Philippine History: The Campaign for Reforms

Reform Movement – a movement brought by the unjust execution of the three

Filipino priests, Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora and the crave
of the middle classes for a more secure position in the social pyramid

The Role of the Middle Class

Middle class – Spanish and Chinese mestizos and the insulares

3 social classes of Spanish perod:

1. peninsulares – Spaniards born in spain
2. Insulares – Spaniards born in the Philippines
3. Indios – natives or indigenous people

*1869 -Gen. Carlos Maria de la Torre a very down to earth person became
governor who they saw as an ally
*July 12, 1869 – they marched and serenade him
*1872-1882 – the Filipino inteligenstia (a segment of middle class) took over the
leadership from the wealthy sector

The Nature of the Reform Movement

The movement has no clamor for independence it only aims for the assimilation
of the Philippines to Spain (to make the Philippines a province of Spain) so that
the Filipinos:
* would become Spanish citizens
*would be represented in the Spanish Cortes to be able to participate in the
making of laws that may benefit the country.
And that goal has to be attained by peaceful means—using the power of words.

The Great Reformist

Graciano Lopez Jaena – born in Jaro Ilo-ilo, on December 17,1856 son of

Placido Lopez and Maria Jacobo Jaena
Studied at Seminary of Jaro and Enrolled in medicine at University of Valencia
Author of a Fray Botod – a tale that deals with the ignorance, abuses and
immorality of a certain friar named Botod (the average friar of the period)
1880- he secretly left for Spain because he found himself object to manhunt
*1882- he delivered a speech during the International Congress of Industrial
Geography in defense of the Filipinos
*February 15, 1889 became an Editor at the first circulation of La Solidaridad
*January 20 1896 – He died of tuberculosis
Marcelo H. del Pilar
Born in Barrio Kupang, Bulakan, Bulakan on August 30, 1850 son of Julian
H. Del Pilar and Blasa Gatmaitan
*the political analyst of the Filipino colony in Spain
Studied at College of San Jose and at University of Sto. Tomas where he
finished his law course in 1880
*1880-he began to campaign at the plazas , cockpits, and small tiendas
preaching the gospel of work, self respect and dignity
*1882 – founded Diariong Tagalog
*1888- he wrote the pamphlet "Kaiigat Kayo" in defense of Rizal and his Noli Me
Tangere which is then attacked savagely by Fr. Rodriguez Pamphlet ``Caiingat
Cayo” using the pen name Dolores Manapat. He also wrote some parodies
namely; “Dasalan at Toksohan”, “Amain Namin” and the ten Commandments of
the Friars
*October 1888 – he left for Spain
*December 1889 – took over the editorship of La Solidaridad
*July 4, 1896 – he died

Jose Rizal
Born in Calamba Laguna on June 9 1861 to Francisco Mercado and
Teodora Alonzo.
Wrote the poem “Sa Aking Mga Kababata” at the age of eight
Enrolled at Ateneo Municipal and at a time at University of Sto. Tomas
1882- he left for Spain at the age of 21
Enrolled at medicine and gain knowledges on other curriculum and mastered
languages like French and German
He finished Noli Me Tangere at the age of 26 which gained popularity but the
Spanish authorities prohibited its reading
1889 - He publishes La Vision de Fr. Rodriguez , a satire in which he exposed
the ignorance of Fr. Jose Rodriguez who was then attacking his novel by issuing
the pamphlet “Caingat Cayo” which warned the Filipinos against reading the Noli
1891-he finished El Filibusterismo
He returned to the Philippines in 1887 and in 1892 for the second time
July 7, 1892 – his banishment to Dapitan was announced officially
He was placed under arrest before the ship could dock in Barcelona in his way to
Cuba where he enlisted as a Military Doctor and was sentenced to die by
musketry
December 30, 1896 he was shot to death

La Solidaridad
A news paper that rises as an answer to the needs of bringing to the attention of
the Peninsular Spaniards the so-called Philippine problem
*February 15, 1889 – the first number came out in Barcelona with Lopez Jaena
as Editor
*December 1889 – M. H. del Pilar took over the editorship

The aims of La Solidaridad

*During Jaenas editorship
To combat reaction, to stop all retrogressive steps, to extol and adopt liberal
ideas, to defend progress and to be a propagandist of democratic ideas
*under Del Pilars editorship
the aims of the sol was expanded to include: the removal of the friars and
secularization, active participation in the affairs of government, freedom of
speech of the press and the assembly,a wider social and political freedom,
equality before the law, assimilation and the representation in the Spanish Cortes
Pen names used by the reformist:
*Rizal- Dimas Alang and Laong Laan; Mariano Ponce-tikbalang,Naning and
Kalipulako; M.H. del Pilar as Plaridel; Jose Ma. Panganiban as Jomapa
In its six years of existence the Sol represented the ideals of the Filipino reformist
group and succeeded in exposing the evil in the Filipino Society.

The Hispano-Filipino Association

*January 12, 1889 An association composed of Spaniards and Filipinos who
favored in granting the reform in the colony was inaugurated in Madrid.
Their campaigns resulted in the passage of law in the Cortes which would have
been of benefit to the Filipino if it had been carried out
*1893 – the society secure the passage of Maura Law, a law for the compulsory
teaching of Spanish and initiation of reforms in the judiciary
*February 21 1895- representative Emilio Junoy presented a petition in the
Cortes that urged no less than 52 towns to favor parliamentary representation of
the Philippines

The Role of Freemasonry

*April 1 1889- G. Lopez Jaena established the Masonic lodge revolucion in
Barcelona
*1890- the lodgeLa Solidaridad was established in Madrid
Pedro Serrano Laktaw and Antonio Luna established Masonic Lodges in the
Philippines:
*Nilad- was established on January 6, 1891
*Walana
And some other 33 lodges.
It became the focus of propaganda activities and became responsible in the
maintenance of unity it also served as a pattern for the methods and organization
of the Katipunan because Andress Bonifacio was a Mason
La Liga Filipina Founded By Rizal on July 3, 1892 at a house in Tondo.
It aims to unite the archipelago into one compact, vigorous, and homogenous
body; for mutual protection of every want and necessity,;defence against all
violence and injustice; encouragement of instruction, agriculture and commerce;
study and application of reforms. All this aims are to be carried out through the
creation of governing body composed of the Supreme Council, Provincial Council
and Popular Council.