Spanish Colonization
Lead Image from Google.
Under these conditions, the Spaniards ruled the Philippines for 300 years, constantly harassed by Chinese pirates, Moros (Mohammedans from Mindanao and Sulu), Dutch and English who wanted to take possession of the Islands, and finally by native revolts. When European traders stumbled into the Philippine archipelago in 1521 in search of a new route to the Spice Islands, they discovered a people living in a relatively high state of civilization. The natives lived in houses made of bamboo and palm leaves and were always well-dressed. They grew rice, which was their staple food, fished the vast waters around them, and brewed a variety of drinks, which they enjoyed. Women held a high social status; tribal laws and customs recognized her equality with men in many ways. In general, people practiced monogamy. Their actions were governed by legal codes.
Punishments of varying severity were meted out to perpetrators whose offenses were tried in public courts presided over by the chiefs. Several languages were spoken back then, as they are now, but there was one common alphabet called babaying, which resembled the ancient Indian alphabet. In their writings about the early Filipinos, Spanish historians asserted that there was hardly a man or woman who could not read and write. There was both written and oral literature.
Such was the state of Filipino culture when Ferdinand Magellan arrived in the Philippines in 1521 as the leader of a Spanish expedition searching for the Spice Islands. Magellan never finished the journey; he was killed in a clash with natives after claiming the Philippines for Spain. The actual work of colonization began in 1565, when Miguel Lopez de Legazpi signed friendship treaties with the native chiefs. Then he went on to establish a Spanish town on Cebu Island in order to convert the locals to Roman Catholicism.
The primary goal of Spain in the Philippines was to spread their religion. Thousands of Catholic missionaries from various orders came to the Philippines for this purpose. The contribution of this mission work to the advancement of education, culture, and architecture in general was enormous, though the friars came to be regarded as opponents of popular enlightenment in later years. It was also at this time that Spanish missionaries attempted to eradicate the Filipinos' ancient written literature. However, the most significant legacy of Spain to the Philippines is Roman Catholicism, which the people readily accepted from the start. The missionary zeal to make the country a Catholic outpost despite the fact that the Philippines was a financial liability as a colony (even with unrelenting exploitation). Whether this is true or not, historians appear to agree that the cross, not the sword, was used to conquer the Filipinos. With the growing influence of the Catholic Church in the Philippines, a power struggle between religious and civil authorities erupted, which harmed Filipinos. Each side accused the other side of oppressing the people. During the conflict, the nation's progress was slowed because the Spaniards spent so much time and energy fighting among themselves rather than governing. The encomienda system, which was a major source of abuse, was not abolished until the end of the 18th century.
The Spanish king granted the colonizers pieces of territory, complete with inhabitants and resources, as a reward for services to the Crown under this system. The encomenderos ruled like feudal lords of Medieval Europe, exploiting their territories to the fullest extent possible. They mistreated, overtaxed, cheated, and effectively enslaved the Filipinos. The few priests who attempted to defend the people were rendered powerless, and the elaborate laws enacted to protect the subjects were openly flouted. Even after the encomienda system was abolished, corrupt Spanish officials continued to exploit the people, who were still forced to work and pay high tribute. The feudal economy persisted, with land concentrated in the hands of a few people and the Church itself. Attempts at reform by sympathetic Spanish officials were quickly thwarted by powerful figures with their own interests to protect.
Poverty was widespread among the masses as the country's population grew; mendicancy, which had been unknown prior to the arrival of the Spaniards, was common. The beggar at the church gate or on a busy street corner, as well as the blind mendicant begging from house to house, became common sights. Under these conditions, the Spaniards ruled the Philippines for 300 years, constantly harassed by Chinese pirates, Moros (Mohammedans from Mindanao and Sulu), Dutch and English who wanted to take possession of the Islands, and finally by native revolts.
For 333 years, the Spaniards ruled the Philippines. There is no unity, no proper government, and tribes are divided. These are some of the reasons why the Spanish conquered our land so easily. As a result, we adapted their culture, traditions, and even their languages, which we still use today. The Spanish took advantage of the Philippines' already divided people and easily dominated them. When a Filipino tribe planned a revolution, the Spanish would send another group of Filipino tribes to conquer their fellow Filipinos, creating even more division. We would not have our religion, Christianity, today if the Spaniards had not colonized our country.
We all know that they were the ones who presented our current religion, even if they had to force it on the Filipinos at first, but we adapted and remained devoted with our strong faith. Because of their power, the Spaniards became abusive to the Indios, against whom they discriminated in their own country.
As a result, the Filipinos stage a revolution. The Spanish demonstrated their technological prowess and ability to handle a war. My perspective on Spanish colonization has far-reaching implications for all of us. It left an imprint on our minds of their mistreatment as well as their significant contribution to us. I believe that if we Filipinos have the wisdom to see what is in our beautiful land of promise, our country will not be colonized. The abundance of natural resources that we have, particularly the unique beauty of our country.
Sometimes I wondered, "What if we had this awareness and knowledge before?" Is this how we are? Are we enslaved in our own land? Slave is a difficult word to say, but it's the truth for me. As far as I can tell, our generation is still enslaved in our own country. Slave is a difficult word to say, but it's the truth for me. As far as I can tell, our generation is still enslaved in our own country. Other nationalities pretended to be our superiors. No one should be the boss, but we Filipinos should be the bosses of our own land. When the Spaniards arrived, they were the first to reap the benefits of our natural resources.
Many of our ancestors' cultures and traditions have been destroyed as a result of the influences they have exerted. But perhaps there are some things for which we should be grateful. These aspects of life were jeopardized, and Filipinos began to retaliate. Spaniards saw Filipinos as slaves or peasants, not as siblings whom they should love and respect.
They altered our system of government, and they became rulers who manhandled, abused, and attacked Filipinos, particularly women and children. I can categorize the rebellions that occurred during Spanish expansionism into three types: individual, political, and religious rebellions. Because man is endowed with body and soul, insight and will, reason and volition, he or she cannot be bound and persecuted in the exercise of his or her natural right and nobility as a man. The right to life, the right to religious freedom, and the right to participate in politics.
