19th Century

Philippines as Rizal’s
Context
19th Century
• It began in January 1, 1801 – December 31,
1900.
• It was characterized by so many social
upheavals like the Industrial Revolution,
Political Revolution, the Age of
Enlightenment, Meiji Restoration, the rise of
Qing Dynasty (China), Joseon Kingdom
(Korea) and the Russian empire to name a
few.
19th Century
• The world is leading to the “modernity” era
shifting from tradition to new ideas,
attitudes, and institutions, signaling a
transition to a new era.
• Partly, it is also the Age of Revolution.
Jose Rizal’s connection to 19th Century
• Jose Rizal was born in
the 19th century.
• It is a period of global
change, growing up
amid the Philippines’
fight for the
independence and a
shifting socio-political
landscape.
The 19th Century – Part of Age of Revolution
The 19th Century –Industrial Revolution

During this era, the Industrial Revolution introduced new

production, transportation and communication methods,
shifting from manual labor to machines.
The 19th Century – economic and social transformation

The transformation of the economy and the society resulted in

the new forms of work and leisure, as well as urbanization and
the growth of the cities.
The 19th Century –Political Revolutions

The late 18th and 19th Centuries saw political revolutions like
the American and French Revolution, influenced by the
Enlightenment values of reason and individualism.
The 19th Century – Part of Age of Revolution
Political
change
challenged
monarchy,
fostering
governance
based on
individual
rights,
nationalism
and freedom.
Century Economic
Social-Cultural
th

Political
19
Economic Condition
19th Century – Economic Condition
• Trading predates
Spanish Colonization in
the Philippines.
• Our ancestors traded
with China, Japan,
Siam, Cambodia, India,
Borneo and Moluccas.
19th Century – Economic Condition
• When the Spaniards
arrived in the
Philippines, they
monopolized the
Manila ports, closing
them to all excluding
Mexico, gaining
exclusive control over
the trade route and
goods.
19th Century – Economic Condition
• Hence, the birth of
Manila-Acapulco trade,
which came to be
known as the “Galleon
Trade.”
• The trade monopoly
that emerged made
Manila as the center of
commerce in the east.
19th Century – Economic Condition
• Spain became a mercantilist superpower, but not forever.
• By the 18th century, the Galleon trade system faced tough
competition as other nations opted for self-sufficiency and
direct trade, leading to a decline in Spain’s trading system
and Asian goods demand.
19th Century – Economic Condition
• Later, the older system of trading was not
anymore sustainable. The Galleon Trade was
ended by a decree during the first decade of
the 19th century.
• The end of Galleon Trade prompted Spain to
open the Philippines to World Commerce in
1834, seeking new commercial opportunities
created by the Industrial Revolution.
19th Century – Economic Condition
• The Philippines became a supplier of
raw materials for the industries of
the West by utilizing its underutilized
land resources to venture into cash
crop agriculture.
• British, Dutch and the American
trading companies invested large
capital in the country for the large
production of different products like
tobacco and sugar.
19th Century – Economic Condition
• To make the transaction easier, foreign
investors need people who are already in the
Philippines.
• Chinese, Mestizos and rich natives helped in
the land acquisition, labor mobilization, crop
transportation and retail trade.
19th Century – Economic Condition
• Chinese immigrants served as middlemen between the
provinces, where the crops were planted, and the merchant
houses of the mestizos in Manila.
• Rich natives became tenants known as “Inquilinos” in
Spanish.
19th Century – Economic Condition
• When Suez Canal was
constructed, it
shortened travel
between Europe and
Philippines, enabling
more intensive crop
production and
boosting commercial
enterprises.
19th Century – Economic Condition
What was the connection
of all this to Rizal?

• Industrial Revolution
fueled rapid Philippine
Economic growth in the
19th century, creating a
This made the Inquilino class
rich and influential wealthy, including Rizal’s
Filipino middle class. patriarch, the family
Mercado, that provided their
children with proper
education.
Social-Cultural Condition
 19th Century – Social Condition
• In the early Spanish colonial period up until
the mid 19th century, education was a
privilege, typically for the highest racial class.
• While natives low status in the colonial
hierarchy likely made higher education
difficult to obtain.
 19th Century –Social Condition
• Wealthy families were able to send their
children to prestigious schools.
• Many families sent their sons to Europe for
higher studies where they were exposed to
secular and liberal ideas inspired by the
democratic ideals of the French Revolution.
 19th Century – Social Condition
• Ilustrados are group of
educated natives
seeking reforms to
achieve equality with
the proud Spaniards.
 19th Century – Cultural Condition
• The rapid spread of education around in 1860
was the key factor in the late 19th century
nationalism.
• Access to higher education for middle and
lower-middle class Filipinos who couldn’t go
abroad, played a crucial role in promoting
liberal and progressive ideas in Europe.
 19th Century –Cultural Condition
Educational Reforms that Happened in the Mid-19th Century:
1. The Industrial Revolution necessitated changes in the
Philippine Educational System to prioritize training, skilled
labor, aligning with economic demands.
2. The Education Decree of 1863 was significant attempt by
the Spanish colonial government to address the lack of
formal education among the Filipinos

This marked the start of a broader public primary

education system in the Philippines expanding
educational access to a wider segment of society.
Political Condition
19th Century – Political Condition
• During Rizal’s time,
there were widespread
calls for democracy in
the Philippines.
• Religions was used by
the Spaniards to justify
their malicious
behaviors.
 19th Century – Political Condition
• The church played a significant role in the
state’s proceedings, manipulating the
indigenous people to comply with the state’s
laws as it fits.
• The colonial government was primarily
interested in exploiting the countries’ natural
resources and labor.
• They used military force to quell for uprisings
and rebellion.
 19th Century – Political Condition
• It gave birth to reforms and nationalism that
flourished in the liberal atmosphere leading
to the Independence movement and the
death of Rizal.
• The cries for democracy during Rizal’s time
were a result of the long-standing injustices
and corruption of the Spanish Colonial
authorities.
 19th Century – Political Condition
• If Jose Rizal were born
today, would he still
become the Jose Rizal,
our national hero who
died as a martyr?
Performance Task #1
Reflection Paper on Eddie Romero’s Movie: “Ganito
Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon?”
Guide Questions:
1. Describe the 19th Century Philippines as reflected in
the film.
2. Based on your reading, what can you say about the
film’s representation of the 19th century?
3. What is the main question that the film seeks to
answer?
4. What is your personal understanding of and own
reflection on the film?
• Your reaction paper must be composed
of 3 paragraphs with 5 sentences each.
1st Paragraph – Introduction
2nd Paragraph – Body
3rd Paragraph – Conclusion/
Learning and Insight