Christianity helped Spain colonize the Philippines for over 300 years; the Spanish were able to rule because most Filipinos converted to Catholicism, finding appeal in its message of God's love. Filipinos also accepted Christianity as it improved their way of life by banning inhumane practices and promoting family values, while Spanish missionaries aided colonization through education, infrastructure development, and introducing new industries. The Philippines thus became the only Christian nation in Asia under Spanish rule.

1. Christianity and Spanish
Colonization
Enrique B. Picardal jr
Biliran Province State University
The Spaniards were really able to keep
the Philippines as a colony. Why?
 Because most of Filipinos became
Christians.
The secret behind Spanish power was the
Cross not the sword.

2. Filipinos were attracted to
Christianity because of three
reasons
1. The massage of Christianity appealed
to the Filipinos.
The good news or Gospel behind the
Christian religion is found in the Bible:
 God so loved the world that he gave His
only beloved Son, so that those who
believe in him (Jesus Christ) will be saved
and have everlasting life” (John 3:16)

3.  2. Filipino life was approved by Christianity.
 Its Message about God’s love and the brotherhood of men stopped
the old Barangay feuds.
 It gave our people a better way of life.
 It reduced usury, drinking, and swearing.
 It banned the killing of children, human and animal sacrifice and
swearing.
 It banned the killing of children, human and animal sacrifice and
other brutal practices.
 It discouraged divorce, polygamy, adultery, and live-in before
marriage.

4.  3. The missionaries helped the soldiers in
the conquest and pacification of the
Philippines
 The success of Spaniard colonization was due largely to the early missionaries in
the 16th and 17th centuries.
 The missionaries were not only preachers of the gospel, but they were also
pioneers of Western arts, science, education, literature, and music to our
shores.
 They built schools, colleges, universities, printing presses, Libraries, hospitals,
and orphanages.
 They introduced new plants and animals from Mexico and Europe.
 They taught our people new industries like making colored dyes, bricks and
stone houses.
 They wrote the first histories, grammars, dictionaries, and maps.
 They constructed the first roads, bridges, forts, irrigation systems, and Public
works.

5. Church Organization
 Side by side with civil government was the church organization.
 The head of this organization was the Archbishop of manila.
 He was appointed by the pope upon recommendation of the
Spanish king.
 The archbishop were bishop who headed the group of parishes
(diocese).
 The bishops were the parish priest, who took charge of the town
parishes.

6. Manila started with a Bishop in
1578
 The first Bishop of manila was Monsignor Domingo de Salazar.
 He defended the Filipinos from abuses by the other Spanish officials.
 Domingo de Salazar in 1595, Manila was raised to an archbishopric, with
an archbishop as head of the church here. We had no cardinals then.
 The first missionaries who came to our shores belonged to different
religious orders.
 These religious orders were the Augustinians, the Franciscan, the
Jesuits. And the Dominican, the Recollectos, and the Before
Benedictines'

7. The power Of the Church
 During Spanish times, the catholic church was the official religion of
the people.
 No other religion was allowed to exist.
 This practice of allowing only one religion in the country. Is called
“the Union of church and state”
 Because of this Union of church and state, the catholic priests then
had a great influences in government.
 The archbishops, bishop, and parish priest received their salaries from
the government.
 The government paid for the churches, schools and charities run by
the religious orders.
 Until 1764, the archbishops could act as the temporary governor-
general of the Philippines.

8. The Only Christian Nation in Asia
 Spain’s dream of an empire in Asia started with
its conquest of the Philippines.
 The Spaniards used the Philippines as a military
base and a mission center to spread Spanish
power and Christianity to other parts of Asia.
 Although the Spanish dream of an Asian empire
failed, it kept the Philippines as a mission field.
 Thus, other Nations in Asia are non-Christian,
Buddhist, Confucian, Muslim, and Shinto.
 The Philippines is the only Nation in Asia.

9. From the Philippines
1. The gospel of Christianity was beamed to
other nearby nations.
2. The Philippines was spiritual light of Asia as
far back as the 16th century.
3. Today, Missionaries from the Philippines are
still going to other part Asian countries to
spread Christianity.

10. Why Spain kept the Philippines?
 Several times in our history, Spain almost left the Philippines
because it was a big economic loss to the king.
 It gave no economic profits to the Spanish crown.
 It cost a lot support the expenses of the colony.
 It was truly a miracle that the Spanish kings decided to keep the
Philippines.
 They were reminded of their obligation was first found in the last will
and testament of Queen Isabel I the greatest queen of Spain, in 1504.
 Her grandson, Philip II of Spain told his advisers that he would not
Abandon the Philippines, even if it was a heavy burden on the economy.
 He said: For the conversion of the people of the Filipinas, I would gladly
spend the riches of the Indies.”

11. In 1619 The advisers of the king
 Philip III (Son of Philip II), again told him to withdraw from the
colony.
 When news reach Manila that Spain might abandon the country
because of the great expense in maintaining the place.
 Father Hernando Moraga sailed to Madrid to plead with the king.
 When he reach the royal palace in Madrid, the frail old priest
knelt before king Philip III, and said: “ In God’s name, please do
not abandon the Philippine, Your Majesty remember what your
illustrious great grand-Mother, Queen Isabel the Catholic, stated
in her Statement.
 Deeply touched by the old padre’s words, the king replied: “Go
with God, Father Moraga. Be assured that I will not give up what
my father had conquered and left me.”

12.  In 1621, The council of the Indies
recommended again that Spain Abandon
the Philippines or exchange it for Brazil
with Portugal.
 But Father Hernando de los Rios Coronel,
Royal adviser in Madrid, asked King Philip IV
to keep the Philippines for the glory and
Honor of God.
 Thus, Spain a long time, most Filipinos
lived under Spain and accepted the
catholic religion

13. HISTORICAL VALUES
 From the time when Spain ruled the Philippines as a colony,
We learn the following reasons:
 Spain and the Philippines have very Special relations. The
Philippines was the greatest colony of Spain in Asia.
 Spain introduced two good blessings:
A. A centralized government and
B. The Catholic religion. As a Spanish colony, the Philippines was
united under one government and became a new nation
called “FILIPINAS” The Philippines also started to become
the only Christian nation in Asia.
C. The interior mountain tribes and Muslims Filipinos (Moro's)
were not conquered by Spain. That is why these minority
groups have different customs, tradition, religions and
culture.

14. HISTORICAL VALUES
 D. Sometimes Filipinos do not love their country or obey the
laws of the land because of their bad experience during the
Spanish era.
 The Spanish colonial officials were abusive and dishonest.
So for three centuries, Filipinos did not trust government
officials or love their country.
 But we must remember that we fought to win our
Independence.
 We have our own government now and our country is already
free.
 So we must obey the laws and love our country.

15. HISTORICAL VALUES
 E. Christianity was the real secret behind
the power of Spain.
 Most Filipinos accepted Spain because of
the good work of the early Spanish
missionaries and the appeal of the Gospel
of Christ.
 Christianity united the Filipinos.
 It was also the reason why Spain did not
abandon the Philippines.

16. THAT’S ALL
Any questions

17. ASSIGNMENT:
Write in a short bond paper/Type
written.
Why did the Filipino serve Spain?
How did Filipino serve Spain?