INTRODUCTION: READINGS IN PHILIPPINE

HISTORY

ATTY. MILDRED MARIE LACOSTALES-

PRESBITERO
LEARNING
OBJECTIVES:

 Determine the meaning, importance ,

and relevance of history;
Evaluate primary sources for their
credibility , authenticity and
provenance
Differentiate internal and external
criticisms; and
Describe the repositories of primary
resources
COURSE FLOW :
MIDTERM COVERAGE
Geographical
Introduction to location: external
Phil History and internal
waters

Philippine
Spanish Regime
Revolution

American
The Aguinaldo Regime and the
Administration Japanese
Occupation
 CHAPTER 1: HISTORY, ITS MEANING,
IMPORTANCE AND RELEVANCE
The word HISTORY is derived from the Greek term “historia” which means “inquiry or research” . Thus , the
term history refers to accounts or inquiries of events that happened in the past and are narrated in a
chronological order.

According to Aristotle, regarded as the father of logic, history is a systematic account of a set of natural
phenomena which are arranged in their chronological order.

The great historians Thucydides and Herodotus ( Father of History) defined history as a learning inquiry
about the past of mankind.

E.H Carr likewise defines history as a never-ending dialogue of events between the past and the present.

Durant stated that history is a narrative of events of what civilized men have thought and done in the past.
IMPORTANCE OF HISTORY
It is said that history is to the human race whereas memory is to each man.
It does not only shed the light of the past upon the present time. It also :
1. Helps every person to draw conclusion from the past events helping the
person to understand himself by being acquainted with other people.
2. Helps the person or the government avoid the pitfalls of the present by
knowing the rise and fall of the rulers, governmental and empires.
3. Makes a person’s life richer and fuller by giving the meaning to the
books he reads (especially history books, the cities and metropolis he
visits and the cultural performances he hears and listens to)
4. Broaden the person’s outlook in life by learning and understanding the
various races, cultures, idiosyncracies ,habits, rituals , ceremonies, etc.
of making of contemporary society out of the diverse forces of the past
5. Enable a person to grasp his relationship with the past , such as to who
ordered the killing of Ninoy Aquino or why China insist on occupying
territories claimed by the Philippines- and because of the events, one
has to turn to history for a complete answer.
6. History preserves the cultural values of a nation because it guides
society in confronting various crisis. As Allen Nerins puts it, history is
like a bridge that connects the past with the present and “pointing the
road to the future”
 WHAT IS THE USE OR RELEVANCE OF
STUDYING PHILIPPINE HISTORY?
 according to Carfield “History is inescapable” The saying all people are living
histories – which is why history matters.

 To understand the linkage between the past and the present is to have a better group
of the condition of being human. All human beings are living histories, for example ,
the human species speaks languages, that are inherited from the past. They use
technologies that they have not themselves invested. Thus, an individual is born of an
inherited “genetic template” which has evolved during the lifespan. Thus, the study of
Philippine History is not only relevant, It is also useful and essential.

 Understanding Philippine History is essential to a good understanding of the condition

of being human. People build, people destroy and people change. Neither of these
options can be understood well without understanding the context and starting point of
all these. All human beings live in the here and now, but it took a long unfolding
history to get enough to “NOW” This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
DISTINCTION BETWEEN PRIMARY
AND SECONDARY SOURCES
SECONDARY SOURCES
PRIMARY SOURCES
• Are direct firsthand evidence regarding an object, Describes ,discuss, interpret ,comment
person or work of art. They include historical and upon, analyze , evaluate, summarize and
legal documents, eyewitness, accounts, results,
process primary resources. Secondary
experiments, statistical data, pieces of creative
writing, audio, video recordings ,speeches and art source materials are those that can be
objects. They also include interviews, surveys, found in newspaper or popular magazines,
fieldwork and internet communications via email,
blogs and newsgroups. In the most natural and book or movie reviews or articles written
social sciences, primary sources are often in scholarly journals that discuss or
empirical studies- research where experiment was
performed or a direct observation.
evaluate someone else’s original research.
INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL CRITICISMS:

 INTERNAL EXTERNAL
These seek to falsify or demonstrate its In contrast seek to falsify an idea without
discontinuity with an idea by hypothetically hypothetically assuming its truth.
assuming its truth in order to prove some internal
It applies science to a document
inconsistency or contradiction with it

Internal criticisms looks within the data itself to It involves such physical and technical test as
dating paper a document is written on, but it
try to determine the truth- facts and “reasonable ”
also involves knowledge of when certain things
interpretation. It includes looking at the apparent
or possible motives of the person providing the existed or where possible.
data.
  For Historian to understand the past, they need evidence about the past.
CHAPTER These evidence are of two kinds, primary and secondary sources
SUMMARY A primary source is any document or artifact from the period under the study while a
secondary source is any document or artifact that was created after the period under the
study.
One must know how to read a primary source
THE
PHILIPPINES
 GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
The Philippines is an archipelago, or string of over 7,100 islands, in southeastern Asia between the South China
Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
 OFFICIAL NAME: REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
FORM OF GOVERNMENT : DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN STATE
CAPITAL : MANILA
POPULATION: 105,893,381 MILLION
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE : FILIPINO ( TAGALOG)
MONEY : PHILIPPINE PESO
AREA : ABOUT 115,831 SQUARE MILES ( 300,000 SQUARE KILOMETERS)
“The waters around, between, and
connecting the islands of the archipelago,
regardless of their breadth and
dimensions, form part of the internal
waters of the Philippines.”
EARLY
PHILIPPINE
SOCIETY AND
CULTURE
CHAPTER 2
 A. THE BARANGAY
Unlike its neighbors, the Philippines did not have any thriving and
powerful kingdom or vast empires before the advent of Islam and its
sultanates in the 15th century ; and Spanish colonization in the 16 th
century. The archipelago was decentralized by then, and was
divided into localized settlements called Barangay.

The term barangay came from the word Balangay , an Austronesian

sea-going vessel. These barangays were not just small political
entities but they could also be seen as economic, social, cultural and
spiritual institutions.

Before the advent of Spanish colonization, the barangay was the

primary institution in the Philippines. Among other Factors, the
acrchipelagic nature of our country allowed these localized ,
independent and decentralized communities to exist.

A Barangay can be composed of 30-100 families living in a not well-

defined but customarily agreed territory. A barangay can also be
formed through alliances, either through marriage or blood compact.
The main purpose is to become powerful and prosperous
 A. THE BARANGAY :
SOCIAL CLASS
 First is the ruling class or nobility ,they are known as Maginoo in Tagalog and
Kadatoan in Visayan.

 Second are the commoners or freeman, they formed majority of the people in
the barangay. They are known as Maharlika in Tagalog and Timawa in Visayan

 Lastly are the slaves: The slavery system in the Philippines was different from
other societies since slaves were not considered as properties but a person
becomes one through debt bondage , raids and wars and punishment of crimes.
They were called Alipin in Tagalog and Oripuen in Visaya.

 The spiritual leaders in the barangays: Catalonan in Tagalog and Babaylans in

Visayan regions
 B. EARLY SPIRITUAL BELIEFS:
Bathala ( Batala or Badhala) – is the most powerful deity of the early
tagalog pantheon. He is considered to be the supreme being and the
creator of universe. The term Bathala came from the Sanskrit term
Bhattara which means Noble Lord.
Laon( Kanlaon/Manlaon) – is the supreme deity among the early
visayans.
Lacapati – is the deity of fertility and agriculture among the early
Tagalogs. A hermaphrodite, Lacapati represents life and regeneration
through sexual unions.
Dian Masalanta – patron of lovers and generation
Babaylan or Catalonan- was the spiritual leader of the barangay. The
babaylan led the barangay in all cultural ceremonies including
sacrificial rituals called pag-aanito.
They also worshipped the SUN and the MOON which on account of
its beauty , is almost universally respected and honored.
They also worshipped the morning star which they called TALA.
C. THE ORIGIN OF THE
NAME PHILIPPINES

The name PHILIPPINES came from the

navigator Ruy Lopez de Villalobos when
he named the archipelago LAS ISLAS
FILIPINAS in 1542, after the heir of the
Spanish throne Price Phillip II.

The term FILIPINO, was used to refer to

Spaniards born in the colony. However,
some historians accounts that term was also
used in the 17th century to refer the natives
before the word indios were used
D. EARLY ACCOUNTS OF THE
PHILIPPINE ISLAND
Fray Juan de Plasencia - one of the first Franciscan
missionaries in the Philippines. He was responsible for the
various towns in Luzon particularly in Laguna and Tayabas areas
and the conversion of their Inhabitants to Catholiscism.
Doctrina Christiana – the first book printed in the Philippines. It
was written by Fray Juan de Plasencia in 1593, the book was used
by the Spaniards to aid them in the Christianization of the
Philippines.
Antonio de Morga- was a Spanish High ranking official in the
Philippines from 1593 to 1603.
Sucesos de Las Islas Filipinas ( Events In the Philippine
Islands )- one of the most comprehensive accounts of 16th
century Spanish colonization of the Achipelago. The book covers
political, economic, social and cultural life of the Filipinos and
 D. EARLY ACCOUNTS OF THE PHILIPPINE
ISLAND
Miguel de Loarca – one of the first Spanish conquistadores to arrive
in the archipelago, he observed the native cultural traditions before
they were fully acculturated to Christianity. He was also the first
Spaniard to conduct a census in the island.

Relacion de Las Islas Filipinas ( 1582) – A book written by Loarca

in which he documented the customs and traditions of early Filipinos.
The book was significant since it is the first written account of a
layman.

Pedro Chirino – he is a Jesuit missionary and a founder of various

towns and parishes across the archipelago, as well as his crucial role
in recording the ancient Tagalog script Baybayin to Latin alphabet.
 Relacion de Las Islas Filipinas (1603) – a book written by Chirino, the latter discusses
not just the Jesuit Missions but also the Catholic Conversion of the Filipinos in
General.

Pintados – was the term used by the Spaniards to refer to the tattoed settlers of the
D. EARLY Visayan region. The tattoos could symbolize bravery and experience in war among
ACCOUNTS OF THE men.
PHILIPPINE Baybayin – is the ancient Philippine script used by early Filipinos. The script was well-
ISLAND documented by the friars and it was even used in the Doctrina Christiana. Presently
there are calls to use baybayin in translation in all business and government logos.
 D. EARLY ACCOUNTS OF THE
PHILIPPINE ISLAND
Francisco Colin ( 1592-1660) – one the most prominent Jesuit
Missionary, he wrote Labor Evangelica (1663) , in which it accounts
the customs and traditions of the natives and other Southeast Asia and
Sumatra.

Juan Francisco de San Antonio – he was a missionary of the

Franciscan order, he wrote the book Cronicas or Philippine
Chronicles is a comprehensive study of the early Filipinos as well as
the Chinese and the Japanese in the Philippines during the early
colonial period. It provides a detailed account of superstitious beliefs
and omen.

The Boxer Codex- is a comprehensive account of the Philippines and

other parts of the Asia-Pacific in the late 16 th century, it was written by
Charles R. Boxer in 1947. The work is significant source of early
Filipino belief systems, customs and traditions. It contains detailed
and colored illustrations found in this manuscript.
 SUMMARY : EARLY SPIRITUAL
BELIEFS
 Contrary to colonial perception, early Filipinos already have their own rich
and complex spiritual traditions before the Spaniards colonization in the late
16th century. These spiritual traditions and forms of worship varied
throughout the archipelago due to cultural, social , economic and
geographical and linguistic differences.
 In the precolonial period, women were more empowered members of the
community. These were manifested in the existence of highly revered
positions held by women as the local priestesses of the barangay.

 Different account demonstrate contrasting perspectives. The religious (e.g:

friars) may portray Filipino beliefs as pagan and devilish while laymen such
as Loarca and Morga can be more objective in their observations.
Meanwhile , myths of the natives ( e.g; bicolanos) can be seen as a reflection
of their society , identity and worldwide view.
 SUMMARY: EARLY PHILIPPINE
SOCIETY AND CULTURE
As opposed to colonial perception, early Filipinos already had their own
rich and complex traditions and customs before the coming of the
Spaniards in the late 16th century. These cultural patterns varied throughout
the archipelago due to social , geographic and linguistic differences.

The barangay was the primary political, economical and sociocultural

institutions in the Philippines before the Spanish Colonization. The
baranganic society can be divided into 3 socioeconomic classes namely :
Ruling Class – Maginoo and Datu: Commoners - Maharlika in Tagalog
and timawa in visaya and lastly the Slave: alipin.

The system of slavery in the Philippines was different from other societies
since the slaves are not properties. One can become a slave through unpaid
debts, punishment and raids. Another characteristics of this kind of slavery
is that there was a high possibility of becoming a freeman.
 Early Filipinos had a highly complex marriage customs as well as tattooing
traditions and body ornamentation. Meanwhile, the betel chew as staple
SUMMARY: EARLY dainty was not just consumed by the Filipinos but also by the Chinese and
the Spaniards.
PHILIPPINE Various accounts demonstrate different perspectives as exemplified by the
SOCIETY AND excerpts of this chapter. The religious may portray early Filipino custom as
pagan and barbaric while laymen such as Morga and Loarca can be more
CULTURE objective in their accounts. Nonetheless , one must always be aware of the
biases of the accounts.
 THE PHILIPPINES BECOMES A SPANISH
COLONY
During the First the economic ,motive of finding access to the profitable Oriental trade of luxury
goods like silk and spices.
15th and 16th
centuries,
Second the Scientific and technological progress specifically in shipbuilding and
Europe saw navigational instruments.
the age of
exploration
and expansion
brought about Third, the quest to explore unknown and distant lands also involved religious
mission of spreading the Christian faith. Spain and Portugal maintained an anti-
by various Muslim attitude emanating from the recent Reconquista of the Iberian Peninsula
against the Muslim Moors and religious zeal to covert the people of Asia and Africa.
factors:
THE IBERIAN PENINSULA
THE PHILIPPINES BECOMES
A SPANISH COLONY
 The Philippines was part of the Spanish Empire for
more than three centuries ( 333 years) . During this
long period ,native societies ( especially in Luzon and
Visayas) underwent a great transformation; the islands
were named Las Phelipinas by Spanish voyagers.
The populations were organized into pueblos or towns;
 pagans practices were suppressed and Catholic
Christianity was introduced
 A central government was established in the colonial
Manila.
 Ferdinand Magellan

King Charles V
 THE PHILIPPINES BECOMES A
SPANISH COLONY
Ferdinand Magellan – was a Portuguese sailor who defected to Spain
after his services to the Portuguese crown were not properly recognized.

He participated in actions during the capture of Malacca by the

Portuguese.

He persuaded King Charles V to furnish him with men and ship for the
expedition to discover a Western route to East.

 The ambitious expedition led by Magellan was composed of a fleet of

5 ships and composed of 250 men who were mostly Castillians.

The voyage started off from San Lucar, Spain, navigated through a
strait located at the tip of the South American continent and crossed the
vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean.
 THE PHILIPPINES BECOMES A SPANISH COLONY
 March 16, 1521 – after almost two years of hardship at sea, they saw the island of Samar in the eastern
part of the country.
Archipelago de San Lazaro – the name given to the newly discovered Samar island, since they arrived
during the feast day of the saint.
Antonio Pigafetta – an Italian who took part with the expedition and wrote the book First voyage around
the world.
March 31, 1521 – first mass held in the island of the Philippines. It was lead by the troop of Magellan in
the islands of Limawasa.
Raja Humabon and Queen Juana- the rulers of the islands of Cebu. Magellan was able to convinced
them to become a vassal of the King and a servant of Christ.
April 14, 1521 – Queen Juana was baptized and she accepted Christianity.
Lapu-lapu and Zula – the chiefs of Mactan, wherein Magellan gets embroiled a conflict and was
eventually followed by a battle.
 THE PHILIPPINES BECOMES A SPANISH COLONY

After Magellan’s demise, the remaining members of the expedition tried to

make their way back to Spain.
Victoria – the only surviving vessel and was commanded by Sebastian del
Cano. The 18 survivors arrived in the in Seville in 1522, completing the first
continuous circumnavigation of the world.
King Philip II one of the most powerful European monarch of his time,
decided to relinquish his claims to the Moluccas to Portugal and colonize the
the Philippines instead.
Miguel Lopez de Legazpi – lead the expedition, he reached the islands of
Samar on February 14, 1565 and travelled across the regions of central
Visayas. He was also the first Governor-General of the Philippines.
Sikatuna – the leader of Bohol who made a blood compact with Legazpi.
April 27, 1565 – Legazpi arrived in Cebu and defeated the Cebuanos and
established settlement there calling it, Nombre de Jesus after a wooden
image of the holy child was discovered by one of his men.
 THE PHILIPPINES BECOMES A SPANISH
COLONY
Martin de Goiti – was instructed by Legazpi to explore the northern region of Luzon. He found the
port and town of Maynilad located along the mouth of the Pasig River.

Raja Soliman – the Muslim chief of Maynilad, fought against the troop of Legazpi, they were
defeated and Legazpi established the colony in Manila in 1571.

Muy Insigne y Siempre Leal Ciudad (Eminent and Ever Loyal City) – Manila received this title
from Spain, it eventually develop into a city walls of Intramuros where most of the Spanish colony.
 TIMELINE: THE BEGINNING OF COLONIAL ERA
King Philip decided to
Vasco da Gama, a
Constantinople fell into colonize the country and
Portuguese sailor, reached
the hands of the Ottoman sent Miguel Lopez de
India by sailing through The Magellan Expedition
Turks, barring the Legazpi. The expedition
the Cape of Good Hope in arrived in the soils of the
Europeans from the sailed from Mexico and
the southern tip of Africa. Philippine Islands
trading routes to the east they arrived in Cebu.

1492 1511 1543 1571

1453 1498 21 Mar. 1521 1565

Manila was taken by the

Italian voyager Portuguese forces The Villalobos expedition Spanish and Visayan
Christopher Columbus captured the Muslim port arrived in the archipelago forces under the
reached the Americas, he of Malacca in Southeast and gave the name Las Leadership of Martin de
called the natives there Asia. Phelipinas in honor of Goiti. Legazpi transferred
“Indians” believing that then crown price Philip II. from Panay Island and
he landed in India, a land made Manila the capital
in the Asian Continent. and base of further
expeditions
 European exploration was driven by the search for access to the profitable Oriental Trade, the
religious mission of spreading the Christianity and was made possible by the technological
advances of navigation.

SUMMAR The Spaniards had three main aims, in taking over the Philippine islands, namely, the expansion of
trade, the conversion of the natives to Catholicism and the extension of the territories ruled by the
Y King of Spain.

The subjugation of the native population mainly in the lowlands and coastal areas of Luzon and
Visayas was effected through a combination of local alliances, military intrusion and religious
persuasion.

In 1571, Manila became the center of Spanish colonial power in the Philippines, strategically
located in the heart of the economically productive and thickly populated Tagalog and
Kapampangan regions of Luzon, the city grew to be the paramount city of the archipelago.
 CHAPTER 3 : THE COLONIAL INSTITUTIONS
CEDULA
MIGUEL LOPEZ DOMINGO DE COMPILATION
PERSONAL WAS
DE LEGAZPI SALAZAR WAS THE SYNOD PF OF THE LAWS OF
INSTITUTED TO
GAVE THE TITLE APPOINTED AS MANILA WAS INDIES UNDER
REPLACE THE
CIUDAD DE BISHOP OF CONVENED KING CHARLES
TRIBUTO
MANILA MANILA II
SYSTEM
1571 1578 1582 1680 1884

1572 1581 1596 1720

ESTABLISHMENT BISHOP LEGAL
ESTABLISHMENT
OF THE DOMINGO DE ABOLITION OF
OF THE REAL
ENCOMIENDA SALAZAR THE
AUDIENCA OF
SYSTEM ARRIVED IN ENCOMIENDA
MANILA
MANILA SYSTEM
 THE COLONIAL INSTITUTIONS

a) One of the first task of the Spanish colonizers was to unify the Philippines under one faith and
under one colonial government, with Manila as its center. In order to facilitate the easy
conversion and pacification of the natives , certain colonial institutions were set up in the
Philippines.
b) Before the arrival of the Europeans , the natives were settled in scattered communities with no
central government. One of the solutions of the colonial government was to resettle the natives.
c) They created the Synod of Manila headed by the first bishop of Manila Friar Domingo de
Salazar along with the other Spanish stakeholders. Later on this master plan benefited the friars.
 THE COLONIAL
INSTITUTIONS
a) Bishop Domingo de Salazar – he belonged to the the Dominican
order and was the first bishop appointed in 1582. He was a
champion of the natives in the Philippines for he was heavily
influenced by Bartolome de Casas.

b) Bartolome de Casas – was a 16th century Dominican friar from

Spain. He was present in the Spanish colonization of Latin
America. He forwarded and protected the rights of the natives
which made him earn the title “Protector of Indians” and one of
his disciples was Bishop Salazar.

c) Adelantado – was a title given by the Spanish monarch to those

who led or help in conquering new lands. It means advance officer
in the military.
 EXAMPLES OF SPANISH COLONIAL
INSTITUTIONS
1) Reduccion – aimed to consolidate colonial control over Philippine
indigenous communities by compelling prominent individuals to
relocate into poblaciónes (town) within hearing distance of church-
bells.

2) Encomienda – comes from the Spanish encomendar, meaning “to

entrust” It was a grant from the Spanish crown to a meritorious
Spaniard to exercise control over specific place, including its
inhabitants. The system allowed Spanish explorers and settlers were
granted the legal right to extract forced labour from the indigineous
tribal chiefs.

3) Encomenderos – were Spanish subject receiving the grants of

labour by virtue of their participation of the conquest and
 EXAMPLES OF SPANISH COLONIAL INSTITUTIONS

4.) Alcaldia – referred to a pacified administrative division of the Spanish colonial government in the

Philippines. It was comparable to a present-day province. It succeeded the many encomiendas throughout

the country.

5.) Alcalde Mayor – is the local chief executive officer in municipalities created by the Spaniards.

6.) An annual tribute was also imposed to the natives as a form of vassalage to the Spanish Crown. These

were used to support the colonial government and the missionaries at work.

7.)Cedula personal – was a mandatory identification imposed by the Spanish Colonial government to

exact taxes, monitor movement and determine an individual’s profile .

EXAMPLES OF SPANISH
COLONIAL INSTITUTIONS
8.) Polo y servicio – “forced labor” which referred to
drafting laborers who were either Filipino or Chinese
male mestizos aged 16 to 40 years old. They were
obligated to give 40-day personal service to community
projects such as construction and repair of infrastructures.

9.) Governador y Capitan-General – the head of the

colony and the Sole representative of the Spanish Crown.

10.) Repartimiento system - allowed the masters in

colonies to work for public or community projects. This
system was imposed not only in the Philippines, but also
in the Latin American colonies of Spain.
 EARLY FILIPINO REVOLTS
1601 – Igorot
1574- Lakan-Dula’s 1587-88 – Tondo 1596 – Magalat’s 1621- Gaddang
Revolt ( Northern
revolt ( Tondo) Conspiracy Revolt ( Cagayan) Revolt ( Cagayan)
Luzon)

1621-22 –
1649 – Ladia 1639 – Cagayan 1629 – Caraga 1625-27 – Cagayan 1621- Bankaw’s
Temblot’s revolt
Revolt (Bulancan) Revolt Revolt Revolt Revolt ( Leyte)
(Bohol)

1660-61 –
1660 – Maniago’s 1744-1829 –
1649-50 – Malong’s 1663- Tapar’s 1681-83 – Zambal
Revolt Dagohoy Rebellion
Sumuroy Revolt Rebellion uprising (Panay) Revolt
( Pampanga) (Bohol)
(Pangasinan)

1804-41 – 1745-46 – Agrarian

1762-63 – Palaris 1762-63 – Revolt
Apolinario dela 1807- Basi Revolt 1763 – Cagayan uprising the areas
Revolt of Diego Silang
Cruz (Ilocos) Uprisings of Luzon and
( Pangasinan) ( Ilocos)
( Lucban,Tayabas) Central Luzon
The imposition of the Catholic Faith, forced labor or polo, and the usurpation
of the land by the religious orders triggered off reactions from the Filipinos EARLY FILIPINO
which came in the form of revolts.
REVOLTS
These revolts happened during the early part of Spanish colonization
particularly in the 17th and 18th centuries. Moreover, these revolts took place
in different parts of the Philippines.

Attempts of preserving the old religion by Filipinos inspired the revolts led by
Tamblot in Bohol and Bancao in Leyte. Both revolts took place in 1621.

The demands of forced labor or polo took toll on the Filipinos and were seen
in the revolts led by Sumuroy of Samar in 1649 and Maniago of Pampanga in
1660.

As religious orders usurped lands from the natives, agrarian uprisings became
rampant in the provinces of Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal in
1745-1746.

By the 18th century, many religious orders had acquired lands often obtained
through usurpation of land and land grabbing. Not only were the natives
driven out of the communal lands that they owned but were even forbidden to
gather firewood, pasture their work animals, and fish in the rivers. Agrarian
uprising took place in rice-and-sugar producing provinces.
 SUMMARY
Early in the colonization of the Philippines by Spain,
Filipinos responded to the colonial master through
revolts.

The revolts were caused by Filipinos wanting to preserve

their pre-Spanish religion, freedom from force labor, and
the preservation of their communal lands.

The Church and the State, on different occasions of the

revolts, took the side of the Filipinos.

The revolts were suppressed by pitting one Filipino

ethnic group against another.

The revolts unintentionally provided information about

early Filipino culture.