The Filipinos under Spanish Rule

Unification of the Philippines under the Spanish Rule

Spain ruled the Philippines for more than 300 years. Prior to the Spanish colonization, the country was consisted of independent and well-organized villages called barangays. Each barangay was headed by a tribal leader, who later formed part of the elite ruling class called the Principalia. Under the Spanish rule, the independence of the barangays was gradually lost as Spain’s political system was introduced into the country. During the Spanish regime, the people became highly centralized under the influence of the Catholic Church. However, despite the unification of the region, people started to build resentment against the Spanish rule (Garcia & Cruz, 2005).

Resistance to Spanish Rule

The government restrictions and control made the lives of the native Filipinos extremely hard and difficult. People started harboring grievances and began clamoring for independence from the control of Spanish rule. However, the early revolts have failed because Filipinos were not united in their struggle against the Spanish colonial rule (Garcia & Cruz, 2005).

Struggle between the Masses and the Elites

During the time of Spanish regime, the Filipinos were divided into two social class groups: the masses and the elites. Filipinos were made to fight one another by their Spanish colonial masters. In fact, in trying to free themselves from the Spaniards, they failed to realize that they had a common enemy, and that together they could better stand against the Spanish colonial rule.

Masses under Spanish Rule

Masses were struggling for true justice, true equality and true freedom of the country. They organized the separatist movement the Katipunan in order to make known their nationalist sentiments. Masses were largely composed of petty clerks, laborers, peasants and uneducated Filipinos who possessed primitive ideas which were often fanatical and influenced by traditions and religious beliefs.

Elites under Spanish Rule

The elites were composed of educated Filipinos who were influenced by western ideas. Like the masses they also struggled for radical changes but not because they wanted to redeem the country's mortgaged sovereignty and a final break up from social slavery but because they wanted to be treated equal with the Spaniards. In effect, they used the masses for their own interest and gave rise to a nationalist sentiments that would focus on the abuses of the Spaniards particularly the friars. Unlike the masses, they wanted a rather peaceful rebellion against the Spaniards, that they used pen and paper to agitate nationalist sentiments among the masses.

Revolution waged by Masses and the Elites

The masses staged a revolution challenging the establishments, disordering society and believing in taking arms rather than relying on divine providence. In contrast, the revolution of the elites was rather peaceful because they used pen and paper in their revolution against the Spaniards instead of holding arms in the battlefield to fight for freedom.

References:

Garcia, Carlito D. & Cruz, Cynthia B. (2005). Rizal and the Development of Filipino Nationalism. Madaluyong City: Books Atbp. Publishing Corp.

Constantino, Renato & Constantino, Letizia R. (1975). The Philippines: A Past revisited (pre-spanish--1941). Vol. 1. Manila: Renato Constantino