A national consciousness had been growing among the Filipino emigres who had settled in Europe between 1872 and 1892.

In the freer atmosphere of Europe, these emigres—liberals exiled in 1872 and students attending European universities—had formed the Propaganda Movement.

Organized for literary and cultural purposes more than for political ends, the Propagandists, who include upper-class Filipinos from all the lowland Christian areas, strive to "awaken the sleeping intellect of the Spaniard to the needs of our country" and to create a closer, more equal association of the islands and the motherland.

Among their specific goals are representation of the Philippines in the Cortes, or Spanish parliament; secularization of the clergy; legalization of Spanish and Filipino equality; creation of a public school system independent of the friars; abolition of the polo (labor service) and vandala (forced sale of local products to the government); guarantee of basic freedoms of speech and association; and equal opportunity for Filipinos and Spanish to enter government service.