Final answer:
The Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines was characterized by a hierarchical society with exploitative practices, which led to the suffering of Indigenous peoples and societal unrest. The Black Legend emerged, portraying Spanish cruelty, though abuses were common among all European colonizers. Figures like Bartolomé de las Casas attempted reforms, but issues remained prevalent.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Spanish despotic colonial rule in the Philippines brought about various evils and negative consequences for the Filipino people. Under the Spanish regime, society was structured in a patriarchal and hierarchal manner, with Spaniards at the top and Native peoples and Africans beneath them. The Spanish introduced devastating diseases like smallpox, which coupled with brutal tactics, caused a significant decline in Indigenous populations.
Patriarchy and the enforcement of Spanish superiority led to the mistreatment of local populations and the imposition of high taxes, particularly on silver mining, which affected the indigenous and mixed-race groups (Criollos) disproportionately. These exploitative practices contributed to widespread suffering and social unrest. Additionally, the Spanish Civil Wars and the resulting instability and poverty further exposed the weaknesses of the Spanish colonial system.
The Spanish Crown, clergy, and Criollos were often embroiled in government conflicts. Efforts by figures such as Bartolomé de las Casas to reform the system and end the encomienda system brought some changes, yet abuses persisted. The so-called Black Legend emerged from these horrors, depicting the Spanish as exceptionally cruel and ruthless imperialists, a narrative adopted and exploited by rival colonial powers. Still, all colonizers, including the English, shared a disregard for Native peoples.