Friday, October 8, 2010

The Contributions of the Spanish Missionaries to us Filipinos

The contribution of the Spanish missionaries to us Filipinos can be still seen as of today.There were so many changes or improvements done by the spanish missionaries.With their help,now we could know more about our heroes since their masterpieces were left behind.Now is the time that we'll study further more about the spanish missionaries' contribution to the Philippine government.

1.)FOUNDERS of TOWNS
-Look around,if you're living in a subdivision,you may get used seeing your living place more like forming a shape of rectangle.Wanna know why?Well,it's because of the Spanish missionaries.Yes,they are the ones who managed that subdivisions or towns should be with a rectangular shape.
The Spanish missionaries even used to make landmarks like Churches,Park,etc. because they think that it will somehow help you go to a place you are not familiar with then you won't be lost on your way back home!*^_^*It is pretty useful though!
2.)ENGINEERS of INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
-Spanish missionaries are also the ones who designed the bridges,roads,etc.They're like the director of a film and we are the actors and actresses.And at the same time,we are the audiences.
3.)AGRICULTURISTS
-Except from designing the towns and roads,the spanish missionaries also intruduced to us other products that we could plant like; cincamas,potatoes,coffee, papaya,etc.not just fruits but they also brought animals that we're not familiar with too like;goats,carabaos,swan,ducks,pigeons,horses and cattles.There are a lot of agricultural products that the spanish missionaries introduced to us so I named just a few.
4.)INDUSTRIALISTS
-The Spanish missionaries,not being tired of sharing us what they have in their country,even thought us how to do fishing,mining,farming and weaving in a better way.Because of these,we Filipinos learned further more about what life is,since we slowly learned to use things that we learned to make,even we are not really used in using it.We learned to use soaps,candles and most especially,BOOKS.
5.)ARCHITECTS
-Some of the houses here in the Philippines are styled like a Spanish style.You guessed it right,it's because of the Spanish missionaries.They're not just the engineers,industrialists and agriculturists but also the architects and we all know that architects are those who styles or designs houses and even buildings.And because of that,we inherited the way or style of Spanish houses!But still,there are other places which were not affected or places which didn't inherit this from the Spaniards,these are the provinces who still uses NIPA HUTS or BAHAY KUBO.Other Filipinos uses Nipa huts just for display but others uses this as their shelter during cold times,and their umbrella during the rainy days.I think about this architecture,the spaniards influenced us a lot if this matter would be concerned.
6.)SOCIAL WORKERS
-for me,this would be the nicest thing the Spanish missionaries had done for us.The Spanish missionaries created or founded an orphanage center or a place where abandoned children could live in.No one in the world would do that if they were a lover of money,weren't they?But behold,they didn't build just an orphanage center but also hospitals!I really appreciate these spanish workers!!!If they don't love us then they wouldn't build such things!
The Hospital of SAN JUAN de DIOS
And the SAN LAZARO hospital are 2 of the oldest existing hospitals in Asia.But there were other hospitals built in different places!I don't have any clue why the Spanish missionaries were so kind to us unlike their other comrades.
This is a picture of one of the orphanage or asylum built.Its name was Real Hospicio de San Jose known for being the very first orphanage for girls and boys.It was built in Manila in 1810.
7.)EDUCATORS
-The Spanish missionaries did'n't just built asylums but they also became our 2nd teachers for they also built schools and universities.At first,only the boys were allowed to go to school.And the girls were just meant to stay at home.How unfair it was!I would rather wish to stay in school than being imprisoned at home doing nothing!I'd die with boredom that way!Going back to the topic,the Spanish missionaries served as our teachers and they thought us how to speak Latin and Spanish since these were the main dialect used in schools.
This was COLEGIO MAXIMO de SAN IGNACIO,the first school established yup,FOR BOYS ONLY >:(.Except of these,there were other schools built like,Colegio de San Ildefonso,Escuela Pia,etc.

Now,this is the best part,they finally established a school for Girls!YES!
COLEGIO de SANTA POTENCIANA was the first school established for girls.I bet that it was very crowded during the 1st day of school since this was the first school built for girls by the Spaniards ever!This Colegio de Santa Potenciana was built on 1591.But later on,it was followed by...
The COLEGIO de SANTA ISABEL,built on 1632 then a lot of other schools followed.This is great for me!!!But the oldest school existing is the University of Santo Thomas yes,the university where some of our heroes enrolled in.
8.)SCIENTISTS
-Right now,I can't imagine how intelligent Spanish missionaries are of course,you are an engineer,architect and a scientist?!My goodness,what would they look like???!!!The Spanish missionaries maybe loved science and math as I imagine them.I would live in a bed of roses if I did that!!!By the way,going back,the Spaniards brought their knowledge about science from Europe on the 19th century(it is stated on my book :P)which led to being brought here in the Philippines it was meant actually.Dr.Jose Rizal must had loved Science when it was introduced to him!
This was the OBSERVATORY of MANILA which was founded by the Jesuits in 1865.
9.)The OBRAS PIAS
-obras pias was the first financial group here in the P
hilippines.I cant believe that the Spanish missionaries was rich enough to be founder of the Obras Pias!But instead of keeping the money that they're receiving from this,they would give it to the persons of the society!!!Oh,how I wish there are still Spanish missionaries who's this kind,I wish I could taste their kindness!!!
10.)WRITERS
-Since the Spanish missionaries thought us how to speak Spanish and Latin,they also thought us how to make poems,novels,etc.But of course we're not just the one who could study different languages,the Spanish missionaries also studied our Local language!They can't speak TAGALOG but I still appreciate that they can understand it.If they didn't teach us how to make poems and novels,then there would be no known Lope K. Santos or others because they wouldn't be rewarded for their creativeness when it comes to story-making.
11.)PRINTERS
-Of course,there wouldn't be a lot of copies of books if we didn't learn how to print.
This was the first printing press in the Philippines,and this was the printer used by Dr. Jose Rizal especially,when he finished a novel.But TOMAS PINPIN was the first filipino printer.
This was a sculpture of Tomas Pinpin,or "The Prince of Filipino printers" was also the very first Filipino author who also printed the first Tagalog book.Printers,they are still used as of today especially during doing our assignments at home.But still the spanish missionaries also used this in a nice way.
However,the DOCTRINA CHRISTIANA was the first book printed in the Philippines.
12.)LIBRARIANS & CURATORS
-Studying would never be completed without books,unless you learn from your surroundings or those around you.The Spanish Missionaries established libraries and,museums for us to learn more,I guess they really care for us like their own child because if they don't then there would be nothing like this existing during the Spanish Era.
13.)MUSICIANS
-Gosh!Are the Spanish Missionaries a human?!How could they be talented,creative and at the same time intelligent?!If there would be any guys still existing with this characteristics gosh!I would be his great,great FAN!!!The Spanish missionaries was creative enough to compose songs and even invent a piece of music!Those who can't would just teach music but those who could,they make songs for church rites!!!How creative they are!
14.)ARTISTS
-Lastly,the Spanish missionaries also shared their sculptures and paintings to us! They thought us how to make such things!Well,thanks to them,we could know draw memories without using cameras but just with a graphite,eraser and a paper!So I'm thankful that we learned a lot of things from the Spaniards.

I guess this article proved that not all the things that we got from the Spaniards are bad,but there are other things that we got from that are useful too.
Spanish missionaries,We Filipinos are thanking you for everything!

Friday, October 1, 2010

Galleon Trade, Royal Subsidy, Obras Pias, Tributes and Tobacco Monopoly.

The galleon trade A.K.A. Manila-Acapulco trede was used to ship products from the Philippines to Mexico. It is said that this galleon trade lasted for 200 years.

A galleon trade is a process which usually includes the governor
general, members of the royal audiencia, the clergy, local officials, widows of spanish officials, etc. they were the one who could participate to this activity.
Vut everyone can join ! But they have to purchase a balota for 250 pesos. Only it's sponsors and participants are the only benefitors of this activity. It has nothin
g to develop for our country.


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The Royal subsidy is about the governor general's evil plan to fill his pocket. The governor general is so greedy that he will send a letter to the king of Spain for more money. He says that they're running out of money because of the Philippines' expenses.

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The Obras Pias were the 1st financial group in Manila. It is consist of
the banks. In the Obras Pias, you could loan some money. This so called OBRAS PIAS, was also responsible for any financial cases in the Philippines.

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The tributes is the taxes. You can pay it by cash or material things. On 1570, each family is required to pay 8 reales which is equivalent to one peso. For single person, he/she is required to pay 1/2 peso. The tax collection will be distributed, it is used f
or construction and a portion of it is given in the church. On 1884, the tribute was replaced by the cedula, which includes Filipinos aged 18 years old and above were required to work in order to pay their taxes, in return thay will be given a residence certificate.

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The Tobacco Monopoly was established by Governor-General Jose Basco on
March 1, 1782. The Tobacco Monopoly made the Philippines known for their quality tobacco. Each family is required to sell Tobacco and must not left any leaves tobacco for them. It incresed the industry of Tobacco, but decreased the industry of rice, because the farmers were not allowed to harvest any crops except tobacco. Allast it was abolished by Governor GeneraL Primo de Rivera in 1882.

Bandala system

On the Bandala system, Filipino farmers were required to sell their harvest to the government. They like it or not, they need it or not. they have to sell them to the government, in exchange for a piece of paper containing a promise to pay (promisorry note). The thing is, the government officilas doesn't have any palabra de honor even though we inherited that trait from them. Even with a promisorry note, they wouldn't pay the farmers in the end.

So, the poor farmers will someday be needing their crops back, so that they could survive hunger. They would buy back their products from the government, but the government officilas, being so greedy of money, will set the price of the products at a higher price, even though the farmers sold their agricultural products to them at a cheap price !

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Spanish Colonial Government


King of Spain is indeed a high position during the Spanish era, but the governor general has more power than him if the basis is on ruling one country. The governor general has different kinds of powers :

1. Religious power - the governor general is capable of appointing the priest or friar of a certain church.
2. Military power - the governor general is also the head of the military army.
3. Legislative power - the governor general is the one who makes laws and also the one who establishes it. Power of cumplase is also a kind of a power a governor general has, which contains the prerogative not to implement the laws that he makes.
4. Executive power - he is also the one who implements the laws that he makes which makes him stronger.
5. Judicial power - this kind of power shows that whoever disobeys the governor generals laws would be punished also by himself. He may sent some spies called the Visitador to observe the community.

The governor general is the one who makes, implements, and punishes whoever disobeys his laws. What kind of power he has ! He seems like the center of power of the Spanish government ! What an unfair government it used to be during the Spanish era !

The royal audiencia is the highest judicial official in the Spanish government. It is like the supreme court of today. And also, he was like the right hand of the governor general during judgements or sentencing someone to death or prison.

The corregidor is the ruler or the head of a corregimiento. Corregimientos were the provinces which were against the Spanish government. They were the MILF of the present time.

The alcalde mayor is the highest official in the alcaldia. Alcadia were the provinces which were peaceful. Alcalde mayor were also the one who enforces the laws and the tax collector and lastly the judge.
The cabildo, is the head of a ayuntamiento which were under the jurisdiction of the alcalde mayor. It was usually composed of 12 counselors.

The gobernadorcillo AKA little governor. In my own opinion,I guess they were called the little governor general since they were the rulers of the pueblos or towns. Their positions where not as low as the cabeza de barangay which was the highest position that a Filipino can achieve. (This was the lowest position anyway...)

Visitador were like the spies of the Spanish Government. They used to inspect or observe if there were any violators of the rules implemented by the Governor General. As others call them as TRAITOR.

Lastly, Juez de Residencia is the one who heads the residencia(A special court where investigations were made.)

Monday, August 30, 2010

Love Story

This my most embarsing day
Because I kept on crying all day,
I think there's something that my heart wants to say,
To someone that I'm thinking of everyday!

But someone has heart already,
because I can't say I love him,
and be ready...

But now its too late,
for me to fall on his bait,
now I learned,
Whatever happen,you can't say wait.


Saturday, August 14, 2010

Comparrisons of Chritianity and Islam faith

If you’re going to ask me, which religion I would choose, well, you’re barking at the wrong tree because I don’t care whatever religion I’m going to join. Because for me what really matters is that God is the one you are praising and worshiping. But I can compare Christianity from the Islam faith!

*^_^*Christianity*^_^*

1) Christians uses the HOLY BIBLE as our sacred book.

2) Christianity doesn’t give any bad affects for our living or health but instead it is the right way to take care of ourselves.

3) Christians doesn’t marry too many women, instead, they only have 1 couple will marry no one else.

4) Christianity praises and worships GOD.

5) We call our preacher leaders PRIEST.

6) We have our celebration called as CHRISTMAS DAY celebrating Jesus’ birthday.

(-_-)ISLAM FAITH (-_-)

1) Islam faith uses QUR’AN as their sacred book.

2) Islam faith’s RAMADAN during September affects the health of its followers.

3) Islam faith allows men to marry as many as they want as long as he can support its needs.

4) Islam faith praises and worships ALLAH.

5) Islam faith’s leader is called IMAM.

6) They don’t celebrate Allah’s birthday but uses Ramadan to celebrate.

That was the differences of Christianity from Islam faith that I know. I hope this would help others glorify God as their god .

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