The Philippine Revolution
Overview of the Report
This report tackles the first Philippine Revolution, the first revolution against western colonial rule in Asia. In here, we are going to look at the history and origin of the revolution, people and heroes who lead the revolution as well as the end of revolution and some historical facts which will help us point to many important issues which arise during the revolution.
The Philippine Revolution
The Philippine Revolution, the first against western colonial rule in Asia, was directed against Spain which had colonized the Philippines since 1565. The Revolution against Spain had two phases: the first from the declaration of defiance against Spanish rule on August 23, 1896 till the conclusion of a truce in December 1897; the second from the return till the outbreak of the Filipino-American War in February 1899. It was an accumulation of numbers of ideas and exposition to international community that led to the opening of nationalistic endeavors. With that, it is evident that the rise of Filipino nationalism was slow but inevitable. Abuses by the Spanish government, military and the clergy prevalent during its three centuries of occupation, and the exposition of these excesses by the Illustrados in the late 19th century paved the way for a united Filipino people. Unfortunately, the growth of nationalism was slow because of the difficulty in social and economic association among the Filipinos.
Manila and World Trade
· The Spanish authorities discouraged foreign merchants from residing in the colony and engaging in business before the opening of Manila for trade.
· It is the royal decree of February 2, 1800 as well as the royal decrees of 1807 and 1816, which prohibited foreigners from living in the Philippines.
· Governor-General Mariano Ricafort promulgated a decree prohibiting foreign merchants from engaging in retail trade and visiting the provinces for purposes of trade in 1823.
· A royal decree in 1844 prohibited foreigners from travelling to the provinces under any excuse.
· The British occupation of Manila made Spain realize the impossibility of isolating the colony from world association and commerce.
· In 1789, foreign vessels were given permission to transport Asian goods to the ports of Manila.
· Governor-General Feliz Berenquer de Marquinare recommended to the King of Spain the opening of Manila to world trade. The bankruptcy of the Real Compana de Filipinas (Royal Company of the Philippines) propelled the Spanish king to open Manila in world trade in 1790.
· The royal decree of September 6, 1834 abolished the privileges of the Royal Company of the Philippines and opened the port of Manila to trade.
Economic surveys, port openings and admission of foreign firms
· The opening of Manila to world trade caused the loss of the commercial supremacy of Spanish merchants in the Philippines
· American merchants settled in Manila and built business.
· The supremacy of American trade did not last long because of heavy competition against the Bristish. Their decline was said to be because of the lack of support from the home government as well as a lack of US trade bases.
· Sinibaldo de Mas was sent by the Spanish government to the Philippines to conduct an economic survey of the Philippines. Sinibaldo declared in his survey that the more ports are needed to be opened for foreign trade, encourage immigration of Chinese to encourage agricultural development, and the abolition of the tobacco monopoly.
Enlightenment
· The Filipino society before the Philippine Revolution was subdivided into social classifications based on the economic status of the people involved:
The Philippine Society
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Masses/Indios
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Peninsulares
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Creoles
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Poor commoners, labourers, peasants
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Principalia
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Middle Class/ Illustrados
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Well-to-do farmers, teachers, attorneys, doctors
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§ Principalia
- The highest social classification in the society.
- Includes landlords, teachers, local officials and ex-officials.
- The members of this class constituted the social aristocracy of a town.
- Peninsulares
- Spanish-born Spaniards living in the Philippines
- Creoles
- Spaniards born in colonies
§ Masses/Indio
- The lower class; only enjoyed few civil rights and priveleges.
- The highest possible office they can hold is goberndorcillo.
- Most members of the Katipunan came from this class.
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- They are consists of the well-to-do farmers, teachers, lawyers, physicians, writers and government employees.
- Many of them were able to buy and read books which were forfeited for lowly Filipinos.
- They discussed political problems and sought reforms.
- They were able to send their children/study in universities in Manila and abroad.
- Their progress was largely due to the opening of trades in Manila.
- From this class came the leading intellectuals of the country; they were called Illustrados, meaning “knowledgeable ones” as well as the “intelligentsia” or the intelligent ones.
- The prominent members of the Propaganda Movement came from this class. They stirred the very first flames of the revolution.
Rise of the Filipino Nationalism
· Secularization
§ The middle class demanded that the churches in the Philippines be nationalized.
§ With this, the control of Philippine parishes was to be passed from the religious orders to the secular priests, particularly Filipino priests.
Criollo Rebellion
· The Criollo, through their writings began spreading the ideals of French revolution in the Philippines.
· A royal decree ordered the secularization of Philippine churches and many parishes were turned over to Philippine-born priests.
ORGANIZATIONS
La Solidaridad, La Liga Filipina and the Propaganda Movement
· La Solidaridad
§ Founded by Filipinos in Europe.
§ A newspaper that pressed fro reforms in the Philippines through Propaganda, hence it is also known as the Propaganda movement.
§ Included the membership of leading Spanish liberals such as Morayta.
§ The pioneer editors were Graciano Lopez Jaena, Marcelo H. Del Pilar and Jose Rizal.
§ Run out of funds without accomplishing concrete changes in the Philippines.
· La Liga Filipina
§ Founded by Jose Rizal when he returned to the Philippines.
§ The Manila chapter of the Propaganda movement.
§ Arrest of Jose Rizal caused the Liga to be discontinued.
· Aims of the Propaganda Movement are:
§ To promote inequality of Filipino and Spaniards before the law;
§ Assimilation of the Philippines as a regular province of Spain;
§ Restoration of Philippine representation in the Spanish Cortes;
§ “Filipinization” of the Catholic parishes and
§ Granting of individual liberties to Filipino such as freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of assembly, and freedom to petition for grievances.
· Founded by Andres Bonifacio, Deodato Arellano, Ladislao Diwa, Teodoro Plata as “Kataas-taasang, Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan” in Manila on July 7, 1892.
· Advocates independence through armed revolt against Spain.
· From Manila, it expanded into several provinces: Batangas, Laguna, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Ilocos Sur, Ilacas Norte, Pangasinan, Bicol and Mindanao.
· The members called “Katipuneros” came from the lower and middle classes.
· It had its own laws, bureaucratic structure and effective leadership.
· Andres Bonifacio was the supreme leader (Supremo) of the Katipunan.
· The estimated number of members was estimated to 30, 000 to 40, 000.
START OF THE REVOLUTION
· Teodoro Patino revealed the existence of the Katipunan to a Spanish priest named Mariano Gil. Patino was enraged with a fellow Katipunero named Mariano Gil and so he exposed the Katipunan in revenge.
· Authorities ensued several arrests in 1872. Most of them were the wealthiest Illustrados whose signatures were forged by Bonifacio hoping that they would be forced to support the Katipunan.
· Katipunan members were gathered by Bonifacio to a mass gathering in Caloocan. The event was marked by a mass tearing of cedulas accompanied by patriotic cries.
· The rebels attack in Manila started on August 25 to the evening of August 29, 2872.
· The revolt had spread to eight provinces involved in the Katipunan on August 30: Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Pampanga, Tarlac, Laguna, Batangas, and Nueva ecija. Governor-General Blanco declared a “state of war” in these provinces and placed trhem under martial law.
· The rebels were mostly armed with bolo knives and bamboo spears; they lack firearms.
Execution of Jose Rizal
· Rizal was sent to Spain to help in the medical service in the Cuban War of Independence.
· He was sent back to the Philippines and was imprisoned in Fort Santiago.
Revolution in Cavite
· The Cavite revolutionaries won prestige in defeating Spanish troops.
· The revolution in Cavite was led by Emilio Aguinaldo who also founded the Magdalo troop.
Katipunan in Cavite
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Magdalo
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Magdiwang
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· The Katipunan in Cavite was divided into two councils:
§ Magdiwang
- Led by Alvarez
- Recognized Bonifacio as the Supreme Leader
§ Magdalo
- Led by Baldomero Aguinaldo
- Recognized Aguinaldo as the supreme leader becaus of his successes in the battlefield compared to Bonifacio’s record of defeats.
Tejeros Convention
· The meeting in Tejeros accounts for the election of officers for the revolutionary government.
· The meeting was chaired by Bonifacio who said that the results of the elections shall be respected.
· When the election was finished, Aguinaldo was proclaimed as the winner.
Bonifacio’s Execution
· The War Council sentenced Andres and his brother Procopio to death on May 10, 2897 for committing sedition and treason.
· Major Lazaro Makapagal, upon orders from General Mariano Noriel, executed the brothers at Mount Buntis, Maragondon, Cavite on May 10.
Biak-na-Bato
· The Pact of Biak-na-Bato was signed. It was made up of three documents focusing for the following agenda:
§ The surrender of Aguinaldo and the rest of the revolutionary corps
§ Amnesty for those who participated in the revolution
§ Exile to Hong Kong for revolutionary leadership.
§ Payment by the Spanish government
The Revolution Continues
· The Pact of Biak-na-Bato did not signal an end to the revolution.
· The Filipino patriots renewed their commitment for complete independence. They purchased more arms and ammunition to ready themselves for another siege.
Aguinaldo Returns to the Philippines
· Aguinaldo departed Hong Kong aboard McCulloch on May 17 and arrived in Cavite on May 19.
Declaration of Independence
· It was under this dictatorship that independence was finally proclaimed on June 12, 1898 in Aguinaldo's house in Kawit, Cavite.
· The first Filipino flag was unfurled and the national anthem was played for the first time.
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