Chapter 8The Campaign for Reforms

The three Filipino priests Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and JacintoZamora have the unjust execution and it was a turning point of Philippinehistory, the reform movement. Realizing the danger of fighting for their causeon the home front, the sons of the wealthy and the well-to-do Filipino familiesmigrated to Europe to breathe atmosphere of the old world, that initiated asustained campaign for reforms in the administration of the Philippines. TheFilipino intellectuals secretly collaborated with those in Spain and foundednationalistic societies and more than a decade the Filipino propagandistswaged their war of propaganda against the Spanish authorities and friars butthey failed to awaken the Government of the Peninsula to the demoralizingrealities of colonial administration. But the reform movement was failure and itdid not achieve its goals, led to the founding of the revolutionary Katipunanwith separatist aims. 19thcentury, the economic development of the Philippines led to the riseof the Filipino middle class. In the previous centuries, the middle class wascomposed by the Spanish and Chinese mestizos, rose to a position of power inthe Filipino community and eventually became leaders in finance andeducation. The Spanish authorities looked down upon them, for they did notbelong to the inner circle of

Peninsulares-Spaniards born in Spain-whose prerogative it was to rule and govern. Spanish society in the Philippines was
asort of caste consisting of two well-defined classes: the peninsulares or Spaniards born in Spain and the

insulares or Spaniards born in thePhilippines. To show their contempt for the insulares ,the peninsulares calledthe former Filipinos. The natives, on the other hand, were invariably called indios.In
their attempts to win a place in the sun, the members of the middleclass started the movement for reforms. The Filipino middle class and thenatives came to work hand in hand, with the former naturally leading thelatter by the hand.1869. the chance of the middle class to show their political color camewhen General Carlos Maria de la Torre became governor. July 12, 1869. They marched to the governors residence and thereserenaded him. The list of the serenaders was a roster of the well- knownmestizos and insularesof the period: Jose Burgos, Maximo Paterno, AngelGarchitorena, Joaquin Pardo de Tavera, Andres Nieto, Manuel Genato andothers.From 1872 to 1882. The middle class led the reform movement whichwas temporarily silenced during the decade. When he Filipino intelligentsia, a segment of the middle class, took over the leadership from the wealthy segment. The dissatisfaction of the Filipino men of wealth and intellect wascentered around the abuses of the Spanish authorities, civil as well as clerical.Spanish citizens, the Filipinos would be represented in the Spanish Cortes andthereby their representatives in the body could propose and participatein theapproval of laws beneficial to the country. Introduction

Chapter III REFORM AND REVOLUTIONREFORM AND REVOLUTI THE CAMPAIGN FOR REFORMS: Role of the Middle Class The unjust execution of the 3 Martyr Priests Gomez, Burgos, Zamora Led to a new era-The Reform Movement Propagandists waged their war againts Spain but it failed. However, its failure led to thefounding of the revolutionary KATIPUNAN. The Role of the Middle ClassFilipino Middle Class 19t h c e n t u r y e o f t h e m i d d l e class Non-existent in previous centuries Composed of Spanish and Chinese mestizos. Became leaders in finance andeducation. 2 Spanish ClassesConsideration Peninsulares -s p a n i a r d s b o r n i n S p a i n Insulares -Spaniards born in thePhilippines Natives(The pure Filipino blood)were invariable calledIndios Natives were never called Filipinos until Gover nor-General Basilio Augusti n called for loyalty and aid for Indios in 1898. Before 1898,the Filipinos werecalled indios and Insulares Filipinos. The members of the middle class started the movement for reforms but, the spanish look downuponthem whilenatives look upont h e m w i t h s u s p i c i o n t h e n a t i v e s having been, and continued to be,the victimes of mestizos and insolent mannerisms. It was thus that the Filipino MiddleClass and the natives came to work hand in hand, with the formernaturally leading the latter by thehand. The Rise of the Middle Class 1896,the chance of the middleclass to show their political color when General Carlos Maria de la tore became the governor. The middle class saw an ally in himfor de la Torre showed hisdemocratic tendencies when hedismissed the palace halberdiersand lived simply within his means Halberdiers A weapon of the15th and16 thcenturies having an axlike bladeand a steel spike mounted on the end of a long shaft. July12,1896- M i d d l e C l a s s m a r c h e d t o t h e governor s place and serenaded him. List of well-known Mestizo and Insulareserenaders of the period: Maximo Paterno Angel Garchitorena JoaquinPardodeTavera Andres Nieto Manuel Genato

From then on, the middle class ledon the reform movement whichwas temporarily silenced duringthe decade from1872To 1882 when the Filipino intelligentsia, asegment of the middle class, tookover the leadership from thewealthy segment.