Republic of the Philippines

City of Olongapo
GORDON COLLEGE
Olongapo City Sports Complex, East Tapinac, Olongapo City
Tel. No. (047) 224-2089 loc. 314

Title: Monastic Supremacy in the Philippines

Module No. 7

I. Introduction
This module introduces the students to the governance of Spain in the Philippines.
It present s Marcelo H. Del Pilar’s La Soberania Monacal en Filipinas (Monastic
Sovereignty in the Philippines) that analysed the political, religious, and economic
aspects of friarchy or friolocracy in the Philippines during the late 19th century. In this
module, it explains the forms of taxes levied by the Spanish government on the
Filipinos, and the revolts that were carried out against these taxes and other forms of
Spanish economic abuses. Although the revolts were not successful, it still caught the
attention of the Spanish government that resulted to a tax reform in 1884
II. Learning Objectives
After studying this module, you should be able to:
1. Understand how the friars controlled the Philippines;
2. Analyse the context of La Soberania Monacal en Filipinas; and
3. Differentiate the Monastic Supremacy in the Philippines in terms of Political,
Religious, and Economic Aspect.
4. Understand the taxes which people needs to pay during the Spanish Regime;
5. Reflect on the life of the Filipino People throughout paying taxes; and
6. Distinguish the revolts that rise against paying taxes.

III. Topics and Key Concepts

MONASTIC SUPREMACY IN THE PHILIPPINES

La Soberania Monacal en Filipinas

MARCELO H. DEL PILAR (Marcelo Hilario del Pilar y Gatmaitán)

• 1850 – 1896
• From Kupang, Bulacan
• Pen Name: Plaridel
• Other Pen Names: Dolores Manapat, Piping Dilat, Siling Labuyo.
• His most important work was the Soberania Monacal en Filipinas or the Monastic
Supremacy in the Philippines.

• First published in Barcelona, Spain, in 1889

• Reprinted in Manila in 1898.
• Emilio Terrero (1885-1888) & Benigno Quiroga and such scholars as Miguel Morayta
and Ferdinand Bluementrit.

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 Republic of the Philippines
City of Olongapo
GORDON COLLEGE
Olongapo City Sports Complex, East Tapinac, Olongapo City
Tel. No. (047) 224-2089 loc. 314

• Jose Rizal, the most cultured of the reformist group called Del Pilar’s work as one that
had “no chaff; it is all grain.”
• The translation was made by Dr. Encarnacion Alzona in 1957

POLITICAL ASPECT
• The friars control the status quo of the country.
• The moderating power of the parish priest may be useful to society to balance.
• To frighten the government with the rebelliousness of the country, and frighten the
country with the despotism of the government.
• The lack of union between the people and the government.
• Diversity of languages
• Ignorance and fanaticism encouraged by the monastic institutions..
• The voice of poverty has exhaled touching complaints
• The Filipinos pay direct taxes consisting of the personal cedula, urban tax, industrial
subsidy and additional municipal tax, and personal loan; and besides these, the
indirect one of the markets, vehicles, horses, stamps and surcharges, slaughter of
cattle, river tolls, and others.
• The papal decree of 2 may 1862 aimed to relieve the Filipino Catholics
• The dues of the stole and the foot the altar are a legitimate source of revenue of the
priesthood
• The Reverend Fathers are empowered to name the persons.

RELIGIOUS ASPECT
• The municipal officials defend on the parish priest.
• The essential requirement is the curate’s approval.
• The guarantee of national integrity is not the church nor can it be in the friars;
• To consolidate the fraternity between Spain and Philippines is best defense of national
integrity; it is Spain’s ideal; it is the dream of the Philippines.

ECONOMIC ASPECT
GOVERNMENT
• Lacks resources to undertake public works.
• Establishes primary schools in each town.
• Find thousand obstacles from tax paying public.

MONASTIC ORDERS
• Build grand convents and spacious palace in curates.
• Curates has stable place.
• The public pay because of return for heavenly promises.

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 Republic of the Philippines
City of Olongapo
GORDON COLLEGE
Olongapo City Sports Complex, East Tapinac, Olongapo City
Tel. No. (047) 224-2089 loc. 314

Taxation during the Spanish Period

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 system of landholding. The nature inhabits lost their
ancestral domains to the colonialist. The poor economic and social condition of the peasants in
the Philippines need immediate agrarian reform measures by the Philippine Government.
Pre-Spanish Period
Filipinos already lived in villages and barangay even before the Spaniards came to the
Philippines. The settlements were ruled by chieftains or datus who comprised the Nobility.
There were also the Maharlikas (Freemen), the aliping namamahay (serfs), and aliping
saguiguilid (slaves). Despites the existence of a social structure, everyone has access to the
fruits of the soils. Rice was the medium of exchange as money was yet unknown.
Spanish Period (1521-1896)
Spaniard 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 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.
2 REASONS WHY YOU HAVE TO PAY THE TAX:
1. As recognition of Spain’s sovereignty over the colonies
2. To defray the expenses of pacification and governance.
✓ Real Y Supremo Consejo De las Indias (Royal and Supreme Council of The
Indies)
✓ These were embodied in the compilation of legislation related to the New World
called the Recopilacion de leyes de los reynos de las indias.

TAXES THE PILIPINOS PAY:

1. TRIBUTO or TRIBUTE - The Filipinos were compelled to pay tribute. It is a sign
of the Filipino’s loyalty to Spain. It was paid by 18-50 yrs. Old men. Those who have
jobs are the only ones that pays this tax
• Principalia - Those who do not pay tribute or the ones who are exempted in paying
the tribute.

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 Republic of the Philippines
City of Olongapo
GORDON COLLEGE
Olongapo City Sports Complex, East Tapinac, Olongapo City
Tel. No. (047) 224-2089 loc. 314

2. SANCTORUM- Tax for the Church is collected by the priests every week. Paid by
everyone. According to the priests they will use the tax for the renovation and
planting of church.
3. DONATIVO - Tax for the Government. This is also paid by everyone. They will use
the tax to build and support the government in Zamboanga. Mortal enemies of the
Spaniards ang mga Muslims. Because of their religion. That’s why they are having a
hard time building a government in ZAMBOANGA.
4. Caja de comunidad (sedula) - Tax for the community this tax was also paid by
everyone. This tax was collected to build infrastructure for the improvement of a
community. They will used it to build bridges, hospitals and roads.
5. Land Tax - Tax for the landowners. These taxes are paid by the farmers to the
landowners. While the landowners pay these taxes for the government.

Amidst the taxes mentioned earlier. There’s also a forced labor which is called Polo y Servicio.
Polo y Servicio Polo Y Servicio or Forced Labor for 40 men ranging from 16-60 years
of age who were obligated to give personal services community projects. The Polo system was
patterned after the Mexican repartamento, selector forced labor. The workers could be placed
on any project the Spanish wanted, despite hazardous or unhealthy conditions. It was not only
Filipinos but Chinese mestizos as well who were forced to do polo y servicio. The word polo
refers to community work, and the laborer was called polista. The only way to avoid being
forced to do polo y servicio was to pay the falla, which was the equivalent of one and a half
reales per day. In 1884, the forty days of forced labor was reduced to 15 days.

And a revolt happened because there were too many taxes.

Revolts against the tribute
Cagayan and Dingras Revolts (1589)
• Revolts against the tribute occurred on Luzon in the present-day provinces of
Cagayan and Ilocos Norte.
• 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 Philippine tax system was also reformed because of the revolt.
• These were the first native revolts against the hated tribute and the corrupt tribute.
Agustin Sumuroy's Revolt (1649-1650)
• On June 1, 1649, Sumuroy together with his followers rose in arms against the
Spaniards over the polo y servicio or forced labor system being started in Samar.
• The rebels were responsible for the death murder of the parish priest of Palapag.

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 Republic of the Philippines
City of Olongapo
GORDON COLLEGE
Olongapo City Sports Complex, East Tapinac, Olongapo City
Tel. No. (047) 224-2089 loc. 314

• The revolts spread to Cebu, Masbate, Camiguin, Bicol, Camarimes, Albay,

Zamboanga in Mindanao and Surigao.
• The capture and execution of Agustin Sumuroy on June 1650 led to eventual defeat of
the rebels.
• His men, the seven key lieutenants, were also executed.
Francisco Maniago Revolt (1660-1661)
• In 1660, Francisco Maniago, a Kapampangan, led an uprising in Pampanga.
• For eight months, they were made to word 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 Pangasinan.
Andres Malong Revolt (1660-1661)
• He was the Maestro de Campo of Binalatongan, now San Carlos City, Pangasinan
lead the revolt.
• In the 1660’s was coaxed by Maniago to revolts againts the abuses of the Spaniards
because they were experiencing the same abuses.
• Malong hoped to be King in the province of Pangasinan.
• He heeded the call of Maniago and led the people of Pangasinan to take up arms
againts the Spaniards. When he succeded, He proclaimed himself King of Pangasinan

IV. Teaching and Learning Materials and Resources

Paper and Pen, Internet/Data, Notebook/Book

V. Learning Task

Write the correct answer on the space provided.

1. The Tax paid by Filipinos as sign of the Filipino’s loyalty to Spain.
2. The Pen name used by Gregorio Del Pillar when he wrote the Monastic Supremacy in
the Philippines
3. The Tax paid by Filipinos for the improvement of the Community.
4. The payment which stands as an only way to avoid the Polo y servicio,
5. What do you call a group of people that are exempted in paying tribute?
6. Who was the Revolt leader in Pangasinan who proclaimed himself as a king after they
win the revolution?
7. The tax paid by Filipinos for the repair and establishment of churches are called?
8. According to him, the work of G. Del pillar was no chaff; it is all grain.
9. Who was the Revolt Leader in Samar who stood fast against the polo y servicio?
10. It was a system of giving lands (Royal Land Grants) to the Spanish conquerors that
were loyal to the Spanish monarch.

EXCLUSIVELY FOR GORDON COLLEGE USE ONLY!

NOT FOR SALE!
 Republic of the Philippines
City of Olongapo
GORDON COLLEGE
Olongapo City Sports Complex, East Tapinac, Olongapo City
Tel. No. (047) 224-2089 loc. 314

VI. Reference
b. Ligan, et al., (2018). Readings in the Philippine History, Mutya Publishing, Inc.
c. Nolledo, Jose N. Principles of Agrarian Reforms, Cooperatives and Taxation. 1983
Eleventh and Revised Edition. National Bookstore, INC.

Reflection part

What are your reflections on this module?

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