his neighbor buys something new, he also wants the same.
Regionalistic
Pakikisama
“mabuting makisama”
“masamang makisama”
END OF LESSON
UNDER IMPERIAL SPAIN
Lesson 2
The most spectacular change during the Renaissance which shaped the course of
history was the opening of the world to European shipping.
Two Superpowers
Spain and Portugal
The 3 G’s
Gospel
Gold
Glory
The search for spices (which are very expensive at that time) triggered the
opening of Asia to European trade.
The inclusion of Asian trade to Europe led not only to the flow of economic
products and the wealth of Asia to European societies…
…but also to the dynamic interaction of cultures.
It intensified the rivalry of two super nations (Spain and Portugal).
It led to the intervention of the only known power in European relations – the
Pope.
1492
Christopher Columbus (c. 1451 – 20 May 1506) was a navigator, colonizer and
explorer whose voyages across the Atlantic Ocean led to general European awareness of
the American continents in the Western Hemisphere.
In 1494, the Treaty of Tordesillas was signed which partitioned the non-
Christian world into two spheres of influence.
It was through this trip that the Europeans first learned the existence of the
Philippines.
Proved that the earth was round.
Established the vastness of the Pacific Ocean.
East Indies could be reached by crossing the Pacific.
Showed that the Americas was really a land mass entirely separate from Asia.
Villalobos Expedition
(1542-1546)
Led by Ruy Lopez De Villalobos with 6 ships and some 370 men.
Departed from the Juan Gallego, Maexico in November 1542.
Landed on Sarangani Islands in 1543
Villalobos was forced to leave Sarangani, and he surrendered to the Potugese at
Amboina in the Maluku, where he succumed to a malignant fever.
The greatest contribution of Villalobos was the naming of Tandaya or Kandaya
(Leyte) in 1543 as Las Phelipinas in honor of crown-prince Philip II.
Exactly 22 years since Villaobos set sail from the same port Juan Gallego, 4
vessels sailed to the Philippines in 1564.
Led by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi with 4 ships and 350 men.
Reached Cebu in February 1565 and contracted blood compacts with Si Katinaw
and Si Gala of Bohol.
In April, Villa de San Miguel (Cebu) was changed to Ciudad Santisimo Nombre
de Jesus.
The first Spanish town established in the archipelago.
END OF LESSON
INSTITUTIONAL IMPACT OF SPANISH RULE
Lesson 3
1521…
Economic Institutions
Polo y Servicio
Polo comes from the Tagalog “pulong”.
Means meeting of persons and things
Or community labor
Drafted polistas were either Filipino or Chinese male mestizos ranging from 16 to
60 years old.
They were obligated to give personal service to community projects like
construction.
Encomiendas
Encomendar means “to entrust”.
A grant from the Spanish crown to a meritorious Spaniard to exercise control over
a specific place including its inhabitants.
First implemented in the Visayas,Legazpi authorized the encomendero to collect
tribute of 8 reales yearly in kind or in cash.
¼ goes to the encpmendero
A potion to the priests (prayle)
And the remaining to the government
POSITIVE EFFECT:
Intercultural exchanges.
Royal Economic Society of Friends of the Country (1780-1895)
Objective: “To form a society of learned and competent persons capable of
producing useful ideas.”
1780… the Real Sociedad Economica de Amigos del Pais was formed.
Composed of leading men in business whose purpose is to exploit the island’s
natural bounties.
Introduced the monopolies in tobacco, areca nut, spirituous liquors, and
explosives, which brought hardships to the Filipinos.
The earliest schools in the country were in compliance with Charles V’s decree of
July 17, 1550.
Indios in all the Spanish dominions were to be taught the conqueror’s language.
Girl’s Schools
The first boarding schools for Spanish girls in the Philippines were the Colegios
(secondary schools) of Santa Potenciana (1591-1864) and Santa Isabel (1632), oldest
school for girls.
School for girls were also known as “beaterios”; the girls are called “beatas”, who
led secluded lives.
Social Transformation
Probably the one of the indelible marks left by Spanish conquest on the Filipinos
was the adoption of Hispanic names in 1849Bahay-kubo for the clase pobre.
And bahay na bato, a metamorphosized bahay-kubo.
A two storey dwelling made of stone in the first floor and fine wood in the second
floor.
Food
Adobo, mechado, menudo, sarciado, and pochero are Spanish influenced food.
Pancit came from the Chinese.
Wearing of Spanish and westernized clothing were also evident.
Spanish loan words that filtered into the major and minor languages of the
Philippines.
Birth of Fiestas honoring the saints.
Compadrazgo (ritual of co-parenthood) came the ritual of baptism.
The first funeral parlor was established in the Philippines, La Funeraria was
established by Carlos March in Manila (1833).
Cultural Transformation
When the Spanish friars introduced the art of printing in the Philippines, their
primary purpose was to facilitate their work of converting the Filipinos.
Doctrina Christiana (en la lengua española, y tagala) by Fr. Juan Cobo, 1593
The first printed document published by Spain the Philippines.
Early Tagalog writings:
“May Bagyo Ma’t May Rilim” (1605)
“Salamat ng walang hanga” by Fernando Bagongbanta
“Auit”, Tomas Pinpin
Sinakulo
Pasyon
Zarzuela
END OF LESSON
FROM INDIO TO FILIPINO
Lesson 4
Categories of Revolts
Personal Motives
Personally led by datus and maharlikas, babaylans or katalonans.
Reasons
Lost their prestige and power with the coming of the Spaniards.
To regain the freedom they formerly enjoyed.
1574
Known as the “conspiracy of the Maharlikas”.
Led by the kin of Lakandula (Agustin de Legazpi and Martin Pangan).
Towns of Bulacan and Pampanga.
When caught, they were brutally killed.
Their lifeless bodies were dragged hanged, decapitated, beheaded, and exposed to
Indios as a grim warning.
Francisco Dagohoy (Bohol, 1744-1829) 85 years
Opposed forced labor.
Triggered by the refusal of Fr. Gaspar Morales to give his brother Sagarino, a
Christian burial.
1621-1622
Tamblot (Bohol), an outlawed babaylan employed magic in alluring the people to
abandon Christianity and return to their former beliefs.
Tamblot guaranteed that their ancestors and diwatas would support them.
He was crushed by Juan de Alcarazo, alcalde mayor of Cebu.
Religious Motives
Christianized and baptized under the Catholic religion.
Some reverted to their old beliefs.
Peasant Unrest
1745, the Tagalog regions were marked by peasant unrest which started in Silang,
Cavite.
Led by Joseph dela Vega and others (April 1745), they attacked a hacienda which
is known to usurp a large portion of their lands.
The agrarian revolt spread as far as Bulacan and Batangas.
The revolt failed and the leaders were either killed or banished.
Failure of Revolts
Reasons:
Insular make up of the Philippines.
No sense of national unity.
Wide communication gap.
There was a multitude of major and minor ethnolinguistic groups but no lingua
franca, much less, a national language to communicate and bind one another.
End of Lesson
REFORM and REVOLUTION
Lesson 5 – Part 1
“Without 1872, there would have been no Plaridel, Jaena or Sanciongco; nor
would the brave and generous Filipino colonies in Europe have existed…
Without 1872, Rizal would now have been a Jesuit and instead of writing "Noli
Me Tangere," would have written the opposite…
With this idea, I have studied and this can be discerned in all my works and
writings…
The unjust execution of the three Filipino priests Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos,
and Jacinto Zamora was the turning point in Philippine history….
1869
Gen. Carlos Maria dela Torre became governor.
Dela Torre was a democratic ruler.
He lived simply.
Abolished flogging as punishment.
Dismissed abusive officials.
Assimilation
Make the Philippines a province of Spain.
The reformists believed that the Filipinos would be better off if they were to
become Spanish citizens.
They would enjoy the privileges of Spaniards.
Representation in the Spanish Cortés.
Would be immune from abuses of Spaniards.
Freed from paying unreasonable taxes.
Reasons
Spain was too preoccupied with its own internal problems.
The friars were too powerful.
The societies established in the Philippines whose purpose was to campaign for
reforms did not have sufficient means with which to carry out their aims.
Some of the members realized the futility of the peaceful propaganda.
The Sol had not succeeded in convincing Spain to grant needed reforms.
Propagandists were divided against themselves by petty jealousies.
Most of the members of the middle class lacked the courage and the hope to
continue the campaign.
END OF LESSON
The men gathered around a flickering table lamp, performed the ancient
blood compact, and signed their membership papers with their own blood.
Triangle Method of Recruitment
Katipunan Objectives
Under the leadership of Bonifacio, the Katipunan laid down three
fundamental objectives – political, moral, and civic.
Political objective
Working for the separation of the Philippines from Spain.
Moral objective
Revolved around teaching of good manners, morals, hygiene, and attacking
religious fanaticism, obscurantism, and weakness of character.
Civic objective
Principle of self-help and defense of the poor and the oppressed.
3 Governing Bodies
Kataastaasang Sanggunian (Supreme Council)
Sangguniang Bayan (Provincial Council)
Sangguniang Balangay (Popular Council)
Judicial Body
Sangguniang Hukuman (Judicial Council)
October 1892
Bonifacio convened the original members and decided to change the
recruitment method.
Benita Rodriguez and Gregoria de Jesus made the first Katipunan Flag.
In the Naik Assembly of March 17, 1897, the Katipunan military leaders
decided to adopt a new design.
Andres Bonifacio
Andres Bonifacio
Founder and organizer of the Katipunan.
Born in Tondo on November 30, 1863.
The death of his parents forced Andres to give up schooling to shoulder the
burden of his family.
He also read Rizal’s favorite books like Lés Miserablés and The Wandering
Jew.
He read the lives of the Presidents of the United States, French Revolution,
International Law, etc.
His first wife died, but he re-married in 1892 with Gregoria de Jesus
(Lakambini ng Katipunan).
He honored and adopted the Kartilla written by Emilio Jacinto because it was
better than his version on the “teachings” of the Katipunan.
Andres did not insist to become the President of the society he founded.
Bonifacio might have been ignorant from the point of view of the middle
class…
Died on April 16, 1899 when he contracted fever in Laguna while directing a
campaign against the Spaniards.
Jacinto’s and Bonifacio’s writings awakened the people from a long lethargy
and immediately swelled the ranks of the Katipunan.
From the founding of the society until 1896, it did not have more than 300
members…
…since the appearance of the Kalayaan, membership increased to around
30,000.
… the people were now prepared to shoulder the risks demanded of them…
Bonifacio wanted Rizal’s opinion of the necessity of rising in arms against the
Spaniards.
Bonifacio commissioned Dr. Pio Valenzuela to go to Dapitan in June 1896 to
confer with Rizal.
Valenzuela related to Rizal the founding of the Katipunan.
He told that the revolution might break out prematurely because of the impatience
of the masses.
Rizal was against the premature outbreak of the revolution.
Rizal was not against the revolution itself.
He pointed out that the rebels lack preparation and arms.
Reasons:
Increased number of members.
Rumors of nocturnal meetings.
Apolonio dela cruz and Teodoro Patiño were two katipuneros working in the
Spanish-owned Diario de Manila.
The two had a misunderstanding.
Patiño took his revenge by revealing the secrets of the Katipunan to his sister
Honoria.
Honoria was an inmate in an orphanage in Mandaluyong.
She cried and revealed what was told by her brother to the madre portera, Sor
Teresa.
Sor Teresa suggested Honoria to tell Father Mariano Gil what she knows.
In the afternoon of August 19, Patiño told Father Mariano Gil the about the secret
society.
The discovery was followed by mass arrests of Filipino suspects.
The Cry of Pugadlawin
Bonifacio secretly instructed his runners to summon all the leaders of the society
to a general assembly on August 24.
August 19 – discovery of Katipunan.
August 19 – same night, Bonifacio and his trusted men reached Balintawak before
midnight.
August 21 – Bonifacio changed the Katipunan code.
August 22 – they proceeded to Pugadlawin.
August 23 – in the yard of Juan Ramos, son of Melchora Aquino (“Mother of
Katipunan”), Bonifacio asked his men if they were prepared to fight to the bitter end.
The men obediently tore up their cedulas, shouting “Long live the Philippines!”
(“Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!”).
First Skirmishes
The flames that now engulfed many provinces worried the Spanish authorities to
no end.
The Spanish authorities resorted to a reign of terror to frighten the Filipinos to
submission.
Suspected Katipuneros were arrested and thrown to jail.
The Governor General issued a decree on August 30 declaring the provinces of
Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Pampanga,Tarlac, and Nueva Ecija in a State
of war and placing them under Martial Law.
The arrested men were tortured to death.
Fort Santiago was packed of suspected katipuneros.
September 4 – four Katipuneros were executed at the Luneta.
September 12 – thirteen men from Cavite were executed (“Los Trece Martires de
Cavite”).
December 30 – Rizal was executed at the Bagumbayan field.
The Katipunan in Cavite
The Katipunan in Cavite was divided into two factions – Magdalo and
Magdiwang.
Bonifacio in Cavite
When Bonifacio was being proclaimed, Daniel Tirona, a Magdalo, stood up and
said: “The position of Director of the Interior is an exalted one and it is not proper that a
person without a lawyer’s diploma should occupy it. We have in our province a lawyer,
Jose del Rosario!”
Aguinaldo was in Dasmariñas and was notified of the result of his election to the
Presidency.
Aguinaldo proceeded to Santa Cruz de Malabon (Tanza) where he and others
(except Bonifacio) took their oath of office.
April 28 – Aguinaldo forwarded the Bonifacio case to the Council of War “to
conduct the necessary trial…”
May 10, 1897 – Major Makapagal was handed a sealed letter with orders to read
its contents after reaching Mount Tala.
The letter contains an order to execute Andres and Procopio Bonifacio.
Andres Bonifacio and his brother Procopio died in the hands of Magdalo soldiers
carrying out their duty.
Bonifacios grave was shallow, the hole having been dug by bayonets.
Makapagal placed a few twigs on the grave.
Pedro A. Paterno approached Gov. Gen. Primo de Rivera that he may be made a
mediator between the Filipinos and Spaniards.
December 27 – Aguinaldo and his men sailed for Hongkong with the P400,000
check in his possession.
End of Lesson
The Revolution: Second Phase
LESSON 6 – Part 2
• May 1, 1898 – Dewey’s fleet entered Manila Bay with the flagship Olympia.
• The naval battle that followed was one-sided, it was a massacre.
• At 12:30PM, Dewey completely destroyed Montojo’s fleet.
• News of the victory of Dewey in Manila Bay electrified the Americans.
• They sought geography books to find the location of the Philippines.
Aguinaldo in Singapore
• In Hongkong, Aguinaldo and his companions were following the trends of the
Spanish-American war.
• It was an opportunity to oust the Spaniards.
• Isabelo Artacho sued Aguinaldo because he wanted the P400,000 to be divided
among them.
• To avoid appearing in court Aguinaldo left for Saigon where he took another ship
to Singapore.
• April 23 – Howard Bray contacted Aguinaldo and informed him that the
American consul E. Spencer Pratt, wanted to talk to him.
• “You need not have any worry about America. The American Congress and
President have just made a solemn declaration disclaiming any desire to posses Cuba
and promising to leave the country to the Cubans after having driven away the
Spaniards and pacified the country. Cuba is at our door, while the Philippines is
10,000 miles away.” - E. Spencer Pratt
Aguinaldo Returns
• May 17, 1898 – aboard McCulloch, Aguinaldo left Hongkong with the assistance
of Wildman.
• May 19 – he arrived in Cavite. Aguinaldo met with Dewey aboard the Olympia.
Renewal of the Struggle
• The news of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo’s return spread throughout Central Luzon.
• Arms were secured from the captain of the American warship Petrel and
distributed among the Filipinos.
• The Aguinaldo forces captured territories of Spaniards all over Central Luzon.
• By June of 1898, Luzon (except the port of Cavite and Manila) were in rebel
hands.
• What was then known as the City of Manila was the Walled City of Intramuros.
• Dewey blockaded Manila to prevent Spanish ships from entering and leaving the
bay.
• Dewey did not attack the city because he was waiting for reinforcements from
America.
• Filipino forces besieged the city in an attempt to starve out the enemy within its
walls.
• Aguinaldo cut off the city’s food and water supply.
• It was only a matter of weeks before the Spanish authorities surrender to
Aguinaldo.
• June 6, 1898 – Aguinaldo offered Gov. Gen. Agustin honorable surrender.
• The Governor refused.
• It was Dewey’s policy not to provoke an armed conflict with the Spaniards until
after the arrival of the reinforcements.
• Upon the arrival of reinforcements, Gen. Merritt decided that then offensive
against Manila should be conducted along bayside.
• Problem was, it was occupied by Filipinos.
• Merritt instructed Greene to ask Aguinaldo’s cooperation by evacuating Filipino
forces from the bayside area so that American troops could occupy it.
• Continuous stream of American forces worried Aguinaldo.
• He wondered why, in spite of the fact that the Spaniards were at the mercy of the
Filipino troops, American reinforcements continue to arrive.
• But American troops already secured their positions and get on with the secret
agreement with Jaudenes.
• “Do not let your troops enter Manila without permission from the American
commander.” - Gen. Anderson in a message to Aguinaldo
Terms of Capitulation
• It was about 5:00PM when the terms of capitulation was signed by both sides
(America and Spain).
Terms
• Spanish authorities agreed to surrender the Spanish troops and the Filipino
volunteers found inside Intramuros.
• The Americans agreed to safeguard the city, its inhabitants, churches, and
religious worship.
• August 14 – the document containing the terms of surrender was formally signed
by the representatives of both parties.
Protocol of Peace
• The peace commissioners (from America and Spain) scheduled to meet in Paris to
sign a treaty of peace, not later than October 1, 1898.
• August 12 – President McKinley issued a proclamation directing that “all military
operations against the enemy be suspended.”
• Merritt did not receive the proclamation until the afternoon of August 16, when
the mock battle of Manila had already been “fought” and the terms of capitulation signed.
End of Lesson
The Malolos Republic
LESSON 7
“…now we witness the truth of what famous President Monroe said to the effect
that the United States was for the Americans; now I say that the Philippines is for the
Filipinos.”
- Pres. Emilio Aguinaldo
“…so that when peace shall have been reestablished and our legitimate
aspiration for unrestricted liberty attained, it may be modified by the nation, in which
rests the principle of authority.” - Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo
Declaration of Independence
Reasons of Declaration:
To urge the people to fight more eagerly.
Lead the foreign countries to recognize the independence of the Philippines.
For the first time, the Philippine National Flag was officially
hoisted and the Philippine National March played in public.
Apolinario Mabini
Brought to Aguinaldo as his adviser.
Apolinario Mabini was born of very poor parents, Inocencio Mabini and Dionisia
Maranan, in Talaga, Tanawan, Batangas.
Studied in San Juan de Letran and University of Santo Tomas, where he received
his law degree in 1894.
His mother wanted him to be a priest, but he chose his dream to defend the poor.
In 1896 he contracted an illness that led to the paralysis of his lower limbs.
He was arrested when the revolution broke out.
But when Spanish authorities saw him, they decided to release him.
They thought they made a mistake.
Mabini was also a member of La Liga Filipina.
When Aguinaldo saw Mabini, he thought he made a mistake.
But when Mabini spoke, Aguinaldo’s doubts vanished.
From then on, Mabini stood behind Aguinaldo.
Envious enemies called him “The Dark Chamber of the President”.
To his admirers, he is the “Brains of the Revolution”.
One of Mabinis first ideas was to reorganize the Local Government.
June 18, 1898. Aguinaldo signed the decree prepared by Mabini.
“…struggle for independence of the Philippines until all nations, including the
Spanish, shall expressly recognize it, and to prepare the country so that the true republic
may be established.”
4 Departments
Foreign Affairs, Navy and Commerce
War and Public Works
Police and Internal Order, Justice, Education and Hygiene
Finance, Agriculture and Manufacturing Industry
The first significant act of the Congress was the ratification (September 29) of the
independence proclaimed in Kawit on June 12.
The Malolos Constitution
January 21, 1899. Aguinaldo promulgated the Malolos Constitution.
The Malolos Constitution was the first important Filipino document ever
produced by the people’s representatives.
Diplomatic Activities
Aguinaldo sent emissaries to the international community to work for the
recognition of the Philippine independence by the foreign powers.
Felipe Agoncillo was assigned as a diplomatic agent to the United States.
His attempts to secure an official audience with President McKinley failed.
He sailed for Europe to appeal to the American Peace Commissioners – he also
failed.
He returned to Washington to fight the ratification of the Treaty of Paris, but the
Filipino-American hostilities forced him to flee for his life.
Terms:
Spain would cede the Philippines to the United States.
The US would pay the amount of $20,000,000 to Spain.
The US would give Spain the right to ship commodities for a period of 10 years.
The Treaty of Paris did not take effect until after ratification.
Many US senators believed that the treaty was unfair to the Filipinos.
But because of the Filipino-American hostilities which started on February 4,
1899 led many opponents of the ratification to vote affirmatively.
The proponents of the treaty reported that the Filipinos fired the first shots which
triggered the hostilities.
Hence, the senators were convinced to sign the treaty.
Thereafter, the Philippines became a territory of the United States.
End of Lesson
Filipino Reaction
Gen. Miller (Iloilo) published the original text of the proclamation.
Gen. Antonio Luna led the attack on the proclamation.
January 5, 1899. Aguinaldo issued counter-proclamation.
Gen. Otis regarded the move of Aguinaldo as tantamount to war.
The San Juan Bridge Incident
Feb. 1, 1899. A group of American engineers was arrested by Filipino troops.
Feb. 2. Otis filed protest.
Feb 4. Pvt. Willie W. Grayson shot 4 Filipinos in San Juan bridge.
Feb. 5. Gen. McArthur issued his order to advance against the Filipino troops.
The Filipino-American clash armed was on.
American Victories
Gen. Arthur McArthur recaptured Manila in a matter of days driving Gen.
Antonio Luna to the north.
Gen. Otis began his intensive drive to the north.
Gen. Henry W. Lawton took the offensive to the south.
March 30. The American army was knocking at the gates of Malolos.
The Aguinaldo government evacuated to Nueva Ecija.
With the conflict between Gen. Antonio Luna and Gen. Tomas Mascardo, Gen
Gregorio del Pilar was left to defend the Filipino lines.
Assassination of Luna
Luna was the best soldier and most prepared to fight the American enemy.
He was educated in Europe and studied military science and tactics.
But nature endowed him with unruly temper that made men fear and hate him.
He planned to recapture Manila but the Kawit company refused to cooperate.
June 1899. Luna was in Bayambang, Pangasinan.
He received a telegram asking him to see Aguinaldo in his headquaters in
Kabanatuan.
Jan. 5. Luna went to see Aguinaldo.
One of the guards was a member of the Kawit company.
Luna slapped the guard.
He went upstairs and he saw Buencamino, whom Luna had an argument.
A rifle was fired and Luna went downstairs to see the incident.
The soldiers ganged up on him and stabbed him to death.
Luna received no less than 40 wounds.
As he boarded his white horse, a Krag rifle rang out through the midday air and
felled him with a bullet that passed through the neck.
End of Lesson
Colonial Politics: Towards Complete Autonomy
LESSON 9 – Part 1
1912. Woodrow Wilson became President of the US under the Democratic Party.
Democrats have a different view on colonialism compared to the Republicans.
Jones Law
Passed in 1916.
Legislative power in the islands was given to Filipinos.
Created a bicameral legislature.
Criticisms/Conclusions
Lack of sufficient press;
Mistakes in finances;
Delay in the administration of justice;
Need for good teachers;
Inadequate treatment of cultural minorities.
Recommendation
“…the present general status of the Philippine Islands continue until the people
have had time to absorb and thoroughly master the powers already in their hands.”
End of Lesson
The leaders who involved themselves in the campaign for independence had been
on the Philippine political scene from 1907 – they are all members of the educated elite
and products of American tutelage.
It should be noted that the leadership in the legislature remained with the
Nacionalista Party, the majority party, led by Manuel L. Quezon.
The minority was the Democrata (opposition).
The Fairfield Bill proposed a 30-year period of autonomy in which the Phils.
would have control of insular affairs, with elective Governor General for the
“Commonwealth of the Philippines.”
In its final form, the Fairfield Bill provided for absolute independence for the
Philippines in 1944, after a 20-year commonwealth period.
The third Parliamentary Mission (Quezon, Osmeña and Recto) was considered the
most distinct because of the emergence of the Fairfield Bill.
December 1931. Osmeña and Roxas left for the US to secure the Philippine issue.
The mission succeeded in securing the passage of an independence bill - the
controversial Hare-Hawes-Cutting Act of 1933.
The Act provided for the establishment of a ten-year Commonwealth to serve as a
transition government before the proclamation of independence on July 4, 1946.
November 1933. Quezon left for the US as head of the legislative committee for
the purpose of securing a better independence bill for the Philippines.
It just served a re-run of the Hare-Hawes-Cutting Act under a different name – the
Tydings-McDuffie Act.
The important thing is – Quezon brought it home and he was acclaimed hero of
his people.
In the final analysis, what was more significant was not which of the two
independence bills was enacted, but who secured independence for the Filipino people.
May 1934. the Phil. Legislature unanimously accepted the Tydings-McDuffie Act.
End of Lesson
Transition to Independence:The Commonwealth
LESSON 9 – Part 3
“…we have taken one more step forward in our onward march to the realization
of our national ideal… In this solemn moment, let there be no exultation of victory. Let it
be a moment of consecration.” - Manuel L. Quezon
Governing was now almost entirely a Filipino responsibility and Quezon must
have realized that much work had not been done and much awaited the transition to
independence.
Nov. 15, 1935. The Commonwealth of the Philippines was inaugurated with
Manuel L. Quezon as President.
Sergio Osmeña as Vice President.
…in 10 more years, the birth of the nation would become a reality, and
independence would be recognized.
The Sakdal Uprising
Nov. 7, 1930. The CPP was formally established.
1932. It had been declared illegal.
May 1935. Before the inauguration of the Commonwealth Government, rebels
attacked the nearby provinces surrounding Manila.
The disturbance was perpetuated by anti-Quezon and anti-Nacionalista rebels who
called themselves Sakdalistas led by Benigno Ramos.
The Sakdalistas are composed of peasants and oppressed masses.
The Sakdal uprising demonstrated the extent of discontent in the provinces and
the effectiveness of Sakdal appeal to address grievances which had plagued the common
tao for generations.
Achievements:
Commonwealth Act 211, established minimum wage for laborers (P1/day later
raised to P1.25/day).
8-hour labor law.
Establishment of the Court of Industrial Relations.
Awarding lands to the tillers.
National Relief Administration.
Education
1936. Creation of the National Council of Education chaired by Rafael Palma.
Osmeña headed the Department of Education, first time a Filipino assumed that
position.
Curriculum were developed for the primary and secondary levels.
School children were required to take vocational courses.
But vocational schools did not become popular among Filipino families.
Economic Development
What would happen to the Philippines when trade arrangements with the US
would terminate in 1946?
The other aspect of the economic problem was foreign control of vital sectors of
Philippine resources.
The economic trend during the Commonwealth period was slow and uneven
development.
The emphasis on production for the export market was so great that the Phils,
potentially one of the great food-surplus-producing areas in Asia, became one of the
major food deficit areas.
The agrarian problem raised the more fundamental questions of political stability
and economic progress.
Partyless Democracy
The Commonwealth government was “Quezon Government” with Quezon clearly
dominating political life.
Quezon was the most dynamic personality of the pre-war era and exemplified the
“modern lawyer-politician”, a characteristic of the political leadership of contemporary
Philippines.
In 1941, Quezon eliminated all elite opoosition.
He announced the theory of “Partyless Democracy”.
He claimed that “opposition parties” and “individual liberties” were two
democratic fetishes that must be discarded.
The failure of the country’s leadership to provide a balanced party system and to
correct the uneven distribution of power in government resulted in the continuing
dominance of an “irresponsible autocracy”.
Of all the countries which conquered the Philippines, the Americans have
undoubtedly left their prints all over the archipelago.
Progress in Education
The greatest contribution of the US to the Phil civilization is the system of public
education.
Unlike the Spaniards, Americans compelled the Filipinos to learn the English
language.
1898. Seven schools were established in Manila.
American soldiers were the first teachers. Later they were replaced by
Thomasites; American teachers on board SS Thomas.
1908. The University of the Philippines was established.
English became the medium of instruction in all schools, colleges, and
universities.
It resulted to the increase in Filipino literacy.
Individual Freedoms
1901. Sedition Law. Seditious of any Filipino to advocate independence.
1907. Flag Law. Prohibited the display of the Filipino flag.
Other than those two restraints, Filipinos enjoyed the era of freedom.
But it is a mistake to suppose that Americans taught the Filipinos the meaning of
freedom…
…that they brought from across the Pacific the heritage of democracy.
The Filipinos knew the meaning of freedom and its blessings even before the
Americans came.
They enjoyed the blessings of democracy under the Revolutionary Government
and the Republic.
Manifestations:
Tejeros Convention
Malolos Congress
Malolos Constitution
Political Consciousness
Partisan politics.
Founding of political parties.
Issues were outlined.
Platforms were prepared.
Speeches were delivered.
Political funds accumulated.
1916. Creation of bicameral legislature.
Filipinos learned the intricate machinery of government.
Language and Literature
One of the most lasting influences in the Philippines.
Adoption of American words.
The influence of the English language has the character of permanence.
Negative Results
Filipinos take pride in describing the Philippines as the only Christian country in
the Orient.
Most westernized country in Asia.
Economic invasion of America brought the American mode of living close to the
Filipinos.
American goods are considered luxuries; after 45 year, they became necessities.
It resulted to neglect of Filipino industries.
“Stateside” mentality.
De-Filipinization of Filipinos.
The great American dream.
End of Lesson
The Japanese Occupation
LESSON 11 – Part 1
Pearl Harbor
December 7, 1941, Hawaiian time. Pearl Harbor. The US naval first line of
defense was attacked by Kamikaze pilots.
2,897 men died….
USS Arizona sank.
December 8, 1941. Roosevelt declared war.
In Great Britain, Prime Minister Winston Churchill of England also declared war.
Quezon in Corregidor
Quezon was very sick when the war broke out.
Dec. 24, 1941. Quezon and his family left for Corregidor.
Acting Chief Justice Jose P. Laurel was restrained to come.
“No Laurel, someone will have to meet the Japanese.” - Quezon
Economic Conditions
The term “Mickey Mouse Money” was a popular nickname of the peso during the
Japanese occupation.
It connotes that goods, big or small, were sold in astronomical prices.
There was scarcity of food everywhere.
The lowly kangkong saved thousands of lives.
Laurel introduced programs to alleviate the sufferings of his people.
It is to the credit of Laurel and his colleagues in the government that, faced with
what appeared insurmountable tasks, they remained loyal to the people and worked hard
to soften the impact of the Japanese occupation.
Social Conditions
The Kempeitai (Japanese Military Police) began a career of wanton disregard of
human lives.
House were raided.
Men were thrown in Fort Santiago.
They faced inhuman punishments (e.g. water cure, punching bag of a prisoner’s
body, pressed hot iron or electric wire on a helpless prisoner).
Heads were cut off with Samurai.
Women were raped.
As a result, several Filipinos joined the guerrilla forces.
No one slept soundly.
Everybody was waiting to be arrested and tortured.
There was no safety.
Japanese soldiers slapped men, women, and children who failed to bow before
them.
The most feared Japanese word was “kura” (come here or dismissed).
Slapping was a common sight.
Side by side with the Japanese presence was the “spy”.
Indeed, the coming of the Japanese, who stayed in the archipelago for a very short
period of time, became the darkest hours for the Filipinos…
End of Lesson
The Liberation
LESSON 11 – Part 2
Guerilla Warfare
With the retreat of the USAFFE to Bataan, the officers and soldiers who were
isolated by the rapid advance of the enemy organized guerilla units.
In the north, Walter M. Cushing formed a guerilla outfit.
July 1942. North Luzon guerilla units were tightly knit.
Sept. 19, 1942. Cushing was killed by Japanese soldiers.
His death did not end the guerilla resistance.
In Central Luzon, the dominant guerilla outfit was known by the name
HUKBALAHAP led by Luis Taruc.
In Southern Luzon, they were known as PQOG (President Quezon’s Own
Guerillas).
Guerilla warfare spread all throughout the country.
The guerillas performed 3 functions:
To ambush/kill enemy soldiers and civilians.
To relay intelligent reports to MacArthur in Australia.
To liquidate spies and Japanese sympathizers.
“I SHALL RETURN”
The year 1944 was crucial for the combatants in the Pacific.
Slowly and painfully, the American naval and marine forces inched their way
north from the vicinity of Australia.
June 19, 1944. The Battle for the Philippine Sea began.
It was primarily an air combat.
The air battles started in Guam.
Japanese forces were heavily damaged.
In Manila, the Japanese paper Tribune described the alleged destruction of
American fleet.
…but the Filipinos were not fooled.
They knew deep in their hearts, the General have returned.
End of War
MacArthur broughth the war right to Japan’s door.
Thereafter, Japan was bombarded by American troops from above and below.
Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, and Kure were bombed day and night.
July 26. The Allied Forces through Pres. Truman and PM Churchill, issued the
Postdam Proclamation calling Japan to surrender.
Japan proud of its Samurai spirit, refused to surrender.
August 6, Tokyo time. The United States Air Force unleashed the deadly atomic
bomb on Hiroshima.
August 9. Another atomic bombed was dropped in Nagasaki.
August 15. Japan accepted the unconditional surrender.
September 2. Japan signed the terms of surrender on board the battleship USS
Missouri at Tokyo bay…
…the war is over.
End of Lesson