CHAPTER 2

THE PHILIPPINES
IN THE

19th Century
AS RIZAL'S CONTEXT
 Learning Objectives
At the end of this Chapter, the students should be able to:

appraise the link between the individual and society

analyze the various social, political, and economic
changes that occurred in the nineteenth century; and
demonstrate understanding of Jose Rizal in the context
of his time
 The Philippines in the 19th century
as Rizal's context

Political Context Economic Context Socio-Cultural

Context
Overview
The World and the Philippines of
Rizal's time
 The World and the
Philippines of Rizal's time
In the 19th century, there were massive changes in the world,
particularly in Europe, Spain, and the Philippines. In this
century, Rizal was born and exposed to varying political,
economic, and socio-cultural realities. Rizal witnessed the
effects brought by the Industrial Revolution, benefited from
the opening of the Suez Canal, gained education in Europe,
became an illustrado, and took part in the Propaganda
Movement.
Political Context
 Political Context
What was the political situation in Spain during the
19th century and how did this affect the Philippines?

Spain in the 19th century was typified by the struggle between liberals and
conservative.
The liberals were the people who wanted to fight for democracy. While
conservatives wanted to continue with the royal bloodline, to continue
with the government ruled by the royal family
In the 19th century Spain was characterized by intermittent civil wars and
Spain lost most, if not all of its colonies in South America in the 19th
century
 Political Context
For example:

•Constant replacing of governors

•Rampant Graft and Corruption
•Taxes were not fully utilized
•Limited participation of the Filipinos in the government.
 Political Context
Frailocracy - government rule of the friars
The friars became so powerful that it resulted to the abuse
of Filipinos. These friars contributed to the rise of agrarian
unrest, the secularization movement and Filipino abuses in
many forms.
They were tasked to report whatever is happening in their
parishes and friar-estates. In short, they were supposed to
act as mediators between the Spanish government and the
Filipino people. However, instead of reporting the
deplorable conditions of the Filipinos, they chose to close
their eyes, cover their ears, and open their purse.
 Political Context
The propagandists

López Jaena, Rizal, and journalist Marcelo del Pilar

emerged as the three leading figures of the Propaganda
Movement, and magazines, poetry, and pamphleteering
flourished.

The movement's most brilliant figure doctor Jose Rizal

who produced. The two political novels, Noli me Tangere
and El Filibusterismo.
Economic Context
 Economic Context
The Suez Canal is a waterway that connects Europe to
Asia by creating a direct shipping route without having
to navigate the African continent.
This new infrastructure brought about by the. economic
developments in Europe brought Spain closer to the
Philippines.
The invention of tools, ships, and other types of
machinery. brought trade, governments, and people
closer to each other.
 Economic Context
The opening of the Suez canal in 1956 was a significant event
in the history of the world, especially for the Philippines.
The distance of travel between Europe and the Philippines at
that time was significantly shortened. It also brought the
country closer to Spain, which had previously been more than
two months apart.
The opening of the Suez canal in 1956 was a significant event
in the history of the world, especially for the Philippines.
The distance of travel between Europe and the Philippines at
that time was significantly shortened. It also brought the
country closer to Spain, which had previously been more than
two months apart.
 Economic Context
Filipino Ilustrados were sent to study in Europe, where
they witnessed how the mother country enjoyed freedom,
free from biases and racial discrimination.
While Spain enjoyed freedom and rights, the colony
suffered from the maladministration of justice committed
by itscompetent and corrupt government officials.
Socio-Cultural Context
 Socio-cultural Context
-The 19th century also brought socio-cultural changes
in Spain and Philippines.

1st Enlightenment 2nd Principalias

Suez Canal Primary traded
Ilustrados products
 Socio-cultural Context
Spain implemented the following measures to enhance
their trading capacities:

Reform the galleon trade

Settlement of the Spaniards in the provinces for
agricultural and trade purposes
Government expropriation of the landed states of the
friar corporations.
 Socio-cultural Context
With these measures, the Spanish government was now
duty-bound to allow Filipinos to rent and cultivate
agricultural lands.
Most of the lands rented by the Filipinos from these friar
estates were reduced due to several factors such as:
Land reform
Church donations
Inheritance
Revolt or misfortune
Understanding Rizal in the
context of the 19th century
Philippines
 Understanding Rizal in the context
of the 19th century Philippines
The political, economic, and social conditions of the 19th
century shaped the kind of Rizal that we know today in
history.
Without an understanding of that milieu, one can scarcely
understand Rizal's enduring importance to the Filipino people
nor the relevance of his ideas and ideals today.
To know why Rizal fought for reforms, one must look into the
political conditions of the 19th century to understand the
political struggles of the Filipinos.
 Understanding Rizal in the context
of the 19th century Philippines
To know why Rizal fought against the spaniard, one must
assess how the Spanish Government exploited the Filipinos
through their economic policies.
To determine why Rizal attacked the friars in the novels, one
must understand the social realities of the Filipinos during
his time.
 Understanding Rizal in the context
of the 19th century Philippines
The kind of Rizal that we know today is a product of his own
time. He was at the right time, with the right people, and
with the right context to campaign for nationalism.
His life, works, and writings helped shaped our history.
He used his knowledge for the betterment of the Filipino
people and the Philippines.
Understanding Rizal in the context
of the 19th century Philippines
Rizal responded to the needs of the time.
The Filipinos' deplorable political and social conditions paved
the way for Rizal to rise against the Spaniards and call out
inefficiency, injustice and racial discrimination.
He took an active role through the Propaganda Movement so
that the Spain may remedy them.
He did not hesitate to write the Noli Me Tangere and the El
Filibusterismo to showcase the political conditions of the
Philippines under the hands of the corrupt friars and inefficient
Spanish officials.
 Understanding Rizal in the context
of the 19th century Philippines
Rizal's idea of a Filipino nation would not be possible without
the events of the 19th century.
The success of Rizal and other filipino people to achieve
independence was a response to fulfill their growing desir for
justice, equality, and freedom.
The independence that we have today is the result of how
Rizal, together with other Filipino heroes in history, fought
hard to achieve the blessings of independence and
democracy.
Summary
Political Context
Summary
The 19th century was a period of massive changes in the world. Spain
was slowly losing its most of its colonies that became a period of
colonial instability. The Filipino people suffered from the evils of
oppressive colonial rule such as:
Maladministration of
Forced Labor
Justice
Frailocracy
No equality before
Lack of representation
the law
in the Spanish Cortes
Racial Prejudice
 Summary
Economic Context
The technological innovations brought about by the industrial
revolution paved the way for the invention of tools, ships and other
typesof machinery. The opening of Suez Canal brought trade,
countries, and people closer to each other.
 Summary
Socio-Cultural Context
The industrial revolution also paved the way for the rise of the
middle-class or principalias. Being economically capable resulted in
sending children to Europe to obtain western education. The
knowledge and exposure to European ways, laws, and customs
formed the ilustrados in Spain. In turn, these ilustrados organized the
Propaganda Movement that initiated calls for reforms by exposing
the deplorable conditions of the Filipinos in the Philippines.
 Summary
Rizal is a product of the 19th century
Rizal responded to the needs of the time.
He took an active role through the Propaganda Movement so
that the spain may remedy all the tyrannies and injustices of its
own colonial rule.
Rizal's idea of a Filipino nation would not be possible without the
events of the 19th century.