During the Spanish regime in the Philippines, particularly during the time of José Rizal in the late
19th century, Filipinos lived in miserable conditions and suffered greatly under Spanish misrule. Rizal,
through his writings and activism, highlighted the injustices and social issues faced by Filipinos under
Spanish rule. He addressed these concerns in his novels, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. The
social evils that Rizal criticized were rooted in colonial oppression, inequality, and the abuse of power by
authorities.
These are the 11 Social Evils During Rizal's Time:
1. Instability of Colonial Administration
Instability of Colonial Administration King Ferdinand Vill (1808 1833). Frequent shifts in
policies due to the struggle between liberalism and despotism destabilized the governance. From
1835 to 1897, numerous governors-general ruled, leading to inconsistent and ineffective
leadership.
2. Corrupt Colonial Officials
The Philippines didn’t have much stricter laws in the Spanish colonial era and this
motivated Spanish colonial Officials to sail away to the country to exploit their positions for
personal gain, often forcibly married heiresses of rich Filipino families to instantly make a name
for themselves and acquire their wealth. Friars also used the ‘word of God to collect and steal the
offering of people, they are also considered powerful during these times.
Notable corrupt officials included:
Gen. Rafael de Izquierdo – Incompetent and ruthless governor-general who
executed GOMBURZA.
Admiral Jose Malcampo’ – Inept and weak governor.
Gen. Fernando Primo de Vera – Accepted bribes from gambling casino that allows
them to operate.
Gen. Valeriano Weyler – Received bribe from wealthy Chinese who invaded anti-
Chinese law; persecuted Calamba Tenants.
Gen. Camilo de Polavieja - Heartless governor; executed Dr. Jose Rizal.
3. No Philippine Representation in Spanish Cortes
The abolition of Philippine representation in the Spanish Cortes in 1837 left Filipinos
with no platform to address grievances, allowing abuses and corruption by colonial authorities.
Since then, the Philippines condition worsened because there was no means by which the Filipino
people could expose the anomalies perpetrated by the colonial officials. Philippine representation
in the Cortes was never restored.
4. Human Rights Denied to Filipinos
While the people of Spain enjoyed freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of
the association and other human rights, Filipinos were denied these privileges, leaving them
oppressed and voiceless. Filipinos were treated as inferior and had no legal recourse to defend
themselves.
5. No Equality Before the Law
Filipinos were treated unfairly and often experienced abuse, persecution, and slandered
under Spanish rule. Spaniards considered themselves as superior, putting themselves at the top of
the social hierarchy. The Spanish legal system was biased against Filipinos, making court
meetings stricter with Filipinos, this made impossible to win a case especially for those living in
poverty. Spaniards, because of their skin color and social status, could easily escape punishment
for their crimes, while Filipinos faced harsh penalties.
Although Spanish missionaries preached that all men, regardless of race, were children of
God and equal in His eyes, this idea for them did not apply to the law. The Spanish Civil Code
gave light punishments to Spaniards but imposed heavier penalties on native Filipinos.
6. Maladministration of Justice
During Rizal's time, the justice system in the Philippines was widely known for its
corruption. Filipinos often faced unfair treatment in court, and achieving justice was nearly
impossible because it was slow, expensive, and biased for poor Filipinos they had no access to the
courts. The saying "Justice delayed is justice denied" applied here, as the legal process was often
prolonged. Judges and court officials were largely incompetent and corrupt, and many were not
well-versed in the law.
Most Filipinos had no way to access justice unless they were part of the elite class or
"Alta Sociedad." For the poor, going to court was a hardship, as justice was expensive, partial,
and took too long, making the court system feel more like a disaster than a solution.
7. Racial discrimination
Racism was widespread during the Spanish colonial period. Filipinos, especially those
with dark skin and flat noses, were referred to as "indios" and were considered the lowest in the
social hierarchy. They were seen as uneducated and treated with indifference. Even José Rizal,
who became a national hero, was a victim of this discrimination and was subjected to racism
throughout his life.
Although Spain introduced Christianity with its message of the brotherhood of all men
under God, Filipinos were still regarded as inferior and denied the rights and privileges enjoyed
by the Spanish. Furthermore, educated Filipinos faced limited opportunities to advance and serve
God and their country.
8. Frailocracy
Frailocracy refers to the "Government of the Friars." During the Spanish colonization,
friars held an immense amount of power and used it to manipulate people for their own gain. The
union of church and state gave friars—such as the Augustinians, Dominicans, and Franciscans—
control over religious and educational life. By the 19th century, their influence grew to political
influence, which made them wealthier. Nearly every town in the Philippines, except for areas like
Islamic Mindanao, Sulu, and remote Pagan regions, was governed by a friar curate.
9. Forced labor (Polo Y Servicio)
Polo Y Servicio was a system where Filipino males aged 16 to 60 were forced to work
without pay for 40 days a year to build infrastructure like schools, churches, bridges, and more.
Later, this was revised to apply to those aged 18 to 60 and reduced the service time to 15 days.
Wealthier Filipinos could avoid this forced labor by paying a fee called 'palla,' which allowed
them to escape the hardship.
During this period, Filipinos were subjected to exploitation by figures like Valeriano
Weyler, who used the laborers for his own advantage. Spaniards were not required to do forced
labor, which was a clear violation of the law. Meanwhile, Filipino workers (called "polistas")
were paid very little, often receiving just two pesetas (around 50 centavos) or, in some cases,
nothing at all. This system disrupted the workers' livelihoods, as they were taken away from their
farms and shops, separating them from their families.
10. Haciendas owned by the friars
The friars owned the best agricultural lands, and the Filipino farmers who had been
working these lands even before the Spaniards arrived were forced to become tenants. This led to
violent agrarian uprisings in 1745-1746. In 1887, Rizal attempted to push for agrarian reform, but
his efforts were unsuccessful, and this angered the Dominican friars, who responded by
increasing land rents, further enriching themselves.
In his work, Indolence of the Filipinos, Rizal argued that the friars' ownership of the best
agricultural lands contributed to the stagnation of the economy, as it kept many Filipinos in
poverty. In 1768, Governor Anda recommended to the Spanish government the sale of the friar
estates, hoping to resolve the situation. However, the friars continued to profit from their land
holdings, strengthening their power and wealth while further oppressing the Filipino people.
11. The Guardia Civil
The Guardia Civil was instituted by the royal decree to maintain peace and order in the
Philippines. Initially, they were recognized for their role in suppressing bandits in the provinces.
However, over time, they gained a notorious reputation for abusing their power. They were often
involved in mistreating innocent people, stealing livestock, chickens, and valuable belongings of
the natives, and even committing sexual violence against women.
