A Reflection Paper: Effects of Philippine Revolts during the Spanish Colonization and during our Contemporary Period

“There can be no tyrants where there are no slaves”. – Dr. Jose P. Rizal. With these words of our great patriot and National Hero, I would like to begin this paper. Filipinos since the day of the start pf the Spanish colonization of our country showed trust and friendliness to the colonizers. These are innate traits of Filipinos, no wonder, sometimes these had been used as the enemies own weapon to deceive us and put us under their “spell”. They even used the cloak of religion in order to put us ubder obe banner of love, faith and brotherhood but they themselves would not practice what they preach.

          I don’t want to be biased here, just like the Roman god Janus, the Spanish colonialism had to faces, the good one and the bad one. So I would focus on the bad things that they manifested upon us as the cause of different revolts that emerged throughout the Philippines.

Filipinos even before the Spaniards came have their own form of government, economy and religion. So when these aspects of life were put into danger and jeopardy Filipinos started to retaliate. Spaniards looked at the Filipinos as slaves or second-class citizens not as brothers whom they should love and respect. They changed our system of government and they became rulers that abused, exploited and molested the Filipinos especially the women and children.

We can classify the revolts that happened during the Spanish colonialism into three reasons: personal, political and religious revolts. As man is endowed with body and soul, intellect and will, reason and volition, one cannot be confined and oppressed in his or her innate right and dignity as man. The right to life, right to religious freedom and right in political endeavor. 

In terms of lifestyle and economy. Filipinos lifestyle is circumvented with its, traits, family, religion, dress style, transportation, etc., but these things were put into the mud with the several coup d’etat attempts and several senate hearings for alleged corruptions. Our economy faced a great crisis because the corruption that enveloped the government that’s why the public works, health and education were not prioritized in a sense because of so much political chaos and economic stability. Foreign investors lack of trust to the security and sense of honesty in the government brought unemployment to the people and leading to the so much transfer in abroad for greener pastures.

       In terms of governance and culture, good governance became a utopian word. Governance became “majorly evil”, lack of trust to officialdom and so much political rigodon. These caused so much chaos and aprupt fire of hopelessness to the populace. Politicians showed greediness to power and enrich themselves, they chose to serve their “political god” rather the Filipino people especially the poor. Our culture, just like the domino-effect has brought so much burden to Filipinos brain-drain, colonial meantality and the culture of death put the Filipino culture into the brink of the grave.

        As I reflect opun these things that happened, “History repeats itself” is true not with it exacts details of events but somehow its causes and reasons that resulted to revolts as an effect. The law of physics which says “that in every action there is an equal or opposite reaction is applicable”. These revolts are not just whims or caprices but as a reaction to an oppressive leader or a result of a human right that is being jeopardized.

       From the revolts during the Spanish colonization to the contemporary period, Filipinos has always have a great love for liberty and peace so we used all all actions whether in diplomacy or in arms to achieve these. We cannot put for granted these oppressors and corrupt government officials, we wanted reforms in government, economy and as a country aiming for prosperity and peace based on justice.

       I, as a Filipino citizen would, hope and pray for a better and transformed society, a society based on the statutes of God. May He always heal our land and always ask His guidance and enlightenment of our leaders and the populace. I also need to be good and eefective college instructor that in a way I may transform our society and enlighten the students to the right path. I will also follow the laws of the land and be a law abiding citizen. “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s”. (Luke 20:25).