SAN MATEO MUNICIPAL COLLEGE

General Luna St., Guitnang Bayan I, San Mateo, Rizal

Tel. No. (02) 997-9070
www.smmc.edu.ph

MODULE 3: Social, political, economic and cultural issues in Philippine history.

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LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

1 Effectively communicate, using various techniques and genres.
2. Propose recommendati ons or solutions to present day problems based on their
understanding of root causes, and their anticipation of future scenarios
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INPUT INFORMATION :

Prepared Activity:

An Artist. Make a portrait of a city and try to describe the life style and economic status of the people.

LAND REFORM OF THE PHILIPPINES

Historical Development of Feudalism in the Philippines

Before the coming of the Spaniards, the natives enjoyed the fruits of the lands of the archipelago now known as the
Philippines. They tilled the lands and lived in abundance since the lands were fertile and every plant could grow.
Food was sufficient and no native went hungry.

Before the Spaniards came, the Filipinos enjoys all the perks of the land they tilted and the abundant produce were
enjoyed by all. Everything changed with the coming of the Spaniards. They divided the archipelago into the
encomiendas, an economic system which resulted in the exploitation of the natives. The lands were awarded as royal
grants to the colonial officials and Catholic religious orders in exchange for their conquest of the natives.

The encomienda was a Spanish labor system that rewarded conquerors with the labor of particular groups of
conquered non-Christian people. It is basically a slavery though it was being overshadowed by education of the local
and conversation to Christianity of the local residence.

Feudalism in the archipelago, however, started with the Sultanates of Mindanao, especially those of Sulu
and Maguindanao. They preceded the Spaniards by at least a century. Feudalism as a mode of production
have the peasants and the land, the principal forces of production characterized by the relationship of
oppression by the landlord and exploitation of the peasantry, the most immediate manifestation of which is the
possession of vast areas of cultivable lands by few landlords who themselves do not till the land but compel a big
number of the tenants to do the filling.

Feudalism was being practice in the southern parts of Mindanao by at least a century before the Spaniards came.
In feudalism, there is landlord that owns a vast land and he allows peasants to work in his land in exchange of
military protection and food. However, it is the Spaniards started it in a wider scale through the encominda.
The decline of the galleon trade paved the way for an intensified exploitation of the natives. The Spaniards turned
to a large-scale cultivation of commercial crops for export; planting of certain commercial crops for export was
encouraged with the Royal Company of Spain enfranchised to monopolize trade of agricultural crops.

This large-scale cultivation of commercial crops led to the hacienda system which further exploited the farmers.
The tobacco monopoly compelled the farmers to plant tobacco only in certain designated areas and
prohibited all the rest of the farmers to plant them. Moreover, the government had to pay the farmers in
papeletas or certificates of credits instead of cash. Worse still, the government would redeem the certificates only
after two or three years, thus forcing the farmers to sell the certificates to the rich at 20 or 30 per cent less their real
worth.

The practice of paying papeletas made the condition of the Filipino farmers much worse because they have to sell
these certificates in a much lesser price. If you could imagine how the Filipinos are being taken advantage of in those
eras. The hacenderos were the Spanish Church, Spaniards, Chinese mestizos who are the next to the Spaniards as
big hacenderos, the principalia who are the descendants of the datus and chiefs of pre-Spanish era.

The success of the Chinese traders at that time was envied by the Spaniards so they passed a law that prohibits
the Chinese from engaging in trading but the Spaniards revised their policy later because they have realized that
they (Spaniards) are very much dependent on the Chinese merchants for their luxury as they were used to comfort
and easy life. And in the 1830 the Spanish government allowed the immigration of Chinese to the Philippines. Then
these Chinese went to the different provinces of the Philippines then marry the native Pricipalias then
eventually acquire vast tracks of land and became a landlord themselves and later became the chief who manages
the haciendas of the Spanish friars. So now we have a glimpse on how the Chinese are favored by the Spaniards.

Land Reform Measures: from the American Period to the Macapagal Residency When the United States took
over the possessions of the Philippines from the Spain, it addressed the land problems in the country. Among
the measures it took were the en actment of Land Registration Act of 1902 which facilitated the issuance of land
titles to the Filipinos

1907 – the Cadastral Act was passed which was aimed at rectifying previous errors in land titles.
• 1919 and 1920 – acts passed aimed at encouraging the peasants who were dispossessed of their lands to
acquire public lands through homestead, purchase or lease or limited areas.
• 1933 – the Rice Tenancy Act was passed which declared the tenancy arrangements in which the tenant received
less than 50 per cent of the net crop was contrary to public policy. Another law aimed at addressing the problem of
peasant exploitation was Commonwealth Act 4133 of 1933 which required the landlords in sugar lands to show
receipts from the milling central in the amount of sugar cane harvested and the quantity and value of sugar and
molasses that come off the milling process
. • During the presidency of Manuel L. Quezon, initiatives for agrarian reform were set in place aimed at addressing
the peasant unrest and to attend to their needs. It had five components namely; regulation of tenancy regulations,
organized land settlement in Mindanao for the landless of Luzon and Cebu, the anti-usury Law; the issuance of free
patents to homesteaders on cultivable public land a landed estates policy which provided funds for the negotiated
purchase of large holding for resale to the tenants.
• President Elpidio Quirino created in 1950 the Land Settlement Development Corporation (LASEDECO) for
the resettlement of landless peasants, but it was not able to resettle as many landless peasants as possible but only
400 families. • President Ramon Magsaysay had resettlement projects under the Economic Development
Corporation (EDCOR) which settled more or less 1,000 families. In 1954, the National Resettlement and
Rehabilitation Administration was established to take care of the resettlement peasants. • Still under the presidency
of Ramon Magsaysay, the Land Reform Act of 1955 was passed which created the Land Tenure Administration,
the purpose of which was to expropriate landed estates, the size of which exceeded the maximum retention limit of
300 and 600 hectares of contagious area for private individuals

FIRST CONGRESS The Malolos Constitution: Background of its Framing Returning to the Philippines on May 19,
1898 after leaving the country on voluntary exile to Hong Kong as part of the agreement under the Pact of
Biac-na-Bato, Emilio Aguinaldo established the Dictatorial Government on May 24, 1898, which he said would only
be a temporary government and to last only until the establishment of a republic. On June 12, 1898, Aguinaldo
proclaimed the Philippine Independence in Kawit, Cavite where the Philippine flag was unfurled and the
Philippine National Anthem was played. Eleven days after the proclamation of the Philippine Independence, upon
the advice of Apolinario Mabini who had become his adviser, issued a decree changing the Dictatorial Government to
Revolutionary Government. The Dictatorial Government existed only for thirty days. On the basis of the decree
issued by Aguinaldo, the title of the chief of state was changed from Dictator to President. The Revolutionary
Government as decreed by Aguinaldo had a strong executive branch with four department heads aiding the
President, namely: foreign affairs, navy and commerce, war and public works; police and internal order, justice,
education and hygiene; finance, agriculture and manufacturing industry. The pact of “Biak-na-bato” was an
agreement signed on Dec. 14 1897 between the Spaniards and Aguinaldo to end the Philippine revolution,
Pres. Aguinaldo and his fellow revolutionist were given amnesty, monetary and indemnity by the Spanish
government in return for voluntary exile.

SECOND CONSTITUTION
THE 1935 CONSTITUTION
Considered as one of the noblest documents written by Filipinos, the drafting, approval and promulgation of
the 1935 Constitution was not without pain on the part of the noble men who never tired aspiring and working for an
independent Philippines
wo Commissions were sent to the Philippines during the American military regime to check on the conditions
obtaining the archipelago. The First Philippine Commission otherwise known as the Schurman Commission arrived in
the country on March 4, 1899 headed by Dr. Jacob Schurman. The Schurman Commission was given the mission of
surveying the Philippine conditions and to achieve the peaceful extension of American sovereignty over the
archipelago. However, due to the raging war between Filipinos and the Americans, the Commission failed to
accomplish its mission. The Second Commission was headed by Judge William H. Taft known as the Taft
Commission. This Commission was guided by McKinley’s instructions which became the Magna Carta of the
Philippines. More successful than the Schurman Commision, the Taft Commission stayed in the Philippines from
September 1900 to August 1902 exercised legislative functions and enacted 499 laws. It continued as the
legislative body even when civil government was already established in the country. Despite this, however, the
Filipinos strong desire to be free was not extinguished. They used the press and the stage to express their ardent
desire for freedom. Thus, the American authorities tightened the censorship for the press and stage. Two
suppressive laws were passed – the Sedition Law declaring that during the duration of the war it was treasonable
for any Filipino to advocate independence, and the Flag Law, banning the public display of the Filipino flag. On
October 6, 1907, the Philippine assembly was inaugurated at the Manila Grand Opera House. Sergio Osmeña was
chosen speaker and Manuel L. Quezon was the majority floor leader. In 1912, Francis Burton Harrison became the
new governor-general of the Philippines. He was liberal-minded and the aspiration of the Filipinos for independence
became not a distant possibility. In 1916, the Jones Law was passed. The light for independence was shining
brighter for the Filipinos. The law states in its preamble that independence would be granted to the Filipinos as soon
as a stable government could be established in the Philippines. The Jones Law had a Bill of Rights safeguarding the
rights and liberties of the people. As years went by, the relations between the camp of Quezon and Osmeña turned
sour, Quezon charmed the U.S. Congress and won it to his side and a new law, the Tydings-McDuffie Law
sponsored by Senator Millard E. Tydings and Representative John McDuffie was passed and signed by President
Franklin D. Roosevelt. Tydings-McDuffie Act is the Philippine Independence Act that stablished the process for the
Philippines to become an independent country after a ten-year transition period. It also stablished limitation
on Filipino immigration to the United States. The Constitution Convention Under the Tydings-McDuffie Act, a
Constitutional Convention had to be called the Philippine Legislature to draft the Constitution of the Philippines.
Thus, it passed an act on May 5, 1934 setting the election of 202 delegates to the convention. As per the rules
adopted by the Convention, any delegate could submit constitutional proposals, which would be studies by the
pertinent committee, and the committee would make their report to the Sponsorship Committee which duty was to
consider the different constitutional proposals submitted by the committees and to prepare a draft of the
Constitution. The finished draft of the Constitution was reported by the Sub-Committee of Seven to the Sponsorship
Committee on October 20, 1934. The glorious day came when the Constitution was approved by the
Convention on February 8, 1935 with a vote of 177 to 1. The birth of the second constitution is a much more peaceful
battle to gain the Philippine independence. Even there are instance battle between the Philippines and American
soldier. The American are more tolerant of the Filipinos who wishes for liberty. Unfortunately, Filipino politicians at
this time are starting to quarrel because of the different views pertaining to the independence of the Philippines, a
group wanted a full independence while other favored that there should still be a control from the Americans. But
because of Manuel L. Quezon,

THE 1987 CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES – ARTICLE II

ARTICLE II
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES AND STATE POLICIES

PRINCIPLES

Section 1. The Philippines is a democratic and republican State. Sovereignty resides in the people and all
government authority emanates from them.

Section 2. The Philippines renounces war as an instrument of national policy, adopts the generally accepted
principles of international law as part of the law of the land and adheres to the policy of peace, equality, justice,
freedom, cooperation, and amity with all nations.

Section 3. Civilian authority is, at all times, supreme over the military. The Armed Forces of the Philippines is the
protector of the people and the State. Its goal is to secure the sovereignty of the State and the integrity of the national
territory.

Section 4. The prime duty of the Government is to serve and protect the people. The Government may call upon the
people to defend the State and, in the fulfillment thereof, all citizens may be required, under conditions provided by
law, to render personal, military or civil service.
Section 5. The maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty, and property, and promotion of the
general welfare are essential for the enjoyment by all the people of the blessings of democracy.

Section 6. The separation of Church and State shall be inviolable.

STATE POLICIES

Section 7. The State shall pursue an independent foreign policy. In its relations with other states, the paramount
consideration shall be national sovereignty, territorial integrity, national interest, and the right to self-determination.

Section 8. The Philippines, consistent with the national interest, adopts and pursues a policy of freedom from nuclear
weapons in its territory.

Section 9. The State shall promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence
of the nation and free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, promote full
employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all.

Section 10. The State shall promote social justice in all phases of national development.

Section 11. The State values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights.

Section 12. The State recognizes the sanctity of family life and shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic
autonomous social institution. It shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception.
The natural and primary right and duty of parents in the rearing of the youth for civic efficiency and the development
of moral character shall receive the support of the Government.

Section 13. The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote and protect their
physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism,
and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs.

Section 14. The State recognizes the role of women in nation-building, and shall ensure the fundamental equality
before the law of women and men.

Section 15. The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness
among them.

Section 16. The State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord
with the rhythm and harmony of nature.

Section 17. The State shall give priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster
patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and development.
Section 18. The State affirms labor as a primary social economic force. It shall protect the rights of workers and
promote their welfare.

Section 19. The State shall develop a self-reliant and independent national economy effectively controlled by
Filipinos.

Section 20. The State recognizes the indispensable role of the private sector, encourages private enterprise, and
provides incentives to needed investments.

Section 21. The State shall promote comprehensive rural development and agrarian reform.

Section 22. The State recognizes and promotes the rights of indigenous cultural communities within the framework of
national unity and development.

Section 23. The State shall encourage non-governmental, community-based, or sectoral organizations that promote
the welfare of the nation.

Section 24. The State recognizes the vital role of communication and information in nation-building.

Section 25. The State shall ensure the autonomy of local governments.

Section 26. The State shall guarantee

Taxation is the practice of collecting taxes (money) from citizens based on their earnings and property. The money
raised from taxation supports the government and allows it to fund police and courts, have a military, build and
maintain roads, along with many other services.

LEARNING ACTIVITY:

ASSIGNMENT:
Short Essay. Read and analyze each question. Answer each item briefly.
Are there some points that taxation in our country could help us elevate our economic status

LEARNING MATERIALS:
1. Histor Blount, James. (1968). The American Occupation of the Philippines, 1898-1912. Quezon City: Malaya
Books Inc. Cavanna, 2.Jesus Ma. The Unfading Glory: Documentary History of the Cony'ers/on of Jose Rizal. (s.n.].

3.Del Pilar, Marcelo. (1957). Monastic Supremacy in the Philippines. Manila: Philippine Historical Association. ical
Data PapersEreccion de Pueblos(Creation of Towns)