Polytechnic University of the Philippines Santa Rosa Campus A Term Paper Entitled COLONIAL INFLUENCES OF THE SPANIARDS IN THE PHILIPPINES Presented by: Maybelyn U. Catindig, BSEM 3-1 Presented to: Prof. N. Silva I. Introduction Spain is known for its history of exploring and conquering lands during the Age of Exploration in 16th century. There were many undiscovered lands during those times and in search of the east countries of the world, Spain was able to discover the Philippine archipelago and colonize it.
As an official colony of Spain, settlements were made by the Spanish natives and they were able to establish communities. They called the natives indios and converted their religion to Roman Catholic. They created political, economic and social systems in the archipelago that truly made a mark in the cultural evolution of the natives. As the Spaniards rule over the archipelago, they demonstrated practices of administering the colony to maintain their power. Within the long duration of colonizing the Philippines, Spanish influences are evident in the practices and way of life of the Filipinos in all aspects.
Those influences gave an impact on the Filipino society from those times up to the present. In line with the Spain’s conquest of lands, Mexico was also a colony of Spain and was actually the Crown colony. They were also demonstrated colonial practices by Spain. But Mexico has a distinct characteristic that made it different from the Philippines as Spain’s colony. Mexicans were able to acquire Spanish language fluency while Filipinos don’t. This is a big question because how come Mexico learned the language while it is just one of the colonies of Spain like the Philippines?
We will try to figure out the answers to the questions and also to present aspects of Spanish influence in the Philippines. II. Statement of the Problem This term paper is sought to find answers to the following questions: 1. Why are the Filipinos not as fluent as Mexicans in using the Spanish language? 2. What are the negative political practices of Spaniards that were acquired by the Filipino politicians and how do these affect the current political scenario in the country? III. Body/ Content The Reasons Why Filipinos are not as Fluent as Mexicans in Spanish Language
The main reason why the Filipinos were not fluent in using the Spanish language is because the Spaniards did not let every Filipino study the language so that they could be extinguished as Spanish aristocracies from the indios by exclusively using the language. Only the Spaniards and mestizo de espanoles were allowed to study, hence only few were educated and able to learn the language. Although as we can observe there is still Spanish influence in our language (inevitable due to the very long Spanish occupation in the country) like “silya” (chair) and “alas diyes” (10 o’clock), but still we were not able to learn the real Spanish language.
Those words were just formulated by the Filipinos because of frequent hearing from the Spaniards. Another thing is that most of the Spanish government who happened to be the Catholic Church was not supportive in educating the native indios with Spanish language because, as mentioned earlier, to be extinguished as aristocrats. They were not able to provide enough facilities and equipments for academic purposes and sometimes discourage teachers (Filipinos) in educating them. Unlike Spain’s other olony, Mexico, the Mexicans are very fluent in speaking Spanish due to being Spain’s Crown colony. The country was being subsidized more than the Philippines and formal education was made in every native Indians (later on were called Mexicans) without discrimination unlike in Philippine colony. During their first year of the conquest in Mexico, the task of the Spaniards was solely to impart on the ‘Indians’ the Christian doctrine and the Spanish language in order to civilize them.
In 1523, two years after the fall of the Aztec Empire, the Franciscan monks, led by Friar Pedro of Gante, founded the first school of the continent in Texaco, and designed to teach the Indians. In 1527, the same friar Pedro founded la Capilla de San Jose de los Naturales within which was the Gran Escuela dedicated to the teaching of primary studies for children and Arts and Professions for adults. Another factor why Mexicans have strong fluency in Spanish language is because of the large settlements made by the Spaniards in to the Mexican territory.
During the three centuries of colonial rule, less than 700,000 Spaniards, most of them men settled in Mexico. The settlers intermarried with indigenous women, fathering the mixed race (mestizo) descendents who today constitute the majority of Mexico’s population. Many Mexicans were able to learn Spanish language through those Spanish settlers who created families with the Mexicans. The Negative Political Practices of the Spaniards That Were Acquired By The Filipino Politicians and Its Effects on the Current Political Scenario
For 333 years of Spanish Colonial era in the Philippines, it’s undeniable that we Filipinos have inherited a lot of things from the Spaniards. Aside from the traits and culture, we were also able to inherit political practices and unluckily, many of those were not good. Because of their unfair treatment and administration in the Philippines as their colony, it was inevitable that they created negative impacts on the Philippine society up to the present. Our national hero, Dr.
Jose Rizal has written very popular novels entitled “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo” which reflects the scenario in the Philippines while in the hands of the Spaniards. He made the characters of the novel come to life that portrayed the improper administration of the Spanish government. If you will notice the characters of the novel, it seems that they did not just live during that time but they were still alive right now! The Spanish influence has indeed made a great impact in our society that’s why the nightmares of the yesterday were still alive at present and seems like it will never leave us.
It was mentioned in the 31st chapter of the novel “El Filibusterismo” the capture of Basilio, a medicine student with a real great love for his country and mankind, in a crime that he did not really do. He was jailed without justice in his hands and the government had really no intention of setting him free specially that time when Basilio would be graduating from his degree and that’s a threat for the government. They dislike the thought that an indio will soon be a professional and that means an additional opponent of the Spanish government.
Same as today, whoever opposes the government would likely receive a death threat for just a few days. Another was mentioned in the 35th chapter that includes the issue of corruption of an outgoing Governor General. He was sad that his 3 years term would soon end. Despite of his grief, he was suddenly happy remembering his big savings in a bank in Europe and he was able to construct a hotel. He already prepared in his exit in the government. Same as today, the true motives of the politicians are really not public service but the benefits that they can get by corrupting the “kaban ng bayan”.
Just like the Governor General, many politicians were also like him that prepares their exit in the term so they can assure their economic stability. Another political issue was mentioned in the 2nd chapter of the same novel which set an example of bribery during the Spanish regime. Determined to establish the proposed “Akademya ng Wikang Kastila”, the students namely Isagani and Basilio had to give the friar Padre Sibyla two (2) stallion horses just to promise to approve the proposal and help the students in establishing the said academy.
This situation is the same in the current times, but this time it’s the other way around. The politicians, as their way to win the elections, give “suhol” to every voter that agrees to the condition of either voting him or not voting at all (because a politician knows who are the sure voters of his rivals). This happens during elections and indeed, we Filipinos are used to this. Whatever we do, we cannot stop this. Our eyes are already open but many just have to disregard the reality because of a single yet a very powerful factor, poverty.
IV. Summary The reason why many Filipinos were uneducated with the Spanish language was simply because the Spaniards did not want us to learn because they always want to be the best over the Filipinos. Mexicans are one of the best Spanish-speaking people because they were once the Crown colony of Spain and they were lucky because they were subsidized by the Spain for them to embrace Christianity and be civilized, and a lot of their people settled in Mexico and made a lot of mestizo families there.
The political condition of the present time in the Philippines was undeniably influenced by the Spanish colonization due to the very long period of occupation of Spaniards. Unluckily, we inherited some of the negative political practices of the Spaniards like corruption, bribery and unfair justice. V. Historical Lesson Despite all of irregularities, it doesn’t mean that we will stop making a difference. We Filipinos should be proud of being free, love and maintain the democracy, and never make anything that will destroy the reputation of our country. We should always believe on the spirit of nationalism that will lead us to peace and success.
