ABUAT, Aleah Jehan D.
Tuesdays and Thursdays (7:30-9:00)
GED0107-SEC 33
Questions:
1. Create three (3) syntheses on the article “The Royal Ordinance Concerning the Laying
out of cities.”
 It is evident that the King’s ultimate purpose in his decrees is the propagation of
Christianity in the Philippine archipelago. It was best illustrated in his commands
to situate the church in an elevated position. It is to be observed that the King
regarded the people with amity, and did not seek to promote malevolence in the
country. It was only the surge of friarocracy along its political power that placed
the country in jeopardy.
 It is to be observed that the King had a high regards for the aesthetic. This is best
demonstrated in his decrees of urban planning wherein towns were fashioned in a
very sophisticated designs for the purpose of resembling the power and
supremacy of the Spain.
 Their highly calculated urban planning suggests that even before the surge of
scientific revolution, the Spanish already had a sense of mathematics, calculation,
and the practice of what we call science today.
2. Create five syntheses on the article “Spanish Rule: Social, Spatial, and Spiritual
Redefinition.
 The use of religion is a powerful instrument in successfully expanding and
establishing power of a colonizer. Religion has been inculcated to the archipelago
which is the primary answer how and why the Spanish authority was able to
perpetuate in the country.
 The Spanish rule created among us Filipino puppets of the Spanish authority. It is
to be observed that we coopted in the establishment of the Spanish authority. We
had no sense of strong identity and freewill.
 The Spanish regime created a Philippine society devoid of peace and harmony as
a result of heightened discord and upheavals situated in different areas of the
country, particularly that of the south.
 The Spanish rule marked the Philippine’s shift from an egalitarian society to a
highly patriarchal one. Women were compelled to be the image of modesty and
submissiveness. This is a tactic used to monopolize power. Unfortunately, women
inferiority is still highly prevalent today.
 The former precolonial spatial organization of the Filipino natives was greatly
altered to resemble and mimic that of Western towns, particularly Spain’s. From
largely scattered and independent settlements, “Filipinos” were huddled together
in highly systematized and urbanized towns with a grid-like system of spatial
order.
3. Make a logical connection in the form of a paragraph of the spiritual redefinition and the
origins of the weak state.
 It was in the intent of the Spanish authority to inculcate the church in every
decision-making processes of the government. This is how the Spanish
successfully retained its power for the longest time. Christianity has been infused
in the lives of the Filipino. The church was as powerful as the state which became
problematic because it created a gridlock in consolidating decisions in governing.
The state was inferior to the church which therefore, disabled the state in
executing policies to govern the country.
4. Create two syntheses on “The Treaty of Paris.”
 Spain’s renouncement of their supremacy demonstrated the hegemonic power of
America. It is to be observed that the military power of the America was a
powerful asset in overpowering the supremacy of Spain.
 The agreement between America and Spain suggested diplomatic relationship
between the two upon Spain’s cession of power. This illustrates how the mock
battle between the two had a very little of use.
5. How did the American government manifest their Benevolent Assimilation proclamation
in the Philippines? Identify five of its manifestations and explain why each manifestation
is part of the benevolent assimilation.
 The American authority put forward the security of the rights, privileges, and
properties of the Filipinos. This is a practice of benevolence because security was
inexistent during the Spanish occupation.
 The American authority promised freedom of religious practices among the
Filipino people. Unlike the previous occupation, the new authority did not use
force in imposing religion to the people.
 The American authority promised to reduce inequitable imposition of tax into a
fairer valuation. This is a practice of benevolence because unlike the previous
authority, US did not intend to indulge on monetary enrichment.
 The US promised to protect the liberties of the Filipino people along with the
promotion of justice and equality which should be celebrated because such things
were inexistent during the Spanish rule.
 The American authority put forward the revival of commerce in the country with
other nations which was beneficial in terms of economic progress and
development.
6. Make two syntheses on the article “Early years of American rule: Parallel State-building
in the Special Provinces.”
 The historical narrative of the American rule lead to the lack of political
inclusiveness and representation of the people regarded as “minorities”, a
situation which still subsists in contemporary Philippines.
 During the pendency of the American rule, Filipinos were trained and
programmed to think like the Americans, politically and socially. It was a mentorstudent relationship wherein the teachings of the former were deemed for the
benefit of the latter. This situation is still quite apparent in the thinking of the
contemporary Filipino.
7. How did the American government introduce the process of Filipinization? What are the
two products of Filpinization?
 It was through tutelage training that the Americans used to govern the country in
preparation of eventual self-rule. It was through the passage of the Philippines
Autonomy Act that placed the Philippines in the hands of the Filipinos.
Eventually during the course of the process, a newly structured bicameral
legislature was created which constitutes the Senate and the House of
Representatives. All of these we made in the name of democracy where the
executive and the legislative are coequal. Eventually, the new system resulted to
crony capitalism.
8. Create three syntheses on the “tutelage training” of the United States in the Philippines.
 The tutelage training created political leaders like Quezon and Osmena who
definitely knew how to outsmart their American mentors. Filipino leaders learned
from the mentor-mentee relationship provided by the Americans which
consequently resulted to Filipinos outwitting them
 The tutelage was an essential aspect in attaining self-governance; providing both
education and political arrangement that resembles America. This was essentially
the start of Philippines’ development of strong connection towards the country.
 Filipino leaders practiced pragmatism during the American authority. Filipino
leaders played it safe under the American rule, maintaining a civil and
collaborative demeanor in hopes of eventually granting them independence by the
Americans upon seeing that the Filipinos have learned from the tutelage.
9. Explain what is being undermined when president Quezon centralized the power of the
state.
 Quezon gained power by consolidating local-power holders from municipal and
provincial governments. In his quest to expand power, the Philippine Assembly
constituted Quezon’s allies which consequently resulted to national elites. By
centralizing the power, he was undermining the democratic ideals of the
American authority which includes contempt for autocracy and centralization.
10. How did the transition to democracy stabilize the Philippine society? Explain.
 The recovery from Martial Law was initially a grueling process. However, it was
the right to vote that became the badge of democracy among the people. Amidst
several coup attacks, the ballot became the epitome of democracy and civilian
supremacy. Consequently, democracy was restored even if it was tainted by elite
power. Along with it is the placement of the military to where it should be, and
the restoration of civilian supremacy over the military.
11. Explain why the military should be apolitical.
 The military should not be engaged in politics mainly because this may lead to
instability or volatility in the state’s role in governing. A military coup suggests
political immaturity. They should not be involved in decision-making processes
of the government. The civilian power should be superior to the military which
means that the state should remain superior to military. The military should not be
involved in the political affairs of the government. It is the state that directs them
otherwise it may lead to the collapse of civilian superiority.
12. Create a logical connection between martial law and the politicization of the military.
 Upon the declaration of martial law in the Philippines, the military was able to
taste the greatness of power. As a consequence, the military will continue to seek
for it again and again. And so for every time the military dislikes a President lies
the possibility of staging military coup against the state.
13. Based on the articles that we have discussed in class, identify four events where political
interregnum happened and explain why you think it can be classified as a political
interreg.
 The surge of elite democracy- democracy covered by elites was no longer new. It
was during the Quezon administration that such thing started. However,
democracy was jeopardized because of its authoritarian and alliance nature. This
is where Marcos saw the flaw and worked his way through the power.
 The surge of Military supremacy- upon Marcos’s rise to power, things have
changed. The country changed even more upon his declaration of martial law. The
civilian supremacy was undermined, and the Philippine went through a dramatic
shift from a 3-branched democratic government to a one man rule kind of
governance.
 The resurgence of elite democracy- it was through the power of ballots that
democracy was restore. However, stabilization was still curtailed due to several
military coup attacks during the Aquino administration.
 The resurgence of civilian supremacy- after several coup attacks, civilian
supremacy was restored with the help of external forces, more particularly the
America.
Essentially, stability was never guaranteed. This was demonstrated by the
county’s changing intervals from elite democracy to Martial law which went back to elite
democracy once again. This instability was heightened by frequent supremacy threats
from the military. Moreover, revolts and uprisings were pervasive which placed the
government in a very delicate position.