It all started when the Spaniards had discovered and explored the Philippines.

It
was early 16th century when Catholic missionaries and explorers from Spain
have arrived here in the Philippines. Magellan's voyage of discovery,152I, and
the subsequent voyages of Loaisa and Villalobos were undertaken for
commercial, not exactly for missionary purposes, but by the hope of locating "spice
islands" for Spain. But five Augustinian friars set out with Legaspi on the expedition
from Mexico which finally resulted in permanent occupation in the Philippines. After the
death of Magellan, the Spanish sent other expeditions back to the Philippines. As the
century wore on, expeditions became increasingly crucial for Spain. The crown
believed that the Philippines would become a new and important source of
revenue for the empire. Therein, the goals of the Spanish regime in the Philippines
became as: God, Glory, and Gold. Apart from expanding its trade, the
evangelization of indios was a clear mission of the empire. Led by Father Urdaneta,
Spanish Augustinian friars moved from Mexico to the Philippines upon the request of
Philip II and became the first official Catholic missionaries in the country.

Hence, many friars have started in working to widen beliefs. The Franciscans,
Jesuits, Dominicans, and Recollects followed suit over the centuries. They are
the
different religious orders arrived in the Philippines:
Augustinians (1565) - Order of Saint Augustine
Franciscans (1578) - Ordo Fratrum Minorum
Jesuits (1581) - Society of Jesus
Dominicans (1587) - Order of Preachers
Recollects (1606) - Order of Augustinian Recollects

Thus, the Monastic Supremacy has started. The battles against the invaders and the
oppressors during the colonial Philippines were not only marked by the revolts but were
also manifested in the writings of the Filipinos in Spanish. The writings of
the
propagandists like Marcelo H. Del Pilar, his work La Soberania Monacal en Filipinas by
which crimes and abuses of the friars and the injustices done were exposed
Marcelo H. Del Pilar is a Philippine
revolutionary propagandist and satirist. He
actively campaigned against the abuses of the
Spanish friars in the Philippines. Along with Jose
Rizal and Graciano Lopez Jaena, they became
known as the leading lights of the Reform
Movement in Spain. He is commonly known for
his pen names Plaridel, Siling Labuyo and
Dolores Manapat.
MONASTIC SUPREMACY
- is the service to God and to king. The church’s organization, personnel
and role in society were all defined early in the colonial era. During the spanish
colonization, the friars maintained complete control of secondary and higher
instruction. As a result, they were deeply implicated in the exploitation of Filipinos
transpiring to different transformative effects in the lives of the Filipino people in
different aspects. I truly believe that the Monastic Supremacy of the Spanish friars
have brought many political, religious and economic conflicts causing the Filipinos to
suffer.

POLITICAL ASPECT
In the Political aspect, the friars interfered in
the Philippine Government for a long time, it was
firmly established. Thus, without any difficulty, they
controlled the status quo of the country in defiance of
the nation and the institutions. They frighten the
government with the rebelliousness of the country
and they frighten the country with the deposition of
the government. I can't express my repugnance in
learning that the friars even imposed a system where
Filipinos are forced to work in building the churches
and their dwellings (called conventos), as by the
military-civil administrators in making highways,
bridges, etc. Note that the labor thus owed to the
government was frequently hired out to individuals,
and public works in many provinces were neglected,
-while official pockets were lined. Moreover, it was
one of the various institutions through which the burden of taxation in the Philippines
was put upon the poor, while Spaniards, mestizos, and those few pure-blood natives
who became "principales" in their towns were even exempted from service. It is also
claimed that the friars introduce village life; but the truth is under their guidance, the
communities centered more and more about the churches or stone edifices which were
built under their supervision. It is also alleged that the friars assume to be the supreme
representative of authority and belittle the dignity of lay officials; intrigue for the removal
of such officials, both small and great, who will not submit to dictations. Friarchy created
many privileges ang this is not for the country and its government but for the friar's
selfish visions. They are able to control the status quo of the country and the privilege to
vote is in the hands of the curate.

Marcelo H. del Pilar was born in Kupang, San Nicolas, Bulacan, on August 30 1850. His parents
were Julian H. del Pilar and Blasa Gatmaitan. As a boy, he studied first in the college owned by
Mrs. Herminigilda Flores, then at the San Jose College, form where he transferred to the
University of Santo Tomas. He finished law in 1880.
He grew up to be one of the greatest propagandists who sought Philippine freedom through his
pen. In 1882, he became editor of the newspaper Diariong Tagalog which strongly criticized the
way the Spaniards ran the government and treated the people. Using his pen name, Plaridel, he
wrote satires against the Spanish friars, notably "Dasalan at Tuksuhan" and "Kaiingat Kayo."

In Spain, he took the place of Graciano Lopez Jaena as Editor of the La Solidaridad, the
mouthpiece of the propagandists working for reforms for the Filipinos. But illness kept his from
holding the position for a long time. Soon tuberculosis weakened him. He died on July 4, 1896 in
Barcelona, Spain, away from his family.

Marcelo H Del Pilar, as a young man, witnessed the friars' abuses and felt the injustices done
to him and his family. When he was 19 years old, he was imprisoned for questioning the high
baptismal cost charged by a priest in San Miguel, Manila. His older brother, Father Toribio, was
implicated by the friars in the Cavite Mutiny and exiled to the Mariana Islands three years later.
His mother, Blasa, was heartbroken by the demise of her eldest son and died soon after.

The National Integrity System evaluates key ‘pillars’ in a country’s

governance system, both in terms of their internal corruption risks and
their contribution to fighting corruption in society at large.

When all the pillars in a National Integrity System are functioning well,
corruption remains in check. If some or all of the pillars wobble, these
weaknesses can allow corruption to thrive and damage a society.

A bond of togetherness between people irrespective of their caste, creed, religion

and gender is national integrity. This is a feeling of oneness and brotherhood in a
country where diversity is the main ethos.

The integrity implies that all people are equal regardless of their interests, religion, race,
sex, and class. National integration is a helpful way to protect the fundamental
rights and freedoms of people and to satisfy their right to judicial protection.