POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES - STA.

MESA

COLLEGE OF ACCOUNTANCY AND FINANCE

A.Y. 2022-2023 FIRST SEMESTER

A CRITICAL PAPER ON
THE PHILIPPINES: A PAST REVISITED
From the Spanish Colonization to the Second World War

By Renato Constantino

In Partial Fulfillment of Requirements in Readings in Philippine History

Under Professor Jacinto Valila Jr.

Submitted By:

Norjanah A. Arsad

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Major in Financial Management 1-1

December 15, 2022

Renato Constantino is one of the renowned Filipino historians, nationalists, and educators
of the country, who had an immense contribution to Philippine nationalist historiography. He was
born on March 10, 1919. He was a historian who sought to reexamine Philippine history by
revisiting the past during the colonial period. For him, in order to progress the Filipinos' search for
true nationhood, Filipinos must have a valuable recollection of the past and learn from it. Renato
dedicated his life to promoting social justice, democratic rights, emancipation, and true
nationhood, therefore, he became one of the country's most influential Filipino writers in the 20th
century (Simbulan, 1999). One of Constantino's outstanding works, which gained high praise and
tremendous recognition in the country, is his book "The Philippines: A Past Revisited", which was
published by Tala Pub. Services in 1975.

Constantino's history book "The Philippines: A Past Revisited" examines the difficulties
faced by Filipinos during each stage of the Philippine federation's development and how these
hardships helped the Filipinos to emancipate themselves from being colonial subjects and
prisoners of war. Constantino, in his book, revealed how colonists and conquistadors exploited
Filipinos as objects of wealth and an expansion of their sphere of influence. Moreover, it is an
instrument for better comprehending how the Filipino people's trials and hardships at the hands
of the conquest prompted them to fight for their own independence and sovereignty. Also, it seeks
to explain the reason why Filipinos of that past were forced to live as slaves for a long time, in our
very own country, and how those experiences stoked our patriotism against the repressive and
duplicitous system.

However, Renato Constantino does not claim to disclose new findings in his book; rather,
he offers fresh perspectives on the previously presented information and well-established facts.
Despite being generally considered to be true, certain facts have questionable authenticity and
were tainted by the prejudice and biases of foreign sources. The people who made significant
contributions to arouse the minds of the Filipinos with the natural Philippine history emphasizing
the true struggles of the Filipino masses were Filipino historians who wrote Philippine history
through the lens of the Filipinos, revealing and correcting misconceptions and biases.
(Constantino, 1975, p. 1-2)
SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS

In the first chapter entitled "Towards the Liberation" the nationalism of Filipino historians
was demonstrated in several ways. By dispelling myths about Filipino history through writing,
some historians were able to free the minds of the people who had been held captive by Spanish
and American historiography. Some historians, based on their biases, exaggerated the bravery
of the "heroes" and national leaders, while others failed to acknowledge the contributions of
common people who also fought for revolutions, relegating them to a minor part of the struggle
for freedom.
Constantino believes that history is more than just a list of events in chronological order
or the biographies of prominent people. History is the chronicled lives and struggles of not just
one Filipino but the Filipino masses as a whole. Thus, the objective should be to create a
substantial Filipino history—the history of the Filipino people.
History should focus more on the difficulties of average people than on famous figures or
so-called "heroes". Rather than concentrating on and idealizing the national heroes, historians
must carefully explore the distinctions between the people who made up history. In order to
understand how society evolved, they must have a holistic understanding of the actual struggles
that everyone—from "ordinary people" to "heroes"—went through. A lack of understanding would
occur from focusing only on the heroes or great men. Biases would not exist in a mind that had
actually been decolonized, leading to a fuller and more accurate account of history.
History explains what happened in the past—the changes, developments, evolutions, and
a deeper look at social issues in society such as racism, discrimination, and oppression—and
how those events led the community to where it is in the present. Thus, history is crucial to
understanding what circumstances led the nation to this point.
In the next chapter entitled " The First Liberation", the nature of the Spanish society was
discussed, as well as the occurrences that spurred the vast colonization of Spaniards. To fully
comprehend the invasion of the country, it is crucial to grasp the system of the invading nation. In
this chapter, the result of the conquest of Spain by the Moors, also known as the Reconquista,
was shown, where this conquest gave birth to the power and great voyages of discovery of the
royal couple Ferdinand Magellan of Aragon and Isabella of Castile. Ferdinand and Isabella ruled
their respective kingdoms resulting in flourishing economies. Due to his exposure to the political
influences in Italy, Magellan developed a desire for the wealth and power that come with
conquering. Isabella, on the other hand, was fixated on being God's tool for the spread of the
Faith, which she felt to be her main responsibility on earth. Magellan was motivated to seek more
spices, believing that the state of the country's economy was based on the proportion of spices
that could be discovered and obtained. Due to excessive ambition, Ferdinand became dependent
on highly developed countries as they borrowed money to finance his voyage. The effort to
industrialize was impeded by the abundant resources of colonies. The obsession with finding gold
resulted in Spain's underdevelopment relative to England's expanding economy.
The wars of the Crusades gave Westerners the opportunity to develop new tastes for food,
luxuries, and other refinements of living. As a result, Ferdinand kept sailing and eventually
discovered the Philippines in 1521. As soon as the Spaniards discovered the East, the people of
the nation—as well as those of other developing nations—began to suffer at the hands of the
world's rapacious capitalists. The Spanish invaders dissimulated their true intentions of conquest
by instilling religion in the nation. Indigenous societies' natural growth was disrupted and
misdirected by the alien force of colonialism. Thus, the degree of economic development of
indigenous civilizations during the period of conflict with colonization must be examined as we
assess the nature of Spanish society at the time of the conquest.
The Muslim South was acknowledged to have the most advanced social structure in the
nation under the Spanish occupation. Due to the Islamization of Mindanao and Sulu that they
received from their neighbors, they were the only ones that the Spanish did not conquer. As a
result of its consequent isolation, it was able to maintain its native traditions and culture and
continue to be influenced by Islam. The Muslim region was treated as foreign territory throughout
the Spanish occupation and the Muslims were not seen as a part of the growing society.
The nation was still in a state of transition when the Spaniards arrived. Inhabitants lived
in primitive economic units with a system of substance agriculture which provided them barely
enough of their needs. The projected population of the nation was less than a million people,
according to the tribute census that Governor Gomez Perez Dasmariñas ordered.
The country's social unit was called a barangay, which comes from the Malay word
balangay, which means "boat." Because the sea was the primary source of sustenance, the
majority of the communities were coastal, near-coastal, and riverine. Also, during this period,
people were distinguished based on the social community they belonged to. As to the chiefs were
in charge of running each community, followed by the freemen, who assisted the chiefs in
bettering the community, and lastly, the dependents, who were at the lowest level, were those
people who became slaves to pay off debts.
In the primitive economy of the Philippines, the Filipinos experienced extreme scarcity
from food to clothing, where most common people only lived on scraps of food and wore wild
banana leaves. If it were carefully considered, the Philippines has a wealth of resources that
Filipinos could use to trade with wealthy nations, for instance, the gold that can be acquired
through mining, but they choose not to because they were content with their way of life and the
underdeveloped nature of the nation. The Philippines' crops and natural resources were taken up
by the rapacious Spaniards. The land that was once intended to be shared by everyone in the
community was perverted by the Spaniards to become their own and turn it into private land.
The horrifying suffering that Filipinos endured at the hands of the Philippines' avaricious
and violent Encomenderos was highlighted in the following chapter, "Pacification and
Exploitation." Encomiendas refer to lands in the Philippines entrusted by King Philip II to the
encomenderos to administer and protect. The encomenderos were the people assigned to
oversee and manage the Encomienda as well as its indigenous inhabitants. There were three
responsibilities assigned to the encomenderos: protecting the natives by upholding law and order
within the encomienda, assisting the missionaries in their efforts to baptize the locals in the
Catholic faith, and aiding in colony defense. In return, the encomenderos were entitled to collect
tribute from all male residents between the ages of 19 and 60 in exchange for these services. But
because of greed and desire to seize the chance to become rich as quickly as possible, none of
the king's instructions were carried out, which led to widespread bribery, corruption, and the harsh
exploitation of the masses.
Generally speaking, the encomienda system was marked by greed and cruelty. The
Filipinos were subjected to cruel treatment and torture by the encomenderos. They demanded
more money from them than had been agreed upon, and if they were unable to pay, the chiefs
tasked with collecting the agreed-upon tributes from the inhabitants were tortured, sold, and, in
the worst-case scenario, assassinated. As a result, many people remained unmarried, and others
killed their children. Along with being forced to pay tribute, Filipinos also endured forced labor,
also known as "Polo y Servicio," forced sales of their goods to the government at a discount, and
a system known as "divide and rule" in which the locals were enlisted to train to protect the
Spanish government.
Along with being subjected to torture at the hands of encomenderos and government
agents, Filipinos also endured a great deal of suffering as a result of the warfare between the
Spaniards, Portuguese, and Dutch. After each attack, the Spaniards forced the Filipinos to create
food and tools that would be needed in the struggle against them, which was actually impossible
for the people to produce as even they solely depended on subsistence agriculture.
Aside from the encomienda system, the hacienda system, a byproduct of continued
development and a new method of suffering for the Filipinos, was implemented when Spanish
possession of the majority of the country's land was complete. It was predicated on cultivating
special crops like tobacco, sugarcane, etc. primarily for export rather than for domestic
consumption. In other words, for the benefit of capitalists' development. The hacinderos— former
encomenderos or possibly relatives of an encomendero—as well as the friars were the only ones
to benefit from this system's economic improvement and change. Since the hacienda system still
exists and is used in our nation nowadays, it is crucial to study and understand this period of our
history. In this system, the Alcalde Mayor (governor), who amassed tributes, controlled provincial
trade, and profited in usury, established towns, and provinces. The governor cello is chosen by
the principalia, which is made up of previous governor cellos and the barangays, to lead the town.
The proposal to abandon the Philippines was proposed to the Spaniards as the colony did
not meet the initial expectations of the conqueror of the country. But because of the friars'
suggestion that the Philippines could be used as a base for future maneuvers, like as missionary
and military stations, the use of Spaniards in the Philippines, even among Filipinos, remained.
With the exception of the meager impacts of encomenderos, Spanish officials, and friars,
the Philippine colony's economy remained mostly undeveloped for two hundred years. The lack
of interest in advancing the nation's economy was partly a result of the galleon trade. Only
Spaniards based in Manila participated in this commerce for more than two centuries, up to 1815.
Manila only functions as a transshipment point for the trade carried out by galleons, which
prevents any economic development in the nation.
The agony endured by the Filipinos at the hands of the corrupt and wicked friars was also
portrayed in the following chapter. As I paid great attention, I realized that the friars inflicted more
suffering on the natives than the encomenderos because of the cruelty and selfishness they
displayed against the Filipinos to carry out their disastrous schemes. The friars asserted
ownership of their estates in order to fortify their state in the Philippines. They obtained the land
via royal bequest, purchases of state and native lands, and foreclosures of mortgages, in which
the natives mortgaged their lands whenever they did not give the friars the full percentage due,
leading to their eviction or designation as tenants in their own lands or else as squatters.
As early as the second or third decade of occupation, abuses such as the friar's excessive
interference in the natives' daily lives, personal insult, corporal punishment such as sexual
assaults against native women, lashing and whipping of both women and men for the slightest
offense, hefty charges for confessions and other religious ceremonies, and the native's apparent
degradation to a slave and servant of the friar were all being committed. Due to both their
established economic power and their spiritual influence over both the Spanish officials and the
indigenous, the friars had grown to be far too powerful. These abuses, inhumane treatments, and
the economic dominance of friars not only sparked a new kind of awakening but also served as a
further means of bringing the populace together.
The natives began to revolt as a result of the friars and Spaniards' repeated cruel
treatment of them. These people still desire to fight for their lands, rights, and liberty against the
oppressors who exploited them whilst many accepted the friar's control. The natives' actions
began to fight against the evil ones and demonstrate their unity under the leadership of several
individuals in their respective regions, including Lapu-Lapu, the chief of Mactan, and Dabao, the
chieftain of Manobo. Due to the betrayals of some people to their fellow Filipinos, some of these
uprisings were unsuccessful in moving further. However, some revolutionary groups in certain
areas of the nation were successful in assassinating several Friars and Spaniards, which reduced
their overall population in the country. Despite the uprising's numerous favorable outcomes, a
lack of resources, education, and cohesion led to the barbaric execution of the uprising's leaders
as well as a large number of Filipinos.
In the 18th century, the Philippines opened up to international trade and experienced some
economic growth due to the influence of the English and Chinese in the country, not Spaniards.
Many Chinese flocked to the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era because of the country's
abundance of economic prospects. The Chinese trade activity in the Philippines helped maintain
baranganic societies afloat. Thus, both Chinese settlers and the Chinese mestizos are considered
to have contributed significantly to the economic development of the Philippines.
Between 1820 and 1870, the Philippine economy underwent a significant transition.
Finally, an economic system in which the still-distinct Western, indigenous, and Chinese
economies became a component of an interconnected whole was generated by the establishment
of an export-crop economy. The emergence of a national market was apparent, as was domestic
development. Regionalization of production was further aided by the country's economic
unification.
The dispersed and fragmented uprisings against the Spaniards served as the earliest
inspiration for the idea of nationhood. However, the lack of a material foundation for a nation
prevented these spontaneous responses to various forms of exploitation and abuse from uniting
the people. Furthermore, the colonial policy of purposefully keeping the populace ignorant by
severely restricting educational possibilities and stifling the diffusion of novel ideas further slowed
the development of national consciousness.
The ilustrados were the articulators. They belonged to the social classes that the growing
national economy gave rise to. These young men were able to gain from the educational
opportunities provided at the time by a liberalized Spanish colonial policy since their families had
benefited from the nation's economic success. Some of them traveled to Manila to study, while
the more affluent families sent their young men to Spain. The outcomes of the new educational
programs in less than a generation served as the first representatives of the concerns and
ambitions of the populace.
The development of the Filipino notion coincided with the growth of the nationhood
concept. It was initially only used by those who benefited from economic development, including
creoles, Spanish and Chinese mestizos, and urbanized natives. However, as Filipino minds
continued to develop and become more aware, it eventually came to be used as the identity of all
Filipinos, regardless of their racial background or socioeconomic standing.
The Propaganda Movement was established as a result of the desire to reform the
Philippines. The movement urges the Spanish government to be conscious of what is actually
happening in the colony, hoping that the government would implement changes. This movement
gave rise to three different groups. The first one was filibusteros, which includes Españoles-
Filipinos and Spanish mestizos. The second consisted of young men who were sent to study in
Spain. Marcelo H. del Pilar and Graciano Lopez Jaena were the most prominent of the latter.
Refugees escaping from persecution on the islands joined these two groups. The foundation of
La Solidaridad in Barcelona on December 13, 1888, under the leadership of Galicano Apacible,
Rizal's cousin, fulfilled the initiative of the third group to develop a solely Filipino organization.
However, Apacible was unable to maintain unity among the quarreling reformists. To unite and
organize the Filipino population in Spain, it took the stature of Rizal and the political acumen of
del Pilar.
Early attempts to produce a propaganda organ were unsuccessful for the same reasons
the associations had been unsuccessful—a lack of funds, a lack of cohesion, conflicts, petty
jealousies, and personal ambitions. But in February 1889, the propagandists in the Philippines
were able to unite behind a new publication, called La Solidaridad, which for the next more than
five years served as the main vehicle for the propaganda movement.
The propaganda movement called for social and political freedom for Filipinos through the
pages of La Solidaridad, as well as freedom of the press, expression, and assembly, as well as
equality before the law, and participation in governmental activities. The propagandists demanded
reforms across every area of government, the assistance of education, an end to Guardia Civil
abuses, and the arbitrary expulsion of citizens. The friars were vilified by the authors of La
Solidaridad as the rivals of enlightenment and liberal change.
However, La Solidaridad was halted as a result of certain factors. As a result, Rizal
established the Liga Filipina. Rizal took this action in an effort to bring about change and combat
the Spaniards without resorting to bloodshed. The new uprising aspires to bring together Filipinos
who are prepared to battle for our nation's liberty.
The Propaganda Movement's final remaining point of power was Jose Rizal's exile to
Dapitan. Because of Andres Bonifacio and other radical members' disagreement with Rizal's
goals for the nonviolent struggle, the Liga Filipina disintegrated and lost its members. Andres
Bonifacio, the founder of the Katipunan, understood what it was like to be both destitute and a
man of action with radical ideals, thus he refrained from joining the Compromisarios who were
seen as being too conservative. He was adamant that only a bloody revolution could bring about
the welfare and greater good of the Filipino people.
Former Liga Filipina member, Andres Bonifacio, founded the Katipunan, a group of
revolutionists laborers, peasants, and individuals who had suffered great tyranny at the hands of
the abusive landlords and Spaniards, in order to continue the fight for the independence of the
Philippines. The Katipunan's primary mission is to foster a sense of national identity and struggle
for the liberation of the Filipino people from Spanish colonialism and friar oppression. The
Katipunan aimed to establish the foundation for such unification by creating a stronger love for
the nation and encouraging mutual aid as they felt that only a united people could achieve its own
salvation. Without regard to their economic state, it perceived all Filipinos as "equals and
brothers."
Under the leadership of Andres Bonifacio and other Katipunan members, Filipinos
gradually came united, initiated several uprisings in various parts of the nation, and ultimately
succeeded in putting down huge numbers of parish priests and Spanish troops. On the other
hand, Emilio Aguinaldo oversaw the uprisings in Cavite together with the two provincial councils
known as Magdiwang and Magdalo. Being educated and holding opposing beliefs, they poisoned
the minds of the Caviteños to disobey the leadership of Katipunan and support Aguinaldo.
Despite being part of the lower middle class and uneducated, Bonifacio was a glorious
leader who was devoted to the people and had a firm stance in the fight to attain the independence
of the country and its people. Whereas Aguinaldo, an educated illustrados who could lead the
revolution, chose to indulge the envy and fear of the power of Bonifacio, which led to him accusing
Bonifacio of making false accusations and finally having him executed. Filipinos, once again,
endured unprecedented difficulties at the hands of the Spaniards under Aguinaldo's direction as
he rebuilt the revolution. After countless battles between Aguinaldo's party and the Spaniards, the
colonizers eventually defeated them and recaptured many parts of the country.
While the Filipinos continued to fight for the Katipunan's objectives, coward Aguinaldo and
his fellow illustrados gave the Philippines to the Spaniards in exchange for their safety and the
equivalent of $400,000 to flee the nation. The illustrados revolution is "ready to fight but ready to
retreat.
The United States had the chance to establish its own control in Cuba and the Philippines
because of the Spanish-Cuban War. Dewey oversaw a squadron of American ships that, on May
1, in Manila Bay, annihilated the Spanish armada before the war even broke out. Filipino-
American cooperation in the struggle against the Spanish was Felipe Agoncillo's suggestion to
the Americans. In exchange for the Americans providing the Filipinos with weapons and
ammunition, he offered the Americans two provinces and the Manila customs house. Americans
turned down the offer, though, as they were not yet prepared to discuss business at that time.
Aguinaldo obeyed General Dewey's order to return to the Philippines and continue the uprising
against the Spaniards and won several victories over Spanish forces.
The Americans enter the scene just as the Filipinos are about to achieve their long-fought
independence by convincing the people that they have no intention of annexing the Philippines,
but only want to help them attain their independence from Spain. Their ability to manipulate and
hide their true intentions makes them so convincing that even Aguinaldo believed in their words
and agreed to the alliance.
The Philippines became free to the Spaniards, but they were soon taken over by the
Americans. Once again, Aguinaldo and illustrados betray the country as just when they thought
they drew out the Spanish colonizer, they welcomed another colonizer, the Americans. The First
Philippine Republic was founded with the help of the Malolos Congress, and Emilio Aguinaldo
was chosen to serve as its first president.
The Americans gradually showed their true intentions, which were to colonize the
country. Given that they were led by naive, self-serving, and opportunistic leaders, the Filipino
people were blind to this reality. There were underlying tensions between the Americans and the
Filipinos that eventually led to war. Then it took place. Despite his attempts to prevent it, Aguinaldo
declared war on the US after the Americans fired the opening shots. The war started in Manila
and ended with Filipino defeat—despite some victories and efforts of revolutionaries. Aguinaldo
was captured and pledged allegiance to Americans; however, there were still several Filipino
revolutionaries who remained and fought on until they died in battle or imprisonment.
To appease the Filipinos and establish the Philippines as a colonized nation, Americans
used the English language, the public education system, and a rapid Filipinization of the
bureaucracy. Americanization, the gradual progress towards independence, and the introduction
of new philosophies altered Filipino perceptions of Americans. The system of public schools,
where English had been the primary medium of instruction, served as the primary facilitator of
Americanization. Compared to the legacy of the Spanish in the Philippines which is the Catholic
religion, the American heritage in the country is the colonial education, which remains in the
Philippines to this day, preventing Filipinos from standing on their own feet.
Bonifacio's fate repeated itself when General Luna died because of Aguinaldo. The only
difference is that in Bonifacio's death there was a clear order to Aguinaldo, but in Luna's death,
the only evidence is that Aguinaldo has something to do with the letter that came from him, asking
him to travel to Cabanatuan.
The Commonwealth of the Philippines was established on November 15, 1935. The
establishment underwent leading changes towards becoming a new colony. The Philippines'
neocolonial status was secured by maintaining economic ties, and as a result, the country became
increasingly dependent on the United

Conclusion

Renato Constantino was able to meticulously convey the events, concepts, views, and
facts concerning our history in his genuinely exceptional masterpiece of literature, "The Philippine:
A Past Revisited." The book was successful in achieving its objective—to present a clear
manifestation of Philippine history. He succeeded in acknowledging and shedding light on the
challenges the Filipino people experienced in attaining independence, which I find to be the most
interesting because it provides me with new viewpoints on our history. Moreover, he was also
able to reveal the complex characters of the so-called "heroes" and their contributions to the
progress of the Philippines in achieving its independence. The information presented in the book
contrasted significantly with what I had learned in elementary and high school. He delivered the
information logically, taking into account various points of view, which helped me better
understand what "liberation" actually meant.

The lesson from the book that imprinted on me the most is that our current society is
mostly a product of history. It provides an explanation for how we got into our present situation.
The struggles that our people underwent made it possible for the ideologies and philosophies, our
way of life, and society to start developing and continually grow. Even now, we continue to
confront challenges and issues in the present.

We study history not just to prevent repeating the mistakes made by our ancestors, but
also to serve as a reminder of how the present has been shaped by the past. According to WISC
(n.d.) by analyzing how the past has affected and is still forming relationships between societies
and individuals on a local, national, and global scale, studying history aids us in understanding
and addressing difficult challenges and dilemmas. History provides a crucial perspective for
comprehending and resolving present and future issues because it provides us with the
knowledge necessary to analyze and explain past issues. This knowledge enables us to
recognize patterns that might otherwise have been overlooked in the present. History is not
shaped by a select few people, but by the entire country. Therefore, we must commemorate that
history is created not just by the winners but by everyone.

Reference:

Constantino, R., & Constantino, L. R. (1975). The Philippines: A Past Revisited. Quezon City:
Tala Pub. Services Quotes

Simbulan, R. G. (2007). Renato Constantino: The Centennial Filipino Scholar, 1919 – 1999.
Journal of Contemporary Asia, 405-409.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00472330080000301?journalCode=rjoc20&#:~:te
xt=Renato%20Constantino%20was%20the%20Filipino,Filipino%27s%20quest%20for%20genui
ne%20nationhood

Why should you study history? (n.d.). Department of History.