The Last Bourbon Rulers of the Philippines

The statue of Queen Ysabel II . Inaugurated in Manila on 14, July 1860
(Lithograph by Ramirez y Giraudier) 

Ysabel II

About 150 years ago, the Philippines had a woman as its ruler, and our forefathers might have indeed shouted, "Viva la Reina!" She reigned during a turbulent and pivotal period, not only for Spain but also for its colonies, including the Philippines. Queen Ysabel II was highly unpopular and was deposed in a revolution led by some of her generals in 1868.

Following the queen's downfall and subsequent exile in France, Spain dispatched a liberal Governor-General named Carlos María de la Torre y Navacerrada to the Philippines. He implemented extensive reforms for the colony and gained the affection of the Filipinos. Regrettably, the Spanish Cortes reinstated the monarchy and selected an Italian nobleman, Amadeo I, as the new king in 1871. De la Torre was recalled, and a new Governor-General named Rafael de Izquierdo y Gutiérrez took his place. Perhaps one of the most controversial moves made by Izquierdo was the abolition of tax exemptions and the exemption from manual labor for natives (Filipinos) in the Spanish armed forces, specifically the Engineering and Artillery corps.

On January 20, 1872, troops in Cavite mutinied as a consequence of these changes. This event led to the arrest and exile of many well-known liberals. The three priests of GOMBURZA were executed, and the seeds of Filipino nationalism began to take root, giving rise to the concept of a Filipino nation.

Ysabel II never returned to Spain; she passed away in France in 1904. Later, Amadeo I abandoned Spain, and as a result, the Cortes had no option but to place Alfonso XII, the son of Ysabel II, on the throne.

King Alfonso XII

Not much of significance occurred during King Alfonso XII's reign. He married Maria Christina of Austria after the death of his first wife. Alfonso XII's rule was relatively short, as he passed away at the early age of 26. During his time, an unsavory rumor persisted regarding his paternity. Alfonso's biological parentage remains uncertain, with speculation suggesting that his biological father might have been Enrique Puig y Moltó, a captain of the guard, or even an American dental student. These rumors were exploited as political propaganda against Alfonso by the Carlists.

Two Spanish monarchs. Picture of mother and son the deposed Queen Ysabel II and the Infante who became  Alfonso XII at an early age. He reigned 1874-1885. The queen fondly called him "Alfoncinito"

Reina Regente

In Confucian belief, a woman ruler is often considered a curse. Queen Maria Christina received the title "Regent Queen" following the death of her husband, King Alfonso XII. The king had no male heir, but at the time of his passing, Queen Maria Christina was pregnant. Later, she gave birth to a baby boy who would become King Alfonso XIII. Queen Maria Christina served as regent from 1885 to 1902, a period marked by turbulence in Spanish history, including the loss of its remaining colonies and the execution of Rizal.

In the Philippines, Queen Maria Christina's regency is faintly remembered through a street in Manila named "Reina Regente." Remarkably, this period is now seen as one of the Philippines' finest moments, as it was when our great heroes laid the foundation for our first republic.

"Reina Regente" -The painting of Francisco Jover Casanova / Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida. of the grieving Queen Maria Christina swearing in front of the Spanish Cortes and the 1876 Constitution.

King Alfonso XIII

During the final years of Spanish rule, Filipinos referred to him as the "boy king." A one-peso coin featuring his youthful image was widely circulated in the country during that period. Alfonso XIII was the reigning monarch when the Philippine Revolution of 1896 began, coinciding with the year of Rizal's execution. Spain ultimately lost its colonies, marking a significant turning point.

In later decades, the Spanish Civil War erupted, leading to the King's deposition and subsequent exile in the 1930s. (Is the number 13 truly unlucky?) General Francisco Franco, known as El Caudillo, would govern the country under a fascist regime for an extended period. However, Franco later designated King Juan Carlos I, the grandson of Alfonso XIII, as his successor. King Juan Carlos successfully presided over Spain's transition from a dictatorship to a parliamentary monarchy.

ALFONSO XIII of Spain, the last Spanish monarch who reigned in the Philippines (seen in this photo with his mother, the queen regent or "Reina Regente")