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    Barangays and Gobernadorcillos

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    Reena Quizon
    The middle class in Hispanic Philippines was composed of three main groups: Spanish mestizos, Chinese mestizos, and the principalia. The principalia were descendants of local leaders who held positions of power under Spanish rule. They had certain privileges over common Filipinos including titles, positions in church, and owning land. Educational reforms in the late 1800s helped improve standards of living and allowed more opportunities for social mobility. This led to the emergence of the Ilustrados, a new class of educated elites that promoted nationalist ideas and challenged Spanish rule.

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    Barangays and Gobernadorcillos

    Uploaded by

    Reena Quizon
    102 views4 pages
    The middle class in Hispanic Philippines was composed of three main groups: Spanish mestizos, Chinese mestizos, and the principalia. The principalia were descendants of local leaders who held positions of power under Spanish rule. They had certain privileges over common Filipinos including titles, positions in church, and owning land. Educational reforms in the late 1800s helped improve standards of living and allowed more opportunities for social mobility. This led to the emergence of the Ilustrados, a new class of educated elites that promoted nationalist ideas and challenged Spanish rule.

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    Filipino Middle Class during Hispanic Period

    Original Title

    Middle Class

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    The middle class in Hispanic Philippines was composed of three main groups: Spanish mestizos, Chinese mestizos, and the principalia. The principalia were descendants of local leaders who held positions of power under Spanish rule. They had certain privileges over common Filipinos including titles, positions in church, and owning land. Educational reforms in the late 1800s helped improve standards of living and allowed more opportunities for social mobility. This led to the emergence of the Ilustrados, a new class of educated elites that promoted nationalist ideas and challenged Spanish rule.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    102 views4 pages

    Barangays and Gobernadorcillos

    Uploaded by

    Reena Quizon
    The middle class in Hispanic Philippines was composed of three main groups: Spanish mestizos, Chinese mestizos, and the principalia. The principalia were descendants of local leaders who held positions of power under Spanish rule. They had certain privileges over common Filipinos including titles, positions in church, and owning land. Educational reforms in the late 1800s helped improve standards of living and allowed more opportunities for social mobility. This led to the emergence of the Ilustrados, a new class of educated elites that promoted nationalist ideas and challenged Spanish rule.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 4

    T

    he middle class in Hispanic Philippines was composed of three major groups: the
    Spanish mestizos, the Chinese mestizos, and the principalia. Mestizos were from
    mixed marriages of Filipinos with the Spanish or the Chinese . The principalia were

    known to be those whose lineages were under the former datus, who became the cabeza de
    barangays and gobernadorcillos. Despite their native ancestries, they were also known to exude
    certain privileges over their lesser natives.
    The Spanish rule focused on a centralized government. Being on the lowest rung of the
    hierarchy of power, those who were elected cabeza de barangay or gobernadorcillo were in
    charge of the trivial duties for their respective barangays and pueblos. As intermediaries
    between the Spanish officials and the natives, they were in charge of harnessing manpower for
    the military and forced labor. Additionally, they were coordinators alongside parish priests during
    religious festivities. They also collected taxes. Their duties granted them and their family
    members exemptions from the forced labor imposed upon everyone else.
    Being a part of nobility, the principalia had certain titles affixed when they being
    addressed to, such as "Don" or "Donya". They had special positions in seating arrangements
    during Holy Masses. Moreover, they wore certain articles of clothing that signified their slightly
    higher position in the society. The prinicipalia lived in well-furnished homes as well. Their
    affluence extended to the economic level; they owned more or less several tracts of land . They
    also engaged in the Galleon Trade.
    The rise of the middle class began with the spread of liberal ideals . The opening of the
    ports of Manila to world trade in 1834 (and mainly by the Suez Canal in 1869) paved the way for
    new philosophies to circulate among our countrymen. Notable among these ideals where those
    from the French Revolution and the sentiments of philosopher Jean Jacques Rosseau . Liberal
    thinking was also supported by Governor-General Carlos Maria de la Torre . His reign during
    1873-1874 accommodated more aspirations from the natives, albeit short-lived.
    Educational reforms were a great contributing factor to the improvement among the
    principalia. In an attempt to raise the living standards of the natives and expedite the spread of

    Christianity, compulsory yet free primary education was given to the poor . There were also
    establishments of colleges for natives who wanted to pursue higher education; for the freedom
    to choose a better profession, such as civil service . Those who graduated from primary school
    were also exempted from forced labor. However, it should be noted that despite these reforms,
    racial prejudice and discrimination were rampant against the natives who attended classes.
    They were usually the objects of humiliation by the friars who taught them, as well as their
    Spanish classmates. Spanish blood remained to be considered superior.
    Besides primary and higher education, there were middleclass-men who managed to
    rise higher above their situation. The economic affluence of the families from the middle class
    enabled them to send their children abroad, for the purpose of furthering their studies and to
    practice their respective professions. Thus, this increased their immersion to liberal thinking .
    Subsequently, they came to be known as the Ilustrados, a class of educated elites. Granted with
    a greater sense of freedom in a foreign country, they were able to express their opinions and
    assertions better verbally. One such assertion is the assimilation of Philippines as a Spanish
    province, elevating Filipino natives to be equals of the Spaniards under the law.
    The emergence of the Ilustrado subclass among the principalia contributed greatly to the
    influx of the spirit of nationalism among Filipino natives. Several of their works, such as Rizal's
    famous Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, aroused the national consciousness among the
    natives. Despite the looming sense of increased oppression, nationalist movements were soon
    created in his wake.

    References:
    Asianjournalusa.com,. (2009). ASIAN JOURNAL a San Diego original. The 1st Asian Journal in
    Ca,USA. A Filipino American weekly. Online | Digital | Print Editions.. Retrieved 22 February
    2015, from http://asianjournalusa.com/an-unauthorized-history-of-the-philippines-p8282-113.htm
    Asj.upd.edu.ph,. (2015). Retrieved 22 February 2015, from
    http://asj.upd.edu.ph/mediabox/archive/ASJ-15-1977/majul-ilustrados-principales-filipinonation.pdf
    Slideshare.net,. (2015). Nationalism. Retrieved 22 February 2015, from
    http://www.slideshare.net/corpuz/nationalism-24889075
    Sspxasia.com,. (2015). Liberalism in the Philippines. Retrieved 22 February 2015, from
    http://www.sspxasia.com/Newsletters/2002/Jan-Mar/Liberalism_in_the_Philippines.htm
    The Kahimyang Project,. (2015). The Suez Canal opened paved way for direct relations with
    Spain November 17, 1869. Retrieved 22 February 2015, from
    http://kahimyang.info/kauswagan/articles/756/today-in-philippine-history-november-17-1869-thesuez-canal-in-egypt-opened-paving-way-for-the-philippines-direct-commercial-relations-withspain

    In Hispanic Philippines:
    Rise of the Filipino Middle Class

    Submitted by:
    Quizon, Maria Reena I.
    2012-01404
    Submitted to:
    Maam Ma. Angustia Veluz
    Philippine Institutions 100
    February 28, 2015

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