BLOGS ABOUT THE

TAXATION IN THREE
PERIODS OF
PHILIPPINE HISTORY
(Group -2)
 OVERVIEW
Pre-Colonial Period
Unveiling the Veil: Taxation in the
Enigmatic Precolonial Philippines

Spanish Colonial
Period Taxing Times: Unraveling Spanish Rule in
the Philippines

American Colonial
Period Changing Times: Taxes in the American
Colonial Days in the Philippines
Introduction
The precolonial era of the Philippines, shrouded
in mystery due to the scarcity of written
records, beckons us to unravel the intricacies of
its taxation systems. In the absence of
centralized governance, indigenous
communities crafted unique methods of
resource allocation and societal upkeep.
UNVEILING THE VEIL: TAXATION IN THE
ENIGMATIC PRECOLONIAL PHILIPPINES

Agricultural
Barter System
Tribute
A barter economy prevailed,
In the fertile landscapes of echoing a time when goods and
precolonial Philippines, agrarian services were exchanged
societies thrived. Leaders, directly. Taxation, in this
known as chieftains or datu, context, likely involved a share
collected tributes in the form of of the communal produce or
agricultural produce. Rice, products, fostering an intricate
cotton, and other goods web of interdependence.
symbolized the economic
heartbeat of these communities.
Community-Based
Systems

Taxation wasn’t a distant concept but a

community affair. Local leaders played a pivotal
role in collecting tributes or contributions,
emphasizing the communal nature of resource
management.
Social Structure
Influence

Social hierarchies left an indelible mark on

taxation. Wealthier families bore higher
responsibilities, reflecting a societal balance
where privilege came with duties towards the
greater good.
 SERVICE DESIGN CHARACTERISTIC/S THE
ESTABLISHMENTS IS STRONG AT AND WHAT
THEY LACK.
Religious and Ceremonial Lack of Centralized
Contributions Authority
The tapestry of precolonial The absence of a centralized
taxation included threads woven authority meant decentralized
into religious and ceremonial taxation systems. Communities
practices. Contributions to autonomously crafted their
communal events and rituals approaches, resulting in a rich
were expected, intertwining tapestry of diverse practices
economic and spiritual aspects across the archipelago.
of community life.
 SERVICE DESIGN CHARACTERISTIC/S THE
ESTABLISHMENTS IS STRONG AT AND WHAT
THEY LACK.
Dato-Datoan: Bridging
Exploring Indigenous
Communities:
Governance
Indigenous governance models,
such as the Bayan system, The dato-datoan system, a
emphasized communal land testament to diplomacy,
ownership and equitable involved neighboring
resource distribution. The datu, communities exchanging goods
akin to a steward, ensured and services. This not only
fairness in sharing resources, prevented conflicts but
defying the notion of private nurtured bonds of friendship
property. and cooperation.
Pangasinan: A Tapestry of
Labor Exchange

Pangasinan showcased a system where labor

exchange between communities flourished. In
times of need, communities supported each other
through shared manpower, fostering resilience
and mutual aid.
 Conclusion:

The precolonial era in the Philippines, though veiled in limited records, reveals a
nuanced tapestry of taxation. From agricultural tributes to communal
ceremonies, each thread in this intricate weave reflects the resilience and
adaptability of indigenous communities. Exploring these historical tax systems
not only deepens our understanding of the past but also prompts reflection on
the foundations of community, cooperation, and economic justice.
SPANISH COLONIAL
PERIOD

Taxing Times: Unraveling

Spanish Rule in the
Philippines
TAXING TIMES: UNRAVELING SPANISH RULE
IN THE PHILIPPINES

Forced Labor: Men at Work

Paying Up: The Tribute
without Pay
System’s Impact on People

Learn about “polos y servicios,”

Discover how the tribute system
where men had to work without
made life harder for Filipinos.
getting paid. Explore how this
They had to give crops and
strained the lives of indigenous
animals as a way to show they
Filipinos, contributing to the
submitted to the Spanish rule.
Spanish exploitation of the
See how this affected families
islands.
and villages.
[Link] Cards and Taxes: The
Story of Cedula Personal

Find out about the “cedula personal” – an ID card

tied to paying taxes. See how this became a
symbol of Spanish power and affected the
relationship between the rulers and the local
people.
Controlling Trade: The Spanish
Monopoly on Tobacco

Explore how the Spanish controlled trade,

especially tobacco. See how they tightly managed
its sale and imposed taxes, taking resources away
from the islands to benefit the Spanish Crown.
TAXING TIMES: UNRAVELING SPANISH RULE
IN THE PHILIPPINES

Economic Struggles: Trade

Divine Taxes: How the
Limits and Development
Church Got Involved
Challenges
Uncover how the Spanish
Understand how the Catholic
limited trade, affecting the
Church played a role in taxes.
Philippines’ economic growth.
Learn about tithes and religious
Analyze how these rules shaped
taxes that supported the
life and impacted the islands’
church’s activities. Dive into
journey through history.
how religion and colonial power
were woven together.
AMERICAN COLONIAL
PERIOD

Changing Times: Taxes in

the American Colonial
Days in the Philippines
TAXING TIMES: UNRAVELING SPANISH RULE
IN THE PHILIPPINES

Getting Modern: New Ways Land Tax: Paying for Property

to Collect Money

Dive into the idea of land tax – a

When the Americans took over,
significant change during the
they brought in a more modern
American era. Understand how
way of collecting taxes. Explore
they figured out how much tax
how this shift from the old
you owed based on your land
tribute system aimed to make
and how this replaced the not-
things more organized when it
so-fair practices from the time
came to getting money for the
of the Spanish.
government
TAXING TIMES: UNRAVELING SPANISH RULE
IN THE PHILIPPINES

Business and Trade Taxes:

Income Tax: Everybody Chips
Making Money Move
In

Check out how businesses and

Learn about income tax,
trade were taxed. Understand
something that started in 1903.
the custom duties on things
See how everyone, from regular
coming in and going out, and
folks to big businesses, had to
how these taxes played a big
give a bit of their earnings to
role in how the whole economy
help the country. This was a
worked during this changing
step toward making the
period.
economy more modern.
TAXING TIMES: UNRAVELING SPANISH RULE
IN THE PHILIPPINES

Tax Laws in 1904: Making Rules

Excise Taxes: Pushing People
Official
to Change Habits

Learn about the tax laws from

Explore excise taxes – taxes on
1904. Find out how these laws
specific goods like tobacco and
made everything official and set
alcohol. See how these taxes
the rules for how taxes were
tried to make people use these
collected during the American
things less while also bringing
colonial era.
in money for the government.
TAXING TIMES: UNRAVELING SPANISH RULE
IN THE PHILIPPINES

Going Capitalist: What the Making Finances Stable:

Americans Wanted Government Money Management

See how the Americans made

Understand how the Americans
changes in how the government
wanted the Philippines to be
handled money. Explore the
more like a capitalist economy.
reforms that tried to make sure
See how the tax policies
the money was collected and
encouraged businesses and
spent in a way that kept things
activities that were in line with
stable.
what the Americans thought
would help the country grow.
 Conclusion:

As we wrap up this journey, think about how taxes during the American colonial
era were a big part of making the Philippines what it is today. This blog is just a
starting point, and there’s more to discover about this time in history.
 Note

This blog simplifies historical details for easy understanding.

To truly grasp this era, further research is encouraged.
MEMBERS

GUINDALI
BASIGA
BELANDRES
BESLISARIO
CERIGO
COMARGO
DASARGO
GRAJO
GUEVARRA
GUINDALI
PEDREGOSO
PENAFIEL
SALENDAB