| THE SPANISH ERA |
| THE DISCOVERY OF THE PHILIPPINES In 1517, Portuguese explorer Fernando Magallanes (Ferdinand Magellan) found himself out of favor with King Emmanuel so he later swore his allegiance to King Charles I of SpainI. Then he started on an expedition to the south aboard Victoria and four other ships with 250 crew. On March 16, 1521, Magellan set foot on the shores of the Philippines where he was given a warm welcome by the Rajah Culambo and his subjects. They introduced Christianity to the Muslims and the natives eagerly embraced it. On April 7, Magellan sailed to Cebu and befriended Rajah Humabon. The Muslims were converted to Catholicism and Humabon's queen was given a statue of the Child Jesus as a gift. The friendship between two peoples was sealed by a blood compact by Magellan and Humabon. The Spaniards then sailed to Mactan where, for the first time, they were resisted. In the morning of April 27, the Muslims, led by Lapu-lapu, fiercely fought to preserve their freedom which led to the death of Magellan. This was the start of the Spanish occupation of the Philippines. |
| The country became part of the Spanish empire and was called Philippines, named after Prince Philip of Spain (who later became King Philip II). Under the Spanish rule for 377 years, the Filipinos were treated poorly. They were subjected to slavery, forced labor, excessive taxes, among others. Continuous revolt against the Spanish regime took place in different provinces. Mindanao was the only territory that the Spaniards failed to take over in their three centruries of rule. |
| THE PHILIPPINE REVOLUTION DR. JOSE RIZAL He was born in Calamba, Laguna in June 19,1861. Born to a rich family, he was able to study and finish medicine in Spain. There he met a lot Filipinos fighting for the same cause. In 1887, he published his first novel Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not) in Berlin. This criticized the atrocities of the Spanish government in the Philippines and the corrupt friars. He wrote a sequel to his novel, El Filibusterismo (The Filibuster) in Ghent, Belgium. His novels fanned the flame of revolution that had already been burning in the hearts of the people. Their desire to put an end to the Spanish rule was awakened. Rizal came back in 1892 and was arrested. He was detained in Fort Santiago in Intramuros and was later sent to Dapitan. In his exile he was visited by Dr. Pio Valenzuela who was sent by Andres Bonifacio. Dr. Valenzuela solicited his support for the revolution that Bonifacio had been planning. But for Rizal, it was not the right time. He believed that the FIlipinos were not yet ready for a revolution. He suggested for the people to wait until they have enough money and weapons. Rizal was accused of rebellion and was sentenced to death. He was executed in the morning of December 30, 1896 in Bagumbayan (now Rizal Park). |
| THE KATIPUNAN Rizal was the symbol of freedom and hope so the news of his arrest shocked the people. Because of this, a secret meeting was immediately held in the evening of Julu 7,1892. Andres Bonifacio, Valentin Diaz, Teodoro Plata and others formed a revolutionary group and named it Kataas-taasan Kagalang-galagangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (Highest, Most Respected Associations of the Sons of the Nation) or KKK. Under the leadership of Katipunan Supremo, Andres Bonifacio, the Katipunan aimed for the separation of the Philippines from Spain. THE CRY OF PUGAD-LAWIN: The Start of Revolution When the Katipunan was discovered by the Spaniards, Bonifacio called all the leaders for an assembly to discuss the next step that they had to do. On August 23,1896, the katipuneros met in Pugad-Lawin, in the yard of Juan Ramos, son of Melchora Aquino. Bonifacio challenged everyone if they were ready and willing to fight to the bitter end. Everyone agreed and, with that, Bonifacio asked them to bring out their cedulas and tear them to pieces as a symbol of their determination to revolt. The katipuneros, men and women, tore their cedulas while shouting "Long live the Philippines" and waving the KKK flag. The first encounter between the Spaniards and the Katipuneros happened on August 25. The rebels lost 2 men, while the Spaniards, 1. Because their weapons were no match against the Spanish civil guards, the rebels retreated. The civil guards, too, retreated, believing that they were outnumbered. But from then on, Bonifacio motivated more people from different parts of Luzon to rise up in arms and fight back. On August 30, Martial Law was declared when Gov. Gen. Blanco issued a proclamation declaring a state of war in eight provinces - Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac and Pampanga. The revolt in Cavite was said to be more successful because of the leadership of military commanders like Emilio Aguinaldo. Mariano Alvarez and his troops succeeded in liberating Noveleta in Pampanga. In Nueva Ecija, Mariano Llanera led 2000 men and attacked the Spanish forts. Battles in different parts of Luzon went on simultaneously. |
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