LaWoR chap 2

• To appreciate and understand the life of Dr. Jose Rizal, it is necessary to know the historical background of the world and of the Philippines during his times
• The 19th century when he lived was a century of ferment caused by the blowing winds of history
• During the times of Rizal, the sinister shadows of Spain's decadence darkened Philippine skies
• Evils of Spanish misrule in the Philippines

  • Instability of colonial administration
  • Corrupt officialdom
  • No Philippine representation in the Spanish Cortes
  • Human rights denied to Filipino
  • No equality before the law
  • Maladministration of Justice
  • Racial Discrimination
  • Frailocracy
  • Forced labor
  • Haciendas owned by the friars
  • The Guardia Civil
• Instability of colonial administration

  • The Spanish government underwent frequent changes owing to bitter struggles between the forces of despotism and liberalism and the explosions of the Carlist Wars
  • From 1834 to 1862,Spain had adopted four constitutions, elected 28 parliaments, and installed no less than 529 ministers with portfolios
  • This political instability in Spain adversely affected Philippine affairs because it brought about frequent periodic shifts in colonial policies and periodic rigodon of colonial officials
• Corrupt colonial officials


  • They were either highly corrupt, incompetent, cruel or venal
  • They symbolize the decadent Spain of the 19th century
• Philippine representation in the Spanish Cortes

  1. First period (1810-1813) was fruitful with beneficent results

  2. Second period (1820-1823) and third period (1834-1837) were less fruitful

  3. Representation was abolished in 1837
• Since the adoption of the Spanish Constitution of 1812 and other constitutions in succeeding years, the people of Spain enjoyed freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of association, and other human rights (except freedom of religion)
• The Spanish authorities who cherished these human rights or constitutional liberties in Spain denied them to the Filipinos in Asia
• The Spanish colonial authorities arrogantly regarded the browned-skinned Filipinos as inferior beings, not their Christian brother's to be protected but rather as their majesty subjects to be exploited
• Maladministration of justice


  • The courts were notoriously corrupt
  • Justice was costly, partial and slow
  • Poor Filipinos had no access to the courts
• Racial discrimination


  • Many Spaniards and their mestizo satellites derisively called the brown-skinned and flat-nosed Filipinos "Indios" (Indians)
  • A white skin, a high nose, and Castilian lineage were a badge of vaunted superiority
• Frailocracy


  A government by friars who controlled the religious, educational and political life of the Philippines
• Forced labor (polo)


  • Compulsory labor imposed on adult Filipino males for public works
  • The well-to-do could pay to be exempted
• Haciendas owned by the friars

  • The Spanish friars were the richest landlords, owning the best agricultural lands
  • The rural tenants resented the loss of their ancestral lands
• The Guardia Civil


  • It was created to maintain internal peace and order but became infamous for abuses such as maltreating people, looting, and raping