Spanish Colonial Rule in the Philippines
Introduction
According to Andaya (2018),
Southeast Asia is well known as a sub-region of Asia. Geographically, it
consists of 11 countries that stretch from Eastern India to China. It is
normally divided into "mainland" and "island" zones. The
mainland zones are actually an extension of the Asian continent. Countries that
are found in the mainland zones are Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and
Vietnam. Generally, the islands of Southeast Asia consist of Malaysia,
Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, as well as Brunei (Andaya, 2018). Since
the countries in Southeast Asia lie between the tropics, there are similarities
in relation to their climate and temperature. There are also some similarities
in their physical environments as well as geographical features (Klaus
kästle-nationsonline.org, 2017). Despite the similarities, there are also some
distinct differences in the countries’ physical environments, which affected
the political structures that developed in Southeast Asia. However, for each
country in Southeast Asia, there are different and unique stories that lead to
the development of their country, as we have seen today. Some of these stories
are part of historical events that brought the countries' freedom,
independence, and establishment. For the purpose of this assignment, I have
selected the Philippines among the other countries as the country that I will
discuss its ancient kingdom and its history.
Composed of more than 7,000
islands, the Philippines is one of the countries in Southeast Asia located in
the Western Pacific (BBC Monitoring, 2018). Due to its location that is close
to and near to the equator, the Philippines is famous for its proneness to
earthquakes and typhoons. According to the Philippines Statistic Authority
(2016), the population in the country is reaching 100 million and is expected
to increase annually. Similar to other countries in Southeast Asia, the
Philippines is well known for its diversity of cultures and ethnicities. Due to
the multiple transitions of power and authorities on the island, the
Philippines is populated with many citizens from different races and religious
backgrounds today. The historical times of the Philippines are one of the most
astounding historical events in Southeast Asia. The people in this country
today worship their ancestors and previous political leaders for their keen
survival skills and strong endurance against the difficult times that landed
and invaded their countries. Although invasion and colonization are not unique
among Southeast Asian countries, it is definitely worthwhile to research and
discuss the ancient kingdom and its history in the Philippines. This includes
both the rise and fall of the kingdom as power transitioned from one government
to another government. Another reason why I have chosen the Philippines is the
unison and collaboration of this country with other countries, such as America,
in the means of achieving Independence Day for their country. Therefore, in
this paper, the history of the Philippines from 1521 to 1946 (post World War 2)
will be discussed and explained. This paper will demonstrate the transition and
invasion of one power to another throughout the historical timelines, which
will then display the rise and fall of the Philippines. Supporting details from
journals, websites, or other reliable sources will be used to strengthen the
reliability of the content and further provide evidence for the work.
Spanish Colonial Times in
the Philippines
According to Philippines
History (2018), in 1521, a Portuguese explorer who, at the time, was serving
the Spanish Crown, landed on Samar Island, where he then explored the island
and eventually named it the Archipelago of San Lazaro. Unfortunately, this
explorer, Ferdinand Magellan, was killed during a rebellion on Mactan Island.
Despite his death, Spain continued to take an interest in the island and sent
expedition after expedition for the purpose of financial gain. On the fourth
expedition, Commander Ruy Lopez de Villalobos decided to name the island the
Philippines, a name after Prince Philip (who would soon become King Philip II),
the heir to the Spanish throne. Eventually, Spain ruled the Philippines for 356
years. Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, the first appointed Governor-General in the
Philippines, chose Manila to be its capital due to its natural harbour. During
the rule of Spain, their greatest legacy and achievement is that they managed
to convert the people to Catholicism and create the privileged landed class.
Due to the abusive power and authorities among the Spaniards, a Propaganda
Movement was launched by Dr. Jose Rizal, who sought for equality between the
Filipinos and Spaniards. His execution in 1896 gave the Filipinos a motive to
rebel against Spain. Soon after, the rebels were continued by two secret
societies, led by Andres Bonifacio for Katipunan and Emilio Aguinaldo for
Katipuneros in Cavite Province, which succeeded in minimising Spain’s power in
San Juan and Cavite. Unfortunately, due to their fight against each other, Bonifacio
was executed under Aguinaldo’s order and established the Republic of
Biak-na-Bato in Bulacan province. In 1897, after accepting an offer from the
Spaniards, Aguinaldo fled to Hong Kong with his government, leaving the
Philippines back in Spain’s hands.
The start of the Spanish
colonization
In the course of its
colonial rule in the Philippines, Spain had three main objectives as manifested
in its policy towards the Philippines, which is its only colony in Asia: to
acquire a share in the spice trade; to enhance the development of trade
contracts with Japan and China geared towards furthering its Christianisation
efforts in those regions; and to ensure that the Filipinos are converted to
Christians (MCRG, n.d.). However, the Spanish heads were only able to actualize
the third objective, although this cannot be considered an absolute completion
because they had opposition from both the Muslims in Igorot and in the South,
as well as the upland trial people that occupied the northern part of the
Philippines (MCRG, n.d.).
The Spanish colonial rule
In an order, the king of
Spain, Phillip II, explicitly decrees that the pacification of the Philippines
should not be done in a bloody manner to avoid the repetition of what happened
during Spain’s conquest of the Americas.
As a supporting point for
this view, the majority of the people on the island (except Muslims) offered
little or no resistance initially, which means that the occupation of the
Philippines was accompanied with relatively little bloodshed. In any case,
there are numerous records of atrocities which the Spanish government committed
during their reign, with the most significant being the act of heinous torture
that occurred in the Fortress of Sebastian Intra Mores in Manila, which has a
dungeon referred to as the Black Hole (MCRG, n.d.). There were just two small
apertures in the prison, which was one three-square in the ceiling, and a
little gated hole was placed in the floor through which the state prisoners
were confided in the brim-full without access to water and food, with just
sufficient air to ensure they did not die immediately. The unmanageable
prisoners were put through various forms of physical torture. In line with
these defined objectives, states and churches were inseparably linked during
the Spanish rule, with the state being accorded the responsibility of creating
all religious establishments. The church's pageantry was based on a broad
appeal, which saw Filipino social customs incorporated into religious
observances (MCRG, n.d.).
Economically, the majority
of the Spanish rule in the Philippines featured a period that depended heavily
on the galleon trade that was inaugurated in 1565 between Acapulco, Mexico and
Manila. Thus, the Spanish government traded with Mexico during their reign in
the Philippines through the Pacific Ocean (Manila to Acapulco), and also
through the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea to Spain (Veracruz to Cadiz)
(Carl, 1965). Due to its flourishing links, Manila was the most important trade
centre for the Spanish government in Asia between the 17th and 18th
centuries. All kinds of products were shipped from Japan, China, Moluccas,
India, and Brunei to the Philippines in order to be sold aboard the galleons
(Spanish ships) that came from Acapulco (a city in Mexico) for silver 8-real
coins. These goods (which include porcelain, silk, spices, textile products,
and lacquer) were all sent from there to other parts of Europe, New Spain, and
Peru. While the natives remained the majority, the population of Europeans in the
archipelago region grew at a steady rate (Carl, 1965). This new population had
their livelihood dependent on the galleon trade. Economic reforms were also
introduced by Governor-General, Basco, in the latter years of the 18th
century, which gave the colony its first significant source of income in the
form of tobacco production and the export of agricultural products. In later
periods, agriculture, which was previously reserved for the natives, was
finally opened to the European populations (Carl, 1965).
At the bottom level of the
Spanish administration was the traditional village leadership, which the
Spanish co-opted with local leaders. This is a form of indirect rule that
helped in creating an upper class amongst the Filipinos, which was called
principalia, and they had high status, local wealth, alongside other privileges
(NCCA, 2015). The outcome was an oligarchic system of local control. One of the
most significant changes brought about by the Spanish colonists was the
replacement of the concept of public use and ownership of land in the
Philippines with the concept of private ownership, which granted title to
members of the principalia.As a colony, the Philippines wasn’t profitable
because its revenues were mainly from foreign trade through the Galleon and
there was no direct trade with Spain; instead, the colony functioned as an
intermediary link between other Spanish colonies and trade partners (NCCA,
2015).
The end of the Spanish
colonial rule
In the course of their
333-year rule in the Philippines, the Spanish colonists constantly fought off
Chinese pirates (that laid siege to Manila, with Limahong in 1574 being the
most famous of such cases), Portuguese forces, Dutch forces, and the local
revolts (MCRG, n.d.). The coastal Christian areas of the Visayas and Luzon were
also raised by Moros from western Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago, and they
also occasionally sold men and women as slaves. With the declaration of war on
April 25, 1898, which started the Spanish-American war, the Spanish navy was decisively
defeated on May 1, 1898, in the battle of Manila Bay by the Asiatic squadron
led by Commodore George Dewey of the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Olympia. As such,
the Spanish colonists lost their ability to defend Manila, followed by the
entire Philippines (MCRG, n.d.).
In conclusion, the
Philippines has experienced its rise and fall just like any other country in
Southeast Asia. Historians stated that the Philippines began to experience a
fall ever since external forces such as the Spaniards, Americans, and Japanese
overtook their country. Although some argue that the Spanish first discovered
the land of the Philippines and therefore it is not considered a colonization,
some state that Filipinos at the time had long lived on the island. Despite the
transition of power ruling and authorities, the timeline shows that the
Philippines rose when they defeated the Spanish government and collaborated
with the Americans to defeat the Japanese government. Although the United
States initially colonized the Philippines, the government was the stepping
stone for Filipinos to have their own Independence Day for their own country.
Rebellions and unanimity among Filipinos were also seen during the American
Era. However, similar to any other country, the Philippines also has its own
darkest time and struggles during its fall. This is obvious during the Japanese
invasion, when thousands of soldiers and Filipinos were killed brutally. In
addition, they suffered ill treatment from the Japanese and were despised by them
as well. Despite diplomatic action, Filipinos were ignored when it came to
their rights in their own country. Fortunately, thanks to the combination of
forces with the Americans, the Filipinos were able to overthrow the Japanese
government and celebrate their own Independence Day. Throughout these trying
times, various Filipino leaders have shown their own bravery and courage in
reclaiming their country. Nevertheless, today, both countries still struggle
with their political situation, and the current political leader continues to
work even harder to achieve a greater future for the country.
REFERENCES
Andaya, B. W. (2018). Introduction to Southeast Asia.
Retrieved from https://asiasociety.org/education/introduction-southeast-asia
BBC Monitoring. (2018, January 9). Philippines country profile.
Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-15521300
Carl, H., L. (1965). The Philippines. Education and political
development. Retrieved from: https://kuscholarworks.ku.edu/bitstream/handle/1808/1197/CEAS.1965.n8.pdf;sequence=1
Klaus kästle - nationsonline.org. (2017). Map of South-East Asia -
Nations Online Project. Retrieved from
http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map_of_southeast_asia.htm
MCRG (n.d.). Spanish colonialism in The Philippines. Retrieved from:
http://www.mcrg.ac.in/Chair_Professor/Articles/Spanish_colonialism_in_The_Philippines.pdf
National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) (2015). Philippine
Literature in the Spanish Colonial Period. Retrieved from: http://ncca.gov.ph/subcommissions/subcommission-on-the-arts-sca/literary-arts/philippine-literature-in-the-spanish-colonial-period/
Philippines History. (2018, March 28). Philippine History | Filipino
History. Retrieved from http://www.philippine-history.org/
Philippines Statistic Authority. (2016, May 19). Highlights of the
Philippine Population 2015 Census of Population | Philippine Statistics
Authority. Retrieved from
https://www.psa.gov.ph/content/highlights-philippine-population-2015-census-population
Radcliffe, B. (2018, April 17). The Jones Act. Retrieved from
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/j/jonesact.asp
World History Archive. (1989). Spanish-American War in Manila Bay [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-spanish-american-war-1898-battle-of-manila-bay-philippines-1-may-1898-57356307.html
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