The government promises to better people's lives through good governance in exchange for taxes.

The

taxes during the Spanish period in the Philippines were the Tributo, Sanctorum, Donativo, Caja de

Comunidad, and Polo y Servicio. Those required to pay the tributo were males aged 18 to 50,

carpenters, bricklayers, blacksmiths, tailors and shoemakers, and town workers. Another was

Sanctorum, a tax of three reales. The tax paid to the local church included the construction of churches

and the purchase of religious items. The third was the Donativo, a half-real tax to finance the

government's military campaign against Muslims. It was a form of taxation enacted in 1635 to invade

Jolo, Sulu. Following that was the Caja de Comunidad, a tax of one real collected for the town's incurred

expenses in road construction, bridge repair, or public building development. Finally, the Polo y Servicio

was a 40-day forced labor of males aged 16 to 60 who were obliged to provide personal services to

community projects. Paying the falla, a daily fine of one and a half reals, would exempt one from the

Polo y Servicio.

Among the different forms of taxation, the Caja de Comunidad and Sanctorum are more practical forms

of taxation for Filipino people. The tax collected from Caja de Comunidad benefited and positively

impacted the minority because it fixed and constructed roads for development and improved public

buildings. Another is the Sanctorum. I think this taxation was essential to most Filipinos because since

the Spaniards brought catholicism into the country, Filipinos developed a deep relationship and faith in

God. That's why this tax was good for them because the tax collected constructed churches and

purchased materials all related to the celebration of the religion.

Reference:

https://tp3malit.wordpress.com/2020/03/29/taxes-during-spanish-period/

https://phlconnect.ched.gov.ph/admin/uploads/da4902cb0bc38210839714ebdcf0efc3/04-Handout-

2_2.pdf
https://archive.org/stream/jstor-2140422/2140422_djvu.txt