Elites and Ilustrados in Philippine Culture

The Filipino “elites" have a starring role as heroes and villains in Philippine history. So-called ilustrados were vanguards of the Propaganda Movement whose writing helped inspire the Philippine Revolution in the late nineteen century. Manila's middle sector and elites based in municipalities actively participated in the Philippine Revolution. But the Filipino elites have also been taken to task for betraying the Revolution, for putting their selfish, factional interest above those of the nation and the "masses," for the collaborating with the American's, and being the principal beneficiaries of the colonial democracy and the post-colonial elite democracy that have plunged the country into crisis for most of the twentieth century.