The month of October, I concentrated my postings in my blogs about the History of the Philippines in connection with Filipino American History Month. The following article was from my FB page this morning and detailed the British occupation of Manila for almost 2 years. It is a forgotten Chapter in Philippine history. I remember very well it was not mentioned in our Philippine history textbooks during my high school years in the Philippines.
When people think of the colonial history of the Philippines, their minds typically go straight to the long rule of Spain or the eventual takeover by the United States. However, there is a brief but significant period when the Philippines came under the control of another colonial power—the British Empire. This lesser-known chapter of history lasted from 1762 to 1764, a short but impactful occupation that left its own mark on the nation.
The British Invasion: Why It Happened
The British Occupation of Manila
Once Manila fell to the British, the city was placed under British administration. However, it’s important to note that while the British controlled Manila and nearby areas, they never fully conquered the entire archipelago. Much of the Philippines, especially the provinces, remained under Spanish control or were left to govern themselves.
The British aimed to turn Manila into a key trading port, seeking to tap into the lucrative galleon trade between the Philippines and Mexico, which had long been controlled by the Spanish. This was part of Britain’s broader strategy to expand its influence in Asia, where it already had a strong presence through its East India Company.
Despite their control of Manila, the British struggled to establish a firm grip on the rest of the Philippines. They faced strong resistance from Spanish loyalists and Filipino forces, particularly those led by Simón de Anda y Salazar, a Spanish official who organized local resistance from outside Manila. Anda’s guerrilla tactics and the refusal of many Filipinos to submit to British rule meant that the occupation was far from smooth.
Life Under British Rule
For the people of Manila, life under British rule brought about significant changes, both positive and negative. On one hand, the British occupation disrupted the Spanish colonial order, and in some ways, it gave Filipinos a taste of a different form of governance. The British were more open to trade and allowed greater commercial freedom in the city, which benefited some merchants and locals who had previously been limited by Spanish restrictions.
On the other hand, the British occupation was not without violence and hardship. The fall of Manila led to widespread looting and chaos, with British and Indian soldiers (known as Sepoys) pillaging homes and churches. The Rape of Manila, as it came to be known, resulted in significant destruction and suffering for the local population. For many Filipinos and Spanish residents of Manila, the British were seen as invaders, not liberators.
The End of British Rule: The Treaty of Paris (1763)
The British occupation of the Philippines was short-lived, and it ended as quickly as it began. In 1763, the Treaty of Paris was signed, ending the Seven Years’ War. Under the terms of the treaty, Britain agreed to return Manila and the Philippines to Spain in exchange for other territorial gains elsewhere.
However, it wasn’t until 1764 that the British fully withdrew from Manila. By this time, the British had realized that holding onto the Philippines in the long term would be difficult, given the distance from their other colonies and the fierce resistance they faced from both the Spanish and Filipinos. With the handover, Spanish colonial rule was restored, and the Philippines once again became a part of Spain’s empire.
Impact of the British Occupation on the Philippines
Although the British occupation of the Philippines lasted only two years, it had a lasting impact on the country in several ways.
1. The Rise of Filipino Nationalism
One of the indirect effects of the British empire occupation was the awakening of a sense of Filipino identity. The resistance against the British, led by figures like Simón de Anda, was one of the first times that Filipinos from various regions united against a foreign power. Although they were still loyal to Spain, this collective action laid the groundwork for future movements that would challenge colonial rule, first against Spain and later against the United States.
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2. Disruption of Spanish Rule
The British invasion exposed the vulnerabilities of Spanish rule in the Philippines. The Spanish were unprepared for the British attack, and their inability to protect the colony raised questions about their competence. While Spain regained control after the British left, their grip on the Philippines was never quite the same. The brief period of British rule also opened Manila to new ideas and influences from the wider world, which would later shape the development of the Philippines.
3. Economic Changes
Under British occupation, Manila’s economy briefly opened up to global trade beyond the restrictive limits imposed by the Spanish crown. British merchants were more liberal with trade policies, and the temporary loosening of restrictions offered a glimpse of the economic potential that the Philippines could achieve if freed from colonial monopolies. This shift, though short-lived, foreshadowed the economic changes that would come in the 19th century as the Philippines began to engage more with international trade.
The brief period when the Philippines was under the British Empire is often overlooked in the larger narrative of the country’s history. While it may not have had the long-lasting influence of Spain or the United States, the British occupation was a pivotal moment that exposed the weaknesses of Spanish colonial rule and sparked early forms of Filipino resistance.
The memory of British empire rule may have faded from popular consciousness, but its legacy can still be seen in the resilience of the Filipino spirit and the early signs of nationalism that would eventually lead to the country’s fight for independence. The British may have left in 1764, but the seeds of change had already been planted.
