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Chapter 9: Progress and Protest

The end of Phil. isolation involved more than physical opening of the country to foreign commerce; it also facilitated entry of ideas of

Enlightenment that had been sweeping Europe for some time. These new ideas which formed the core of ideology of developingcapitalism found fertile ground within the country because new Spanish economic policies for the colony had created social forceswhich required for their own development an atmosphere of greater freedom.

Spread of Liberalism

The French Revolution had fostered ideas of freedom in Spain; the growth of liberalism in Spain had its repercussions in her colonies.

Peoples resistance to Napoleonic invasion brought about temporary ascendancy of Spanish Liberals who produced Cadiz

Constitution of 1812. a constitution written by free men to set men free; extended rights of man not only to Spaniards but also to allsubjects of Spain; the result of the efforts of Spanish patriots who organized a provisional government in behalf of King Ferdinand VIIwhile Spain was still in the grip of Napoleonic occupation.

The reactionary monarch abrogated the Cadiz Constitution and reimposed a regime of absolutism.

Cadiz Constitution was proclaimed in Phils. more than a year after its promulgation and barely a year before its abrogation in May

1814.Many people took this to mean that they were now equals of Spaniards who had always been exempted from such exactions. Thisinterpretation forced the governor general to issue a bando or announcement saying that people had misunderstood the constitutional

decree that the government needed funds for its protection and for administration of justice that equality with Spaniards did not exemptthem from tributes.

Government Monopolies

Ilocanos were among the hardest hit because of operations in their area of tobacco monopoly established in 1781 and wine monopoly

established in 1786. They wer forbidden to drink their home-made brew and were forced to buy their wine fro govt stores. This wasthe cause ofBasi revolt of 1807 in Piddig, Ilocos Sur .

Tobacco monopoly was the source of greater resentments among people. Before, people grew their own tobacco and sold or consumed

it as they pleased. But after the monopolys institution, growing and sale of tobacco was supervised by the government.

Farmers were assigned production quotas. Their entire crop had to be sold to the government. The whole operation was graft-ridden.

Farmers were paid in vouchers which they had to cash at a ruinous discount with government officials or with merchants who werelicensed to supply provinces with necessities. They were even forced to exchange their vouchers for articles which they did not need.

These various abuses ancillary to tobacco monopoly were sources of profit for the gobernadorcillos, cabezas de barangay and local

merchants. These profits were used to buy lands and expand business operations.Against the Principales

Sinibaldo de Mas comments on the unrest in Ilocos: Principales were the aim of popular wrath in the Ilocan insurrection in 1807. Kill

all the dons and doas was the cry, while people hastened toward the capital to petition for the abolition of the monopolies and the

fifths. This cry of people was a clear indication of a growing consciousness of differentiation between themselves and indigenouswealthy families.

Economic unrest also manifested itself in preoccupation with egalitarianism in local religious movements of that time.

Attempts were made to establish a new religion in the name of an old native god called Lungao who promised equality. A man who

called himself Christ appeared to fishermen announcing true redemption consisted of equality for all and freedom from monopolies andtributes.

Illusory Equality

The question of polos and servicios the obligation to contribute personally to community works such as roads and bridges. Themasses considered the levies made on them as a violation of principle of equality.

People had a thorough knowledge of the provisions of this Constitution nor of the complex political battle between liberalism and

reaction that produced it and saw its dissolution. They did not need such an understanding to react.

The cailianes or common people refused to believe it, regarding the announcement as a fabrication by their rich compatriots and by

Spaniards in order to deprive them of their rights.Plebian Revolt

Cailanes of Sarrat proclaimed their rebellion on March 3, 1815. The town had a thriving weaving industry. Principales of town used to

give workers silk and cotton thread to be woven into cloth. In the afternoon of March 3, shouts were heard all over town and in the

plaza a crowd rapidly gathered armed with swords, bows and arrows and pikes. The priest tried to dissuade the rebels from theirpurpose but they turned their backs on him and proceeded to the town hall where they attacked some officials and destroyed the townrecords. Each house then hoisted a white flag as a sign that they were not principales and as a manifestation of alliance. Soon thenumber of rebels reached fifteen hundred.

Victory of Principales

The rebels entered convent, took 1,200 pesos fuertes and destroyed images. They left sentinels to prevent escape of principales. Thenext day, they issued an edict prohibiting any cailian from sheltering in his house. They captured gobernadorcillo and regidores andtied them up. Simon Tomas questioned the principales as to their motives. The principales explained that the Cadiz Constitution had

been abrogated.

2 groups of 200 hundred men each went to San Nicolas and Piddig. The ones who went to San Nicolas took the town hall and convent,

killed 2 principales, captured 9 and took some loot. Meanwhile, principales of other towns had gathered 600 men. These joined theSpanish infantry and cavalry sent by alcalde mayor. The rebels announced that if they were attacked, many people would be killed. The

priest talked with the rebel leaders. The rebels wavered in their resolve but Spanish forces entered Sarrat and set it on fire.Advance and Retreat

Sarrat revolt was both an advance and retreat in history of peoples struggle. While rebels of Sarrat demonstrated advance in

consciousness in their awareness of their exploitation by native elite as well as in their demands for equality, their egalitarian demandwas premised on acceptance of Spains sovereignty. Rebels retained their customary respect for priestly counsel even in politicalmatters.

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The uprising exhibited some ingenious examples of mass action but its ideological and untenable military position a besieged town

doomed it to a quick end.Sense of Racial Equality

Frustated desire for equal rights was the cause of another revolt in Southern Tagalog region. The impulse toward religious nativism as

an expression of resentment and protest had all but died. Return to old gods gave way to adoption by rebels of modified forms of

Catholic religion. This indicated a half-way hold by Church over minds of people.

Religious movement by Apolinario de la Cruz constituted a logical development in that it was born out of his desire for equal standing

within the Church. Revolts with religious content transformed into opposites: from movements rejecting Catholic religion, to protestsagainst being denied status within Church hierarchy.

Hermano Pule

Hermano Pule (Apolinario de la Cruz) was the son of devout Catholic peasants.

- went toManila in 1839 to join a monastic order but was rejected- founded Cofradia de San Jose (members made regular contributions which Pule used to defray cost of a monthly mass in Lucban)- regarded himself as a regular Catholic up to this time for he applied for ecclesiastical recognition.- balked at paying the new rate whereupon the clerics ordered the dissolution of his brotherhood

Fact that only pure-blooded natives were allowed to join confraternity led Spaniards to suspect that religion was used as a blind forpolitical designs. Exclusion of Spaniards and mestizos was a natural retaliation for discrimination.

Pule and his group became a break-away sect that its leader had direct heavenly support. Pule was hailed as king of Tagalogs,

Friars requested military assistance. They sent 2 infantry companies, 1 artillery battery and some cavalry to Tayabas. Pule and his aide,Purgatorio was captured. They were executed and their bodies were dismembered and exhibited in Southern Tayabas. Pule -27 yrs old

Origins of Colorums

San Cristobal with its caves, waterfalls and streams became the sects Holy land (Jerusalem).

Colorum, a corruption ofet saecula saeculorum, used at Mass to end certain prayers

- applied by authorities to rebel organizations with mystical characteristics- a common word used to describe any illegal activity (a private car hired out as taxi w/o being licensed for that purpose)

Cofradias demand for status may be regarded as part of growing protest for equal rights that would culminate in fight for clergysFilipinization.

Priesthood had the highest professional standing; ambitious family wanted their sons to become a priestRepercussions

Suppression of Hermano Pule revolt had its repercussions in Manila where soldiers from Tayabas quartered in Malate attacked Fort

Santiago.

Juan Matta, intendant of army and treasury: Royal order of April 25, 1837, prohibit publications that might disturb public order.

Followers of Pule are called innocentand rebels execution was called assassination.

Economic Dislocations

This unrest was product of economic development. Rise of hacienda system was based on expropriation of small farmers. Decline of

local industries brought acute deprivation. Economic progress nurtured a popular consciousness, the fruit of more efficient names ofexploitation.

A product of an export-crop economy was decline in acreage planted to rice. 800,000 quintals (equal to 100 kg). Self-sufficiency was a

hedge against hunger. A poor tenant who planted something he could not eat was more at mercy of landowner and trader. He eitherborrowed money or sold his share of produce.

Entry of English textiles destroyed local weaving industry. Although textile exports rose in 1818 and 1864, it quickly declined after. By

1890, it costed only 10,455 pesos.

British vice-consul in 1887 described inroads made by Glasgow textiles which were 50% cheaper than local hand-woven material.

Women were noew weavingpia, sinamay andjusi. These became luxuries only rich could afford.Foreign Ascendancy

By 1880, England became the principal trading partners of Philippines. In late 19 th century, foreign firms established cigarette factories,

a sugar refinery and cement factory. They processed commodities such as cotton cloth, rope, umbrellas and hats. Around 300

Europeans monopolized import-export trade. Foreign companies paid licenses and customs duties to revolutionary government.Cultural Changes

Economic development led to changes in consciousness among local beneficiaries. Wealth made acquisition of education and Spanish

culture by Chinese mestizos and urbanized natives. Educational reforms of 1863 opened higher learning to natives. The cultural merger

of Chinese mestizo and natives was being realized. They became disseminators of Spanish culture and thought.

Opening of Suez Canal in 1869 and steamship between Manila and Europe facilitated influx of liberal ideas.

Economic progress created a growing native group of small landowners, city workers and shopkeepers who absorbed liberal ideas.

They became part of reform movement and later of Revolution. (cultural unification)

Intellectual Ferment

Economic progress was the bearer of intellectual ferment. This was due to influx of new ideas plus the realization of economically

advancing groups.

The conflict was between creoles and peninsulares, with the former complaining that they were not afforded same opportunities for

advancement as latter. Since there were more than 1,000 creole adults and 400 available govt positions, the best were filled in Madrid.Their feeling of injustice was sharpened by social discrimination and by their own belief that they should receive preference in

appointment. Ufortunately, the loss of Spains colonies in America and rise and fall of Spanish govts had effect of increasing numberof peninsular bureaucrats.

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Discrimination also existed in army. Phil. creoles in military became objects of suspicion. The creole foothold in army became

precarious. The army was reorganized; creole officers were replaced by peninsular officers. They triggered off a short-lived mutiny in1823 led by Andres Novales.

Chinese mestizo had social status among natives for he was both landlord and creditor. His opinions were accorded attention and

respect.

Secularization and Filipinization

Manifestation of native demand for equality was the eventual transformation of secularization movement into fight for

Filipinization. With economic development came an increase in number of native priests. Native families could now afford to educatetheir sons and the priesthood was the best road to status and economic stability.

A royal decree of 1774 ordering secularization of parishes was a stimulus for natives to enter priestly profession was short-handed as

result of expulsion of Jesuits in 1768.

When desecularization was adopted, there was sizeable group of native priests who protested. Native priests were finding out their

own advancement was being impeded by Spaniards. This sharpened their awareness of separate national identity, a consciousnesstransmitted to their native parishioners. Filipinization became one of rallying cries of steadily growing resentment of nationality.

In late 19th century, secular priests were either creoles, mestizos or natives. Fight for secularization inevitably became anti-peninsular.

(Lay peninsulars were pro-regular and lay creoles pro-secular.) Demand for Filipinization of parishes encompassed native clergy andcreole & Spanish-mestizo priests. Filipinization implies the fight beginning as an attempt by Espaol-Filipinos to assert themselves

vis--vis the peninsular friars. Fr. Jose Burgos of Manila Cathedral was Spanish and held important positions.

Two years later, the controversy over secularization and Filipinization was formally linked to peoples struggle by a reactionary

administration overreacting to the Cavite mutiny of 1872.Cavite 1872

This marked the beginning of a new stage in escalating unrest. Another swing from liberalism to reaction had taken place in Spain and

was reflected in the arrival in 1871 of Rafael de Izquierdo to take over the governship from liberal Carlos Maria de la Torre.

Izquierdo revised de la Torres decrees and classified as personas sospechosas educated persons who had supported de la Torres

policies.

Since 1740, workers of Fort San Felipe in Cavite had enjoyed exemption from tribute and forced labor. When Izquierdo abolished

these, men in the fort mutinied. They proclaimed it was part of a widespread separatist conspiracy.

This was nothing more than a localized expression of protest against injustice, but reactionaries chose to use it as an excuse for

instituting a reign of terror. They took advantage of the incident accused to Frs. Jose Burgos, Mariano Gomez and Jacinto Zamora

of being leaders of Cavite conspiracy. Gomez and Zamora were native clerics. Burgos, a Spanish mestizo, had been active insecularization and Filipinization. They were arrested and publicly garroted.

Against the Peninsulars

1872 marks a new stage in growing consciousness of separate national identity. Repression that followed Cavite mutiny made three

racial groups creoles, mestizos and natives join hands and become conscious of their growing development as Filipino nation.Fighting the Friars as Spaniards

The three priests were regarded indios, giving the natives three ready-made martyrs. This execution of the priests had grave

repercussions. It placed the fight for Filipinization of parishes squarely within the mainstream of peoples unrest.

Fighting the friars meant fighting them as Spaniards and exploiters.

Between 1872 and Phil. revolution, a generation of ilustrados came of age. Interaction between liberal ideas from the continent andgrowing ambitions of rising classes plus experience of masses in struggle contributed to emergence of a nation with a risingexpectations and grievances.

Setting the Stage

Stage was set for national action. A closer linkage to world capitalism had remolded structure of economy and unified the country. The

beginning of progress was the beginning of modern underdevelopment.

Prosperity for certain classes bred ambition and discontent. It meant greater deprivation both in absolute and relative sense. They were

more exploited and they felt this more keenly. They now had articulators if their aspirations.

Quantitative series of rebellions produced a qualitative leap revolution of nation. Nation was born of Revolution as much as

Revolution was expression of nation being born.