Spanish Colonial Policies and Native Responses

Spanish Colonial Policies and Native ResponsesAs colonial masters, the Spaniards formulated the colonial policies that were designed not only to keep the Filipinos in political subjection but also to exploit the country's natural and human resources.These policies were very much discernible in the system of Spanish colony . taxation forced labor government monopolies harsh agrarian policies In order to have enough money to finance the administration of the Philippines.Filipinos were compelled to pay tribute to Spanish colonial government.

Tribute collections were used to the constructions of the ff.churches, Galleon ships,government buildings, roads, bridges improvements in transportation and communications TaxationThe ultimate form of taxation during the Spanish period was the so called Tribute.Tribute- was a form of recognition of the Filipinos loyalty to the King of Spain. It was introduced on 1570 in a very small amount,(one tribute was equivalent to 8 reales (1 peso)(payable in cash or in kind)Example: rice, chicken, vegetables and others.By 1589,the tribute increased and the small amount went to the church. But because of the abuses connected with its collections, the King abolished it on 1884.By 1884, Cedula Personal or Residence Certificate was introduced.Cedula- a graduated poll tax based on the income of the tax-payer.Personal identity paper.

But the provincial governors, in serving their business interest (Indulto de Commercio),would require the natives to pay the tribute in a mode that would squeeze the natives possessions.Example:If the Alcalde-mayor learned that the natives could only pay the tribute in kind, he would require the natives to pay them in cash so that they would be forced to sell their produce to the store of the governors.Forced Labor (Polo y Servicio Personal)a. Servicio-refers to the light duties assigned usually to the women and boys who usually rendered their services in the friars convent or church.b. Polo- is the compulsory labor imposed on male natives aging from 16 to 60 years old to render services to various government projects for 40 days per year. For natives, to be exempted from Polo, they need to pay Falla- an arbitrary exemption fee.In the law, the Polistas (laborers) were supposed to have protections like:

a. polistas should received a daily ration and daily allowance of real.b. polistas were to served only in their villages.c. natives who were underage and overage were exempted. However, certain groups of Filipinos were exempted from performing the polo.Principalia and AristocracyThis class was composed of local officials, teacher, and rich persons. Government monopoliesThe native Filipinos as a vassals of Spain ,were required to comply with the:a.) Bandala- a system, w/c required all natives to sell their produced to the government.(compulsory)

The government required each provinces to meet a certain quota of commodities. Spanish authorities collected rice and other agricultural products without paying the farmers.(issued promissory notes in exchange of peoples crops)

Pampanga was one province which suffered most from this practices. The government failed to pay the P200,000 worth of crops.As a result of this, a violent revolt erupted under Francisco Maniago, a farmer from Pampanga.b. Galleon trade w/c was known as Manila-Acapulco Trade. This trade served as the main source of government and individual income in the colony for more than 2 centuries.

Good effects of the GalleonIt fostered cultural exchanges between Phil.& MexicoIt increase the revenue of the government & church

Bad effectsNeglect of agricultural industries.Discouraged the opening of trade with other countriesGovernment officials neglected the development of rural areas.The trade benefitted only a few people most of them Spaniards.

Before, the natives enjoyed a flourishing trade with the rest of Asia. But with the colonization, Spain closed the Philippines to international trade.They only allowed 2 countries,(China & Mexico) C. Tobacco monopoly- it greatly increased the income of the Philippine Government. The operation of the monopoly thus brought revenues which helped to make the government to be financially independent in Mexico. Harsh Agrarian PoliciesRegalian Doctrine- was applied pertaining to the land in the Philippines.It assumed that by the virtue of conquest all the land in the Phil. belonged to the King.Encomienda System-King entrusted the Land to person who helped during the pacification and conquest of the islands.Not only the lands, but also people, communities, and services were entrusted to Encomiendero.(abolished)Duties of encomienderoChristianize the Filipinosprovide protection to the FilipinosTeach the natives the proper ways of tilling the soil.But the laws/rules coming from Spain were not followed by the Encomiendero and ended to maltreatment of the native Filipinos.The Encomienda system became the sourced of graft and corruption of the Encomienderos.(abolished)1.Cruel treatment of the people2.Collection of excessive tributes, land grabbing3.Forcing the natives to work for personal reasons4.Confiscating animals and crops without paying them.3 kinds of encomiendaa. Royal Encomienda-belongs to the Crown/KingB. the Ecclesiastical Enconienda-belongs to the churchC. Private Encomienda-belongs to private individual.Hacienda was a land grant from the King.Who were qualified for a land grant?a.) lay Spaniards (conquistadores)b.) religious friarsHowever, the friars were become permanent owner of the Haciendas while the lay Spaniards did not stay long in the Phil.Note: (taught by the Church)Indulgencia- a concept where one gets a bigger chances of going to heaven if he donates his properties to the church.Filipino Reactions to the Spanish PoliciesMany Filipinos were not happy under Spanish rule.Although they benefited from cultural contacts with the Spaniards, they were unjustly maltreated.The Filipinos were considered as inferior race by the Spaniards.They collected tributes and required forced labor. Many Filipino males were taken away from homes and made to work in far away places.Most of the Spaniards were not interested in the welfare of the Filipinos.

Some of the Spanish officials enriched themselves while in office. While some Spanish friars took away the best lands from Filipinos.

The Filipinos expressed indignation over these abuses by fighting in no less than a hundred revolts .The miserable conditions brought about by Spanish Political and Economic pushed the natives into rebellion against the ruling power. These revolts failed, for gallantry and courage alone were not enough to crush the Spanish arms.

The revolts of the early Filipinos against Spain was brought by the following reasons.a. Desire to be free from the Spanish rule.

b. Religious intolerancec. Racial discriminationd. Grievances against bad and abusive government officials e. Agrarian complaints

Early Filipino RevoltsLakandulas Revolt (1574)TondoCauses: Failure of Gov. Lavezares to fulfill Gov. Legaspis promises to Lakandula (failed)Magalats revolt (1596-1602)CagayanCauses: Because of the opposition of the Filipinos to the tribute collections.Failed: The revolt came to an end when they hired assassin to kill their leader.

Tamblots revolt (1622)BoholCauses: Desire to abandon Christianity and returned to his old religious faith.He was suppressed by the Spaniards and Cebuanos.

F. Maniago (1660-1661)PampangaCauses: Failure of the Spanish officials failed to pay the rice purchased; repeated requirements for personal services of cutting logs for the constructions of the shipTapars revolt (1781)Cagayan Causes: Dissatisfaction with the Spanish rule.It was suppressed by the Spaniards.Dagohoys revolt (1744-1828BoholCauses: Refusal of Fr. Gaspar Morales to bury the body of his brother in the consecrated ground.Failed, the rebels were pardoned.Diego Silangs Revolt(1762-64)IlocosCauses: desired to expel the Spaniards.Failed, he was assassinated by his friend Miguel Vicos.Ma. Josefa Gabriela Silang, his wife continued the fight but was caught and beheaded.Hermano Pule (1840-41)QuezonBeing a native, Pule was denied to be admitted in a monk. He founded a religious brotherhood, Cofradia de San Jose, but the government ordered to dissolve it.He was executed.C50As a result, they were able to suppressed these revolts with the aid of other Filipino ethnic groups.Most of the revolts failed because leaders were motivated by personal reasons rather than national interest.Moreover, militarily, the Filipinos were not prepared to fight.Lack of arms and training in the warfare is another reason.Absence of national leader.Lack of spirit of nationalism among Filipinos.