THE DEVELOPMENT OF FILIPINO NATIONALISM

Introduction:

In the history of Philippines, the birth of nationalism went rather slowly due to topography, language
problems, and colonial policy. Nationalism is not a product of a sudden outburst of sentiment. It is
brought about by certain factors that gradually develop. It is like a seed nourished by common ideals
and aspiration for national unity.

Nationalism – is a belief, creed, or political ideology that involves an individual identifying with, or
becoming attached to, one’s nation

Factors that contributed to the birth of Filipino Nationalism:

1. The opening of the Philippines to the international or world trade

The Suez Canal and the Filipinos – the opening of Suez Canal to world shipping in 1869 stimulated
Philippine progress. This canal is 103 miles long, and connects the Mediterranean with the Gulf of Suez
and hence with the Red Sea and Indian Ocean. On this day in 1869, the Suez Canal opened. The canal
enabled the Philippines to have direct commercial relations with Spain instead of through Mexico (via
the galleon trade) and, with the shorter travel time to Spain, enabled more Filipinos to study in Europe.

2. The rise of the Middle Class

Middle Class – the natives, Mestizos, creoles began growing discontent the way the upper class was
running the country.

Indio - The Malayan, native born inhabitants of the Philippine islands

creoles – may lahing Espanyol
Peninsulares – individuals born in Spain (positions in government??)
Insulares – lahing Espanyol but born in Philippines (land owners)

3. The secularization controversy

- Can be traced back from the year 1567
 - In 1768, parishes were given to unprepared native seculars (Filipino priests who do not
belong to a religious order)
- By 1859, parishes were desecularized and were given back to regular priests (Spanish priests
belonging to religious orders)
- Filipino priests opposed Spanish friar abuses and agitated for reforms

On February 17, 1872, three priests: Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora were killed in
Bagumbayan on charges of leading a mutiny of arsenal workers in Cavite with the aim of overthrowing
the colonial government. The three priests were not involved in the mutiny; they hardly even knew each
other. What they were, however, were prominent figures in the secularization movement, which
wanted to take Church power away from the colonial Spanish and give natives Filipinos increased roles
in Church affairs.

4. The influx of Liberal ideas from Europe

- When Spain opened the Philippines to world trade, liberal ideas filtered in
- Liberal political filtered in from Europe (ideas of Montesquieu, Rousseau, Voltaire, Locke
and Jefferson)
- Transformation of the Philippines economy into a raw material market for Europe increased
their contact with the intellectual tradition of the west

NATIONALISTIC PERIOD (1864 – 1896)

- Refers to a time when Filipino writers began expressing a strong sense of national identity
and patriotism

Historical Background:

 The emergence of the “principalia” paved the way to the rise of the intellectual indios
called “Ilustrados”.

 The sons of these middle class indios were able to study abroad and gain knowledge on other
countries, ideas and concepts of freedom, equality and democracy.

 They, in turn, looked back at the deplorable condition of the Philippines and sought for much
needed reforms and improvements.

Historical Context

 It was a period of social awakening and resistance against foreign domination

Characteristics

1. Planted seeds of nationalism in Filipinos

2. Language shifted from Spanish to Tagalog
3. Addressed the masses instead of the “intelligentsia” (intellectuals who form an artistic,
social, or political vanguard or elite
Principalia

- the social and educated class in the towns of colonial Philippines composed of the
Gobernadorcillo (Town Mayor), or the Cabeza de Barangay (Chief of the Barangay) who
governed the districts and the awardees of the medal of Civil Merit.
- Exempted from forced labor during the colonial period
- Were allowed to vote, be elected to public office and be addressed by the title: Don/Dona
- Given certain roles in the Church, such as assisting the priest in pastoral and religious
activities

Ilustrados (The Enlightened Ones)

- Filipino upper class and were able to study in Europe

Propaganda Movement

- Peaceful crusade or campaign for reforms

- It was organized and participated by the illustrados
- Dr. Jose Rizal, Marcelo H. del Pilar and Graciano Lopez Jaena are the leaders of the said
movement
- Period of Philippine history and literature when the “Ilustrados” (intellectual indios) started
calling for reforms, equality and improvement which lasted approximately from 1868 to
1898 although most pf their activities happened between 1880-1895
- Spearheaded mostly by the intellectual middle-class like Rizal, del Pilar, Lopez-Jaena, Ponce
and among others. There were also other writers and persons who, through peaceful
means, advocated for reforms such as:
4. To get equal treatment for the Filipinos and the Spaniards under the law
5. To make the Philippines a province of Spain
6. To restore Filipino representation in the Spanish Cortes
7. To “Filipinize” the parishes
8. To give the Filipinos freedom of speech, of the press, assembly and for redress of
grievances

Objectives

1. Equality of Filipinos and Spaniards before the law

2. Assimilation of the Philippines as a regular province of Spain
3. Restoration of Philippine representation in Spanish Cortes
4. Filipinization or secularization of Philippine parishes
5. Individual liberties for the Filipino people, such as freedom of speech, freedom of press, and
freedom of redress of grievances

Propagandists

- Were patriots who waged their movement by means of pen and tongue to expose the
defects of Spanish rule in the Philippines and urgency of reforms to remedy them
- They were the scions of good families, highly intelligent, educated, patriotic and courageous,
who symbolized the flower of Filipino manhood
Stalwarts: Jose Rizal, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Graciano Lopez Jaena, Antonio Luna, Mariano Ponce, Pedro
Paterno, Jose Ma. Panganiban

Literary Societies: La Liga Filipina and La Solidaridad

- Provided platforms for writers to express their nationalist views. They published articles,
essays, and literary works that aimed to promote a sense of pride in Filipino culture and
heritage.

La Liga Filipina (Philippine League)

- Organized by Jose Rizal upon his return in the Philippines in July 1892
- Sought to involve the people directly in the reform movement
- Andres Bonifacio became one of the founders
- The primary aim was to unite the whole archipelago into one compact, vigorous, and
homogenous body
- It was considered dangerous by the Spanish authorities and Rizal was arrested on July 6,
1992
- However, 3 days after the founding of La Liga Filipina, Rizal was arrested by order of
Governor General Despujol
- On July 6, 1892, Rizal was exiled to Dapitan known to be La Liga Filipina’s collapse
- Motto: “Unus Instar Omnium” “One Like All”

La Solidaridad (Organ of the Propaganda Movement)

- A newspaper founded by Graciano Lopez Jaena in Barcelona on February 15, 1889

- Was created due to the reality that mass media is important in propagating the Propaganda
objectives
- Was established to express the goal of the Propaganda Movement towards achieving
assimilation with Spain
- A fortnightly and bi-weekly newspaper
- Serves as the principal organ of the Reform Movement in Spain
- February 15, 1889 is the first issue to combat all reaction

Propaganda Literature

- Written documents with peaceful means and words

 Political essays – talks about the news articles (newspapers), editorials, or any
written which exposes the anomalies of the Spanish government.
 Diyaryong Tagalog – first native daily newspaper founded by Marcelo H. del
Pilar in 1882. This bilingual, Tagalog and Spanish newspaper existed only
from three to five months. It was the first daily published in the Tagalog
text, where the Spanish maladministration of the Philippines were publicly
denounced.
 La Solidaridad – was the name of the all Filipino organization established by
the ilustrados of Barcelona on 13 December 1888. Which sought to create
 Filipino representation in the Spanish Cortes, abolition of censorship of the
press and prohibition of the practice of deporting citizens merely through
administrative orders. It was founded on February 15, 1889 and existed up
to November 15, 1895
 Political Novels – used to describe the Spanish government in the Philippines
 Noli me Tangere – a Latin word which means “Touch me not” which was
mentioned in the bible in the book of St. John the Baptist. Rizal described
the Spaniards as a disgrace which provided more hardships to the life of the
Filipinos. The detailed story about the suffering of his countrymen were
meant to awaken the Filipinos to the truth that was adversely affecting the
society and which had not been talked about by the people most probably
due to fear with the ruling Spaniards
 El filibusterismo – continuation of Noli me tangere, meaning “the reign of
the greed”. Was written about four years after noli; in it rizal reveals a more
mature and less hopeful outlook regarding the political and social situation
in the Philippines. The novel, along with its predecessor, were banned in
some parts of the Philippines as a result of their portrayals of the Spanish
government’s abuse and corruption. These novels, along with rizal’s
involvement in organizations that aim to address and reform the Spanish
system and its issues led to Rizal’s exile to Dapitan and eventual execution.

Revolutionary Literature

- Risky written papers which is a direct attack to the Spanish government

 Political essay
 Kalayaan – the newspaper of the Katipunan after diyaryong tagalog.
Katipunan’s newsletter was formed and distributed during the late 1800s to
stir the masses’ yearning for freedom. The katipuneros distributed copies
throughout the Philippine provinces to inform the masses on their cause
and to let them know how they can help the country. Through this
advocacy, Katipunan inevitably grew its rank as a reputable organization
fighting for the country’s freedom
 True Decalogue – a code of good citizenship and moral conduct written by
Apolinario Mabini. On June 24 1898 Apolinario Mabini printed a pamphlet
that contained the documents The True Decalogue and The Constitutional
Program of the Philippine Republic, that form the basic documentation of
the programs pertinent to the revolutionary government being established
by the revolutionary government of Aguinaldo, in order for the people, in
Mabini’s words, to understand that reason and your conscience constitute
the only solid and true basis of your moral education, in the same way that
honest work is the real basis for your material education (Palma 1941, 41)
Mabini continued by stating that that was contained in the documents were
his proposals for the internal revolution for the people to adopt as their
moral and behavioral guide, and for the external revolution for the
revolutionary government to espouse as the framework of governance.
  Political Poems
 Liwanag at Dilim – written by Emilio Jacinto to awaken the Filipinos in the
status of the country. The them of the work is well expressed in the title, for
it is an effort, analogous to that which inspired so many of Rizal’s writings,
to help his people, especially the “Anak ng Bayan” t distinguish the true
values of Filipinos represented by light, from the false ones of darkness.
Ito’y Katipunan ng mga sanaysay na may iba’t ibang pagksatulad ng mga
sumusunod: ang ningning at ang liwanag, ang tao’y magkakapantay,
Kalayaan, ang pag-ibig, ang bayan at ang mga pinuno, ang gumawa, ang
maling pananampalataya
 Katapusang Hibik ng Pilipinas – a call by Andres Bonifacio to separate from
the Spaniards (apparently written in response to the poems “Hibik ng
pilipinas sa inang espanya” by Hermenegildo Flores and “Sagot ng espanya
sa hibik ng pilipinas” by Marcelo H. del Pilar), and the immortal “Pag-ibig sa
Tinubuang Bayan” some of the lines of which would be set to music more
than 70 years later by Luis Salvador Jorque and repeatedly performed in
rallies and militant cultural presentations. His pen was also responsible for
“Katungkulang Gagawin ng mga Anak ng Bayan” a code of conduct for
Katipuneros, and “Ang Dapat Mabatid ng nga Tagalog” an essay which,
though short, relates quite lucidly the hardships of the Philippines under
Spanish colonial rule calls upon the Filipino people to rise against
oppression.
Sumikat na, ina sa sinisilangan
Ang araw ng poot ng katagalugan
Tatlong daang taong aming iningatan
Sa dagat ng dusa ng karalitan
Walang isinuway kaming iyong anak sa bagyong masasal ng dalita’t hirap,
Iisa ang puso nitong Pilipinas
At ikaw ay di na Ina naming lahat

“a nation will perish because not of evil men but of good men who just watch and did nothing
- Apolinario Mabini

Language Choice

- Writers made significant choices regarding language. While Spanish was still widely used,
some writers started using the native language, like Tagalog, to reach a broader audience
and emphasize the importance of the Filipino identity.

Themes: Nationalism and Patriotism

- Writers often revolved around themes of patriotism, love of country, and the desire for
freedom. They expressed a deep concern for the welfare and future of the Filipino people

Nationalism
 - Identification with one’s own nation and support for its interests, even to the exclusion or
detriment of the interests of other nations
- Based on the belief that one’s nation is superior to others
- More aggressive in nature
- Gives importance to the heritage, culture, and language of a nation
- Can unite people against a common enemy, typically a hostile foreign nation

Patriotism

- Feeling of love, devotion, vigorous support, and a sense of attachment to one’s country or
homeland, as well as the unity with others who share the same sentiment
- Based on one’s love and devotion to country
- More passive in nature
- Gives importance to the values and beliefs of a nation
- Can unite people for the overall wellbeing and prosperity of the nation

Excerpts:

Maaaring mamahala ang mga hangal at lilong Pinuno, na mag-akala ng sa sarili bago ng s aiyo, at salawin
ka sa ningning ng kanilang kataasan at mga piling pangungusap na nakalalamuyot, kinakailangan ngang
matalastas mo’t mabuksang tuluyan ang iyong pag-iisip, nang makilala mo ang masama at mabuting
Pinuno, at nang huwag masayang and di-masukat mong mga pinuhunan

Pseudonyms

Rizal – Dimas Alang and Laong Laan

Del Pilar – Plaridel

Jaena – Diego Laura

Jose Ma. Panganiban - Jomapa