Life and Society During the Nineteenth Century

The development in the 19th century brought about by the industrial revolution has definitely affected how the people viewed
the world. It paved the way for people to experience what they thought before as impossible (David, 1975). Their primeval thinking
was totally transformed (David, 1975; Drezner & Wolf, 2005). Example with this was the invention of steamships were people and
cargo can travel faster. Another important invention was electricity that made printing more efficient. This did not only usher the
increase of production in the factory and made the life of the workers much easier at home, but one of the exciting electrical inventions
was the battery which illuminated their houses and photographs of their memories and experiences were captured (David, 1975;
Drezner & Wolf, 2005). People then, became more energized and motivated to produce, explore and learn more than ever before.
Telegraphs were invented which made communication easier across the globe. Great Britain and France began to compete with Spain
in looking for the global market of their products. Chinese merchants too with the end of the monopoly of the galleon trade, connect
Asia with its transpacific silk route to Europe and the rest of the world. In short, 19th century as what was mentioned by Hart, E. (
2015), was known as the “ first era of the globalization of history” .
People’s connectivity then made time and space closer to Europe which was famous then as the center of knowledge. The
Manila-Acapulco trade route and later the opening of the world trade and commerce became instrumental in the spread of liberal
ideas for the Philippines(De Viana, 2011). It was in this period that the Suez Canal was built and opened, by Ferdinand de Lesseps in
1869 (Pudney, 1969; Schumacher, 2008). Through this canal, what was considered as the farthest Spanish colony as mentioned by
Arcilla (Arcilla, 2008) was made closer by cutting the travel time of three months to 30 days. With this development and the
international trade, many Filipinos were able to economically participate and enriched themselves. Like a domino effect, this led to
the rise of the middle class. Wealthy families were able to send their children to the best schools here and abroad which created an
avenue for the liberal ideas in Europe to seep in and made a social progress in the country. Spanish mestizos and natives rose to a
position of power and eventually became leaders in finance and education. Rizal was born in this period and other propagandists such
as Marcelo H. del Pilar and Graciano Lopez Jaena. It was a time of our country’s history that became an eye opener to democracy,
freedom and ideas of equality. Just like other race, the Indios deserved total respect and recognition . Racial discrimination was strong,
there was no equality before the law, government officials were corrupt and friars’ abuses was very much evident. Therefore, in the
Philippines, 19th century’s innovation and technology did not only bring about the rise of the middle class and the Illustrados, as
well as economic development. Eventually, these transformation became part of the shared experience which led to a positive
force that gradually brought about the emergence of a Filipino nation (Obias,et.al, 2018).

Comparative Descriptions of the Economic and Societal Conditions of Spain and the
Philippines.
Spain was considered as one of the superpowers before. It had many colonies outside Europe. But in the 19th century Spain’s
colonies such as those in South and Central America have won their independence through revolution like for instance, Mexico which
occupied almost half of the American continent. The Philippines was one of Spain’s remaining colonies. In terms of natural resources
and trade potential the Philippines was the richest (De Viana et al, 2011). This explain why, Philippines is known as the Singapore of
the 19th century.
That's why Spain at the brink of bankruptcy allowed the Philippine colony that was used to be forbidden to trade with other
countries due to its mercantilist policy opened to international trade. During this time the colonial government made significant
changes in their governance with the Philippine colony. Before there was a passport requirement within the colony to discourage the
natives to travel but with the opening of the Philippines to world trade, they abolished this passport requirements, new ports were
opened like Iloilo and Zamboanga, and they also built more farm to market roads to expedite the transport of good going to the
market. As there was the economic boom it led also to the emergence of a Filipino wealthy group or more known as middle class in
our history books. During this time, the economic power which was solely enjoyed by the Spaniards was taken away from them. (Obias
et. al,2018). Chinese mestizos turned Parian, Manila into a vibrant economy and made it a center of economic activities that connect
the trade route from Asia to Europe which contributed to the formation of Filipino nationality (Tan, 1986). The Spaniards tried to
assert still their dominance by virtue of their race while the middle class asserted and wanting to gain their place under the sun by
wanting to change the status quo (Agoncillo,1990). This friction eventually led to the creation of the reform movement and the clamor
that Philippines will become the province of Spain and must be represented in the Spanish Cortes. However, the motherland was
engrossed in her own problem and issues that it cannot attained to the clamor for change. Hence, the publication of the two famous
novels, the Noli Me Tangere and the El Filibusterismo. Exposing the social cancer, it awakened the national consciousness which
resulted to the founding the Katipunan that resulted eventually to the end of the 333 years of Spanish occupation in the Philippines.
The Chinese and Chinese Mestizos (Excerpt from Life and Works of Rizal by Obias,
et. Al)
The sectors that greatly benefited from the changing economy were the Chinese and the Chinese Mestizos. Since pre-colonial
times, the natives of the Philippines had had trade relations with Chinses. During the height of the Galleon Trade, it was also Chinses
products that comprised most the goods being traded. The influx of Chinese settlements in the Philippines made the Spaniards
suspicious of the Chinese. These feelings led to stringent states policies towards the sangley raging from higher taxes, the restriction of
movement with the establishment of the Chinese enclave (the Parian), to actual policies of expulsion.
The Chinese, however, proved to be “necessary outsiders” in Philippine colonial economy and society. Although the Spaniards
were wary of the Chinese, they realized the importance that the latter played in sustaining the economy. From the goods loaded on
the galleons to the development to retail trade, the Chinese enlivened the economy. Eventually and gradually, they became integrated
into colonial society, giving rise to intermarriages with indios that gave birth to Chinese meztizos. The Chinese mestizos assumed an
important role in the economy all throughout the Spanish colonial period. they influenced the changing economy in the nineteenth
century by purchasing land, accumulating wealth and influence.

Impact on Life in the Colony

The economic developments, as mentioned, precipitated social, political, and cultural developments as well. For example, the
new economy demanded a more literate population to address the raising need for a more professionalized workforce to man the
trading activities in Manila and other centers. This demand compelled the issuance of the colonial government order in 1836 that
required all town to set up primary schools to teach the population how to read and write. In 1863 that mandated free primary
education. Eventually, the nineteenth century also gave birth to many schools that addressed the growing demand for more
professionals. Schools like Ateneo Municipal were established during this time. The complex nature of the developing economy also
allowed the government to intensify bureaucratization and to streamline colonial governance.
 As Manila became a trading center, it became a viable destination for people seeking better opportunities or those wanting to
escape the worsening conditions in the farmlands. The increased rate of internal migration raised several concerns. One, people
flocked the centers of trade like Manila. Overcrowding implied issues in living quarters, sanitation and public health, and increase in
criminality. Two, the continuous movement of people made tax collection extra difficult. In order to mitigate these concerns, one
measure implemented was the 1894 decree to Governor-General Narciso Claveria that urged the people in the colony to adopt
surnames. With the catalogo de apellidos drawn up, the colonial government assigned surnames to people and forbade changing
names. Together with more policies like the resignation and possession of a cedula personal bearing one’s name and residence, the
colonial government sought to have a better surveillance mechanism. To help carry out policies better, the guardia civil was eventually
established. As the new economy afforded the colonial state new opportunities, it also prompted the state to be more regulatory and
to assert its authority.

Renegotiating Social Stratification

The Philippine society felt the impact of the developing economy. As a result, social relations underwent redefinitions and the
changing dynamics brought about a renegotiation of social stratification. With the growing relevance of the mestizo population, new
lines were drawn with the following social strata:
 Peninsular Pure-blooded Spaniards born in the Iberian Peninsula (Spain)

Insular Pure-blooded Spaniards born in the Philippines

Mestizo Born of mixed parentage, a mestizo can be:

Spanish mestizo- one parent is Spanish, the other is a native;
or
Chinese mestizo- one parent is Chinese, the other is a native

Principalia Wealthy pure-blooded native supposedly descended from

the kadatoan class

Indio Pure-blooded native in the Philippines

Chino infiel Non-Catholic pure-blooded Chinese

As the Spaniards lost economic power in the nineteenth century, they asserted dominance by virtue of their race. This issue
brought complications with the rising principalia and mestizo populations who realized their indispensable position in society as
movers and facilitators of the economy. The renegotiation continued throughout the century as the mestizos and principalia elite
eventually demanded social recognition that the pure-blooded Spaniards had consistently denied them.
These wealthy mestizos and members of the principalia continued to amass economic and cultural capital. They also availed
themselves of the opportunity to obtain higher degrees of education not only in the Philippines but also in Europe. These activities
augmented their relevance in society as it was from these ranks that articulation of nationalism would emerge.
Guide Questions
1. How did the political, social and economic environment in 19th century molded the principles and beliefs of Jose Rizal?
2. What is the role of the Chinese mestizos?
3. In the present, how 19th century Philippines can be related?

References:

Agoncillo, T.A. (1990). A History of the Filipino People. GP Press.

Anderson, B. (2006). Imagined communities: Reflections on the origin and spread of nationalism. Verso Books.
Arcilla, J.S. (2008). An Introduction to Philippine History. Ateneo De Manila University Press.
David, P. A. (1975). Technical choice innovation and economic growth: essays on American and British experience in the nineteenth
century. Cambridge University Press.
De Viana, A.V. et al. (2011). Jose Rizal: Social Reformer and Patriot. Rex Bookstore.
De Viana, A.V. (2011). The Philippines: A Story of a Nation. Rex Bookstore.
Drezner, D. W., & Wolf, M. (2005). Why Globalization Works. International Journal, 60(2), 586. doi:10.2307/40204315
Obias, R.W. et al. (2018). The Life and Works of Jose Rizal. C&E Publishing, Inc.
Pudney, J. (1969). Suez; De Lesseps' Canal. Praeger.

Tan, A. S. (1986). The Chinese mestizos and the formation of the Filipino nationality. Archipel, 32(1), 141-162.