A glimpse of mid-19th century economic life

WHEN curious people ask why I went into history as a profession, I usually reply that I am bad with numbers.
Apparently I use the side of the brain that has something to do with texts and pictures. In college, I chose a course that required the fewest math and science subjects. Perhaps this attitude was a reflection of my aptitude, my preferences, or the way I was taught in grade school and high school, though we will never know.

But then even as a historian, one cannot escape math and numbers because current bad news is filled with terms like "fiscal crisis," "budget deficit," "GDP," "GNP" and many others that make me wish I paid more attention to the college economics course that included the compulsory items on land reform and taxation. Maybe it is the present economic problem that prodded me to read the stale economic data gathered by Pierre Joseph Lannoy, the Belgian consul in Manila from 1837-1848, who published "Les isles Philippines de leur situation ancienne et actualle" (The Philippine Islands: Of their condition in ancient times and the present) in Brussels in 1849.

While our relations with Belgium do not make news these days, there is enough in our history to make us take a second look. Some Filipinos studied in Belgium in the late 19th century, including some famous names in the Philippine Revolution and the Filipino-American War like Jose Alejandrino and Edilberto Evangelista. "El Filibusterismo" was published in Ghent when Jose Rizal lived in Belgium. Going much further, when Rosario Manalo was Philippine ambassador to Benelux (the countries of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxemburg), she wanted me to do research on the Belgian moneylenders who financed Magellan's expedition to the Philippines in 1521. Then, of course, there is the little-known story of Leopold King of Belgium who at one point contemplated acquiring the Philippines as a colony, but ended up with the Belgian Congo instead. When a Filipino historian takes the trouble to do some primary source research in the libraries and archives in Brussels, he will surely find more about Philippine-Belgian relations.

To serve as a guide for travelers and investors from Europe, Lannoy listed down all the products and industries available in the Philippines as well as information on customs, taxation and the political situation. He also listed some of the articles imported by the Philippines from Belgium as follows:

"White and unbleached cotton; Spun cotton; Printed cotton and kerchiefs, cloth with large and small checks, spring fabrics, cotton fabrics; Linen cloth in small quantities; Light fabrics; woolen clothes such as prunellas, etc.; Carriage trimmings; Waxed cloth; Tanned leather; Axles; Hardware; Haberdashery; Plate-glass; Cutlery; Nails; Crystal glassware; Window glass and hollow glassware; Crockery; Tulle or net; Gold and silver thread; Stationery; Brushware; Sailcloth; Cotton umbrellas; Copper sheets and nails; Oil colors; Butter; iron; Steel; Cotton velvet; Hats; and Rugs."
From these imports, one can also tell what kind of people lived in Manila in the 19th century, their needs and their wants. In a sense, they had come a long way since the Chinese brought silk, porcelain, iron and umbrellas in pre-colonial times.

The Philippines and the Filipinos had also developed more appetite for imported goods since Magellan brought gifts of brightly colored cloth, little bells, mirrors and other trinkets. It is also significant to note what items were exempted from customs tariffs and what was prohibited. Only the following items were banned from entering Philippine ports: pocket pistols, Spanish books printed outside the peninsula, and "gunpowder, rum and arack, crude and manufactured tobacco, opium, and finally all agricultural and industrial products similar to those of the country."

With regard to books, other 19th-century travelers noted that customs officers were particularly keen on the import ban on Bibles. Filipinos were not allowed to read Bibles by themselves as the Church was worried about a literal or worse, an interpretation of Scriptures that run counter to that taught by the friars.

This explains why Rizal bought a Bible when he went abroad to study. Some people misinterpret this as faith or devotion on his part, when it was simply intellectual curiosity. Filipinos were not allowed to own or read Bibles on their own in the Spanish period. Bookstores today have lots of Bibles in stock that come in all shapes, colors and sizes.
Exempt from customs duties were the following: alembics, pumps and machines; horses, goats and pigs; dye stuffs (except cochineal); flower and herb seeds; drawing paper; wood for shipbuilding called tec [teak?]; silver and gold minted and in bars; cotton thread for weaving, red, yellow, pink and green colors.

One wonders at the rationale for the above exemptions. Gold and silver came in tax free? Why were certain animals exempt from tariff? Does this mean that you had to pay taxes if you brought in cows, fowl or dogs? Why were customs duties waived on certain colors of cotton thread but not others? Lannoy's now stale data provide a glimpse of economic life in the mid-19th century but more importantly, gives us perspective and and an appreciation for life in the 21st century.

Comments are welcome at aocampo@ateneo.edu