Professional Documents
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Complaints from public officials and private individuals. From 1565 to 1821, Philippines is governed by the king of Spain thru viceroy of Mexico From 1821 onwards, the Spanish king directly ruled Philippines by appointing the governor general Council of the Indie- handled all matters pertaining to the colonies of the Spanish empire. This later became the Ministry of Colonies assisted by the Council of the Philippines Laws of the Indies: Recopilacion de Leyes de las Indias or popularly known as Laws for the Indies Governor-general -chief executive of the Philippines.Sometimes known as CaptainGeneral. Powers: Enforce royal decrees and laws, Appoint and remove colonial officials,s erve as chief justice of the Royal Audiencia, serve as the vice-royal patron, exercise all powers of the king of Spain, veto power known as cumplase. ECONOMIC ASPECTS
A. TAXATION
The Buwis (Tribute) may be paid in cash or in kind, partly or wholly, as palay or tobacco, chickens, textiles. In 1570, tribute was fixed at eight reales (one peso) or in kind (gold, blankets, cotton, rice) then it continued to increase until the end of the Spanish period. In 1884, the tribute was replaced by the cedula personal (equivalent to the residence tax) The Samboangan, a special tax of real or rice was collected to be used by soldiers in crushing the Moro raids.The Vinta and Falua (similar to the samboangan) were collected to shield coastal areas of Bulacan, Pampanga and the Bicol Region.The Bandala, an annual enforced sale or requisitioning of goods (particularly rice) was collected from farmers.The Cedula Personal or personal identity paper was required to be paid by everyone over eighteen years of age.The Tithes extracted by the Church were an additional burden to the taxes collected by the government.
B. POLO [FORCED LABOR]Filipinos or Chinese mestizos aged 16-60 were drafted and were obligated to give personal
service to community projects, like construction and repair of infrastructure, church construction, or cutting of logs, for forty days (until 1884, when it was reduced to 15 days). If one opted to be exempted from the polo, he had to pay the FALLA (half real per day). Although good in intention, the polo negatively affected agriculture because the working days coincided with the planting and harvesting seasons. It also contributed to deforestation and decimation of the male population (because many were compelled to work in the mountains, thus leaving their families behind). C. ENCOMIENDAS: ROYAL AND PRIVATE: Encomienda (from the word, encomendar, meaning, to entrust) was another revenue-getting measure of the colonial government. It was a grant from Spain to a meritorious Spaniard to exercise control over a specific place including its inhabitants.The Encomendero was duty-bound to defend his encomienda and its inhabitants, and to assist in the mission to Christianize its inhabitants. In return, he had the right to impose tribute in his jurisdiction. 2 TYPES OF ENCOMIENDA 1. Royal/Crown: lands reserved for the crown and included the principal towns and ports. 2. Private: granted to individuals who have rendered meritorious performance to the Spanish crown.