Music of the Lowlands of Luzon 1: Music for Liturgy and Devotional Music
The music of the Lowlands of Luzon, particularly on the Music for Liturgy and Devotional Music.. The Lowlands of Luzon consist of several ethnolinguistic groups.. Throughout the lesson, one will discover how the people of the Lowlands of Luzon express their feelings towards each other and the environment, their history, and their religious beliefs through voice and musical instruments. A group performance inspired by the Lowlands’ musical examples will culminate the educational experience.
Vocal Music –
1. The Mass -, a form of sacred musical composition, is a choral composition that sets the invariable portions of the Eucharisticliturgy (principally that of the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, and Lutheranism) to music. Most Masses are settings of the liturgy in Latin, the liturgical sacred language of the Catholic Church's Roman liturgy, but there are a significant number written in the languages of non-Catholic countries where vernacular worship has long been the norm. For example, there are many Masses (often called "Communion Services") written in English for the Church of England. Musical Masses take their name from the Catholic liturgy called "the Mass" as well.
Masses can be a cappella, that is, without an independent accompaniment, or they can be accompanied by instrumentalobbligatos up to and including a full orchestra. Many Masses, especially later ones, were never intended to be performed during the celebration of an actual mass
Songs in Mass
a. Kyrie is the first movement of a setting of the Ordinary of the Mass:
- Kyrie eleison; Christe eleison; Kyrie eleison (Κύριε ελέησον. Χριστέ ελέησον. Κύριε ελέησον)
- Lord have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy.
This is from the ancient (Biblical New Testament) Greek language, unlike the rest of the mass which is Latin.
Kyrie movements often have a structure that reflects the concision and symmetry of the text. Many have a ternary (ABA) form, where the two appearances of the phrase "Kyrie eleison" consist of identical or closely related material and frame a contrasting "Christe eleison" section. Or AAABBBCCC' form is also found later on. Famously, Mozart sets the "Kyrie" and"Christe" texts in his Requiem Mass as the two subjects of a double fugue.
b. Gloria is a celebratory passage praising God and Christ:
- Gloria in excelsis Deo et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. Laudamus te, benedicimus te, adoramus te, glorificamus te, gratias agimus tibi
- Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will. We praise You, we bless You, we adore You, we glorify You, we give thanks
- propter magnam gloriam tuam, Domine Deus, Rex caelestis [coelestis], Deus Pater omnipotens.
- to You for Your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God the Father.
- Domine Fili unigenite, Jesu Christe, Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris, qui tollis peccata mundi,
- Lord Jesus Christ, only begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, who taketh away the sins of the world,
- miserere nobis; qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram. Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, miserere nobis.
- Have mercy on us; You who take away the sins of the world, hear our prayers. Who sits at the right hand of the Father, have mercy upon us.
- Quoniam tu solus Sanctus, tu solus Dominus, tu solus Altissimus, Jesu Christe, cum Sancto Spiritu in gloria Dei Patris. Amen.
-
- For You are the only Holy One, the only Lord, the only Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in the glory of God the Father, Amen.
In Mass settings (normally in English) composed for the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer liturgy, the Gloria is commonly the last movement, because it occurs in this position in the text of the service. In Order One of the newer Common Worship liturgy, however, it is restored to its earlier season.
- Credo in unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem,
- I believe in one God, the Father Almighty
- factorem cœli et terrae, visibilium omnium et invisibilium.
- Maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible:
- Et in unum Dominum, Jesum Christum,
- And in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
- Filium Dei unigenitum, et ex Patre natum ante omnia saecula.
- the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all time;
- Deum de Deo, Lumen de Lumine, Deum verum de Deo vero,
- God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God;
- genitum non factum, consubstantialem Patri;
- begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father,
- per quem omnia facta sunt.
- by Whom all things were made;
- Qui propter nos homines et propter nostram salutem descendit de cœlis.
- Who for us men and for our salvation came down from Heaven.
- Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine, et homo factus est.
- and was made flesh by the Holy Ghost out of the Virgin Mary, and was made man:
- Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato passus, et sepultus est,
- He was also crucified for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried:
- et resurrexit tertia die, secundum Scripturas,
- And on the third day rose again according to the Scriptures:
- et ascendit in cælum, sedet ad dexteram Patris.
- And ascended into Heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father:
- Et iterum venturus est cum gloria, iudicare vivos et mortuos,
- And He shall come again, with glory, to judge the living and the dead:
- cuius regni non erit finis;
- Of His Kingdom there shall be no end;
- Et in Spiritum Sanctum, Dominum et vivificantem,
- And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, and Giver of Life,
- qui ex Patre Filioque procedit.
- Who proceeds from the Father and the Son
- Qui cum Patre et Filio simul adoratur et conglorificatur:
- Who, with the Father and the Son, is similarly adored and glorified,
- qui locutus est per prophetas.
- Who has spoken through the Prophets.
- Et unam, sanctam, catholicam et apostolicam Ecclesiam.
- And I believe in One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church,
- Confiteor unum baptisma in remissionem peccatorum.
- I confess one Baptism for the remission of sins.
- Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum,
- And I expect the Resurrection of the Dead:
- et vitam venturi saeculi. Amen.
- And the Life of the world to come. Amen.
Since the Second Vatican Council composers have mostly ignored writing melodies for the Credo in vernacular languages. Today, the Creed is usually recited by the congregation.
Organizers of international celebrations, such as World Youth Day, have been encouraged by Rome to familiarize congregants in the Latin chants for the Our Father and the Credo, specifically Credo III (17th century, Fifth Mode) from theMissa de Angelis (the Mass of the Angels). The purpose of singing these two texts in Latin is to engender a sense of unity in the faithful, all of whom thus sing the prayer of Jesus and the shared belief of the universal Church in the same language.
d. Sanctus
- Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth; pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua
- Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of Hosts; Heaven and earth are full of Your glory.
- Hosanna in excelsis
- Hosanna in the highest.
A variant exists in Lutheran settings of the Sanctus. While most hymnal settings keep the second person pronoun, other settings change the second person pronoun to the third person. This is most notable in J.S. Bach's Mass in B minor, where the text reads gloria ejus ("His glory"). Martin Luther's chorale Isaiah, Mighty in Days of Old, and Felix Mendelssohn's setting of the Heilig! (German Sanctus) from his Deutsche Liturgie also use the third person.
e. Benedictus
The Benedictus is a continuation of the Sanctus:
- Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.
- Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord
Hosanna in excelsis is repeated after the Benedictus section, often with musical material identical to that used after theSanctus, or very closely related.
In Gregorian chant the Sanctus (with Benedictus) was sung whole at its place in the mass. However, as composers produced more embellished settings of the Sanctus text, the music often would go on so long that it would run into the consecration of the bread and wine. This was considered the most important part of the Mass, so composers began to stop the Sanctushalfway through to allow this to happen, and then continue it after the consecration is finished. This practice was forbidden for a period in the 20th century.
f. Agnus Dei
The Agnus Dei is a setting of the "Lamb of God" litany:
- Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,
- Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
- miserere nobis.
- have mercy upon us.
- Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,
- Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
- miserere nobis.
- have mercy upon us.
- Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,
- Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
- dona nobis pacem.
- grant us peace.
In a Requiem Mass, the words "miserere nobis" are replaced by "dona eis requiem" (grant them rest), while "dona nobis pacem" is replaced by "dona eis requiem sempiternam" (grant them eternal rest).
2. Pastores -
3.. Moro-moro/Komedya;
4. Senakulo
What is Senakulo?
Lenten play depicting the life, suffering & death of Christ
Comes from Spanish word “cenaculo” meaning cenacle -> room where the Last Supper took place
takes at least 8 nights -> (Pam Sunday – Easter)
Uses both songs and recitation
Focuses on Christ’s meek submissiveness
People in play do so for entertainment and because of their holy vows
Performed on a proscenium-type stage with painted cloth or paper backdrops called telon
Modernization
Don’t last as long -> some can last only 2 hours
Focus more on Christ’s courageous motives rather than his submissiveness
May be presented in different types of venues
Comedy, courtship and special effects may be added
Street Senakulos
A form of penance
reenact sufferings of Jesus on his way and on the cross
people participating as Jesus suffer the physical harm Jesus did
crucifixion
Whipping
Crowning with thorns
Manila Mobile Theatre
Segment of Tanghalang Sta. Ana
Has been organizing these plays for over 22 years
Add social commentary to the play
Sources
5. Pabasa ng Pasyon
What is Pabasa?
Every year during Holy Week celebrations some Filipino Catholics get together. This tradition is called “Pabasa”.
Pabasa starts on a Holy Wednesday until Good Friday. Which are often held in community chapels.
How do we celebrate this festival?
Pabasa festival is more like a tradition when old folks in particular read a book called “Pasyon” ( The Passion of Christ ).
But instead of reading it, they chant it or read it in a tune. Singing the whole book phrase by phrase, line per line.
Why do we celebrate this festival?
We celebrate this festival to commemorate the death of Jesus Christ in a solemn and calm manner compared to the other traditions.
SOURCES
>Oic_ed., A Filipino Catholic tradition during Holy Week. Retrieved on February 21,2011, from
http://edisonism.com/index.php.option=com_content&view=article&id=321%3Aaquotpabasaaquot-a-filipino-chatholic-tradition-during-the-holy-week-celebration&catid=39%3Aedisonism&Itemid=1
6. Salubong;
An Extra-Liturgical Activity
It is an Easter Sunday ritual done before dawn at exactly 4am
Reenacts the Risen Christ’s meeting with His mother
Originated from Marinduque
It is performed in the churchyard under a specially prepared arch where the veiled image of the Virgin Mary has been placed
A child dressed as an angel that is on a high platform being held up by ropes, lifts the mourning lambong (veil of the grieving)off image of the Mother
Confetti is thrown into the air and songs of joy are sung to celebrate the Risen Christ
How is it Performed
The church bells are rung and there is a procession of the images of Christ and His mother that ends up in the church
The participants in the procession are segregated by gender
The men follow the image of Christ while the women follow the image of Mary
The procession ends with the two groups meeting inside the church where the mass is held
What does it Signify?
How powerful God is for he sacrificed his only son and brought Him back to life again to save us all from our sins
New beginning for us because Jesus gave us a new life by saving us from our sins
Music Used
Songs of Praise
Joyful Hymns
At Present Time
The Salubong is still being performed on Easter Sunday
It is most popular in places like Marinduque, Cebu, Bulacan and Rizal
Now, instead of using a toddler to lift the veil from the image of Mary, they now use stronger 12 year olds
An Extra-Liturgical Activity
It is an Easter Sunday ritual done before dawn at exactly 4am
Reenacts the Risen Christ’s meeting with His mother
Originated from Marinduque
It is performed in the churchyard under a specially prepared arch where the veiled image of the Virgin Mary has been placed
A child dressed as an angel that is on a high platform being held up by ropes, lifts the mourning lambong (veil of the grieving)off image of the Mother
Confetti is thrown into the air and songs of joy are sung to celebrate the Risen Christ
How is it Performed
The church bells are rung and there is a procession of the images of Christ and His mother that ends up in the church
The participants in the procession are segregated by gender
The men follow the image of Christ while the women follow the image of Mary
The procession ends with the two groups meeting inside the church where the mass is held
What does it Signify?
How powerful God is for he sacrificed his only son and brought Him back to life again to save us all from our sins
New beginning for us because Jesus gave us a new life by saving us from our sins
Music Used
Songs of Praise
Joyful Hymns
At Present Time
The Salubong is still being performed on Easter Sunday
It is most popular in places like Marinduque, Cebu, Bulacan and Rizal
Now, instead of using a toddler to lift the veil from the image of Mary, they now use stronger 12 year olds
7. Flores de Mayo
8. Santacuzan
A month-long Catholic event to honor the Virgin Mary
Finding of the True Cross by Saint Helena and her son Emperor Constantine
Introduced during the Spanish era
Associated with youth, love and romance
Originated in Malolos, Bulacan
Started after:
Immaculate Conception
publication of Mariano Sevilla's Flores de Maria or Mariquit na Bulaclac na sa Pagninilaynilay sa Buong Buan nang Mayo ay Inihahandog nang manga Devoto cay Maria Santisima
Where it is held
In the Bicol region, (especially in Barangay Sabang in Naga City), it is held every Wednesday and Saturday of May.
The ritual is started with the rosary, with every decade followed by Spanish Marian songs
Nine day novena
Santacruzan
Also known as The Sagala
Pageant on the last day of Flores de Mayo
Procession of “queens” (ex. Reyna Elena, Reyna ng Sába, Reyna Móra)
Pabítin – culminating activity for all the children to enjoy.
Square trellis to which goodies (candies, fruits, small trinkets, etc.) are tied with strings.
Suspended on a strong branch or pole.
Children jump to try to pick the goodies while someone jerks it up and down repeatedly until all the goodies are gone.
Flores de Mayo is still celebrated in many provinces in the Philippines (Laguna, Bulacan, Iloilo), and is kept alive by Filipino communities overseas such as in New Orleans and in Belgium through a special “Euro-Santacruzan” hosted by Filipinos.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flores_de_Mayo
http://education.ezinemark.com/flores-de-mayo-santacruzan-4dc49f43651.html
http://www.asiarooms.com/en/travel-guide/philippines/philippines-festivals-and-events/flores-de-mayo-or-santacruzan-festival-in-philippines.html
http://www.philippinecountry.com/philippine_festivals/santacruzan.html
8. Santacuzan
A month-long Catholic event to honor the Virgin Mary
Finding of the True Cross by Saint Helena and her son Emperor Constantine
Introduced during the Spanish era
Associated with youth, love and romance
Originated in Malolos, Bulacan
Started after:
Immaculate Conception
publication of Mariano Sevilla's Flores de Maria or Mariquit na Bulaclac na sa Pagninilaynilay sa Buong Buan nang Mayo ay Inihahandog nang manga Devoto cay Maria Santisima
Where it is held
In the Bicol region, (especially in Barangay Sabang in Naga City), it is held every Wednesday and Saturday of May.
The ritual is started with the rosary, with every decade followed by Spanish Marian songs
Nine day novena
Santacruzan
Also known as The Sagala
Pageant on the last day of Flores de Mayo
Procession of “queens” (ex. Reyna Elena, Reyna ng Sába, Reyna Móra)
Pabítin – culminating activity for all the children to enjoy.
Square trellis to which goodies (candies, fruits, small trinkets, etc.) are tied with strings.
Suspended on a strong branch or pole.
Children jump to try to pick the goodies while someone jerks it up and down repeatedly until all the goodies are gone.
Flores de Mayo is still celebrated in many provinces in the Philippines (Laguna, Bulacan, Iloilo), and is kept alive by Filipino communities overseas such as in New Orleans and in Belgium through a special “Euro-Santacruzan” hosted by Filipinos.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flores_de_Mayo
http://education.ezinemark.com/flores-de-mayo-santacruzan-4dc49f43651.html
http://www.asiarooms.com/en/travel-guide/philippines/philippines-festivals-and-events/flores-de-mayo-or-santacruzan-festival-in-philippines.html
http://www.philippinecountry.com/philippine_festivals/santacruzan.html
Instrumental Music- Las Pinas Bamboo Organ
If there’s one thing that is unique about Las Piñas, it is the Bamboo Organ, which is considered a Philippine National Treasure. On November 24, 2003, it was given this recognition by the National Museum of the Philippines since “it is the only 19th century Bamboo Organ in the Philippines that has survived and is still functioning.” This unique musical instrument is composed of 1,031 pipes, and 902 of which are made out of bamboo while the rest are metal.
A dose of history
The man behind this masterpiece was a Spanish missionary called Fray Diego Cera Dela Virgen Del Carmel, who was in fact, the first parish priest in Las Piñas during the Spanish era. He came from the town of Graus (Huesca, Spain), but he settled in this part of the Philippines from 1795 to 1830.
Fr. Diego Cera started with the construction of the bamboo organ in 1816 and it was finished eight years after in 1824. It has gone through a lot since then.
During the 1880s, there was a typhoon and earthquake that damaged the roof of the church, which left the bamboo organ open to nature’s elements. The rainwater and stones got inside the organ case, which destroyed the instrument and made it unplayable for years. After that, the pipes were stored in the old sacristy and were forgotten about until around 1917 when a tourist rediscovered its beauty.
It was only in 1972 when the bamboo organ restoration project began. Johannes Klais Orgelbau was the one who was awarded the contract, and he had the organ shipped all the way to Bonn, Germany in 1973. After about a couple of years, the bamboo organ returned to its homeland in 1975.
Location
The St. Joseph Parish Church in Las Piñas houses the Bamboo Organ, and it is about ten kilometers south of the heart of Metro Manila. Built between 1797 and 1819, the church has an “earthquake” Baroque architectural style and is mainly made out of adobe stones. It had to undergo renovation with the assistance of the local community and the neighboring area, in order to restore the structure and the grounds to its original state. Architects Francisco “Bobby” Mañosa and Ludwig Alvarez effectively spearheaded the renovation from 1971 to 1975.
Located within the grounds of the church is the Antillan House, which serves as the point of entry to the Bamboo Organ Foundation Inc, its souvenir shop, the museum, and the Parish Adoration Chapel. This place used to be an old Spanish convent, and is now being used as a passage to the Bamboo Organ as well.
The Festival and the Foundation
Ever since the bamboo organ’s rigorous restoration, the people celebrate this work of art through the International Bamboo Organ Festival every February. The Bamboo Organ Foundation Inc. organizes this annual musical and cultural event, in cooperation with the people of Las Piñas. The festival’s aim is to pursue and develop the rich cultural tradition of Las Piñas, and a number of established foreign and local artists have participated in this event. It attracts a lot of local and foreign tourists, as well as all kinds of music aficionados.
The Bamboo Organ Foundation Inc. is a non-stock and non-profit group that endeavors to preserve and maintain the Bamboo Organ. Aside from organizing the yearly festival, it is also involved in the educational, spiritual and social enrichment of the people in the city. The foundation has also sent scholars to Austria who have managed to make a name for themselves in their chosen fields. There’s Armando Salarza who specialized in organ performance and church music, Gerado Fajardo who concentrated on choir conducting, as well as Cealwyn Tagle and Edgar Montiano (+) who focused on organ building.
Source: http://laspinascity.gov.ph/home/article?cat=ls
Cultural Context (History and Traditions) –
Spanish colonisation,
Spanish colonization
The invasion of the Filipinos by Spain did not begin in earnest until 1564, when another expedition from New Spain, commanded by Miguel López de Legaspi, arrived.Permanent Spanish settlement was not established until 1565 when an expedition led by Miguel López de Legazpi, the first Governor-General of the Philippines, arrived in Cebu from New Spain. Spanish leadership was soon established over many small independent communities that previously had known no central rule. Six years later, following the defeat of the local Muslim ruler, Legazpi established a capital at Manila, a location that offered the outstanding harbor of Manila Bay, a large population, and closeness to the sufficient food supplies of the central Luzon rice lands. Manila became the center of Spanish civil, military, religious, and commercial activity in the islands. By 1571, when López de Legaspi established the Spanish city of Manila on the site of a Moro town he had conquered the year before, the Spanish grip in the Philippines was secure which became their outpost in the East Indies, in spite of the opposition of the Portuguese, who desired to maintain their monopoly on East Asian trade. The Philippines was administered as a province of New Spain (Mexico) until Mexican independence (1821).
Manila revolted the attack of the Chinese pirate Limahong in 1574. For centuries before the Spanish arrived the Chinese had traded with the Filipinos, but evidently none had settled permanently in the islands until after the conquest. Chinese trade and labor were of great importance in the early development of the Spanish colony, but the Chinese came to be feared and hated because of their increasing numbers, and in 1603 the Spanish murdered thousands of them (later, there were lesser massacres of the Chinese).
The Spanish governor, made a viceroy in 1589, ruled with the counsel of the powerful royal audiencia. There were frequent uprisings by the Filipinos, who disliked the encomienda system. By the end of the 16th cent. Manila had become a leading commercial center of East Asia, carrying on a prosperous trade with China, India, and the East Indies. The Philippines supplied some wealth (including gold) to Spain, and the richly loaded galleons plying between the islands and New Spain were often attacked by English freebooters. There was also trouble from other quarters, and the period from 1600 to 1663 was marked by continual wars with the Dutch, who were laying the foundations of their rich empire in the East Indies, and with Moro pirates. One of the most difficult problems the Spanish faced was the defeat of the Moros. Irregular campaigns were conducted against them but without conclusive results until the middle of the 19th century. As the power of the Spanish Empire diminished, the Jesuit orders became more influential in the Philippines and obtained great amounts of property.
Occupation of the islands was accomplished with relatively little bloodshed, partly because most of the population (except the Muslims) offered little armed battle initially. A significant problem the Spanish faced was the invasion of the Muslims of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago. The Muslims, in response to attacks on them from the Spanish and their native allies, raided areas of Luzon and the Visayas that were under Spanish colonial control. The Spanish conducted intermittent military campaigns against the Muslims, but without conclusive results until the middle of the 19th century.
Church and state were inseparably linked in Spanish policy, with the state assuming responsibility for religious establishments. One of Spain's objectives in colonizing the Philippines was the conversion of Filipinos to Catholicism. The work of conversion was facilitated by the absence of other organized religions, except for Islam, which predominated in the south. The pageantry of the church had a wide plea, reinforced by the incorporation of Filipino social customs into religious observances. The eventual outcome was a new Christian majority of the main Malay lowland population, from which the Muslims of Mindanao and the upland tribal peoples of Luzon remained detached and separated.
At the lower levels of administration, the Spanish built on traditional village organization by co-opting local leaders. This system of indirect rule helped create in a Filipino upper class, called the principalía, who had local wealth, high status, and other privileges. This achieved an oligarchic system of local control. Among the most significant changes under Spanish rule was that the Filipino idea of public use and ownership of land was replaced with the concept of private ownership and the granting of titles on members of the principalía.
The Philippines was not profitable as a colony, and a long war with the Dutch in the 17th century and intermittent conflict with the Muslims nearly bankrupted the colonial treasury. Colonial income derived mainly from entrepôt trade: The Manila Galleons sailing from Acapulco on the west coast of Mexico brought shipments of silver bullion and minted coin that were exchanged for return cargoes of Chinese goods. There was no direct trade with Spain.
The invasion of the Filipinos by Spain did not begin in earnest until 1564, when another expedition from New Spain, commanded by Miguel López de Legaspi, arrived.Permanent Spanish settlement was not established until 1565 when an expedition led by Miguel López de Legazpi, the first Governor-General of the Philippines, arrived in Cebu from New Spain. Spanish leadership was soon established over many small independent communities that previously had known no central rule. Six years later, following the defeat of the local Muslim ruler, Legazpi established a capital at Manila, a location that offered the outstanding harbor of Manila Bay, a large population, and closeness to the sufficient food supplies of the central Luzon rice lands. Manila became the center of Spanish civil, military, religious, and commercial activity in the islands. By 1571, when López de Legaspi established the Spanish city of Manila on the site of a Moro town he had conquered the year before, the Spanish grip in the Philippines was secure which became their outpost in the East Indies, in spite of the opposition of the Portuguese, who desired to maintain their monopoly on East Asian trade. The Philippines was administered as a province of New Spain (Mexico) until Mexican independence (1821).
Manila revolted the attack of the Chinese pirate Limahong in 1574. For centuries before the Spanish arrived the Chinese had traded with the Filipinos, but evidently none had settled permanently in the islands until after the conquest. Chinese trade and labor were of great importance in the early development of the Spanish colony, but the Chinese came to be feared and hated because of their increasing numbers, and in 1603 the Spanish murdered thousands of them (later, there were lesser massacres of the Chinese).
The Spanish governor, made a viceroy in 1589, ruled with the counsel of the powerful royal audiencia. There were frequent uprisings by the Filipinos, who disliked the encomienda system. By the end of the 16th cent. Manila had become a leading commercial center of East Asia, carrying on a prosperous trade with China, India, and the East Indies. The Philippines supplied some wealth (including gold) to Spain, and the richly loaded galleons plying between the islands and New Spain were often attacked by English freebooters. There was also trouble from other quarters, and the period from 1600 to 1663 was marked by continual wars with the Dutch, who were laying the foundations of their rich empire in the East Indies, and with Moro pirates. One of the most difficult problems the Spanish faced was the defeat of the Moros. Irregular campaigns were conducted against them but without conclusive results until the middle of the 19th century. As the power of the Spanish Empire diminished, the Jesuit orders became more influential in the Philippines and obtained great amounts of property.
Occupation of the islands was accomplished with relatively little bloodshed, partly because most of the population (except the Muslims) offered little armed battle initially. A significant problem the Spanish faced was the invasion of the Muslims of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago. The Muslims, in response to attacks on them from the Spanish and their native allies, raided areas of Luzon and the Visayas that were under Spanish colonial control. The Spanish conducted intermittent military campaigns against the Muslims, but without conclusive results until the middle of the 19th century.
Church and state were inseparably linked in Spanish policy, with the state assuming responsibility for religious establishments. One of Spain's objectives in colonizing the Philippines was the conversion of Filipinos to Catholicism. The work of conversion was facilitated by the absence of other organized religions, except for Islam, which predominated in the south. The pageantry of the church had a wide plea, reinforced by the incorporation of Filipino social customs into religious observances. The eventual outcome was a new Christian majority of the main Malay lowland population, from which the Muslims of Mindanao and the upland tribal peoples of Luzon remained detached and separated.
At the lower levels of administration, the Spanish built on traditional village organization by co-opting local leaders. This system of indirect rule helped create in a Filipino upper class, called the principalía, who had local wealth, high status, and other privileges. This achieved an oligarchic system of local control. Among the most significant changes under Spanish rule was that the Filipino idea of public use and ownership of land was replaced with the concept of private ownership and the granting of titles on members of the principalía.
The Philippines was not profitable as a colony, and a long war with the Dutch in the 17th century and intermittent conflict with the Muslims nearly bankrupted the colonial treasury. Colonial income derived mainly from entrepôt trade: The Manila Galleons sailing from Acapulco on the west coast of Mexico brought shipments of silver bullion and minted coin that were exchanged for return cargoes of Chinese goods. There was no direct trade with Spain.
Christianity Christianity (from the Ancient Greek word Χριστός, Christos, a translation of the Hebrew מָשִׁיחַ, Māšîăḥ, meaning "the anointed one",[1] together with theLatin suffixes -ian and -itas) is a monotheistic[2] religion based on the life andoral teachings of Jesus as presented in the New Testament. Christianity is theworld's largest religion, with approximately 2.2 billion adherents, known asChristians.Most Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God, fully divine and fully human, and the saviour of humanity whose coming was prophesied in the Old Testament. Consequently, Christians refer to Jesus as "Christ" or the Messiah.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity
Catholic religion
Catholicism (from Greek καθολικισμός, catholikismos, "according to the whole") is a broad term for describing specific traditions in the Christian churches in theology and doctrine, liturgy, ethics and spirituality. For many the term usually refers to Christians and churches, western and eastern, in full communion with the Holy See, usually known as the Catholic Church or the Roman Catholic Church. However, many others use the term to refer to other churches with historical continuity from the first millennium.
