Module IV

Social, Political, Economic,

and Cultural Issues in
Philippine History
Indicative content:
a. Monastic Supremacy in the Philippines
b. Agrarian Reform Policies
c. The Philippine Constitution:
-1899 (Malolos) Constitution
-1935 Constitution
-1973 Constitution
-1987 Constitution
d. . Taxation
Let’s get
started!!!
Lesson 1
Monastic Supremacy
in the Philippines
Marcelo H. Del Pilar’s La SobereniaMonacal en Filipinas,
first published in Barcelona, Spain in 1889 and reprinted in
Manila in 1889.
◈ the religious played a predominant role in the
administration of the Philippines. Thus the
Monastic Supremacy has started. The battles
against the invaders and the oppressors during
the colonial Philippines were not only marked
by the revolts but were also manifested in the
writings of the Filipinos in Spanish.
Monastic Supremacy
◈ Is the service to God and to King. The
church organization, personnel, and role in
society were all defined early in colonial era.
◈ During the Spanish colonization, the friars
maintained complete control of secondary
and higher instruction.
◈ As a result, they were deeply implicated in the
exploitation of Filipinos transpiring to different
transformative effects in the lives of Filipino
people in different aspects.
◈ It is believed that the Monastic Supremacy of
the Spanish friars have brought many political,
religious and economic conflicts causing the
Filipinos to suffer.
 Del Pilar’s La Soberenia Monacal en
Filipinas or Monastic Supremacy in the
Philippines
◈ attacked the friars for their misguided
teachings, which had resulted in the
Filipinos poverty and sufferings. He
published under the pen named Plaridel to
protect his true identity from the Spaniard.
Role of the Friars
◈ keeper of the list of residents of the town
◈ his signature had to be seen on all financial
papers of the town
◈ served as mediators who quelled insurrections
◈ considered as the wealthiest and most politically
powerful elements within Filipino society
Its Political Aspect
◈ The interference of the friars in the
government of the Philippines is so
ingrained that without difficulty the friars
control the status quo of the country in
defiance of the nation and the institutions.
◈ They frighten the government with the
rebelliousness of the country and they
frighten the country with the deposition of
the government.
Its Religious Aspect
◈ In the performance of their duties, the
municipal officials depend on the parish
priest. To report the conduct of a citizen the
testimony of one hundred members of the
Principalia is not enough.
Its Economic Aspect
◈ The government finds a thousand obstacles
in collecting taxes from the tax-paying
public, but the monastic orders empty
without the difficulty the purse of the same
public in return for heavenly promises.
Lesson 2
Taxation during the
Spanish period
This a brief discussion of the revenues enjoyed by the Spanish government for more
than three centuries of their occupation of the Philippine island. Only the salient
features of the central or insular revenue system that has historical significance were
included in the discussion
TAXES IMPOSED BY THE SPANISH GOVERMENT IN
THE PHILIPPINES

Taxation during Spanish period was compulsory. All

Spanish colonies in America and the Philippines were
required to pay taxes for 2 reasons:
1. as recognition of Spain’s sovereignty over the
colonies
2. to defray the expenses of pacification and
governance.
◈ Several colonial laws on taxation were made by the Real
y Supremo Consejo de las Indias ( Royal and Supreme
Council of the Indies) for the Spanish monarch. These
laws were embodied in the compilation of legislations
related to the New World called the Recopilacion de leyes
de los reynos de las indias. It was a four volume
collection of laws relating to the Indies, which was
published in Madrid in 1861.
◈ Taxes during the Spanish period in the Philippines
were the tribute, sanctorum, donativo, caja de
communidada and servicio personal (Boncan
2016).
Tributo
◈ was a general tax paid by the Filipinos to Spain
which amounted to eight reales. Those who were
required to pay the tribute were the
◈ a. 18 to 50 years old males.
◈ b. The carpenters, bricklayers, blacksmiths, tailors, and
shoemakers, and
◈ c. Town workers, such as those in road construction, and
those whose work is public in nature.
Sanctorum
◈ was a tax in the amount of 3 Reales. These were
required for the cost of Christianization, including
the construction of churches and the purchase of
materials for religious celebration.
Donativo
◈ was a tax in the amount of half Real for the military
campaign of the government against the Muslims. In
later years, however, the amount collected from
donativo was almost exclusively used for the
Spanish fort in Zamboanga.
Caja de comunidad
◈ was a tax collected in the amount of 1 Real for the
incurred expenses of the town in the construction of
roads, repair of bridges or the improvement of public
buildings.
Servicio personal
◈ also called polo y servicio was a form of forced
labor during the Spanish period in the Philippines.
All able-bodied males, 16 to 60 years old were
required to work in the construction of bridges,
churches and galleon ships. They were called polista.
REVOLTS AGAINST THE TRIBUTE
◈ Cagayan and Dingras Revolt (1598) In 1589, the
Cagayan and Dingras Revolts against the tribute occurred
in Luzon in the present-day provinces of Cagayan and
Ilocos Norte. The revolt of the Ilocanos, Ibanags and the
other Filipinos was triggered by the alleged abuses of the
tax collectors, including the collection of high taxes. Six
tax collectors who had arrived from Vigan were killed by
the natives.
◈ Governor-General Santiago de Vera sent Spanish and
Filipino colonial troops to pacify the rebels. The rebels
were pardoned in the end. The Philippines tax system was
also reformed because of the revolt.
◈ These were the first native revolts against the hated tribute
and the corrupt tribute collectors. Although they were
easily suppressed by government troops, more revolts of a
similar nature were to come after another in subsequent
years.
◈ Agustin Sumoroy’s Revolt (1649-1650).
On June 1, 1649, Agustin Sumuroy, who was
a Waray from Palapag in today’s Northern
Samar, together with his followers rose in
arms against the Spaniards over the polo y
servicio or forced labor system being started
in Samar.
◈ Francisco Maniago’s Revolt (1660-1661)
◈ In 1660, Francisco maniago, a
Kampampangan, led an uprisinig in
Pampanga. The Kapampangans were against
the tribute, forced labor, and rice
exploitations.
◈ For eight months, they were made to work
under unfair conditions and were not paid
for their labor and for the rice purchased
from them. Because of this, they set their
campsite on fire and the fight ensued. This
was the start of a bloodier revolt in
Pampanga.
Andres Malong Revolt (1660-1661)
◈ Malong (who was the maestro de Campo of
Binalatongan, now San Carlos city,
Pangasinan), in the 1660’s was coaxed by
Maniago to revolt against the abuses of the
Spaniards because they were experiencing
the same abuses.
THE TAX REFORM OF 1884
◈ One of the good reforms which Spain
introduced in the 19th century was the Tax
Reform of 1884, as provided by the Royal
Decree of March 6, 1884, this tax reform
contained two important prisions:1, abolition of
the hated tribute and its replacement of cedula
tax, and 2, reduction of the 40-day annual forced
labor (polo) to 15 days.
The Cedulas Personales
◈ Cedulas were first issued based on the Royal
Decree on March 6, 1884. All men and
women residents of the islands-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 the local
administration, and the natives and colonists
of the archipelago of Jolo and of the islands
of Balabac and Palawan.
◈ All in all, there were 16 different classes of
cedula. Originally, there were nine classes
taxed, the rates of taxes ranged from 1.50
pesos to 25 pesos, and a tenth, gratis, for
priests, soldiers and privileged classes.
Lesson 3
AGRARIAN REFORM FROM
THE SPANISH COLONIAL
PHILIPPINES TO THE
PRESENT
Land Reform has gained great significance all over the world as it aims to achieve
social justice and full development of human dignity. Throughout time, the issue of
land reform has been persistent demanding measures to stop social unrest
◈ Worst scenarios were observed during the colonial era
when the Spanish colonizers introduced new land-holding
systems to caciques. The introduction of Torrens system
created serious problems that have far-reaching effects on
the early systems of landholding. The nature inhabitants
lost their ancestral domain to the colonialists.
◈ The poor economic and social conditions of the peasants
in the Philippines need immediate agrarian reform
measures by the Philippine government.
SPANISH PERIOD (1521-1896)
◈ The Spaniards introduced the concept of
encomienda to the Philippines. Encomienda was
a system of giving lands (Royal land Grants) to
the Spanish conquerors that were loyal to the
Spanish monarch. As a matter of policy,
encomenderos must defend his encomienda
from external attack, maintain peace and order
within and support the missionaries.
◈ In turn, the encomenderos were given the
right to collect taxes (tribute) from the indios
(natives). Because of this, encomenderos
started to abuse their power by renting their
lands to a few powerful landlords, and the
natives who once freely cultivated the land
became share tenants
AGRARIAN REFORM (1745-46)
◈ Taxation was not only the reasons for the
revolts of the Filipinos during the Spanish
period, but the agrarian unrest as well. The
Agrarian Revolt happened between 1745
and 1746 in Batangas, Laguna and Cavite
and Bulacan. The revolt happened in the
towns of Lian and Nasugbu in Batangas.
◈ The grabbing of lands by the Catholic religious orders
angered the native lands owners and demanded that their
lands be returned based ancestral domain. However, the
Spanish priests refused which resulted to riots and
massive looting of convents and the burning down of
churches and ranches. Troops were sent from Manila to
Batangas to quell the disturbance. The encounter was
bloody and those who surrendered were pardoned.
THE FIRST PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC
◈ When Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo came to
power in 1899, the Malolos Constitution
which they crafted intended to confiscate the
so-called Friar lands and other large estates.
However, the First Philippine republic was
short-lived so that the plan to confiscate the
lands was never executed.
AMERICAN PERIOD (1898-1935)
◈ There were some noteworthy regulations enacted
during the American period. These were the
Philippine Bill of 1902, which ser the ceilings on
the hectarage of private individuals to 16 hectares,
and 1,024 hectares for corporations. The Land
Registration Act of 1902 (Act No.496), which
provided for a comprehensive registration of land
titles under the Torrens system.
◈ The Public Land Act of 1903, which
introduced the homestead system in the
Philippines. The Tenancy Act of 1933 (Act
No.4054 and 4113), which regulated the
relationship between landowners and tenants
of rice (50-50 sharing) and sugar cane lands.
◈ However, The land registration Act No. 1902
did not completely solve the problem of land
registration under the Torrens system
because the lands owners might not have
been aware of the law or that they could not
pay the survey cost and other fees required
in applying for a Torrens title.
COMMONWEALTH PERIOD (1935-1942)
◈ During this period, President Manuel L.
Quezon advocated the Social Justice program
to block the increasing social unrest in
Central Luzon. Significant legislations
enacted during Commonwealth period were
the following:
◈ The 1935 Constitution, which was promulgated for the
promotion of social justice to ensure the well being and
economic security of all people, should be the concern of the
State.
◈ The Commonwealth Act No.178 (An Amendment to Rice
Tenancy Act No. 4045), enacted on Nov. 13, 1936, provided for
certain controls in the landlord-tenant relationship.
◈ The National Rice and Corn Corporation (NARIC) of 1936
established the price of rice and corn that helped the poor tenants
as well as consumers.
◈ The 1935 Constitution, which was promulgated for the
promotion of social justice to ensure the well being and
economic security of all people, should be the concern of the
State.
◈ The Commonwealth Act No.178 (An Amendment to Rice
Tenancy Act No. 4045), enacted on Nov. 13, 1936, provided for
certain controls in the landlord-tenant relationship.
◈ The National Rice and Corn Corporation (NARIC) of 1936
established the price of rice and corn that helped the poor tenants
as well as consumers.
JAPANESE OCCUPATION

◈ During the Second World War (that started in Europe in

1939 and the Pacific in 1941), the Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa
Hapon (HUKBALAHAP) controlled the areas Central Luzon.
The HUKBALAHAP was composed of peasants and workers
who took up arms against the Japanese forces. Peasants who
supported them earned fixed rentals, while landowners who
supported the Japanese lost their lands to peasants. Butu this was
short-lived because it ended with the end of WWII.
◈ The problems of land tenure in the Philippines remained
even after congress revised the tenancy law.
PRESIDENT MANUEL ROXAS (1946-1948)
◈ During Roxas’ administration the following
laws were enacted: Republic Act No. 34, which
established the 70-30 sharing arrangements and
regulated the share-tenancy contracts. Republic
Act No. 55, which provided for a more effective
safeguard against arbitrary ejectment of tenants.
PRESIDENT ELPIDIO QUIRINO (1948-1953)
President Elpidio Quirino (1948-1953) issued
Executive Order No 355 on October 23, 1950,
replaced the National Land Settlement
Administration with Land Settlement
Development Corporation (LASEDECO) that
took over the responsibilities of the Agricultural
Machinery Equipment Corporation and the Rice
and Corn Production Administration.
PRESIDENT RAMON MAGSAYSAY
◈ President Ramon Magsaysay (1953-
1957) enacted the following laws: (a)
Republic Act No. 1160 of 1954, which
abolished the LASEDECO and established
the National Resettlement and rehabilitation
Administration (NARRA) to resettle
dissidents and landless farmers
PRESIDENT CARLOS P. GARCIA (1957-1961)
◈ President Carlos P. Garcia (1957-1961)
who succeeded the presidency after the
death of President Ramon Magsaysay
continued the program.
PRESIDENT DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL (1961-
1965)
◈ President Diosdado Macapagal (1961-1965) enacted the
Republic Act No. 3844 of August 8, 1963 (Agricultural Land
Reform Code) that abolished the share tenancy institutionalized
leasehold, set retention limit at 75 hectares, invested rights of
pre-emption and redemption for tenant farmers provided for an
administrative machinery for implementation, institutionalized
judicial system of agrarian cases, incorporated extension,
marketing and supervised credit system of services of farmer
beneficiaries.
PRESIDENT FERDINAND MARCOS (1965-
1986)
◈ The Philippines “New Society”
(Kilusang Bagong Lipunan) was ushered in
by the proclamation of Martial Law
(Proclamation No. 1081) on September 21,
1972. During this time, the Agrarian Reform
program was put into law and land reform
program was implemented.
PRESIDENT CORAZON C. AQUINO (1986-
1992)
◈ Article II, Sec. 21 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution
provides that “State shall promote comprehensive rural
development and agrarian reform”. With this, President Cory
Aquino signed into law the following: (1) Executive Order
No.228, July 16, 1987, which declared full land ownership to
qualified farmer beneficiaries covered by PD 27. (2) Executive
Order No. 229, July 22, 1987, provided the mechanism for the
implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian reform program
(CARP). (3) Proclamation No. 131, July 22, 1987, which
instituted the CARP as a major program of the government.
PRESIDENT FIDEL V. RAMOS (1992-1998)
◈ President Fidel V. Ramos (1992-1998)
enacted laws that would promote a more
meaningful agrarian reform program. These
laws include,
◈ (1) Republic Act No. 7881 of 1995. This law amended
certain provisions of RA 6657 and exempted fishponds
and prawns from CARP coverage. (2) Republic Act No.
7905 of 1995, which strengthened CARP implementation.
(3) Executive Order No. 363 of 1997, which prescribed
the guidelines for the protection of areas non-negotiable
for conversion and monitoring compliance with Section
20 of the Local Government Code.
◈ (4) Republic Act No. 8435 of 1997 ( Agriculture and Fisheries
Modernization Act AFMA), an act prescribing urgent related measures to
modernize the agriculture and fisheries sectors of the country in order to
enhance their profitability and prepare said sectors for the challenges of
globalization through an adequate, focused and national delivery of
necessary support services, appropriating funds therefore and for other
purposes. (5) Republic Act 8532 of 1998, an act strengthening further the
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program(CARP), by providing
augmentation fund therefore, amending for the purpose Section 63 of
Republic Act No. 6657, otherwise known as “The CARP Law of 1998”.
This law provided an additional Php. 50 billion for CARP and extended
its implementation for another 10 years.
PRESIDENT JOSEPH E. ESTRADA (1998-
2000)
◈ ERAP initiated the enactment of
Executive Order No. 151, September 1998
(Farmer’s Trust Fund) which established the
farmers trust development program and
provided institutional reforms and fund
mechanisms for mobilizing long term
private sector capital for rural development.
PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL-
ARROYO(2001-2010)
◈ Pres. Arroyo envisioned to make the
countryside economically viable for the
Filipino family by building partnership and
promoting social equity and new economic
opportunities towards lasting peace and
sustainable rural development.
◈ So, on September 27, 2004, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
signed (1) Executive Order No. 379 s 2004, amending
Executive Order 364 entitled Transforming the Department of
Agrarian Reform into the Department of Land Reform (DLR),
which broadened the scope of the Department by making it
responsible for all land reform in the country. It also placed The
Philippine Commission on Urban Poor (PCUP) under its
supervision and control. DLR was also responsible for the
recognition of the ownership of ancestral domain by indigenous
peoples, under the National Commission on Indigenous People
(NCIP).
◈ (2) Memorandum Circular No. 4 series of 2003
operationalized the development of Kapitbisig Laban sa
Kahirapan Agrarian Reform Zones (KALAHI ARZone). (3)
Republic Act No. 9700 s 2009, an act strengthening the
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP),
extending the acquisition and distribution of all agricultural
lands, instituting necessary reforms, amending for the
purpose certain provisions of republic act no. 6657,
otherwise known as the comprehensive agrarian reform law
of 1988, as amended, and appropriating funds therefore.
PRESIDENT BENIGINO SIMEON
COJUANGCO AQUINO III (2010-2016)
◈ President Benigno Simeon Cojuangco
Aquino III (2010-2016) together with
farmers, Catholic bishops, and other land
reform advocates developed a plan of action
for the implementation of the
Comprehensive Agrarian reform Program
extension with Reforms (CARPER).
PRESIDENT RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE
(2016-2022)
◈ The issue of land reform has been persistent even up to
the present time. The current Duterte Administration is
committed to pursuing the agrarian reform program in the
country. President Duterte, who is also the chairman of
the President Agrarian Reform Council (PARC) has
included land tenure security in his 10-point socio-
economic agenda to improve the quality of life and raise
their productivity.
Lesson 4
The Philippine
Constitutions
A Constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a
state or other organization is governed. It symbolizes the country’s freedom and independence of
Biak na Bato, the 1898 Malolos Constitution, Acts of the United States Congress ( Philippine
Organic Act of 1902, Philippine Autonomy Act of 1916 and Tydings-McDuffie Act of 1934), the 1935
Constitution, the 1943 Constitution, the 1973 Constitution, the 1986 Freedom Constitution and the
1987 Constitution.
 THE 1987 CONSTITUTION OF BIAK-NA-
BATO
The Tejeros Convention held at San Francisco de
Malabon in Cavite on March 22, 1897 was result of
the katipunan revolution. In this convention, the first
president and vice president (of the Philippines) were
elected by the members of the Katipunan. The
elected president was Emilio Aguinaldo, and the vice
president was Mariano Trias.
TYDINGS-MCDUFFIE ACT OF 1934
◈ On March 24, 2934, the United States
passed the Tydings-McDuffie Act that
allowed the Filipino nation to have a self
government. A ten year transition period was
granted by this Act so that Filipinos could be
prepared for self government and full
independence.
THE 1935 PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION

◈ This constitution was written in 1934

with the goal of meeting the United States’
expectation of political maturity among the
Philippine leaders so that a full and real
independence could be granted by the US.
THE 1943 CONSTITUTION
The Preparatory Committee for the Philippine
Independence (PCPI) promulgated the 1943
Philippine Constitution during the Japanese
occupation of the country. Mostly of the members
of the PCPI were delegates to the convention that
drafted the 1935 Constitution. The constitution was
ratified by the popular convention of the
KALIBAPI in manila on September 7, 1943.
THE 1986 FREEDOM CONSTITUTION
◈ Right after the 1986 People Power Revolution that
compelled President Marcos to step down from power,
President Corazon Aquino issued Proclamation No.3 to
serve as a provisional constitution. The proclamation
contained some provisions adopted from the 1973
Constitution. Powers such as government reorganization,
removal of officials, appointment of a commission to draft
a new and more for a Constitution, which upon
ratification would supplant the Freedom Constitution.
THE 1987 PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION
◈ The 1987 Philippine Constitution was drafted by a
constitutional assembly that was mandated in
Proclamation No.3 The commission composed fifty
members appointed by president Corazon Aquino from
various background: former members of the House of
representatives, former justices of the Supreme Court, A
Roman Catholic bishop, and a political activists against
the Marcos regime.
The Preamble of the 1987 Constitution reads,
◈ “We, the sovereign Filipino people imploring the aid of
Almighty God, in order to build a just and humane society
and establish a Government that shall embody our ideals
and aspirations, promote the common goods, conserve
and develop our patrimony, and secure to ourselves and
our posterity the blessings of independence and
democracy under the rule of law and a regime of truth,
justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace, do ordain and
promulgate this Constitution.”
END..
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