AGRARIAN RELATIONS AND

FRIAR LANDS
PRE-SPANISH PERIOD

“This land is Ours God gave this land to us”

Before the Spaniards came to the

Philippines, Filipinos lived in villages or
barangays ruled by chiefs or datus. The
datus comprised the nobility. Then came
the maharlikas (freemen), followed by the
aliping mamamahay (serfs) and aliping
saguiguilid (slaves).
 However, despite the
existence of different classes
in the social structure,
practically everyone had
access to the fruits of the
soil. Money was unknown,
and rice served as the
medium of exchange.
Spanish Period
“United we stand, divided we fall”

When the Spaniards came to the

Philippines, the concept of encomienda
(Royal Land Grants) was introduced. This
system grants that Encomienderos must
defend his encomienda from external
attack, maintain peace and order within,
and support the missionaries. In turn, the
encomiendero acquired the right to
collect tribute from the indios (native).
 The system, however,
degenerated into abuse of
power by the encomienderos
The tribute soon became land
rents to a few powerful
landlords. And the natives
who once cultivated the
lands in freedom were
transformed into mere share
tenants.
HISTORY OF THE FRIAR LANDS

The existence of friar lands in the

Philippines can be traced back to the
early Spanish colonial period when
Spanish conquistadors were
awarded lands in the form of
haciendas for their loyalty to the
Spanish crown. Approximately 120
Spaniards were granted either large
tracts of land called sitio de ganado
mayor or smaller tracts called
caballerias.
 One reason is that the Spaniards
were not expected to permanently
stay in the Philippines. Many of
them returned to Spain once they
were done serving in the country.
Also, the livestock market during
this time was still small. Thus, the
Galleion Trade based in Manila,
appealed more to the Spaniards
because it offered more economic
and better opportunities.
HISTORY OF THE FRIAR LANDS

When the export of agricultural

crops started to blossom in the 18th
century, the inquilinato system was
put into place. In this system, one who
rented land for a fixed annual amount.
An inquilino is expected to give
personal services to ther landlords. If
he or she failed to do so, he or she
expelled from the land.
 The inquilinos could also lease
the land they were renting from
the landlords to a kasama or
sharecropper who would then be
responsible for cultivating the
land. The inquilino functioned as a
three-layered system with the
landlords on top, the inquilinos in
the middle, and the kasama at the
bottom
HACIENDFA DE CALAMBA DISPUTE

The Hacienda de Calamba was

originally owned by the Sspaniards
who donated the land to Jesuit Friars
to allow him to permanently stay in
the Jesuit Monastery. However, the
Jesuits were expelled from the
Philippines, the haciendas went to
the possession of the Spanish
Colonial government. In 1803 the
land was sold to Don Clemente de
Azansa.
 After his death, it was eventually
sold to the Dominican who claimed
ownership of the hacienda until late
19th century.
Rizal’s family became one of the
principaL inquilinos of the hacienda.
They rented one of the largestn leased
of lasnd measuring approximately 380
hectares. The main crop was sugarcane
since it was the most in-demand in the
world market then. The Rizal family got
their income mainly from land they
rented.
HACIENDA DE CALAMBA DISPUTE

Rizal’s family became one of the

principal inquilinos of the hacienda.
They rented one of the largest leased of
lasnd measuring approximately 380
hectares. The main crop was sugarcane
since it was the most in-demand in the
world market then. The Rizal family got
their income mainly from land they
rented.
THANK YOU