The Spanish colonial policy was virtually designed not only to keep Philippines under control but also

to exploit her rich natural resources. The onerous system of taxation, the arbitrary and unjust

forced labor, the monopolistic galleon trade and stringent trade

and agricultural policies, consequently brought about a

distorted and unbalanced economy.

ON TAXATION

This is the power of the state to impose and collect revenue for public purpose to promote the welfare of the people of the particular society.

One of the laws promulgated by the Indies promulgated by the Spanish crown was to require conquered inhabitants to pay tribute in recognition of the Spanish sovereignty. For so many years, the Filipinos paid tribute amounting to eight reales or one peso. In 1589, it was increased to ten reales and to twelve in 1851, but finally, abolished in 1884 and was replaced with a personal cedula tax.

Bandala- natives were coerced to sell their harvest to the

government at very low price.

Polo- the dehumanizing labor where the Spanish government

required all male healthy and physically able between ages 16- 60 to render service for forty days.

Polistas- the natives who rendered forces labor. They were

not paid daily wages and food ration during their working days.

Falla- a fee given to Spaniards to become exepted in

rendering labor force.

Established by Jose Basco Y Vargas in 1781the increase in

revenues of the government through the cultivation of tobacco became a profitable venture that leads to Mexico to be independent.

The cultivation of tobacco was confined to Nueva Ecija, Cagayan Valley, Marinduque, and Ilocos Provinces.

The tobacco monopoly brought a considerable profit but the situation of Philippines didn’t changed. Instead, I brought so much problem and hardness in life of every Filipinos.

The Galleon Trade(Manila- Acapulco)

Long before the Spaniards came into the Philippines, the Filipinos had been trading with different countries, by virtue of the doctrine of mercantilism, the Spanish authority closed trade relations with other countries and

allowed only two countries, China and Mexico.

Obras Pias- a Foundation where money from trade

was invested and appropriated to be given to charitable institutions.

The encomienda was the right extended by the King upon a Spaniard who had helped to facilitate the settlement of the territory. By implication, it was a public office and the person was preferred to

as encomiendero, a holder of encomienda and empowered to

collect taxes from the people under his jurisdiction. In return, under the laws of the Indies, he was obliged to protect and defend the people under him against aggression and danger and helped to convert the natives to Catholicism.

The Encomienderos abused their right by way of forcing the natives to pay tribute beyond what the law prescribed.

The thunderous and public outcry against the behavior of encomienderos led to some humane ecclesiastical officials to inform the king about this unlawful

practices. The clergy were Domingo Salazar, first

bishop of Manila and Martin de Rada, superior of

the Augustinians in the Philippines. The condemned these encomienderos and held them responsible for the various violence and atrocities committed against the natives.

On the economic retrogression of the colony, the Spaniards blamed the indolence, which was inherent of the Filipino character, their inability for learning, and their perceived congenital inferiority of the Indios. Nevertheless, this was promptly debunked by Fathers Pedro Chirino and Antonio De Morga, about the allegation of the Spaniards by attesting to the marked growth and development of agriculture, trade and industry, skill and ingenuity of the natives. The economic retrogression was the government’s imposition of numerous taxes and its utter insensitiveness to render service upon which taxes were extracted.

This was considered as one of the administrative accomplishment had done by Spain for the people of the colony.

This move was affected by Bishop Domingo Salazar and various heads of religious orders to ask the King to abolish slavery. The Bishop and other religious orders signed a document accusing the Spaniards in the Philippines about the maltreatment of the Filipinos as slaves in the hands of the colonizers which was directly contrary to the law of God and the laws of the Indies.

King Philip II, after hearing and evaluating the document, issued the Royal Decreeof August 9, 1589, emancipating all slaves in the colony.

Culture embraced language, art and religion.Only the wealthy and educated middle class Filipinos learned to

write and speak in Spanish. Philippine Literature was predominantly religious in tone,

character and moral quality. The first printing press was introduced by friars in Manila in 1593

and in the same year, printed the first book in the Philippines, the Doctrina Christiana.

The early Filipino printers were engravers and at the same time who were trained by Spanish missionaries. Among them was Tomas Pinpin of Mabatang, Abucay, Bataan, Siete Infantes and Bernardo Carpio.

Among the Filipinos who distinguished themselves in the fields of Philippine literature were Jose Dela Cruz (Husing Sisiw 1746-1829) and Francisco Baltazar (1789-1862). The Florante at Laura’s “awit” allegorically exposed the Spanish wrong doings in the archipelago.

On visual arts like painting and architecture interests also focused on religion. Felix Resurrection Hidaldo, won a silver medal for his Christian Virgins Exposed and Juan Luna received his first gold medal for his Spolarium as their entries for Madrigal Exposition of Fine Arts.

On Religion

With the help of the soldiers, the missionaries easily conquered territories of the colony and converted the natives to Christianity.

The various missionaries who used their religious influence to facilitate the teaching of Gospel and propagation of Catholic Christian faith were the Augustinians (1565), the Franciscans (1577), the Jesuits (1581), the Dominicans (1587), and the Recollects (1606).

The Filipino conversion to Christianity inevitably meant the adoption of fiesta as a socio- religious event celebrating the feast day of the patron saint of the Catholic town as an occasion of thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest and other blessings.

The Spaniards introduced western architecture with some modifications to suit the prevailing conditions. Many Philippine churches show influence of the baroque style, having massive walls and thick buttress and spiral motifs, ornate sculpture façade and graceful, curving balustrades.

Education in the Philippines during the Spanish era was not open to all Filipinos. The Spanish government had absolutely no intention of training the natives for eventual independence and self- government. During this period, some schools were exclusively established for education of some Spanish nationals in the archipelago. They were open only for the people belonged to the upper social and economics class of society.

University of Santo Tomas- oldest pontifical university in the Philippines founded by Dominicans in 1611

Colegio De San Juan De Letran- founded in 1601 Colegio De Sta. Potentiana- 1589 Colegio De Sta. Isabel- 1632 College of La Concordia- 1869 Assumption Convent- 1892

In 1863, the Spanish government enacted and implemented an educational reform primarily designed to improve the state of education throughout the archipelago. The decree provided for the establishment of at least one school for boys and one for girls in every town. The decree also provided for the establishment of a normal school for male teachers under the supervision of the Jesuits and created a commission of eight members headed by the Governor General. Instruction in the primary level for both boys and girls was free and the teaching of Spanish is Compulsory.

A few years later, the Spaniards developed the fear that the natives will understand the value of education in relation to truth and fairness and they may turn in foment rebellion. This move from the Spanish authority literally negated the philosophy of education.

The abolition of Galleon trade in 1815 and the separation of Mexico from Spain made it necessary for the Spanish Government to engage in trading relations with other countries. The government also allowed foreign investors to establish residence in the Philippines. Spain opened its ports in Manila and other parts of the country. Foreign banking institutions and other lending and credit facilities were open. Roads and bridges were built, shipping lines, inter islands and overseas were improved and communication system were upgraded.

The opening of the Philippines to world trade and with the emergence of multifarious forces, e.g., scientific and technological, industrial, economic, social, and political resulted in economic changes and prosperity that improved the quality of life of the Filipinos.