Periods of Philippine History
Pre-colonial (-1571)
Spanish Period (1571-1896)
Revolutionary Period (1896-1899)
American Period (1899-1942)
Japanese Period (1942-1945)
Independent Philippines (1946- )
Spanish Period
1. Preservation of datus / principalia
 Spanish reliance on (incorporation of) datus
 Cabeza de Barangay and Gobornadorcillo positions began to circulate among
powerful families – creation of the principalia
 These positions were the highest “native” positions in the Spanish colonial apparatus
 Represented a continuation of localized power
2. Role of the Church
 Other than datus, friars and priests represented the Spanish colonial state in most
areas
 Religion more important in the Philippines than trade – opposite of Inodonesia
 Clergy supported by the state but independent of it
 Became very powerful – “friarocracy”
 Sources of power
o Religious authority
o Land ownership and wealth
o Power of colonial state
3. Rise of Chinese Mestizos
 In addition to principalia and clergy, Chinese Mestizos became another powerful elite
 Economic power based in land ownership and agricultural export
 Began to emerge after expulsion of Chinese merchants in the 1760s
o Background on Chinese trading class
 Well placed to take advantages of opportunities of world economy in the 19th century
 Would later become the basis for some of most powerful political families
4. Trade
 Important to note that early Spanish colonialism did not revolve around trade
 The Manila Galleon
 Growing agricultural trade activity in 19th century – ex: sugar
Revolutionary Period

Latter 19th century saw the rise of two relevant groups of political elites
o Ilustrados
 From wealthiest class
 Highly educated, often in Spain
 Rizal and the articulation of nationalism (Noli Me Tangere)
 Reform
o Oficinos
 Urban middle class
 Moderate to low formal education
 Absorbed ideas of Rizal and others
 More radical / revolutionary
 Bonifacio, the Katipunan, and the Revolution
 Leadership passes to Aquinaldo
 Settlement with the Spanish
American Period
1. The “Pacification”
 The Spanish-American War (1898)
 The US brings Aguinaldo back to fight the Spanish
 The fake invasion of Manila
 The US turns against Aguinaldo
 A long, bitter war ensues – as many as 1 million Filipinos are killed
2. Political reforms
 Character of the Philippine Commision, main governing body (1901)
 The US cultivates the Ilustrados and provincial elite
 Municipal and provincial elections almost immediately
 1907 – elections for a national legislative assembly
 1916 – The Jones Act
 Powerful bicameral legislature
 Independent Judiciary
 Limits on power of governor-general
 Expansion of electorate
 “Filipinization” of bureaucracy
 1934 – Tydings-McDuffie Act
 Creation of Commonwealth
 Authorized drafting of constitution
 Provided for complete independence in 1946
 Commonwealth government inaugurated with Quezon as President in 1935
3. Expansion of education
 Relatively well-educated society (elite) from the Spanish period
 The US Established universal, free, secular education
 Initially imported 600 elementary teachers from the US in 1901
 High level of expenditures on education (50% in 1922)
 “Filipinization” of teaching staff
4. Trade
 Development of special trading relationship
 Payne-Aldrich Tariff Act (1909), Underwood Tariff Bill (1913)
 The US established universal, free, secular education
 Initially imported 600 elementary teachers from the US in 1901
 High level of expenditures on education (50% in 1922)
 “Filipinization” of teaching staff