AGRARIAN AND THE
FRIAR
Section 3
LANDS
INTENTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this section, the students
should be able to:
• identify the different issues on land
ownership from pre-colonial to colonial
period; and
• explain how the hacienda system
impacts the Philippines.
HISTORY OF THE FRIAR LANDS
• Spanish conquistadors awarded lands
(haciendas) for loyalty.
• Approximately 120 Spaniards received
large (sitios de ganado mayor) or
smaller (caballerias) land grants.
HISTORY OF THE FRIAR LANDS
• Hacienderos (hacienda owners) often
failed to develop their lands.
• Reasons: Spaniards' temporary
presence, small livestock market.
• The Galleon Trade offered more
attractive economic opportunities.
HISTORY OF THE FRIAR LANDS
• Friars acquired land through various
means (donations for spiritual favors,
etc.).
• Many Filipinos believed friars lacked
legitimate titles due to dubious
means.
HISTORY OF THE FRIAR LANDS
• Introduced in the 18th century with the
growth of agricultural exports.
• Inquilinos rented land for a fixed annual
amount and provided services.
• Failure to provide services resulted in
expulsion.
• Inquilinos could sublease to kasamas
(sharecroppers).
• Three-tiered system: hacienderos on
top, inquilinos in the middle, kasamas at
the bottom.
HACIENDA DE CALAMBA DISPUTE
• The Rizal family were one of the principal
inquilinos of the Hacienda de Calamba, a
large estate spanning approximately 380
hectares.
• The main crop grown was sugarcane,
which was in high demand on the global
market at the time.
• The Rizal family's income was mainly
from the rented land.
HACIENDA DE CALAMBA DISPUTE
Acquiring of
Jesuit
Dominicans
Ownership
The Hacienda de In the 1800s, the
Calamba was Dominicans began
originally owned by acquiring parts of the
the Jesuits. After their hacienda, first Calamba
expulsion in 1768, the Nueva in 1833 and
hacienda was then Calamba Viejo in
managed by several 1883, eventually
laymen. totaling around 16,424
hectares.
HACIENDA DE CALAMBA DISPUTE
Dispute
In 1888, the gobernadorcillo and
principales set the hacienda's
boundaries, which the Calambeños
contested, claiming the land
exceeded Dominican titles. They
asked the Dominicans for proof, but
the Dominicans refused, saying
religious orders weren't subject to
secular authority. This conflict sparked
agrarian unrest.
HACIENDA DE CALAMBA DISPUTE
The tenants protested that
the collection of rents did not
follow a clear guideline. The
rent was determined by the
number of seedlings that can
be planted over a specific area
which makes it very peculiar.
Besides, if the harvest was
good the rents were increased
sporadically.
HACIENDA DE CALAMBA DISPUTE
Lack of Official Receipts
• Official receipts were not issued as
well, in case one was given it did not
contain the amount paid and did not
bear any signature at all.
Impact on Tenant Payments
• Some rents are not being credited to
the payments made by the tenant
which made the unpaid rents to
increase enormously.
HACIENDA DE CALAMBA DISPUTE
Other Challenges
• Farmlands in Calamba were infested
by locusts.
• Calamities further destroyed crops.
• The low selling price of sugar in
1889.
Consequences for Tenants
• The default payments led to the
eviction of the tenants.
Thank
You!
