ELUSIVE PEASANT, WEAK STATE

GROUP 6

ARON VINCENT M. GRESOLA

BEFORE THE SPANISH
COLONIZATION
Prior to the Spanish colonization,
the people in this island (now
called Philippines) were grouped
in settlements called barangay
that was headed by a Datu whom
people believe to have a magical
power and their mediator to the
spirits.
DURING THE SPANISH COLONIZATION
•The datus disappeared upon the arrival of the friar
power. Wherein, “ Every end of farm work”, it is the
elite(masters) who provide food and drinks to the
laborers.
•The demand of datu which they obeyed as at token
of gratitude, they see it as excessive or oppressive.
•Native elite had claims on lands. They buy it and they
got land titles. That started the Peasant autonomy.
The situation eventually changed during
the Spanish colonization. The Datu's magic
disappeared upon the arrival of the friar
power. Every End of Farm Work, it is the
elite master who provide food and drinks
to the laborers. The demands of Datu
which they obeyed as a token of gratitude,
now they see it as excessive or oppressive.
Previously, they consider it as a token of
gratitude when they pay their debts
double, now it is called usury and avarice.
The tribute, now they called it tax. Native
elite had claims on lands. They buy it and
they got land titles. Peasant Autonomy was
born.
In 1640, there was a Spanish Law prohibiting loans in excess of
5 Spanish Pesos. If you borrow and the amount you' re going to
pay exceed in 5 Spanish Pesos, you will be imprisoned. Peasants
observed that if they are cooperative in the practice of
Catholicism like attending mass and some rituals
(i.e.processions), the Friar power is controlled. Because the
magic of the Datu was no longer effective, to ensure that the
harvest will be bountiful, the peasants use Palm Sunday leaves
(palaspas) or pieces ofscraped off saintly statues, and other
Catholic artifacts obtained during procession or some ritual.
The barangay is the
protectorate of the
Datu. Datus service is
a gift to people. It is
their culture to pay
the Datu's gift
through obeisance,
labor service, and
crop sharing.
REVERE TO DATU
•During sowing season, they help the Datu in sowing his farm without asking
anything in return such as wage.
•They were also afraid of his magical power. But mostly because of his being
fatherly and friend.
•They valued personal ownership.
•They call the tiller the master and he is socially recognized. Stealing within the
settlement is the most serious offense.
•There is actually no communalism, but what exists is bayanihan. For example,
during the celebration of End of Farm Work, they brought food and drinks to enjoy
by everyone.
•Then the masters" give tribute to the Datu so that the latter being a mediator
would ask the spirits to give them again a bountiful harvest next time. When they
borrow for instance a capital for sowing season, they return it twice as a token of
gratitude.
THANK
YOU