1843.—An uprising in Manila as a resentment against the treatment of De la Cruz.
1872.—This revolt was different from any other previous revolt as it was no longer a protest against specific injustice but a revolt based upon idealistic basis. The leaders came from the educated class. The victims included such harmless men as Father Burgos, Father Zamora, and Father Gomez who were executed.
1883, 1888.—These years saw various revolts against oppressive treatments.
1892.—This year marked the beginning of the long and constructive struggle which changed the history of the Filipino people. It was characterized by a systematic campaign for freedom, culminating in the execution of Jose Rizal and the successful Revolution of 1896.
THE ORGANIZED MOVEMENT.—The leadership and the national ideals which these uprisings developed, became apparent in the Revolution of 1896 when the masses rose in arms against Spain and demanded separation and freedom. General MacArthur said of this Revolution:
“When I first started in against these rebels, I believed that Aguinaldo’s troops represented only a faction. I did not like to believe that the whole population of Luzon—the native population, that is—were opposed to us and our offers of good government. But after having come this far, after having occupied several towns and cities in succession, and having been brought much in contact with both insurrectos and amigos, I have been reluctantly compelled to believe that the Filipino masses were loyal and devoted to Aguinaldo and the government which he heads.”
Upon the cessation of hostilities and after the organization of the civil government in the Islands under the American régime, the Philippine Commission passed an act which virtually prohibited all agitations for Philippine independence. Under these circumstances, the movement had to go on in an unorganized manner against the opposition of the Federal Party which indorsed annexation of the Philippines to the United States. The party, however, never had any substantial support, and soon lost the little it had. Another party had appeared on the scene, having immediate independence for its slogan and the multitude rallied around its standard.
As an organized and systematic movement, the agitation began with the institution of the Philippine Assembly in 1907. The Philippine Assembly was then the popular branch of the Philippine Legislature, the upper house being the Commission of which the majority were Americans. The issue in the general elections was independence for the Islands, and the Nacionalista Party, which championed the cause, gained an overwhelming majority in the Assembly over the Federal Party. At the close of the first session of this representative body, the Speaker, Hon. Sergio Osmeña, declared:
“Permit me, gentlemen of the chamber, to declare solemnly before God and before the world, upon my conscience as a deputy and representative of my compatriots, and under my responsibility as president of this chamber, that we believe the people desire independence, and that we believe ourselves capable of leading an orderly existence, efficient both in internal and external affairs, as a member of the free and civilized nations.”
The cause of Philippine independence has been paramount in Philippine affairs since then, but the Filipino people have been striving for that national objective in the most peaceful manner. After the war the movement was resumed, and since 1919 two delegations have been sent to the United States to present pleas for independence to the President and Congress. The first went in 1919, the second in 1921.