[Discovery]
The Philippines were discovered by Magellan in 1521. That discovery
occasioned the first circumnavigation of the globe. Long before the
discovery, however, the Islands were already known in the Orient,
for they had commercial relations with China as early as the 13th
century and with Japan, Siam, the Malay Peninsula, Java, Sumatra,
Borneo, and the Moluccas.
It is erroneous to suppose that the culture of the Filipinos dated only
from the time of the arrival of the Spaniards. Long before that time
they had already acquired a fair degree of culture. They had systems
of writing similar to the Phoenician alphabetical arrangement. They
had calendars and a system of weights and measures. They tilled
their lands and maintained village governments. They had laws based
on traditions and customs handed down from generation to generation,
and as early as 1433, or 88 years previous to the arrival of Magellan,
there existed a Penal Code known as the Code of Calantiao.
[The Spanish Rule--A Tale of Wars and Uprisings]
The history of the Islands from the beginning of Spanish rule to the
middle of the 19th century was a long tale of wars and uprisings. The
Portuguese disputed Spain's right to the Islands, and between 1566 and
1570 made three attempts to dislodge the Spaniards. The Dutch during
the first half of the 17th century repeatedly appeared in Philippine
waters and made attacks on the Spaniards. The British unexpectedly
swooped down on Manila in 1762, and the Archbishop who was acting as
governor speedily capitulated, the City of Manila falling into British
hands until the treaty of Paris in 1763 when it was again restored
to Spain. The Chinese residents added to all these difficulties by
revolting from time to time.
But the most persistent trouble-makers were the Filipinos themselves
who repeatedly revolted because of alleged injustices committed upon
them. Between the years 1645 and 1665 alone there occurred five
uprisings against the Spanish Government. Other revolts, no less
serious, took place in the 18th and 19th centuries. The rebellion of
Dagohoy, for example, took place at this time, spreading throughout
practically the whole Island of Bohol and continuing for a period of
eighty years.
There were in all about a hundred uprisings, big and small, during the
Spanish régime. That of 1872 was especially noted for its magnitude and
the determination shown by the revolutionists. It was put down with the
execution of three secular priests--Burgos, Gomez, and Zamora--ever
since reckoned among the popular heroes of the country. From
that time plotting against the corrupt civil government and the
autocratic religious corporations never really ceased; and in 1892
Andres Bonifacio organized a secret society known as the Katipunan,
which preached hatred against Spain because of the abuses of the
friars and of the authorities, and demanded freedom from foreign yoke.
[Reforms in the 19th century]
The dawn of the 19th century, however, was marked by significant
changes for the better. During the periods of 1810 and 1813, 1820
to 1823, and 1830 to 1837, as a result of the nationalistic and
liberal struggles Spain was experiencing, the Cortes was revived
and representatives from different parts of the monarchy--the
colonies included--were given seats therein. This ushered in a
period of constitutional and representative government for the
Filipinos. Moreover, by 1830, Spain's commercial policy of trade
exclusiveness for the colonies was abandoned. A few years later,
Manila was thrown open to foreign trade and a freer and more liberal
economic system adopted. In this way, the foundation for subsequent
political and economic progress was laid.
From the beginning of Spanish domination, there existed scores of
schools and colleges which were mostly conducted by the religious
orders. These schools and colleges offered various courses and
graduated numerous priests, lawyers, physicians, pharmacists,
and teachers. Increase in the number of professional graduates
made possible the rise of an intellectual class in the seventies
and eighties. To this group of men, Burgos and Paterno, leaders
of the liberal movement of 1870; Dr. Rizal, the Filipino hero;
M. H. del Pilar, a prominent propagandist; and Mabini, the brain
of the Revolution, belonged--men who, in attainment and culture,
can adorn the halls of any nation. Many of the prominent leaders of
today also had their training in those schools--Manuel L. Quezon,
Sergio Osmeña, T. Pardo de Tavera, Victorino Mapa, Florentino Torres,
Teodoro M. Kalaw, Juan Sumulong, Rafael Palma, and many others who
have held high positions in the government during the first years of
American sovereignty.
[Last Decades of Spanish Rule--The Coming of the Americans]
The last decades of Spanish rule were marked by several reforms,
but these reforms were altogether too conservative and came too
late. Consequently there was much discontent and the Filipinos,
in August, 1896, following the teachings of the Katipunan, rose in
revolt and sought to declare themselves independent of Spain. The
revolution extended throughout the archipelago. It was halted by the
Pact of Biac-na-Bato in December, 1897, only to be resumed early in
the year following, under the very eyes and later with the help of the
Americans, who appeared on the scene on May 1, 1898. The Filipinos
succeeded in wresting from Spain every foot of Philippine territory
except Manila which was surrendered to the Americans on August 13,
after simultaneous attacks by American and Filipino forces.
Soon afterwards the first republic in the Far East based on a
constitutional and representative government was established by the
Filipinos. It had received the commendation of several foreigners
among whom were the late Senator Hoar and John Barrett, ex-Director
of the Pan-American Union.
[Filipino-American War]
The downfall of the republic came as a result of the Filipino-American
war which broke out through a misunderstanding between America and
the Philippines and which lasted for three years. With the superior
forces of the United States it was naturally a one-sided struggle,
but it nevertheless showed once more the determination of the Filipino
people to have an independent national existence. They wanted no less
than an untrammeled republic free from any foreign control. They asked
that of the United States. But no definite assurance was given that
they would ultimately be freed. Had such assurances been given them
the Filipino-American war would have been avoided.
[The Establishment of civil government]
American civil government was established in the Islands in 1901
and 1902. Under this government the Philippines made remarkably
rapid strides along the road of progress. But the most significant
stride is perhaps the development of Philippine home rule, For it
should be known that today, with few exceptions, notably those of the
American Chief Executive and the American Vice-Governor, who is also
Secretary of Public Instruction, the Philippine government is run by
the Filipinos themselves.