Racial classes in the Philippines

During the 19th Century Philippines was socially stratified arrangement of racial classes. 


Thus, early in this century, classes are divided and with that there is a big division among the Filipinos.


According to: http://www.proyectos-saluda.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1882&Itemid=156


At the time, only those born of Spanish parents and born in Spain were considered the Peninsulares and  the elite class. 

Peninsulares (elite)

 Hijos de Pais were children with Spanish parents who were born in the Philippines while criolos were mixed blood with either father or mother who were Spanish or European, while the other of  Indio or Chino.

The term mestizo was used to denote anyone of lighter skin, whether Hispanic or Chinese descent.  It is this racial conflict between the Peninsulares and non-Peninsulares that united all the other classes into Filipino and was one of the major causes that led to the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution against Spain.  The other major cause was the religious persecution in Spain that led its friars being sent to the Philippines and thus displacing the Filipino clergy from control of their parishes.

As you can see, the classes are divided and it is pretty obvious that, those who have 100% Spanish blood gets more benefits.