Biala, Christine Joyce G. HIST 1/SSP1

4 BSA 24 February 2015

Philippine Communities During Spanish Colonial Period

There were only a few Spaniards who landed in the Philippine archipelago in the first few

Spanish expeditions, compared to thousands of natives living in the same island the Spaniards landed—

Cebu. But how were these Spaniards able to set up a community for them to administer? According to

Susan Russell from the Department of Anthropology in Northern Illinois University in her study on the

Christianity in the Philippines, Rajah Humabon happened to have an ill grandson when Magellan’s ship

arrived. Magellan or one of his men was able to cure Rajah Humabon’s grandson’s illness, so afterwards

Rajah Humabon gratefully allowed 800 of his followers to be 'baptized' Christian in a mass baptism. This

permission and non-argument between two became a portal for these colonizers to establish power and

ownership of the archipelago while searching for spices.

In their attempt of Christianization among animists and Muslims in the northern and central part

of the Philippines, Spaniards set up a community for them to move in, along with the implementation of

Reduccion. The act of relocation among early Filipinos from small, scattered communities to larger

towns was enforced. Through reduccion, Spaniards were able to easily administer resettled Filipino

population, and the ability to control and observe them through their movements and actions. It was

also more convenient for Spaniards to convert Filipinos into Christianity and collect taxes easily,

especially that Christianized Filipinos pay larger amount of taxes compared to indios.1

Aside from Catholic churches which have been a remarkable contribution of Spaniards and

Christianity to Philippine culture and especially architecture, Spanish era has introduced many structures

which enclosed activities which may or may not have been part of Philippine culture even until now.

According to my lecture notes in my Philippine historical architecture class, walled cities such as

Intramuros was built for counterattacks and defense, especially from other colonizers who attempted to

take over the land. Accessoria is an apartment dwelling in a form of cheap housing for migrant workers.

Many civic architecture were introduced during the Spanish era. Within cities or towns, government

complex, or casa del ayuntamiento, was planned for easy access of Spanish administration to the

people, especially when it comes to tax collection. Palacio del gobernador general or palacio general

was the residence of the highest official of the land. Malacanang palace during Spanish era was a

vacation house. Aduana was the customs house, and hacienda publica, the treasury. Municipio, which

was also called casa municipal or casa real, was the smaller version of ayuntamiento.2

With the attempt of Spaniards to influence us with their culture and language, until the culture

of the early Filipinos fade away into something almost irrecoverable, trying to make sure the Filipinos

would not have an alien communication of rebellion against them, the upbringing of children were

shaped in the schools the Spaniards built, and there were two types. First was the colegio or

universidad, such as Manila Ordinary School for Schoolmistresses, San Juan de Letran Manila (founded

between 1830 and 1850 by Juan Geronimo Guerrero, a friar; it belonged to a Dominican order and a

small church of the same name), and University of Santo Tomas. Second was escuela primaria in

pueblos, such as in Bulacan and Vigan.2

Healthcare during the Spanish period comes with its structures compared to the babaylans or

other healers who cure patients in their houses. Hospital de San Lazaro is the oldest functioning hospital

in the orient which was specialized for lepers. The “Hospital de Santa Ana” was founded in 1596 by the

Franciscan Juan Clemente, was later to become the “Hospital San Juan de Dios”.2

Aside from the very well-known calesa which was a very popular mode of transportation, and

still is, in Vigan, railroad systems were introduced during Spanish era before Imelda Marcos did. A 192-

kilometer locomotive-driven railroad system between Manila and Dagupan opened in 1892. The

estacion de ferrocarril was a railway station designed by Juan Ervas. Other infrastructures were also

built. Puente de manila, which exemplified Spanish bridge engineering, was built in 1875. Another

example was the puente de colgante, a suspension bridge connecting Quiapo with Arroceros district.

Farolas or lighthouse were built, such as one in Pasig.2

The business and trading which started way back centuries before Spaniards arrived, and it

evolved into a larger scale while Western countries were under Industrial Revolution. Chinese

merchants finally fixated a convenient location for buyers and merchants like them. Parian was a term

used for Chinese business districts in large municipalities like Manila, Cebu, Vigan, and Malolos.

Alcaicera de San Fernando was a silk market with an octagonal plan in Binondo which was established in

1758. Mixed-use commercial buildings emerged, wherein shops and stores were located in first floor,

while residences were on second floor, as exemplified by ones in Escolta and Rosario. Other mixed-use

commercial buildings were sari-sari store, carinderia, real estanco, which was the administration for the

monopolies, sugar refinery, wine refinery, matadero or public slaughterhouse, and large markets: La

Quinta, or more popular as Quiapo, and Divisoria. Other accessory buildings for business and trading

were almacen (warehouse), fabrica (factories), camarin (storehouses), and tabacalera, or tobacco and

cigar factories, such as La Insular cigar factory.2

The Spaniards would had been bored in the Philippines if they hadn’t brought entertainment

with them. Structures housing leisure and recreation include teatros al aire libre or open-air theaters,

camarin teatro or barn theater, such as Teatros Circo Zorilla, sabungan or cockfighting arenas, which are

also called rueda, fumadero de opio or opium den, and burdel or brothels.2

During the period of colonization of Spain, the Spanish community had always been migrating to

the Philippines. During the 19th century, when awareness came across Filipinos to strongly revolt against

The Spaniards, Spain attempted to strengthen its economic hold within its colonies, until they lost

sovereignty, and migration was limited in population until it stopped. Even until present time, the

situation where the present-day Spanish community in the Philippines finds itself is represented by the

institutions and organizations that monitor relations and provide protection for its fellow Spanish

members, such as Sociedad Española de Beneficencia (health care), Hospital Español de Santiago

(medical services), Cámara de Comercio Española (business and trade), and Casino Español (social

recreation).3

References:

1Susan Russell. CHRISTIANITY IN THE PHILIPPINES.

http://www.seasite.niu.edu/crossroads/russell/christianity.htm (retrieved 23 Feb 2014)

2ARCH 117 Lecture Notes: Spanish Colonial Architecture – Domestic. (DISCLAIMER: The note taker and

the lecturer does not claim ownership to the information provided.)

3 Dr. Isaac Donoso Jiménez. History of the Spanish Community in the Philippines. University of Alicante,

Spain. 2012. http://www.ethnicgroupsphilippines.com/2012/05/21/history-of-the-spanish-

community-in-the-philippines-2/ (Retrieved 23 Feb 2014)

Supporting References:

Fenella Cannell. Power and Intimacy in the Christian Philippines. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

1999.

David J. Steinberg. The Philippines: A Singular and a Plural Place. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. 1982.