READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY GUIDE 4

1ST SEMESTER
Spanish Influences on the Filipino Society to their physical characteristics, qualities, or to some
coincidental events.
What is a Filipino?
•For instance, is a baby girl was born with a tan skin then
How did the Spanish colonization change the Filipino the name to be made for her was nearly the same with
Identity? that skin color. Additionally, if a newly born male baby
was looking strong, that baby would be names si Malakas.
“Filipinos lived in a free and egalitarian society before
the Spanish colonization.” •The lack of surnames confused the Spaniards especially
those names that are the same. As a result, they prepared
“Filipinos had a simple and communal life before the a long list of surnames for the Filipinos to choose from.
Spanish Colonization.”
Spanish Surnames for Filipinos:
Spanish Colonization
-First names of Filipinos were from the saints (Juan from
-Political system San Juan)
-Religious practices -Gov. Gen. Narciso Claveria issued an order on Nov.21,
-Education 1849 which gave Spanish surnames to the Filipino families.
He sent lists of Spanish family names to the authorities of
-Arts/Sports/Clothing provinces & towns. (Gomez, Reyes, Santos)
-Architectural structures -Many Filipino families became loyal to their Malayan
descendants’ surnames (Batungbakal, Magbanua,
-Attitudes/Cultures Sumulong, Tonogbanua, Kalaw, Makapagal)
-Food Spanish Influences on Filipino Food
June 24, 1571, Manila was proclaimed as the capital of •The strongest culinary influence is from Spain which ruled
the Spanish colonial administration in the Philippines. the Philippines for almost 333 years. Food historians claim
On May 8, 1570, they arrived in Manila and were that 80 percent of Philippine dishes are Spain origin.
welcomed by natives and formed an alliance with Rajah •Because the Spaniards formed the elite, dishes adapted
Sulayman, a Muslim king who ruled the place at that time. by upper-class Filipinos were also Spanish inspired.
However, the local sensed the true objectives of the
Spaniards and a battle between the troops of Sulayman •Thus, many of the party and fiesta dishes and those
and the Spaniards erupted. As the Spaniards were heavily served for special occasions bear names like relleno,
armed, they were able to conquer Manila. morcon, paella, callos, embutido, caldereta, adobo,
menudo, etc.
After hearing that the city had been conquered, Legazpi
came to join Goiti in Manila. He formed a peace pact with •Rice is the main staple corn is substitute in other places.
the native councils, Rajah Sulayman and Rajan Lakandula. Filipinos prefer to have the entire meal laid out on the
table when they eat, rather than have the dishes served
Catholic Missionaries Forcibly converted the native into one by one.
Catholics.
•Filipinos eat with forks and spoons, but in rural areas some
The Spanish Army entered the Philippine Archipelago for people prefer to eat with their hands.
the official Colonization.
Architectural Structures
The Natives Succumbed to the forces of the Spaniards
because of a Superior Army, weapons, and Scientific •They organized the town layout like a chessboard, with
military strategy. the plaza as the center surrounded by the most important
buildings of the colonial rule.
Changes Made by the Spaniards
•Military architecture developed out of the need for
Filipinos’ Surnames and change of native names: protection against foreign and indigenous enemies that the
•Before the Spanish invasion to the Philippines, the Filipinos Spaniards gained in the process of colonization.
had no surnames. The native Filipino parents were •As Christianity was brought in, different religious orders
acquainted in naming their sons and daughters according built large and castle like churches and conventos with
READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY GUIDE 4
1ST SEMESTER
western influences on their design like Baroque, Rococo, •They seemed to fit to the Filipino’s penchant for outward
Gothic, Romanesque, Byzantine, and Neo-classic motifs. expressions as spiritual articulations of their relationship
with the divinity.
•The bahay kubo persisted even during the Spanish period
with some improvements. As the economy and the mestizo •The missionaries forced the natives to build a little altar
class rose, people were able to build bahay na bato which in their houses.
retained the basic cube structure of its precedent but with
its ground floor enclosed in stone walls. •The painting of crosses on arms, houses, along roads, at
strategic places, on top of mountains, in their own fields,
•A notable administrative structure was the Casa del etc.,
Ayuntamiento which housed government offices and
served as a venue for banquets. The municipio, a smaller •The recitation of the Angelus three times a day also
version, represented the power of the central government became a popular devotion in the poblaciónes.
in other towns. Schools, hospitals, theaters, cockpits, among •Reading of the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ and
others were constructed for social functions. Praying of the rosary.
•The boom in commercial activity paved the way for •Christmas Season
sidewalk stalls and factories to be built.
•The missionaries took advantage of the Filipinos’
Manila became a replica of a European medieval city. giftedness in singing, dancing, and acting hence making
There were churches, palaces and city hall built in the these practices more appealing to the latter.
Spanish baroque style. In 1574, Manila was bestowed the
title “Insigne y Siempre leal Ciudad de Espana” •Fiesta Culture/Flores De Mayo
(Distinguished and ever loyal city of Spain) by King Philip
Government
II.
•When the Spaniards came in our country, our ancestors
By the end of the 16th century, Manila had become a
had already a form of government. But this form of
leading commercial center of east Asia, carrying on a
government was changed by the Spaniards. They changed
flourishing trade with China, India, and the East Indies.
it to centralized government by creating towns, cities, and
Houses provinces.

-Houses also became a status symbol Education

-Rich people lived in a large houses •During the Spanish colonization, Filipinos were given a
chance to receive a formal education. Many schools and
-Poor people lived in the same houses that were universities were built like Ateneo de Manila and
introduced during the pre-colonial period University of Santo Tomas. Filipinos were also taught how
Town Plaza to read and speak Spanish.

Intramuros (seat of Political Power) •Classroom

Catholic Churches •Books written by Spaniards

Ayuntamiento (City Hall) •Spanish priests became the teachers

Sidewalks Clothing, Arts, Sports

Schools and Universities •The Spaniards also exposed the Filipinos in different
types of music, dancing, and musical instruments. Our way
Religious and Liturgical Practices of clothing also changed. Filipinos learned to wear shoes,
pants, skirts, hats, and socks. They also brought
•The priests interpreted the Bible for the Indios recreational games that changed the lifestyle of Filipinos.
•Holy week, sanctorum (religious contribution during Many Filipinos were also taught how to design and build
confessions), feast days of obligation, devotion to the buildings, how to draw and paint, and how to compose
saints, and the misa de Aguinaldo (Christmas dawn songs.
masses). •Changes in Clothing became a status symbol and a way
to distinguish the natives from the Spaniards.
READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY GUIDE 4
1ST SEMESTER
Amusement •Strong family ties, sociability (they talk a lot), lack of
“religion” (most Spaniards are raised Catholic but are not
•Sabong was a widely recognized form of entertainment. devout)
•Converted into a gambling activity: encouraged by the •Strong determination to avoid conflict.
Spanish government to collect more taxes.
•” Spaniards are carefree, “lazy” or “less productive”
•Other games like horse racing, bullfighting etc. were also
introduced by the Spaniards. Influences on attitudes and behavior
•Most of these were evident during fiestas. Lazy and carefree
Different Social Classes as a result of Spanish -Ningas Kugon attitude, there is always full of enthusiasm
Colonization at first, but it fades along the way. It resulted to unfinished
work.
• Peninsulares- Spanish nationals who came from Spain
-Manyana habit or procrastination
• Insulares- Spanish individuals that were born in the
Philippines -Taking long breaks or ‘siesta’
• Spanish Mestizo- Half Pinoy (M)/ Half Spanish (F) Religious Fanaticism
• Mestizo de Sangley- Half Pinoy (M)/ Half Chinese (F) -Bahala na attitude or fatalism, Filipinos became carefree,
and do not strive hard. They believe that God will provide.
• Indios- Locals; full blooded Natives
-Gambling like cockfighting, horse racing, playing cards
The Hispanization of Culture of Filipinos
-Nepotism or kamaganak system, bonds of ritual kinship,
What are the cultural traits of Spaniards? sealed on any of three ceremonial occasions-baptism,
Common traits of Spaniards: confirmations, and marriage—intensify and extend
personal alliances.
•Ambicioso/Ambiciosa. Ambitious
-The mutual kinship system, known as compadrazgo,
•Molestoso/ Molestosa. Annoying meaning godparenthood or sponsorship, dates back at
least to the introduction of Christianity.
•Argumentativo/ Argumentativa. Argumentative
Ambitious
•Valiente. Brave
-Maarte or magarbo
•Despreocupado/ Despreocupada. Carefree.
-Having alalays or utusan
•Imprudente. Careless.
Catholicism and its Patriarchal Politics and Cultures
•Prudente. Cautious/ Meticulous
Political Patronage System
•Alegre. Cheerful
-Utang na loob-favor given by giving something in return.
•They have a notion that a woman must be quiet and
submissive towards men (presently known as the Maria -Crab Mentality and degrading attitude toward a person.
Clara perception)
-Filipinos also extend the circle of social alliances with
•Inferiority complex among commonfolk and the children friendship. Friendship often is placed on a par with kinship
and as the most central of Filipino relationships.
•Superiority complex among the elites and perceived The determination to avoid conflict.
adults.
-Suki relationships (market-exchangepartnerships) may
•Backward notions on marriage and virginity develop between two people who agree to become
regular customer and supplier.
•Backward notions on divorce and women’s rights
-Smooth interpersonal relationships or avoidance of
•Religious fanaticism
conflict.