THE PHILIPPINES UNDER SPANISH COLONIAL REGIME
The Spanish colonial policy was virtually designed not only to  Governor Fernando Manuel de Bustamante – conducted an
keep the Philippines under complete control but also to exploit her rich
natural resources.
On Taxation
 It is the power of the state to collect revenue for public practice.
 One of the laws is that to pay a tribute.
 8 reales or 1 peso – amount Filipinos paid for tribute in 1589.
 10 reales to 12 in 1851
 Cedula Tax – replaces the tribute.
 18 years old and above are required to pay the new tax.
 Bandala –a system where natives coerced to sell their harvest to
the government at very low price.
On Forced Labor
 Dehumanizing labor – all male, healthy and physically able
between ages 16 to 60 to render service for 40 days.
 Polo – also known as the forced labor
 Polistas – the laborers
 Falla – payment of a certain fee
 The only Filipino who can afford to pay the arbitrary exemption
fees are the Gobernadorcillos, Cabesa de Barangay, and
Principalia.
The Tobacco Monopoly of Basco
 It is established by Jose Basco y Vargas in 1781.
 The cultivation of tobacco under government control was confined
to; Nueva Ecija, Marinduque, Cagayan Valley, Ilocos
Provinces.
 Tobacco planters forced to sell all their produce to the government.
The Galleon Trade
 Trading of China and Mexico
 Also known as the Manila-Acapulco Trade
 Clergy – one of primary investors in Galleon Trade.
 Obras Pias – also called pious works, it is a foundation where
money from trade was invented and appropriated.
investigation to find out the bankruptcy of the Obras Pias and
government but he met his death in the hand of friars in 1719.
On the Encomiendas
 Encomienda – a right extended by the king upon Spaniards who
had helped to facilitate the settlement of territory.
 Encomiendero – a holder of the encomienda and empowered to
collect taxes.
 Domingo Salazar and Martin de Rada – condemned these
encomienderos and held them responsible against the natives.
Economic Retrogression
 It was the government’s imposition of numerous taxes and its utter
insensitiveness to render service upon which taxes were extracted.
 Fathers Pedro Chirino and Antonio de Morga – debunked the
allegation of Spaniards by attesting and to the marked growth of
the natives.
The Abolition of the Slavery
 Bishop Domingo Salazar and various heads of religious order to
ask the king to abolish slavery.
 King Philip II – issued the Royal Decree of August 09, 1589,
emancipating all slaves in the colony.
On Cultural Development
 Lingua Franca – Spanish language
 1st Printing press – introduced by Dominican friars in Manila in
1593
 Doctrina Christiana (1593) – first book
 Filipino Printers
 Thomas Pinpin
 Bernardo Carpio
 Siete Infantes de Lara
 Filipinos in the field of Philippine Literature
 Jose dela Cruz (Husing Sisiw 1746-1829)
  Franciso Baltazar (1789-1862) – Florante at Laura of  University of Santo Tomas (1611) – oldest university in the
Baltazar’s “awit” exposed the wrongdoing of Spaniards. Philippines.
Our Lady of Rosary – known as “La Naval” by the Catholic  1863 – The Spanish government improve the state of education. To
devotes was curved by a Pagan Chinese craftsman. introduced Western-Style schooling (Elementary, Secondary, and
 Two Filipino Painters who won Medals College).
 Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo – silver medals
 Juan Luna – gold medal On Economy
 Due to the abolition of the Galleon Trade and the separation of
On Religion Mexico from Spain, the Spanish government engage trading
 Christianity – Spanish colonizers one of the important objective relations with other countries.
in the Philippines.  Economic Changes made by Spain in the Philippines
 Missionaries uses their religious facilitates the teaching of Gospel.  New way of Land Ownership
 Augustinians (1565)  Encomienda System
 Franciscans (1577)  Tribute
 Jesuits (1581)  Polo or forced labor
 Dominicans (1587)  Abolition of Slavery
 Recollects (1606)  Galleon Trade and annual subsides from Mexico
 Introduction of New Industries
On Social Results  Scientific Survey
 Fiesta – social affairs for it provided a place for friends and  Opening of the Philippines to world trade and foreign
strangers to attract celebration like gambling or cock fighting. investments
- Celebrating the feast day of a patron saint of Catholic town.  Rise of Banks
 Transport and Communication Improvement
On Architecture  New Social Classes
 Spaniards introduced Western style of architecture in the  Prizes and International Exhibitions
Philippines.
 San Augustin Church in Intramuros, Manila is the oldest church
in the Philippines.
 The house of Dr. Jose Rizal in Calamba, Laguna, has Spanish
architecture style.

On Education
 Education was only open for upper social and economic class of
society.
 Friars – also known as “priests”; they control the education
system.
 Colegio de San Juan de Letran (1630) – the school for boys from
rich families during the Spanish era.
 Colegio de Santa Isabel (1632) – the school for girls; it is called
now as the St. Mary’s College or Santa Catalina.