The Coming of the Spaniards

The Coming of the SpaniardsPhilippine History with Politics and Governance

The Treaty of Tordesillas (1494)The Magellan expedition had to sail westward in going to the East

The Coming of Magellan ExpeditionThe so-called First Catholic Mass in LimasawaThe initial conversion of the natives to Catholicism in CebuThe Battle of Mactan and its significanceThe aftermath

The Coming of Magellan Expedition

C:/Users/Yvan/Music/Magellan_Elcano_Circumnavigation-en.svg

The Treaty of Zaragosa (1529)It clearly implied which colonial power owned the archipelago

The Legazpi Expedition (1565)The pacification campaignsMissionaries and their activitiesSuccessfully established settlement in Cebu, Panay, and Manila

The Pacification And Exploitation Of The Filipinos By The Spaniards

Causes of Subjugation

Military might of the SpaniardsSpanish conquistadores were mostly experienced soldiers and had superior arms vis-a-vis the nativesthey wore helmets and body armor

Policy of attractionExempting the local chiefs from tributes and the poloThey bribed the Filipinos by giving them giftsConcluded blood compacts with the native rulers. (Magellan and Kulambo in Limasawa, 1521 and with Humabon in Cebu the following days)Legazpi had a blood compact with Urrao of Samar and Katuna and Gala of Bohol in 1565

The method of divide and conquerIt proved to be effective since the natives lived in fragmented autonomous barangaysThey realized Filipinos were not unitedBefriended certain groups of Filipinos and used them in subjugating other natives

Crucial role of ChristianityColonization of the Philippines was viewed as the conquest of the sword and the crossMissionaries were proved to be effective colonizers when they converted first the native chiefs and family members to the Catholic faith. The follow the leader syndrome did the rest.

Crucial role of ChristianityConverted natives became fanaticsBlind obedience became associated with the promise of salvation and of protection from the hostile elements.Filipinos began to practice a syncretic blend of religion that is presently referred to as Folk Christianity. The friars allowed the native to go on with some folk beliefs and practices like sacrificial offering, use of incense and so on.

Lack of Unity among FilipinosEarly settlements and communities lacked contacts and meaningful relationship except for occasional trade exchanges.Some barangays warred with each otherDifferences were noted between the Islamized inhabitants of Mindanao and Sulu, and the animistic people of Luzon and the VisayasNo common medium of communication or lingua francaNational sentiment was non-existent

Filipino hospitalityNatives hospitable attitude was indicative f their familiarity with other groups of people (generally traders) coming from outside the archipelagoThe Filipinos sense of hospitality may also explain the acceptance of the Catholic religion

The Reduccion and Plaza ComplexChristianized natives were required to put up their dwellings in a particular area where they could be within hearing distance of the church bells (bajo de la campana)

The Reduccion and Plaza ComplexRefusal to be under Spanish-controlled area were referred to as remontados, cimarrones, ladrones, monteses, or tulisanesThe plaza also became witness to injustices, oppression, and exploitation suffered by the Filipinos

Instruments of Exploitation and Control

The Encomienda systemEncomienda from the word encomendar which means to entrust or to assign responsibility to a person.

A certain area of land with its inhabitants was assigned to a particular Spaniard who was given the responsibility to collect tribute and to utilize the people in government and church projects

The Encomienda systemBecame source of abuse and corruptionThe native who were unable to pay tribute were force to flee mountainsIf theres plenty of gold and money (reales) was scare, the encomendero collect money and vice versa. If the harvest was bountiful, the encomendero collected the products

Imposition of taxes

Imposition of taxes

Imposition of taxesSpecial tax (1635 19th century) real or rice called samboangan or donativo de Zamboanga was imposed to suppress the Moro attacksVinta (1781-1851) to adequately prepare the vintas in defense of coastal areas from Moro piratesTribute was replaced in 1884 by cedula personal

Purpose was to create projects for self-enrichment which began in 1580Native Indios and mestizos from 16-60 years old were to work for 40 days a year and was reduced to 15 days a year in 1884.They worked in construction of buildings, mines, forests, ships as rowers.Exemption was through the payment of a falla (1 real every day for 40 days)

Polo y servicios

Polo y serviciosLed to decline of communities and agricultural production suffered which resulted in starvation and death and separation of familiesIt was a source of corruptionNatives were also arbitrarily conscripted to serve the military

The role of the traditional leaderTraditional leaders were assigned to implement tribute, polo, and bandalaIt brought a wide cleavage between the traditional leaders and the people, politically and economically.

Manila-Acapulco TradeThrough Galleon de Manila or Nao de China, it was the only vessel that linked the Philippines and the Americas.It established monopoly where only the governor-general, Spanish traders, those with consular duties and rights, Spaniards in Manila, and religious orders benefitted the trade.Natives suffered from manning the galleons as sailors and rowers

Manila-Acapulco Trade

Other government monopoliesGovernor-General Jose Basco (1778-1789) started the monopoly on a number of products:Tobacco (1781) and wine, (1786) which adversely affected the Ilocanos

Other government monopoliesThe cultivation and marketing of tobaccos was put under the supervision and control of the SpaniardsPayment for tobacco and other products was usually in the form of promissory note and should be exchanged at high discounts

Other government monopoliesNatives were victims of dishonesty and cheating of agents of the governmentMonopoly of bandala, which involved the forced sellinng of requisitioned products most especially palay, tobacco, and coconut oil

Filipino Responses to Spanish Rule

The initial resistance and subsequent subjugation of lowland communitiesLack of understanding of the natives made it difficult for them to wage an effective resistance against the Spanish invadersEffectively controlled areas became centers of population.Outlying territories were free up to the middle of 18th century

The opposition of the Moros

The successful avoidance of ethnic communitiesSome groups fled to upland areas and increased though time who became known later as the cultural minorityThey were able to preserve their culture

Thank You!!