MONASTIC

SUPREMACY IN
THE PHILIPPINES

1
• LA SOBERENIA MONACAL EN
FILIPINAS was written by
Marcelo H. Del Pilar and
published in Barcelona, Spain in
1889 and reprinted in Manila in
1898.

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⦿ Political Aspect

⦿ The curate’s power was so ingrained (so established). They controlled the status quo and
defied/resisted the nation and institutions.

⦿ Their mission has the character of political organ and popular patronage

⦿ The Bishop guided (?) the friars in their undertakings

3
The friars frighten the Govt with the
people’s rebelliousness and assure the
Govt that they can suppress
rebelliousness so the Govt gives them
power.

The friars frighten the people with the

despotism/unlimited power of the Govt
and assure the people that they can
defend them so the people gives wealth
to the friars.

4
The friars maintain hatred and distrust
between the Govt and the people to
be able to CONTROL them.
They count on diversity of languages;
impede popular education; avoid the
understanding between the Govt
and the people.

⦿ The friars encouraged ignorance and

fanaticism to get the BEST LANDS.

5
⦿ The rent on the lands repeatedly increased causing poverty while
they became millionaires (?).

⦿ Government employees who would check the friars’ declarations

with regard to land income were in danger of losing their jobs.

⦿ There were direct taxes and indirect taxes to be paid by Filipinos.

People also paid the tax of religious festivals for the
celebrations/religious activities of SAINTS’ DAYS.
⦿ Families also had to pay for the erection of chapels (poverty).

⦿ The people realized that the monetary collections of the friars were
excessive.

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⦿ Friars too have the power to deport
people.

⦿ Because of the friars power, fanaticism

was replaced with fear.

7
⦿ Religious Aspect

⦿ To everything and for everything the

curate’s SIGNATURE is an essential requisite.
Without any law, he approves and denies
according to his WILL.

⦿ What happened to a public official who

demanded an energetic enforcement of his
orders? Friars inform the bishop and
dismissed the official.

8
⦿ What quality of the nation is endangered by
the great power of the friars? National
Integrity/incorruptibility

⦿ What is the best defense (?) of national

integrity? To consolidate the fraternity
between Spain and Philippines.

9
Government Church
Limited resources for public They can build costly convents
works; in Manila and spacious palaces
Government houses were made in each parish
of light materials. (primary
schools)

It was very difficult to collect It was easy to get public money

public taxes for heavenly promises
Avoided burdening the public of Could invent new forms of
new sources of revenue devotion & people paid for fear
of exile (not fanaticism)
There was a need for laws of exploitation of ignorance and
disentail (?) fanaticism

simony

⦿ ECONOMIC ASPECT. It is understood that monastic life is unproductive

(non-profit).

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TAXATION DURING THE SPANISH
PERIOD

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⦿ Taxation
⦿ Spanish colonies were required to pay taxes
1) recognition of Spain’s sovereignty over
the colonies 2) defray expenses of
governance and suppressing hostility

⦿ Kinds of taxes during the Spanish Period

TRIBUTO: general tax, 8 reales, for males 18-50,
for manual laborers and public workers.

SANCTORUM: 3 reales tax for the cost of

Christianization

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DONATIVO: ½ real tax for the military
campaign against the Muslims.

CAJA DE COMUNIDAD: 1 real tax for

public infrastructure

SERVICIO PERSONAL/ POLO Y SERVICIO:

forced labor for 16-60 males in
infrastructure, called polistas. You have to
pay a falla to be freed.

13
• The Cagayan and Dingras revolts over the tribute (1589) happened in Cagayan and
Ilocos Norte. 6 tax collectors were killed by the Ilocanos and Ibanags for tax
collection abuses.

• (1649-1650) The Warays of Samar led by Agustin Sumuroy revolted because Warays
were sent to DISTANT PLACES for polo y servicio/forced labor. They killed the
Palapag Parish Priest and the revolt spread to the Visayas, Southern Luzon, &
Zamboanga. They were defeated when Sumoroy was killed. David Dula continued
the quest but was killed with his 7 lieutenants.

14
• (1660-1661) The Kapampangans led y Francisco Maniago revolted over the
tribute, and for the unpaid 8-month forced labor, and unpaid rice. They
burned their campsite and the fight ensued.

• (1660-1661) Andres Malong from Pangasinan (had the same issues as

Maniago) was influenced by Maniago to revolt. Malong and the people of
Pangasinan succeeded and he proclaimed himself King of Pangasinan.

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• THE TAX REFORM OF 1884
The Reform was introduced as provided for in the Royal Decree of March 6, 1884 which contained 2 important provisions:

1. The hated tribute was abolished and replaced with cedula tax
2. 40-day annual forced labor was reduced to 15.

The cedulas personales: All men and women residents of the islands, Spaniards, natives and foreigners, over 18 must get a cedula.

Exceptions:

Chinese (they paid the poll tax)

Natives and colonists of the archipelago of Jolo and of the islands of Balabac and Palawan.

There were 16 different classes of cedulas. The 9 classes were taxed ranging from 1.50 pesos to 25 pesos.

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The “Build, Build, Build” program is the Duterte administration’s medium-term goal to
increase infrastructure
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⦿ Train relatively decreases the tax on personal income, estate, and donation. However, it also
increases the tax on certain passive incomes, documents (documentary stamp tax) as well as excise
tax on petroleum products, minerals, automobiles, and cigarettes; excise tax on sweetened
beverages and non-essential services (invasive cosmetic procedures) and removes the tax
exemption of Lotto and other PCSO winnings amounting to more than P10,000.
https://www.rappler.com/thought-leaders/192873-train-tax-reform-law-what-does-it-change-expla
iner

18
Militant groups (Bayan Muna, KMU, Gabriela) held a protest rally at
the Trabajo, Mendiola in Manila, January 15, 2018. According to
them, they will continue doing these protests “to register their rage
against tax hikes” and as long the TRAIN law keeps “burdening the
shoulders of poor Filipinos.”
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⦿ MANILA -- Finance Assistant Secretary Tony Lambino
clarified that only about 20 percent of the increase
in local pump prices can be attributed to Tax Reform
for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.
⦿ Lambino said TRAIN’s contribution to the 6.4
percent inflation in August 2018 is only around 0.4
percentage points.
⦿ “Essentially, for every PHP100 in additional
spending, PHP6 is coming from TRAIN,” he said.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1047501

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⦿ Emmanuel A. Leyco, associate professor at the Asian Institute of
Management’s Department of Finance said,

“Sa palagay ko masasabi natin ngayon na ang TRAIN law created a

very strong negative signal to the market. Ang ibig sabihin niyan,
nung nagsabi sila na magkakaroon ng excise tax sa fuel ... ang ibig
sabihin niyan tataas ang presyo ng mga bilihin dahil lahat ng
produksyon natin nangangailangan ng fuel, nangangailangan ito
ng gasolina,” he said.

“Ang inflation, slowing down ng GDP growth rate, are very strong
indicators already na we have to rethink our economic strategy,”
the economist said.
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/economy/663549/t
rain-sent-a-strong-negative-signal-to-the-market-economist/story/

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