Filipinas: La Gloriosa y Más Allá

[brokenman]

Hetalia and I are from the same university. But he's still 3rd year. He's a Psychology student. I am from Development Studies. God, What's your course?

What a small world....

I am an IT student.

Already updated, guys!

Great update. So.. early socialism will take root in the isles. Will that be the reason for secession?

And I am glad that it seems that Spanish will be our main language. I don't know why, but I do.

 

[ramones1986]

Great update. So.. early socialism will take root in the isles. Will that be the reason for secession?

And I am glad that it seems that Spanish will be our main language. I don't know why, but I do.

Not quite much, but I think the labor movement will start there.
And yes, Spanish is our lingua franca.

 

[ramones1986]

Timeline of Events, 1874-80: The Second Wave (continuation)

1878​

7 July:

A month after the exposed articles on the newspapers, both Graciano Lopez Jaena and Marcelo H. del Pilar wemt back to Manila after an invitation by the Junta General.​

Graciano Lopez Jaena and Marcelo H. del Pilar​

9 July:

Both Lopez Jaena and del Pilar went to Malacañang to held a meeting with both the Governor-General and the Junta President. Within the walls of the palace, the two leaders told the two intellectuals the impact of their columns in the Islands, not just in the economy but also the society in general. The two intellectuals responded that their articles are based on testimonies of real people.
​

10 July:

In Bangsamoro Territory, the Viceroy-General issued a decree that calling for the establishment of free a primary school program across the territory. In addition, A.H. Alimuddin added the suggestion of the Dewan that teachers from the madarasihs who wants to teach the children in rural areas should volunteer themselves.
​

11 July:

After the meeting with the Lopez Jaena and del Pilar, the Governor-General created a legislative committee regarding the abuse in the factories. The mission of the said committee is to investigate and confirm the abuses, and gave a report (with recommendations) to the Junta General.​

12 July:

The Cortes approved the law that modified primary education in the Philippines; the language of instruction in bilingual provinces will be in the local language (except in Spanish and History of the Islands), while monolingual Spanish-speaking province will remain the same as they were before.​

 

[brokenman]

Nice update as usual. And to note of the reformed education system, good choice on preventing the "lingua franca issue" that we are having today. I think it will tie the loyalty of the rural areas to Manila much more.

 

[ramones1986]

Nice update as usual. And to note of the reformed education system, good choice on preventing the "lingua franca issue" that we are having today. I think it will tie the loyalty of the rural areas to Manila much more.

It's not just about loyalty, it's about the identity. Why? The Reformistas believed in a mixed Asian-Hispanic identity for the Philippines; one of their policies is greater autonomy from Metropolitan Spain.

 

[ramones1986]

Timeline of Events, 1874-80: The Second Wave (continuation)

1878​

15-16 July:

The workers organized an unannounced general strike across the Islands. According to the newspaper reports that was released the following day, the strikes was participated by the 69% of the workers, the very first of its kind in the history of the Islands. The workers called for a fair daily wage, eight-hour work and improvement of their working conditions. The whole Philippines was surprised by the impact of the strike.
​

17-19 July:

After the unannounced general strikes two days before, both the Governor-General and the Junta President met with the labor leaders in the Palacio del Gobernador. For three days, the leaders presented their arguments and the positions to the two leaders.
​

22 July:

The Opposition Leader responded to the accusations of the labor leaders that his party allied with the factory owners; Azcarraga Palmero said the Frente Insular supported their struggle, as long as they follow the law.​

24 July:

In Cotabato, the Viceroy-General approved the ordinance presented by the Dewan President Mahmud Haj Ali Pandaibesi. The said ordinance described the primary educational system in the Bangsamoro Territory; it included the use of local language as the medium of instruction. Furthermore, the Dewan President said that the present free primary education programs of the madarasis will be converted into permanent primary schools in the near future.​

26 July:

The Governor-General approved a special resolution passed by the Cortes regarding Cordillera Territory. According to the said resolution, the territory includes the southernmost part of Ilocos province (near Pangasinan border) and the Abra Territory. Regarding the administration, it will be governed by mixed civilian-military administration until the territory's "normalization".​

August:

Rumors were circulated that Marcelo H. del Pilar and Graciano Lopez Jaena were now members of the Reformista Party. At a session of the Cortes, Azcarraga Palmero bought this issue and accuse the governing party of "patronization". Pardo de Tavera responded to the questions by saying that the two ilustrados will neither confirmed nor deny their affiliation to the Reformista party. A couple of days later, both del Pilar and Lopez Jaena spoke about their rumored acceptance to the party. Both responded with their support for Filipino autonomy, the chief policy of the Reformistas.​

September:

After two months of investigation, the committee presented their report to the Governor-General in Malacañang Palce. The report confirmed the dire conditions in some of the factories as exactly as they were in the columns of Lopez Jaena and del Pilar. The report recommended labor reform, in which included the improvement of working conditions, a fair daily wage, lessening of child labor and the right to negotiate.​

 

[ramones1986]

The Anthem of the Philippine Islands (Himno de Riego)

According to the 1877 Law Regarding the Anthem of Philippine Islands, the anthem was the Himno de Riego slightly modified to reflected the Islands. The anthem was composed of a chorus, the first two stanzas and the fourth stanza of Himno de Riego

El Himno de las Islas Filipinas

Coro:
Soldados, la patria
nos llama a la lid,
juremos por ella
vencer o morir.

I
Serenos, alegres,
valientes, osados,
cantemos, soldados,
el himno a la lid.
Y a nuestros acentos
el orbe se admire
y en nosotros mire
los hijos del Sol.

(Coro)

II
Blandamos el hierro
que el tímido esclavo
del fuerte, del bravo
la faz no osa a ver;
sus huestes cual humo
veréis disipadas,
y a nuestras espadas
fugaces correr.

(Coro)

III
Su voz fue seguida,
su voz fue escuchada,
tuvimos en nada
soldados, morir;
Y osados quisimos
romper la cadena
que de afrenta llena
del bravo el vivir.

(Coro)​

 

[Milarqui]

I'm quite surprised that there are no local versions of the two main parties in my story. Are the Frente Insular and the Partido Reformista the representatives of the Partido Liberal-Conservador and the Partido Demócrata-Radical?

 

[ramones1986]

I'm quite surprised that there are no local versions of the two main parties in my story. Are the Frente Insular and the Partido Reformista the representatives of the Partido Liberal-Conservador and the Partido Demócrata-Radical?

Let's just say that the two main parties existed in the Islands (as of now) has the same policies as in Spain; the difference is the Reformistas advocated the greater self-rule for the Philippines, while the supporters of Frente Insular tended to be more or less conservative; they also want the Philippines to be self-governed, but as a part of the Kingdom of Spain. In short, the Reformistas and Frente Insular are associated with their Spanish counterparts, but they're actually independent.

 

[ramones1986]

Timeline of Events, 1874-80: The Second Wave of Change (continuation)

1878​

October:

The Junta President announced before the Cortes that he will not run again once the Governor-General announced the formal dissolution of the legislature. Joaquin Pardo de Tavera explained that his announced will pave way for a new generation of leaders. Nevertheless, he will remain in the Partido Reformista as its President. The announcement surprised the nation, even the Governor-General. In the following days, newspapers circulated reports of closed-door negotiations between Pardo de Tavera and Marcelo H. del Pilar for the leadership of the Reformistas. Regarding this issue, the Opposition Leader accused both the Junta President and del Pilar of "playing games", advising that Pardo de Tavera should name the ilustrado as his successor openly.​

November:

While the Cortes discussed the proposed Labor Law, both Marcelo H. del Pilar and Graciano Lopez Jaena confirmed to the press that they had sworn as a member of Partido Reformista; this confirmed the rumors and close-door negotiations with Pardo de Tavera. Meanwhile in Cotabato, the Viceroy-General decreed that the Moro nations must modernized their government to pave way for the establishment of the permanent federal government in Bangsamoro Territory. In response, the Moro nations initiated the reforms, though most of these reforms were local in nature. For example, in Sulu, the Sultanate issued a decree that every village in the kingdom will establish a local council (dewan kampong in Bangsamoro Malay) that was elected by the most influential families in the said village.​

A Moro chieftain and his wife​

​

December:

After signing the reenacted 1878 budget for next year in Malacañang Palace, the Governor-General said that he respected the decision of Joaquin Pardo de Tavera of not running as the leader of the Reformistas once he dissolved the Cortes. Carlos Maria de la Torre said that Pardo de Tavera was a "great statesman, a great friend and a great Filipino". Regarding Marcelo H. del Pilar, the Governor-General said he'll expected more for the ilustrado​

 

[ramones1986]

Bangsamoro Malay

While Malay is the language of the courts in the monarchies like Sultanate of Sulu, the Maranao sultanates, and Sultanate of Maguindanao, commoners and middle class continued to speak in their own languages. It was only in the late 19th century when Malay was considered as the lingua franca of the people of Bangsamoro Territory. Because Cotabato was the capital of the said territory, it was naturally a melting pot of Moro peoples: Maranao, Maguindanao, Iranun, Tausug, Chinese, Spanish, Visayan traders. Naturally, they used Malay as the trade language, peppered with word borrowings from Bangsamoro languages, Spanish and Visayan languages. Naturally, they intermarried and their children spoke it as their mother tongue. Bangsamoro Malay was the formalized version of this variant of Malay language. Nevertheless, due to the free primary education programs, which was bilingual in nature (teaching both in Malay and indigenous Bangsamoro language like Tausug), the children were exposed to both informal and formal version of Malay language spoken in Bangsamoro Territory. (Fact: The teachers who volunteered to teach in this program were either born in the city (Cotabato) or long exposed to the language.)​

Here's an example of Bangsamoro Malay:

"I went to the city."
Formal: Aku sudah pergi ke bandar.
Informal: Sudah-ku pergi ke dakbayan.​

 

[ramones1986]

Timeline of Events, 1874-80: The Second Wave of Change (continuation)

1879​

January:

After three months of intense debate,Cortes of the Junta General passed the Labor Law (Ley de los Trabajadores) by absolute majority. Considered as one of the progressive legislation in Asia during that time, the said law required most factory owners to regulate the working hours of their workers, improving the working conditions of their factories and allow negotiations with the union regarding their daily wages. Regarding the issue of child labor, the law required the owners to regulate (or lessen) the working hours of the child laborers and setting up special schools for them.​

February:

Because of industrialization and secularization of the Philippines, the system of polo y servicio became irrelevant. Most of the Juntas Provinciales passed laws that declared the said service "obsolete and dead", and the Cortes of the Junta General quickly passed a law terminating polo y servicio.​

March:

Filipinos saw the very first performances of zarzuela in the outskirts of Manila: The first three zarzuelas that performed in Tondo were Jugar con fuego and El barberillo de Lavapiés. The audience was enthusiastic. Soon, the genre became indigenized, writing works in most Philippines languages as well as in Spanish.
​

April:

After years of consultation and research, the Junta General announced the plan of constructing a railroad in the Islands.[1] According to President Pardo de Tavera, the railroad will start in Dagupan to Manila, with the possibility of its extension to Sorsogon.​

May:

The construction of the Manila-Dagupan Railway began with laying the cornerstone of the Tutuban station in Manila. Both Governor-General de la Torre and President Pardo de Tavera were present in the said occasion.[2]​

The facade of the Tutuban railway station​

Notes:
[1] In OTL, the concession was given in 1887.
[2] In OTL, the cornerstone was laid in July 1887.

 

[ramones1986]

Timeline of Events, 1874-80: The Second Wave of Change (continuation)

1879​

June:

The rumors concerning the political future of the Islands spread like a wildfire. Originally came from Madrid, these were reported into all newspapers across the nation; it was the proposal of breaking up the Islands into three separate regions. Both Frente Insular and the Reformistas criticized the said rumor, though they differ in approach: the Junta President Pardo de Tavera said that his party was committed to a "united and federal" Philippines, while Marcelo Azcárraga Palmero suggested a referendum about the future of the Islands.​

July:

There is a proposal to expand the Cortes into a more representative legislative body, in which the number of delegates were based on the population of their respective provinces. Though the proposal was acknowledged, it was said that the said proposal was "too early".​

August:

The original plan of Dagupan-Manila Railroad was extended into Sorsogon (Albay), as announced by the Junta President.​

September-October:

The Governor-General appointed Ramiro Lopez Ortega[1] as the very first Viceroy of the Cordillera, starting a permanent governing body there. Three days after his appointment, Lopez Ortega appointed the 30 members of the Cordillera Council (Consejo de la Cordillera) in Agoo, the provisional capital of the region. Cayetano Miguel Blanco Bukaneg[2] from Agoo was selected as the very first President of the Council. One of the first decrees passed was the takeover of schools to civilian control within two years.​

November:

In Muslim Mindanao, most of the states had established their lower houses; in Sulu, for example, the representatives of the newly-established Dewan Rakyat was elected by the town councils. At first, they were just like a forum for common issues, but the representatives gained some powers in affairs like legislation.​

December:

The Governor-General surprised the Islands when he announced the dissolution of the Cortes for the elections in April of the following year. Carlos Maria de la Torre explained that the early dissolution of the Cortes can help the parties plan their platforms earlier and more prepared for the campaign.​

Note:
[1] A fictitious name
[2] A fictional descendant of Pedro Bukaneg

 

[ramones1986]

Timeline of Events, 1874-80: The Second Wave (last part)

1880​

5 January:

Due to the unexpected announcement of the dissolution of the Cortes, the Board of Elections decided that the start of the campaign period next Monday, 12th of January and ends on the 2nd of April. The early election date was not expected. Nevertheless, the public was eager to see another phase in political history of the Islands.
​

​

12 January-2 April:

Both the major campaigned in every part of the Islands. The Reformistas emphasized on the self-determination for the Philippines and the leadership of Marcelo H. del Pilar, while the Frente Popular emphasized on economy and government efficiency. Like in 1875, the people attended the campaign rallies and listened to the policies of the two major parties.​

5 April:

The Election Day. According to the Board of Elections, 93.2% of the voting population actually participated in the polls. The results were sent through telegram.​

6 April:

The Board of Elections received the telegrams of the over-all results from the provinces. After tallying the results, the Board announced that:

• Partido Reformista - 46 seats (2 seats lost)
• Frente Insular - 22 seats (2 seats gained)

Upon receiving the results, both the Reformistas and Frente Insular celebrated their respective victory parties; though the Reformistas lost two seats,they retained their majority in the Cortes.​

10 April:

Due to the General Elections in Spain, the Governor-General sent a telegram to His Majesty, King Leopold I, in which he said:

"YOUR MAJESTY ELECTIONS ALREADY HELD LAST MONDAY STOP REFORMISTA PARTY RETAINED MAJORITY STOP DEL PILAR NEW PRESIDENT OF THE JUNTA GENERAL STOP

3 May:

Almost a month after the Governor-General sent a telegram to His Majesty, Carlos Ma. de la Torre received a telegram from the King, in which he said:

"CANOVAS DEL CASTILLO BECAME PRESIDENT OF THE GOVERNMENT STOP HIS PARTY WON MAJORITY IN THE CORTES STOP I HOPE SR. CANOVAS WILL BE A GOOD LEADER STOP"

5 May:

The President-elect Marcelo H. del Pilar received a telegram from the new President of the Spanish Government Antonio Canovas del Castillo, in which:

"CONGRATULATIONS ON THE VICTORY STOP CONTINUE THE LEGACY OF SR. PARDO DE TAVERA STOP BREAKING-UP OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS WILL NEVER HAPPEN STOP"

Antonio Canovas del Castilo, President of the Spanish Government (1880-86)​

Marcelo H. Del Pilar, the new President of the Junta General​

SUMMARY:​

Carlos Maria de la Torre was given a second chance to lead the Philippine Islands as Governor-General. Under him, the representative government flourished under the leadership of Junta President Joaquin Pardo de Tavera. The Bangsamoro Territory and Cordilleras received their own government though it was appointed from Manila. The identity of the Filipino nation was established. The reforms that fought by the Filipinos, both ilustrados and common people alike, became a reality.

 

[Libertad]

I wonder what will happen to Jose Rizal here... and yes, we would be speaking Spanish rather than English here as the second/third language based on what I am seeing.. wow. And yes, the Spanish-American War. It might not happen here... with some important consequences.

If I were to choose and just do some very soft butterflies, I would very much like to see an alternate Treaty of Paris with a reluctant, , yes reluctant... Filipino delegation and an establishment of an independent Republic of Philippines, making it be put inside the Monroe Doctrine's coverage due to its historical ties to the Hispanic heritage South America. Of course, the Philippines is more like America's Pacific Cuba with US bases in the country. Ala Meiji Japan, some foreign but American dominated "advisers" arrive in the country like those alternate Thomasite teachers.

What just happened is that there is an early Philippine independence... now on what is the closest OTL South American analogue that the country could follow.... I don't know... But at least we would be having the Philippines as truly Asia's first independent democratic republic. The only difference here is that it is a product of a foreign treaty as a consequence of an international war rather than a true native colonial revolution. I'll still take it.

And I think it's safe for America here to just "let us go" in some way, rather than doing an outright imperialist annexationist campaign on a mission of "civilizing us savages".

As for Rizal, I think he's going to marry Leonor Rivera this time around. There would be no hindrance now for this to happen. So, what about the rest of the harem? Oh no. Rizal would not be able to learn more foreign languages. He wouldn't be able to do those "you know" things with his harem. He wouldn't be able to travel to England via America. NO! Will Rizal still study abroad and be a womanizer? I can't wait!

 

[ramones1986]

I wonder what will happen to Jose Rizal here... and yes, we would be speaking Spanish rather than English here as the second/third language based on what I am seeing.. wow. And yes, the Spanish-American War. It might not happen here... with some important consequences.

I see that Jose Rizal's role will be crucial in the future. And in this TL, no Spanish-American War.

an establishment of an independent Republic of Philippines, making it be put inside the Monroe Doctrine's coverage due to its historical ties to the Hispanic heritage South America.

I don't see the Philippines as part of Monroe Doctrine of the United States, but besides from establishing diplomatic relations with Latin American nations, they will also sent diplomats to China, Siam/Thailand and Japan.

What just happened is that there is an early Philippine independence... But at least we would be having the Philippines as truly Asia's first independent democratic republic. The only difference here is that it is a product of a foreign treaty as a consequence of an international war rather than a true native colonial revolution. I'll still take it.

Regarding Philippine independence... I can't say it for now, but because the ruling party (Reformistas) is advocating self-determination for the Islands, but let's see. Regarding the form of government... well, right now the Philippines has a federal-parliamentary constitutional monarchy: The King of Spain (Leopold I in this TL [see Milarqui's TL for more details; this TL is the unofficial spin-off of Milarqui's]) a functioning government headed by a prime minister (Presidente de la Junta General) and the Basic Law of the Philippine Islands, which served as the constitution

As for Rizal, I think he's going to marry Leonor Rivera this time around. There would be no hindrance now for this to happen. So, what about the rest of the harem? Oh no. Rizal would not be able to learn more foreign languages. He wouldn't be able to do those "you know" things with his harem. He wouldn't be able to travel to England via America. NO! Will Rizal still study abroad and be a womanizer? I can't wait!

His womanizing attitude is still the same as OTL, but because in this TL Rizal will live longer, I sensed he'll fall in love. But not Leonor.

 

[caloysky]

What I'm waiting for is the Spanish-American war, hopefully it won't be butterfly-ed

 

[ramones1986]

What I'm waiting for is the Spanish-American war, hopefully it won't be butterfly-ed

Unfortunately, it will. Sorry...

 

[Libertad]

I see that Jose Rizal's role will be crucial in the future. And in this TL, no Spanish-American War.

Oh. So we are all going to speak Spanish really!

I don't see the Philippines as part of Monroe Doctrine of the United States, but besides from establishing diplomatic relations with Latin American nations, they will also sent diplomats to China, Siam/Thailand and Japan.

So we would really have an earlier independence than expected?

Regarding Philippine independence... I can't say it for now, but because the ruling party (Reformistas) is advocating self-determination for the Islands, but let's see. Regarding the form of government... well, right now the Philippines has a federal-parliamentary constitutional monarchy: The King of Spain (Leopold I in this TL [see Milarqui's TL for more details; this TL is the unofficial spin-off of Milarqui's]) a functioning government headed by a prime minister (Presidente de la Junta General) and the Basic Law of the Philippine Islands, which served as the constitution

Well, I see this self-determination to be more of a dominion status like Canada and other British white dominions but with greater foreign policy powers. And in terms of the opposition, the Philippine Islands as direct part of the Kingdom of Spain but with special autonomous status. We're Spaniards by citizenship directly.

May I suggest this:

Even if we achieve independence, can we still have the Basic Law of the Philippine Islands as the constitution.... but with amendments in keeping up with the independence. And then our head of state is still the Spanish monarch.

If not, keeping the Basic Law... with amendments... but also a "Papal Republic" with the Pope as the head of state.

Also, rather than the Junta General Presidents to be known more colloquially as Prime Ministers... can Filipinos here call them more as "Presidentes"?

His womanizing attitude is still the same as OTL, but because in this TL Rizal will live longer, I sensed he'll fall in love. But not Leonor.

Good, he just have a lot of girls... Seiko Usui perhaps with Rizal as our Ambassador to Japan... ?

And please let the country use both jus sanguinis and jus soli as its citizenship laws... use the Malolos Constitution's provisions on citizenship to let foreigners... especially skilled foreigners... be given citizenship in a fast way through staying in the land for a year and then paying taxes to us.. but he's very useful to the country and must be offered citizenship already by the town government. He/She can just get it without going to Manila for that. Let the citizenship laws be varied so that our national demographic be more diverse.

Well, I am still curious of still learning English as a second language here.... will that happen through some way?

Also, speaking of sports, Alcantara would still play in FC Barcelona right? God, hail to Philippine football here!

 

[ramones1986]

Oh. So we are all going to speak Spanish really!

Mostly, as the second language/lingua franca; in this TL, only the provinces of Bulacan and Nueva Ecija has the large population of monolingual Spanish speakers (due to migrations and intermarriage) [Note: Cavite is mostly Chavacano-speaking]

So we would really have an earlier independence than expected?

Let's see in the future.

Well, I see this self-determination to be more of a dominion status like Canada and other British white dominions but with greater foreign policy powers. And in terms of the opposition, the Philippine Islands as direct part of the Kingdom of Spain but with special autonomous status. We're Spaniards by citizenship directly.

Yup.

May I suggest this:

Even if we achieve independence, can we still have the Basic Law of the Philippine Islands as the constitution.... but with amendments in keeping up with the independence. And then our head of state is still the Spanish monarch.

If not, keeping the Basic Law... with amendments... but also a "Papal Republic" with the Pope as the head of state.

Also, rather than the Junta General Presidents to be known more colloquially as Prime Ministers... can Filipinos here call them more as "Presidentes"?

Thanks for the suggestions.
However, if the Philippines achieved its independence, there is a necessity to write a new constitution.
Besides, a "Papal Republic" is actually violating the separation of Church and State as depicted both in the 1869 Spanish Constitution and the Basic Law (in this TL, a Catholic Hohenzollern (Leopoldo I) is the King of Spain, remember?)
Yes, Filipinos in this TL will call them colloquially as "Presidente"

Good, he just have a lot of girls... Seiko Usui perhaps with Rizal as our Ambassador to Japan... ?

Let's see...

And please let the country use both jus sanguinis and jus soli as its citizenship laws... use the Malolos Constitution's provisions on citizenship to let foreigners... especially skilled foreigners... be given citizenship in a fast way through staying in the land for a year and then paying taxes to us.. but he's very useful to the country and must be offered citizenship already by the town government. He/She can just get it without going to Manila for that. Let the citizenship laws be varied so that our national demographic be more diverse.

The citizenship laws will be discussed in the future, as well as immigration.

Well, I am still curious of still learning English as a second language here.... will that happen through some way?

English will be taught as an elective subject on foreign languages.