A Reflection Paper: Effects of Philippine Revolts during the Spanish Colonization and during our Contemporary Period
“There can be no tyrants where there
are no slaves”. – Dr. Jose P.
Rizal. With these words of our great patriot and National Hero, I would like to
begin this paper. Filipinos since the day of the start pf the Spanish
colonization of our country showed trust and friendliness to the colonizers.
These are innate traits of Filipinos, no wonder, sometimes these had been used
as the enemies own weapon to deceive us and put us under their “spell”. They
even used the cloak of religion in order to put us ubder obe banner of love,
faith and brotherhood but they themselves would not practice what they preach.
I don’t want to be biased here, just
like the Roman god Janus, the Spanish colonialism had to faces, the good one
and the bad one. So I would focus on the bad things that they manifested upon
us as the cause of different revolts that emerged throughout the Philippines.
Filipinos even before the Spaniards came have
their own form of government, economy and religion. So when these aspects of
life were put into danger and jeopardy Filipinos started to retaliate. Spaniards
looked at the Filipinos as slaves or second-class citizens not as brothers whom
they should love and respect. They changed our system of government and they
became rulers that abused, exploited and molested the Filipinos especially the
women and children.
We can classify the revolts that happened
during the Spanish colonialism into three reasons: personal, political and
religious revolts. As man is endowed with body and soul, intellect and will,
reason and volition, one cannot be confined and oppressed in his or her innate
right and dignity as man. The right to life, right to religious freedom and
right in political endeavor.
These were the major revolts that happened
and their causes that I’ve researched.
During
the History of the Philippines (1521-1898). Spanish colonization of the
Philippines, several revolts against Spain were undertaken for various reasons.
However, it can be agreed upon that the common underlying cause of these
revolts were the generally repressive policies of the Spanish colonial
government against the native Filipinos. Many of these revolts though have failed.
Revolts in Manila (1570)
§
The First Pampanga Revolt in 1585 was undertaken by native Kapampangan leaders against Spanish
encomienda|encomenderos due to abuses felt by the natives inflicted by the
encomenderos. The revolt included a plot to storm Intramuros. However, the
plot was foiled before it was even implemented, since a Filipina married to a
Spanish soldier reported the plot to Spanish authorities. For their actions,
the leaders of the revolt were ordered executed.
The Revolt Against the Tribute occurred
in the present day provinces of Cagayan, Ilocos
Norte and Ilocos Sur in 1589. The natives, which included
the Ilocanos, Ibanags and others, rose in revolt over
alleged abuses by tax collectors, such as the collection of unjust taxes. Governor-GeneralSantiago
de Vera sent
Spanish troops to pacify the rebels. They were eventually granted pardon, along
with the overhaul of the Philippine tax system.
The Tamblot Uprising was
a revolt in Bohol led by Tamblot in 1621. Being the more religious
revolt of Bohol, Tamblot, a babaylan or native priest, urged Boholanos to
return to the old native religion of their forefathers after the arrival of the
Jesuits in 1596, and the eventual conversion of the Boholanos to the Catholic
faith.
The
revolt, which was undertaken at a time when the Jesuit fathers who administered
the island were in Cebu celebrating the feast day of Francis
Xavier|St. Francis Xavier, was crushed on New Year's Day, 1622. After the
revolt, the Spaniards strengthened their hold over Bohol.
In
what is today the town of Palapag in Northern
Samar, Juan
Ponce Sumuroy, a Waray,
and some of his followers rose in arms on June 1, 1649 over the polo system being undertaken in Samar. This
is known as the Sumuroy Revolt, named after Juan Ponce
Sumuroy.
The
government in Manila directed that all natives subject to the polo are not to be sent to places distant
from their hometowns to do their polo. However, under orders of the
various town alcaldes, or mayors, Samarnons were
being sent to the shipyards of Cavite to do their polo, which sparked the revolt. The
local parish priest of Palapag was murdered and the revolt eventually spread to Mindanao, Bicol and the rest of the Visayas, especially in
places such as Cebu, Masbate, Camiguin, Zamboanga, Albay, Camarines and parts of northern Mindanao, such as Surigao. A free government
was also established in the mountains of Samar.
The
defeat, capture and execution of Sumuroy in June 1650 led to the end of the
revolt.
In
1744 in what is now the province of Bohol, what is known today as the Dagohoy Revolt was undertaken by Francisco
Dagohoy and
some of his followers. This revolt is unique since it is the only Philippine
revolt completely related to matters of religious customs, although unlike the
Tamblot Uprising before it, it is not a complete religious rebellion.
After
a duel in which Dagohoy's brother died, the local parish priest refused to give
his brother a proper Christianity|Christian burial, since dueling is a mortal
sin. The refusal of the priest to give his brother a proper Christian burial
eventually led to the longest revolt ever held in Philippine history: 85 years.
It also led to the establishment of a free Boholano government. Twenty
governors-general, from Juan Arrechederra to [Mariano Ricafort Palacín y
Ararca, failed to stop the revolt. Ricafort himself sent a force of 2,200
troops to Bohol, which was defeated by Dagohoy's followers. Another attack,
also sent by Ricafort in 1828 and 1829, failed as well.
Dagohoy
died two years before the revolt ended, though, which led to the end of the
revolt in 1829. Some 19,000 survivors were granted pardon and were eventually
allowed to live in new Boholano villages: namely, the present-day towns of Balilihan, Batuan, Bilar (Vilar), Catigbian and Sevilla(Cabulao).
The Agrarian Revolt was
a revolt undertaken between the years 1745 and 1746 in much of the present-day CALABARZON (specifically in Batangas, Laguna and Cavite) and in Bulacan, with its first
sparks in the towns of Lian and Nasugbu in Batangas. Filipino landowners rose
in arms over the land-grabbing of Spanish friars, with native landowners
demanding that Spanish priests return their lands on the basis of ancestral
domain.
The
refusal of the Spanish priests resulted in much rioting, resulting in massive
looting of convents and arson of churches and ranches. The case was eventually
investigated by Spanish officials and was even heard in the court of Philip IV
of Spain|King Philip IV, in which he ordered the priests to return the lands
they seized. The priests were successfully able to appeal the return of lands
back to the natives, which resulted in no land being returned to native
landowners.
Arguably
one of the most famous revolts in Philippine history is the Silang Revolt from
1762 to 1763, led by the couple of Diego and Gabriela
Silang.
Unlike the other revolts, this revolt took place during the British
invasion of Manila.
On
December 14, 1762, Diego Silang declared the independence of Ilocandia,
naming the state "Free Ilocos" and proclaimed Vigan the capital of this newly-independent
state. The British heard about this revolt in Manila and even asked the help of
Silang in fighting the Spanish.
However,
Silang was killed on May 28, 1763 by Miguel
Vicos, a
friend of Silang. The Spanish authorities paid for his murder, leading to his
death in the arms of his wife, Gabriela. She continued her husband's struggle,
earning the title "Joan of Arc of the Ilocos" because of her many
victories in battle. The battles of the Silang revolt are a prime example of
the use of divide et impera, since Spanish
troops largely used Kampampangan soldiers to fight the Ilocanos.
Eventually,
the revolt ended with the defeat of the Ilocanos. Gabriela Silang was executed
by Spanish authorities in Vigan on September 10, 1763.
The Basi Revolt, also known as the Ambaristo Revolt, was a revolt
undertaken from September 16-September 28|28, 1807. It was led by Pedro
Ambaristo with its events occurring in the present-day town of Piddig in Ilocos
Norte. This revolt is unique as it revolves around the Ilocanos'
love for basi, or sugarcane wine.
In
1786, the Spanish colonial government expropriation|expropriated the
manufacture and sale of basi, effectively banning private
manufacture of the wine, which was done before expropriation. Ilocanos were
forced to buy from government stores. However, wine-loving Ilocanos in Piddig
rose in revolt on September 16, 1807, with the revolt spreading to nearby towns
and with fighting lasting for weeks. Spanish troops eventually quelled the
revolt on September 28, 1807, albeit with much force and loss of life on the
losing side.
One
of the most famous religious revolts is the Pule Revolt, more formally known as
the Religious Revolt of Hermano Pule. Undertaken between June 1840 and
November 1841, this revolt was led by Apolinario
de la Cruz, otherwise known as "Hermano
Pule".
De la
Cruz started his own religious order, the Confraternity of Saint Joseph
(Spanish language|Spanish: Confradia de San José) in Lucban,
located in the present-day province of Quezon (then called Tayabas),
in June of 1840. However, there were two types of priests in the Philippines
then: secular priests, or parish priests, which were usually Filipino,
and religious priests, or convent priests, which were usually
Spanish. Due to the concentration of Spanish religious power and authority in
the already-established religious orders (the Augustinians, Jesuits and
Franciscans to name a few) and the concept that Filipino priests should only
stay in the church and not the convent and vice-versa (although this was not
always followed), the Spanish government banned the new order, especially due
to its deviation from original Catholic rituals and teachings, such as prayers
and rituals suited for Filipinos.
However,
thousands of people in Tayabas, Batangas, Laguna and even Manila already
joined. Because of this, the Spanish government sent in troops to forcibly
break up the order, forcing De la Cruz and his followers to rise in armed
revolt in self-defense. Many bloody battles were fought with the order's last
stand in Mount San Cristobal, near Mount
Banahaw, in
October of 1841. The Spaniards eventually won, and Apolinario de la Cruz was
executed on November 4, 1841 in the then-provincial capital, Tayabas.
It
did not end there, though. Many members of the Spanish armed forces' Tayabas
regiment, based in Malate in Manila, had relatives that were
members of the order, of which many of those relatives were also killed in the
ensuing violence. On January 20, 1843, the regiment, led by Sergeant Irineo
Samaniego, rose in mutiny, eventually capturing Fort
Santiago in
Intramuros. The next day, however, the gates of Fort Santiago were opened by
loyalist soldiers. After a bloody battle, the mutineers were defeated by
loyalist troops, resulting in the execution of Samaniego and 81 of his
followers the same day.
The
effects of revolts to our economy was devastating and worsen its condition. The
taxes that was meant to be for public works, health and education was used for
the guardia civil and its military in
order to seized the revolutionaries.
These were the result of their own economic injustices just like with
the polo system, encomienda system and the like. The haciendas owned by the friars brought oppression in terms of the
payment of the rent, that’s why the land did not produce much to benefit both
the Filipinos and the Spaniards.
The effects of revolts to Philippine
government brought a challenge and a call for reforms to Spanish
administration. Innocent people were put to prison without due process,
maladministration of justice became rampant that caused so much suffering and
oppression. This was also the cause of the execution of Dr. Jose Rizal and the
GOMBURZA who shed their blood for the sake of country’s freedom and
independence. Spaniards became more ruthless and friars became more liars just
to preserve their own ulterior motives.
The effect of revolts Philippine
religion, some Filipinos did not accept the Catholic faith, perhaps they are
more comfortable and chose what they have as their ancestors had believe in.
Somr Filipinos accepted the faith but wanted reforms for the Church. Some
friars used the religion and the cloak of the faith to oppress the Filipinos
and tried to enrich themselves. Because of these, patriotic Filipinos executed
or killed the bad friars or exposed their immoralities through literary works.
Some friars rigorously preached the damnation of those against them in the
pulpit but Filipinos knew the truth.
II.
Military Insurrections during the Presidency of Corazon Aquino
Coup attempts (1986–1987)
From 1986 to 1987, there
were six plots to overthrow the government of Philippine
President Corazon Aquino involving
various members of the Armed
Forces of the Philippines. A significant number of the military
participants in these attempts belonged to the Reform
the Armed Forces Movement (RAM) led by Gringo Honasan, while
others were identified loyalists to former President Ferdinand Marcos, who had
been deposed in February 1986. Two of the attempts — the November 1986
"God Save the Queen" plot and the July 1987 plot — were uncovered and
quashed by authorities before they could be operationalized. Save for the
August 1987 coup attempts, which left 53 people dead, the other plots were
repelled with minimal or no violence.
1989 coup attempt
The most serious coup d'état against
the government of Philippine
President Corazon Aquino was staged beginning 1 December 1989
by members of the Armed
Forces of the Philippines belonging to the Reform
the Armed Forces Movement (RAM) and soldiers loyal to former
President Ferdinand Marcos. Metro Manila was shaken by the coup, where the
rebels almost gained full control of the presidential
palace. It was completely defeated by Philippine Government
forces on December 9, 1989.
The coup was led by
Colonel Gregorio
Honasan, General Edgardo Abenina, and retired General Jose Ma.
Zumel. At the onset of the coup, the rebels seized Villamor Airbase, Fort
Bonifacio, Sangley Airbase, Mactan Airbase in Cebu, and portions of Camp
Aguinaldo. The rebels set patrols around the runway of the Ninoy Aquino International
Airport, effectively shutting it down. From Sangley Airbase,
the rebels launched planes and helicopters which bombarded and strafed
Malacañan Palace, Camp Crame and
Camp Aguinaldo. Three hours after the fall of Villamor Air Base, President Aquino went on air to address the
people, assuring them that the government "shall smash this naked attempt
once more." At that point, the counterattack of the government forces
began. Seven army trucks headed for the headquarters of the government-owned
station Channel 4, where fierce fighting occurred between the forces. Defense
Secretary Fidel Ramos and AFP Chief-of-Staff Renato de Villa monitored the
crises from Camp Crame, headquarters of the Philippine
Constabulary. With loyal forces hard-pressed by the
rebels, Aquino requested assistance from the US Military,
and, at the behest of her military commanders, granted. 120 marines, part of
the 800-strong U.S. contingent stationed at Subic Naval Base were
deployed at the grounds of the US Embassy as
a defensive measure. President Aquino stated that the loyal forces lacked the
ability to contain the rebel forces. American help was crucial to the Aquino
cause, clearing the skies of rebel aircraft and allowing government military to
consolidate their forces.
As the mutiny continued,
Aquino declares an ultimatum for the rebels, giving them two choices, to
surrender or to face death. Government F-5 jets went to the
skies and challenged rebel planes, and culminated with the destruction of the
rebel T-28 Trojans.
Government forces would recapture all military bases save for Mactan Airbase by
December 3, but rebel forces retreating from Fort Bonifacio occupied 22
high-rise buildings along the Ayala business area in Makati. The
government claimed the coup was crushed, but fierce fighting continued through
the weekend; Camp Aguinaldo was set ablaze by the rebel howitzers.
The occupation of Makati
lasted until December 7, surrendering full control of Mactan Airbase on 9
December.[17] The
official casualty toll was 99 dead (including 50 civilians), with 570 more
wounded.
The United States
military supported the Aquino government during the coup. Operation
"Classic Resolve" involved the use of U.S. airpower from the aircraft
carriers Midway and Enterprise (CVN-65),
and F-4
Phantom II fighters from Clark Air Base. The U.S. Air force jets
retook the skies for Aquino. The U.S. planes had clearance to "...buzz the
rebel planes at their base, fire in front of them if any attempted to take off,
and shoot them down if they did."
Following the failure of
this coup, President Aquino established a Fact-Finding Commission headed by
then-COMELEC Chairman Hilario Davide, Jr. to
investigate and provide a full report on the series of coup attempts against
her government. The report would become known as the Davide Commission Report.
Participants of the
December 1989 coup would later blame perceived deficiencies in the Aquino
government in areas as graft and corruption, bureaucratic inefficiency, and
lenient treatment of communist insurgents as the reasons for the coup. In
response, the Davide Commission recommended several short-term and long-term
counter-measures, including the establishment of a civilian national police
force, a crackdown on corruption in the military, a performance review of
appointive government officials, reforms in the process of military promotions,
a review of election laws in time for the 1992 presidential elections, and a
definitive statement on the part of Aquino on whether she intended to run for
re-election in 1992.
Peace with
separatists
Ramos, a military general himself, made peace
with the rebel panels. He was instrumental in the signing of the final peace
agreement between the government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) led by Nur Misuari in 1996.
Although he battled
Communist rebels as a young lieutenant in the 1950s, Ramos made a bold move
when he signed into law Republic
Act 7636, which repealed the Anti-Subversion
Law. With its repeal,
membership in the once-outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines became legal.
Revolt during the Estrada Administration: EDSA
Revolution of 2001
Protests
On the evening of
January 16, 2001, the impeachment court voted not to open an envelope that was
alleged to contain incriminating evidence against the president simply because
it was not part of the impeachment complaint. The final vote was 11–10, in
favor of keeping the envelope closed. The prosecution panel (of congressmen and
lawyers) walked out of the Impeachment Court in protest of this vote. The 11
senators who voted not to open the envelope are known as the "Craven
Eleven." That night, anti-Estrada protesters gathered in front of theEDSA
Shrine at Epifanio de los Santos Avenue,
not too far away from the site of the 1986 People
Power Revolution that overthrew Ferdinand Marcos.
On January 19, 2001,
Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Angelo Reyes,
seeing the political upheaval throughout the country, "decided to withdraw
his support" from the president and transfer his allegiance to the vice
president, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
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Revolts during the Arroyo Administration
EDSA !!!
In
the last week of April 2001, the Sandiganbayan ordered the arrest of Estrada
and his son, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, for plunder charges. A few days later,
Estrada supporters protested his arrest, gathered at the EDSA Shrine, and
staged what they called, EDSA III –
comparing their actions to the People Power revolution of 1986 and January
2001.
Thousands
of protesters demanded the release of Estrada. Eventually, they also called
for the ouster of Arroyo and the reinstatement of the former. On May 1, 2001,
they marched towards Malacañang to force Arroyo to give in to their demands.
Violence erupted when the protesters attempted to storm the presidential
palace and the military and police were forced to use their arms to drive
them back. Arroyo declared a state of rebellion because of the violence and
prominent political personalities affiliated with Estrada were charged and
arrested. The so-called EDSA III was the first serious political challenge to
the Arroyo presidency.
Oakwood Mutiny
The Oakwood mutiny occurred in the
Philippines on July 27, 2003. A group of 321 armed soldiers who called
themselves "Bagong Katipuneros"[12] led
by Army Capt. Gerardo Gambala and Lt. Antonio
Trillanes IV of the Philippine Navy took
over the Oakwood Premier Ayala Center (now Ascott Makati) serviced apartment
tower in Makati City to
show the Filipino
people the alleged corruption of the Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo administration. They also stated that they saw signs
suggesting that the President was going to declare martial law.
On
February 24, 2006, a plot to take over the government was uncovered by
authorities, allegedly headed by Gen. Danilo Lim and other rightist military adventurists.
General Lim and some of his men were arrested. To face the threat posed by
enemies of the state, Arroyo issued Presidential Proclamation 1017 (PP
1017) and used it as basis in declaring a state of
emergency throughout the Philippines. According to Arroyo, this declaration
was done to quell the military rebellion, stop lawless violence, and promote
peace and stability. PP 1017 also empowered the government to enforce
warrantless arrests and take over strategic private utilities companies.
On
February 25, 2006, the police raided the office of the Daily Tribune,
a newspaper known as a critic of the Arroyo administration. The government
then issued a journalism guidelines to address the threat posed by critics in
the media. Presidential Management Staff chief Michael Defensor said
that the guidelines were necessary in order to cope with the emergency
situation.
The
state of emergency existed for about one week with the purpose of curbing
further violence, illegal rallies, and public disturbance throughout the
Philippines. The police and the military dispersed demonstrators and
protesters, especially those along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA).
Aside from General Lim, prominent personalities were also arrested in
connection with their alleged participation in the attempt to overthrow the
government. Among those arrested were:
1. Col. Ariel
Querubín – leader of a group of Philippine
Marines who engaged the government in a political
stand-off at Fort
Bonifacio on February 25, 2005
3. Crispin Beltran –
party-list representative of Anakpawis charged with inciting to sedition and
rebellion
4. Batasan
Five – party-list representatives charged with
rebellion and were placed under the custody of the House of
Representatives; Bayan Muna's Teodoro Casiño, Satur Ocampo, and Joel Virador; Gabriela's Liza Maza,
and Anakpawis'Rafael
Mariano
PP
1017 was lifted on March 3, 2006 but members of the opposition, private
lawyers, and concerned citizens challenged its constitutionality before the
Supreme Court. On May 4, the high court declared the proclamation
constitutional. However, it also said that it was illegal for the government
to implement warrantless arrests and seize private institutions and companies.
In terms of lifestyle and economy.
Filipinos lifestyle is circumvented with its, traits, family, religion, dress
style, transportation, etc., but these things were put into the mud with the
several coup d’etat attempts and
several senate hearings for alleged corruptions. Our economy faced a great
crisis because the corruption that enveloped the government that’s why the
public works, health and education were not prioritized in a sense because of
so much political chaos and economic stability. Foreign investors lack of
trust to the security and sense of honesty in the government brought
unemployment to the people and leading to the so much transfer in abroad for
greener pastures.
In terms of governance and culture,
good governance became a utopian word. Governance became “majorly evil”, lack
of trust to officialdom and so much political rigodon. These caused so much
chaos and aprupt fire of hopelessness to the populace. Politicians showed
greediness to power and enrich themselves, they chose to serve their
“political god” rather the Filipino people especially the poor. Our culture,
just like the domino-effect has brought so much burden to Filipinos
brain-drain, colonial meantality and the culture of death put the Filipino
culture into the brink of the grave.
As I reflect opun these things that
happened, “History repeats itself” is true not with it exacts details of
events but somehow its causes and reasons that resulted to revolts as an
effect. The law of physics which says “that in every action there is an equal
or opposite reaction is applicable”. These revolts are not just whims or
caprices but as a reaction to an oppressive leader or a result of a human right
that is being jeopardized.
From the revolts during the Spanish
colonization to the contemporary period, Filipinos has always have a great
love for liberty and peace so we used all all actions whether in diplomacy or
in arms to achieve these. We cannot put for granted these oppressors and
corrupt government officials, we wanted reforms in government, economy and as
a country aiming for prosperity and peace based on justice.
I, as a Filipino citizen would, hope
and pray for a better and transformed society, a society based on the
statutes of God. May He always heal our land and always ask His guidance and
enlightenment of our leaders and the populace. I also need to be good and
eefective college instructor that in a way I may transform our society and
enlighten the students to the right path. I will also follow the laws of the
land and be a law abiding citizen. “Then render to Caesar the things that are
Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s”. (Luke 20:25).
By:
Roy P. Penolio
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