Final answer:
The oppressive colonial government of Spain in the Philippines, characterized by unjust policies and marginalization of the Filipino people, is metaphorically likened to a 'cancer' due to its destructive and exploitative nature. Spanish and subsequent American policies enforced social hierarchies and exploitation, resisted by Filipinos eager for self-rule. Atrocities like torture and significant loss of indigenous lives under colonial rule underscore the severity of the oppression and justify the use of this metaphor.
Step-by-step explanation:
Considering the oppressive Spanish colonial government, which perpetuated unjust policies and marginalized the Filipino people, as a 'cancer' metaphorically suggests that it was a harmful and destructive force in society. The implementation of these policies under colonialism exhibited a complete disregard for the welfare and rights of the Filipinos. The Spanish colonial rulers enforced a social order premised on their own supremacy and authority, heavily taxing the indigenous population and, in essence, exploiting them for labor and resources. Moreover, the U.S. intervention and subsequent acquisition of the Philippines following the Spanish defeat perpetuated a similar disregard for Filipino self-rule and democratic principles. Resistance to the new colonial authority by Filipinos signified a clear rejection of these imposed policies and governance.
The enforced disempowerment of native populations under Spanish rule, and subsequent American occupation, reflect systemic patterns of exploitation and violence that rightly evoke the metaphorical comparison to a 'cancer' within society. The gruesome acts such as torture, with the use of the 'water cure' by American forces, and the loss of civilian lives, reflect a profound moral and humanitarian crisis consistent with such characterization.