Social, Political, Economic and Cultural Issues in

Philippine History

POLICIES ON
AGRARIAN
REFORM
Agrarian Reform means the In the Philippines, different policies on
redistribution of lands, regardless of agrarian reforms were implemented in
crops or fruits produced to farmers and different eras.
regular farm workers who are landless,
irrespective of tenurial arrangement, to Pre- Spanish Era - Land was not
include the totality of factors and unequally distributed before the
support services designed to lift the Spaniards came to the Philippines. -
economic status of the beneficiaries The notion of private property was
and all other arrangements alternative unknown then. - The community
to the physical redistribution of lands, (barangay) owned the land. Pre-
such as production or profit-sharing, Spanish Era.
labor administration, and the Spanish Era - one of the major initial
distribution of shares of stocks, which policies of the governorship of
will allow beneficiaries to receive a just Legazpi was to recognize all lands in
share of the fruits of the lands they the Philippines as part of public
work (Official Gazette of the Republic domain regardless of local customs.
of the Philippines, 1988) As such, the crown was at liberty to
parcel out huge tracts of Philippine
lands as rewards to loyal civilian and
military as rewards.

In effect, communal ownership of existed were either destroyed or lost,

land gradually and slowly took the leaving the legal situation with regard
backseat. Private ownership of land to holdings very complicated.
was introduced. With this arrangement, Indeed, the agrarian problem
every municipal resident was given his festered for so long time that the 1935
choice of the land for cultivation, free Constitution incorporated a cardinal
from tax. Large tracts of uncultivated principle on social justice to insure the
lands not circumscribed within a given well-being and economic security of
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municipality were granted by the all the people. Further opposition to the
Spanish monarch to deserving government and local government
Spaniards. This kind of ownership policies was evident during the 1940
became known as the encomienda. elections when a socialist and peasant
The encomienda system in the Spanish leader, Pedro Abad Santos almost won
colonies began as a result of a Royal again the candidate of the
Order promulgated in December of Pampango Landlords.
1503. By virtue of this Royal Order, The Present Republic- On September
encomiendas were granted to favor 1954, Pres. Ramon Magsaysay
Spanish officials and clerics who were signed into law RA No. 1199, as
entrusted the responsibility to look after amended by RA No. 2263 which
the spiritual and temporal allowed for the division of the crops.
developments of the natives in a
colonized territory. In 1946, Pres. Manuel Roxas enacted
Caciquism as an institution RA No 34 of 1946, providing for a 70-
became deeply rooted in Philippine 30 crops sharing arrangements and
soil. This paved the way to many regulating share-tenancy contracts.
present-day agrarian problems and  After the independence of July 4,
unrests. As the cacique system grew, it 1946 the need for land reform
also became more oppressive. This became pressing. Under the New
brought about colonial uprisings during Constitution, the primary governing
the 19th century, which tended to law on agrarian reform is RA No.
occur in the areas with much 6657, otherwise known as the
agricultural activity such as Central Comprehensive Agrarian Reform
Luzon. Agrarian-related problems were Law of 1988. On October 21, 1972,
the only source of major conflicts Pres. Marcos signed Presidential
during this time. Land was available in Decree No.27, “emancipating the
the entire archipelago. The major tenant-farmers from the bondage of
sources of conflict and rebellion were the soil”.
really the harsh Spanish impositions,
such as: tributo, polo, encomienda, On September 21, 1972, Pres.
etc. Ferdinand Marcos issued
American Period - The Public Land Act Presidential Decree No. 2, declaring
of 1902 which became effective on the entire the Philippines as land
July 26, 1904 offered homestead plot reform area.  In 1963, Pres.
not in excess of 16 hectares to families Diosdado Macapagal signed into
who had occupied and cultivated the law RA No. 3844 otherwise known as
tract they were residing on since the Agricultural Land Reform Code,
August 1, 1898 From 1903 to 1938 abolition of share tenancy and the
there was increase in tenancy rate imposition of agricultural leasehold
and land ownership decreased.  At system.
the beginning of the period, Spanish
land records that had

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TAXATION
DURING THE
SPANISH PERIOD

Taxes imposed by the Spanish Donativo - was the tax in the

Government in the Philippines. amount of half real for the military
Taxes during the Spanish period was campaign of the government
compulsory. All the Spanish against the muslims. In the later
Colonies in America and the years, however, the amount
Philippines were required to pay collected from donativo was almost
taxes for two reasons. exclusively used for the Spanish fort
(1)As recognition of Spain's Sovereignty in Zamboanga.
over the Colonies, and (2)to defray the
expenses of pacification (The act of Caja de comunidad -was a tax
forcibly suppressing hostility within the collected in the amount of 1 real for
colonies) and governance, thereafter. the incurred expenses of the town in
the construction of roads, repair of
Tributo - was a general tax paid bridges, or the improvement of
by the Filipinos to Spain which public buildings.
amounted to eight reales. Those
who were required to pay the Servicio Personal -Polo y servicio is
tributo the: the system of forced labor which
a. 18 to 50 years old males evolved within the framework of the
b. The Carpenters, bricklayers, encomienda system, introduced
blacksmiths, tailors and shoemakers into the South American colonies by
c.Town workers such as those in the Conquistadores and Catholic
road construction, and those whose is priests who accompanied them. It
public in nature. was present in almost all of the
Spanish colonial government
Sanctorum - was a tax in the around the world. Polo y servicio is
amount of 3 reales. These were the forced labor for 40 days of men
required for the cost of ranging from 16 to 60 years of age
Christianization, including the who were obligated to give
construction of the churches and personal services to community
the purchase of materials for projects. One could be exempted
religious celebrations. from polo by paying the falla
(corruption of the Spanish Falta,

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meaning "absence"), a daily fine of
Sumuroy's Revolt
one and a half real.
REVOLTS AGAINTS TRIBUTE In the town of Palapag today in Northern
Samar, Agustin Sumuroy, a Waray, and some of his
followers rose in arms on June 1, 1649 over the polo
y servicio or forced labor system being undertaken
in Samar. This is known as the Sumuroy Revolt,
Cagayan and Dingras Revolts named after Agustin Sumuroy.
The government in Manila directed that all
(1589)
natives subject to the polo are not to be sent to
The Cagayan and Dingras Revolts
Against the Tribute occurred on Luzon in the places distant from their hometowns to do their
present-day provinces of Cagayan and forced labor. However, under orders of the various
Ilocos Norte in 1589. Ilocanos, Ibanags and town alcaldes, or mayors, The Waray were being
other Filipinos revolted against alleged sent to the shipyards of Cavite to do their polo y
servicio, which sparked the revolt. The local parish
abuses by the tax collectors, including the
priest of Palapag was murdered and the revolt
collection of high taxes. It began when six
tax collectors who had arrived from Vigan eventually spread to Mindanao, Bicol and the rest
were killed by the natives. Governor-General of the Visayas, especially in places such as Cebu,
Santiago de Vera sent Spanish and Filipino Masbate, Camiguin, Zamboanga, Albay,
colonial troops to pacify the rebels. The Camarines and parts of northern Mindanao, such
as Surigao. A rebel government was successfully
rebels were eventually pardoned and the
established in the mountains of Samar. The defeat,
Philippine tax system reformed.
capture and execution of Sumuroy in June 1650
delivered a big setback to the revolt. His trusted co
conspirator David Dula sustained the quest for
freedom with greater vigor but in one of a fierce
battles several years later, he was wounded,
captured and later executed in Palapag, Northern
Samar by the Spaniards together with his seven key
lieutenants.
Maniago's Revolt
The Maniago Revolt was an uprising
in Pampanga during the 1660s named after
its leader, Francisco Maniago. During that
time, Pampanga drew most of the attention Malong's Revolt
from the Spanish religious orders because of Andres Malong was the maestro de campo
its relative wealth. They also bore the burden of Binalatongan, now San Carlos City,
of more tribute, forced labor, and rice Pangasinan in the 1660s. He assisted many
exploitation. They were made to work for Spaniards in governing different towns in
eight months under unfair conditions and Pangasinan, and as such, had learned and
were not paid for their labor and for the rice was trained to use force and cruelty. He
purchased from them. Their patience was hoped of being the King of the province,
put to the limit and they signified their however, set this plan aside when a war, led
intention to revolt by setting their campsite by Francisco Maniago, broke out in
on fire. The fight soon began and because Pampanga. Malong started his campaign in
the Spaniards were busy fighting against the a small barangay called Malunguey, but
Dutch, they were badly depleted by the failed. Having the same condition as in
Kapampangans. The Maniago revolt was the Pampanga, he led the people in Pangasinan
start of a much bigger and even bloodier to take up arms against the Spaniards. It
revolt in Pangasinan. This battle was led by a spread like wild fire in Pangasinan. Because
man named Andres Malong who had of his success, he proclaimed himself King of
heeded the call of Maniago to revolt against Pangasinan.
the Spaniards.

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The Tax Reform of 1884

One of the good reforms which Spain introduced in the 19th century was
the Tax Reform o 1884, as provided by the Royal Decree on March 6, 1884, this
tax reform contained two important provisions.

Abolition of the hated Tribute and its replacement of Cedula Tax

and;
Reduction of the 40-day annual forced labor (polo) to 15 days.

Cedula Personales - were first issued based on the Royal Decree on March 6,
1884. All men and women residents of the island- Spaniards, foreigners, and
natives- who were over 18 years old were required to obtain a cedula. The only
exceptions were the Chinese, who paid another poll tax, the remontados d
infieles,that were not subject to local administration, and the natives and
colonist of the archipelago of Jolo and of the islands of Balabac and Palawan.
All in all, there were 16 different classes of cedulas. Originally, there were 9
classes taxed, the rates of Taxes ranged from 1.50 to 25 Pesos, and a tenth,
grantis, for priest, soldiers and privileged classes.

Instructions: Research on the topic assigned to you. Provide a short description

about it and identify your stand. After identifying your stand, list down at least
three (3) arguments that will support your stand. Please do not forget to include
your references.

Topic:

Introduction/Definition:

Stand:

Arguments 1.

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2.

3.

References:

References:
Danao E. (2015). Where was the first Mass in the Philippines held?The Manila
Times. Retrieved from
https://www.manilatimes.net/2015/01/23/opinion/columnists/first-mass-
philippines-held/157730/
Guerrero, M. (2003). In Focus: Balintawak: The Cry for a Nationwide Revolution.
Republic of the Philippines, Office of the President.National Commission for
Culture and the Arts. Retrieved from http://gwhs-
stg02.i.gov.ph/~s2govnccaph/about-culture-and-arts/in-focus/balintawak-the-
cry-for-a-nationwide-revolution/
Reyes, R. (2020). Controversy over site of celebration of Philippines’ first Catholic
Mass resolved.
Tabio, H. (2020). First Easter Sunday mass was held in Limasawa — Nat’l Historical
Commission.Manila Bulletin.https://mb.com.ph/2020/08/20/first-easter-sunday-
mass-was-held-in-limasawa-natl-historical-commission/

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