Overview of Spanish Colonization in the Philippines

Aug 22, 2024

Notes on the Spanish Colonization of the Philippines

Early Attempts and Failures

  • After Magellan's disastrous experience in the Philippines, Spain did not attempt colonization until 1542.
  • Ruy López de Villalobos Expedition (1542):
    • Departed from Mexico with 6 ships and 400 people.
    • Ignored navigator's advice and landed in Mindanao.
    • Struggled due to isolation, bad weather, and lack of supplies, leading to illness among the crew.
    • Eventually claimed Sarangani for Spain, naming it after Crown Prince Philip.
    • Encountered Portuguese claims to the territory, leading to diplomatic tensions.
    • Ultimately captured by the Portuguese; Villalobos jailed, survivors sent to Lisbon.

The Establishment of Spanish Rule

  • Miguel López de Legazpi Expedition (1564):
    • Departed from Mexico and reached the Philippines in February 1565.
    • Captured Cebu, marking the first Spanish colony.
    • Expanded to Panay in 1568; faced conflicts with Muslim pirates.
    • Conquistador Martin de Goiti conquered Maynila and Tondo; Maynila renamed Nueva Castilla.

Colonial Administration and Culture

  • Rapid growth of colonies through settlement from Spain and the Americas.
  • Colonization involved both force and cultural influence.
  • Catholic missionaries established schools and hospitals, influencing local culture.
  • Spanish built presidios (fortresses) to defend against external attacks.

Local Resistance and External Conflicts

  • 1587: Local Datus conspired to overthrow Spanish rule.
    • Attempts to ally with Brunei and Borneo failed.
    • Conspiracy revealed via a spy; conspirators executed.
  • Ongoing conflicts with:
    • Portuguese: Tensions until the 1580 Iberian Union.
    • Chinese Pirates: Constant nuisance.
    • Japanese Claims: Occasional claims of control, leading to trade normalization.
    • Muslim States: Attacks driven by religious and territorial motives.
    • Dutch Forces: Conflict arose from the broader Eighty Years’ War.

Spanish Governance and Economic Exploitation

  • Spanish rule seen as legitimate after a 1599 referendum.
  • Philippines integrated into the Viceroyalty of New Spain.
  • Economic exploitation of natural resources, with agriculture focused on cash crops (tobacco, coffee, sugar).
  • Limited trade to Spain and Spanish holdings.

British Invasion and Temporary Occupation (1762)

  • British seized Manila during the Seven Years’ War.
  • Manila bombarded; Spanish defenses proved inadequate.
  • Archbishop Rojo negotiated a ransom agreement; a Spanish government in exile formed.
  • Fighting continued until an armistice was declared in early 1764.

Shifts and Emerging Nationalism (19th Century)

  • 1834: Trade opened to the world; privatization of communal farms.
  • Emergence of a Filipino middle class; influence of European ideas of liberty.
  • Propaganda Movement:
    • Sought civil rights and representation in Spanish Parliament.
    • Ended with the arrest of José Rizal.
  • Katipunan Movement:
    • Philippine Revolution began in August 1898 for independence.

The End of Spanish Rule

  • Conflict between Spain and the Philippines combined with the Cuban War for Independence.
  • May 1, 1898: Battle of Manila Bay; marked the end of Spanish colonial rule.
  • Establishment of the First Philippine Republic in June 1898 under Emilio Aguinaldo.
  • US refusal to recognize the new state led to the Philippine-American War.
  • The Philippines became a US territory, maintaining this status until 1946.