The administration of the Philippines during the captaincy general of Valeriano Weyler (1888-1891)

Abstract

This work presents a study of the role carried out by Valeriano Weyler y Nicolau during his tenure as governor general of the Philippines, from 1888 to 1891. Weyler, a military appointed by the liberals, rather than political reforms, applied in the archipelago a series of measures whose aim was improving the general situation of the indigenous population, regenerating the administration and expanding the colonization areas over territores not yet dominated, such as Luzón, Bisayas and, above all, Mindanao, through successful military campaigns. He encouraged, as his predecessor Emilio Terrero, the use of Spanish, and leveraged the support of the religious orders to implement some of his policies. He did not neglect the military forces of the colony either.

His arrival in the Philippines was well received by those opposed to the reformist policies of his predecessor. Measures that Weyler disapproved for not considering them the most appropriate for the archipelago at that time. In his opinion, the first thing to do was to promote the progress of the country. For this, he turned all his efforts into the dissemination of instruction and the promotion of Spanish to achieve a better relationship between the rulers and the governed.