3. THE ROLE OF THE MIDDLE CLASS
Composed of Spanish and
Chinese mestizos and natives
Looked down by the
Spaniards, who belong to
peninsulares (Spaniards born
in Spain) and insulares
(Spaniards born in the
Philippines)
Prior to 1870s, Filipinos were
the insulares or creoles
4. THE ROLE OF THE MIDDLE CLASS
The middle class began the
movement for reforms in their
attempt to win a “place in the
sun” and to end the abuses and
arrogance of colonial officials
They were looked upon with
suspicion by the masses due to
the perceived arrogance and
insolence of the latter.
The middle class sided with the
masses.
5. THE NATURE OF THE REFORM
MOVEMENT
This propaganda aims to exposed
the evils of Spanish colonialism,
particularly the abuses of the friars
and the guardia civil, in Madrid,
Spain.
Colonial officials in the Philippines
were reactionary
There was no clamor for
independence at first. Reformists’
main goal was the assimilation of
the Philippines, which was to
become a province of Spain, in a
peaceful manner
6. THE GREAT REFORMISTS
Firstgroup
• Suspected
Filibusteros
• Included the
creoles and
Spanish
mestizos in
the wake of
Cavite
Mutiny of
1872
Secondgroup
• Young men
sent to Spain
for studies
like Jose
Rizal
Thirdgroup
• Refugees
who left the
Phil. to
escape
persecution
• Most
prominent
were
Graciano
Lopez-Jaena
and Marcelo
H. del Pilar
8. THE FAILURE OF THE MOVEMENT
Spain was too preoccupied with its own internal
problems
Friars were too powerful
Reformists did not have sufficient means and
support from the public
Lack of funds which even jeopardized the
publication of La Solidaridad
Propagandists were divided
9. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
MOVEMENT
Copies of La
Solidaridad and
of Rizal’s novels
reached the
local ilustrados
Propaganda
materials
highlighted the
very lack of
freedom
A feeling of
empathy grew
among the
people
Led to the
founding of the
Katipunan
12. ROLE OF MASONRY
Filipino propagandists in Spain were affiliated
with Masonic lodges in Spain
Masonic movement were anti-friar
They were responsible for founding the Masonic
lodges in the Philippines and, in turn, helped to
recruit members and to fund propaganda work in
Spain
At the outbreak of the 1896 Revolution, Masonry
was already deeply entrenched in the Philippines
13. LA LIGA FILIPINA
Organized by Jose Rizal upon his
return in the Philippines in July,
1892.
Sought to involve the people
directly in the reform movement
Andres Bonifacio became one of
the founders
The primary aim was…
“to unite the whole archipelago into one
compact, vigorous, and homogenous
body.”
It was considered dangerous by
the Spanish authorities and Rizal
was arrested on July 6, 1992.
14. THE SPLIT
La Liga lay low after Rizal was arrested and
deportted
Cuerpo de
Compromisaros
• Conservative
grouped which
pledge to continue
supporting the La
Solidaridad
Katipunan
• The radicals led
by Bonifacio
devoted to a new
secret society
15. CENTURIES OF OPPRESSION,
EXPLOITATION, AND THE LAND
QUESTION
Colonial oppression caused common suffering
among the people. Since Bonifacio’s call for
separatism was a simple and direct solution, the
peasants quickly rallied to the revolutionary
movement
Greater awareness of common deprivation and
oppression was made possible by economic
progress in Manila
In the rural areas, the economic progress of the
19th century depressed the living standards of
the masses.
17. The economic
depression during
the period of 1891-
1895
The drought and
locust infestation in
Central Luzon in
June and July 1896
The convergence of
grievances between
the middle class and
the masses
The Katipunan
Immediate
causes
18. THE ECONOMIC DEPRESSION DURING
THE PERIOD OF 1891-1895
Unstable currency and
exchange fluctuations
Prices of sugar and hemp
fell disastrously
Scarcity and the higher cost
of importation raised the
prices of rice
19. THE DROUGHT AND LOCUST
INFESTATION IN CENTRAL LUZON IN
JUNE AND JULY 1896
Despite calamities, friar
landowners refused to
condone even parts of
the rent and in certain
cases even demanded
an increase
Misery and desperation
drove the peasants of
Luzon to the cause of
revolution
20. THE CONVERGENCE OF
GRIEVANCES BETWEEN THE
MIDDLE CLASS AND THE MASSES
It aggravated the unrest of Filipinos
Filipino professionals and university
graduates were seldom appointed to
government positions. Finding
employment was also difficult because of
racial discrimination
21. THE KATIPUNAN
The three
objective
of the
Katipunan
Political objective: to work for the separation of
the Philippines
Moral objective: to teach good manners,
hygiene, good morals, and to attack
obscurantism, religious fanaticism, and
weakness of character
Civic aim: to develop self-help and concern for
the defense of the poor and the oppressed
22. THE KATIPUNAN
Believing that only a united
people could achieve their
own freedom, the
Katipunan strove to lay the
basis for this unity by
fostering a stronger love of
country and encouraging
mutual aid.
24. RECRUITMENT, PROPAGANDA, AND
EXPANSION
Their newspaper, the Kalayaan, was
edited by Emilio Jacinto and also the
Kartilla ng Katipunan, primer used to
indoctrinate the members of the
Katipunan in its ideals
Tried to enlist the aid of wealthy Filipinos
but failed
25. RECRUITMENT, PROPAGANDA, AND
EXPANSION
Women’s chapter was also established
Attempted to seek the aid of the
Japanese but also failed
Katipuneros stole rifles and pistols from
the Spanish maestranza (arsenal)
26. DISCOVERY OF THE KATIPUNAN AND
THE START OF THE REVOLUTION
The betrayal of Teodoro Patiño in August 1896
Arrest and imprisonment of hundreds of Katipuneros
and of those being connected to the movement
“The Die is Cast” – the Cry of Pugadlawin (August 23,
1896) or the Cry of Balintawak (August 26, 1896).
*Still subject to contention by scholars
