Agrarian Reform and its Role in Philippine Development

Land was not a problem 1916

The size of land depends on the ability of one to till or manage - Farmers were embroiled again in another land-
The size of land depends how many pairs there were in a grabbing case with Augustitnians (lost case)
family Mid-1745
The more children you have, the wealthier you will become - Pueblo farmers of Lian and Nasugbu, Batangas
Miguel Lopez de Legaspi (1565) ended in revolt against Jesuits
- Established the colonial government of Spain Mid-1700
The Philippines was the king of Spain's royal hacienda and - Spain's emergence of Great Britain as an economic
lands belonged to him power
1589 Gov. Gen. Jose Basco y Vargas
- Establishment of pueblo - Plan of planting of exportable crops that be sold in the
Colonization world market
- Forced out of their homes and embracing the Gov. Gen. Felix Berenguer de Marquina
Christian religion - Planting of tobacco and pepper
Landowners become landless Farmers 2 responsibilities
Pueblo 1. Plant to produce the quota
- New piece of land 2. Plant to feed themselves and pay tributes
Natives have to clear the land about 4-5 hectares per family Leakage ended up in smuggling
Pueblo system 1872
- Not only to feed but produce a surplus for the colonial - Changes in Spain reverberated in colonies
government 1784
Encomendero – tribute collector - Aftermath of the French occupation of Spain
Encomienda 1868
- King’s reserved land and lands under the title of the - Spanish civil war that deposed Queen Isabella II
king (realengas) Spain opted government ruled by parliament
Native farmers were relegated to being agricultural laborers Expropriation – pagkuha ng government para sa benefit
Pueblo dwelling Spanish Cortes as their parliament in Cadiz
- Natives were subjected to institutional force labor Cadiz – stood against the French and became a model of
Force labor or Polo y Servicio government
Gobernadorcillos and cabezas de barangay became agent- The Prime Minister was replaced every 3 months
collectors Crown encomienda or realengas
Worker’s contract - Kings possession
- 40 days of work once a year without a salary Chinese or Spanish mestizo had the money to purchase lands
- Absence penalize the males 16-60 years old with 1.5 1844
reales per day - Prohibition against non-Spanish Europeans to relaxed
- Farmers became state farmers for the king for free 1863
Friar hacienda or ecclesiastical encomienda - Foreigners to settle in islands
- Land tenure system Paul dela Gironeire
- The king granted to missionary or friar who - 1823, creating a large plantation of sugar cane
participated in Christianizing the natives - Purchased land in Jalajala, Laguna converted into a
Inquilinos sugarcane plantation
- Renter families or umuupa Yves Leopold Gaston
Constitutional Government - Plantation in Negros
- One document or framework na dapat sundin ng tao Foreigners had to renew the 2-year residence permit
- Gumagawa ng policy 1863 decree permitted to live and do business
1600, San Mateo Private Haciendas
- Rizal farmers ended in a land-grabbing dispute with - Spanish entrepreneurs joined in establishing large
Jesuits which extended the land in Mariquina and plantations
Payatas (lost case) - Labor intensive and needed a huge amount of
workers
 - Pueblo dwellers become workers
1800, agrarian had change
System of Sanglang bili
- Land they tilled became payment for unpaid loans
with 25% interest a month
Kasama system
- Americans came in 1898
- Americans found themselves in an under-developed
economy with growing tension
Sharecroppers – tenant farmers (aparceros)
1902, Philippines Organic act
- Laws to administer the affairs in the colony
- Constitution of US colonial government in Island
Pres. Theodore Roosevelt sent Howard Taft to the Vatican to
purchase 410,000 acres of land for the price of $7,239,784.66
Nov. 6, 1902, the 2nd Philippine Commission enacted Act 496
- Adjudication and registration of titles to lands in
Philippine islands
Registering land under Torrens title and resolving land
disputes through the Court of Land Registration
Tenant farmers engaged in sharecropping without contract
1933, Philippine Rice Share Tenancy Act (Commonwealth Act
4054)
- Relation of tenant-farmers and landowners
- 50-50 division
1935
- Benigno Ramos create Sakdal party
Sakdal Party
- Expression of disgust against Americans
May 2-3, Sakdalista Rebellion – unrest resulted in a full-blown
insurrection
1936, the Philippine Commonwealth
- passed Commonwealth Act 178
- amending the Rice Share Tenancy Act of 1933
Pres. Quezon does a balancing act among restive tenant
farmers and landlord-politicians.
1939, Philippine Commonwealth
- enacted Commonwealth act 4054 that created
National Land Settlement Adminitration (NLSA) in
Mindanao
In Central Luzon the conflict had escalated into bloody
insurgency war between government and hukbalahap
Former Guerilla group fought the Japanese during WWII which
turned championed in the tenant-farmers ownership of land
Seats of rebellion were Pampanga, Tarlac, and Nueva Ecija
Tarlac, Tarlac
- Bloodiest clash in Central
- More than 100 armed peasant of hukbalahap and 3
military police were killed
- Huks numbered 1000
Conception
- Stronghold of Huk organization and had a hukbalahap
mayor
Santa Cruz is 3 km from the town proper
RA 34
- Contract-govern relations between tenant-framers
and landowners
- 75-25 in favor of tenants
Land Settlement Development Corporation (LASEDECO)
- Term of Pres. Quirino signed on Oct. 23, 1950
- Created under Executive Order 355
- Unified by the Rice and Corn Production
Administration and the Machinery and Equipment
- Abolished by the NARRA
National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration
(NARRA)
- Under Pres. Magsaysay
- Under RA 1160 signed on June 18, 1954
- Reclamation of public lands in Mindanao (giving land
to landless)
- Under RA 1400 which created the Land Tenure
Administration
1954, RA 1199 a.k.a Agricultural Tenacy Act
- Under Pres. Magsaysay
- Agricultura relation in the form of share tenacy and
leasehold
Share tenancy take a turn by Pres. Macapagal
1963, Philippine Congress
- RA 3844 known as Agricultural Land Reform Code
1971
- Philippine Congress amended RA 3844 with RA 6369
- Ra 6369 abolished the Land Authority and elevated
land reform concerns into Department of Agrarian
Reform
- Marcos imposed presidential Decree 27 during Martial
Law (1972)
- Pres. Aquino made Agrarian Reform the counterpiece
of her administration
- She issued Presidential Procalamation 131 and EO
229 on July 22, 1987, providing for all land
June 10, 1988, Philippine Congress passed RA 6657 known as
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program of 1989 (CARP)
CARP lasted for 10 years
2008, Philippine Confress passed RA 9700 or Comprehensive
Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPER)
extended and expired in 2014
The Rizal Retraction
Dr. Jose Rizal
- Leader of reformist movement in Spain
- Leader of the Philippine Revolution
 - Dec. 30, 1896 his death by the firing squad at the
Luneta
1935
- The retraction document with Rizal signature was
found
Debate between historians and Rizal scholars
Primary Sources
1. 2 are the official accounts as witnessed by Jesuits
2. 2 are Rizal scholars who doubted the retraction story
Fr. Vicente Balaguer’s
- Jesuit Priest who visited Rizal in Fort Santiago
- Claimed that he persuade Rizal to returned to
Catholic fold
- 1917, he solominized the marriage between
Josephine Bracken and Rizal before execution
Account
- Dec. 29 at 10 a.m., Fr. Balaguer and F. Vilaclara went
to Fort Santiago
- Archibishop gave formula of retraction composed by
Fr. Pio Pi
- He went to Fr. Viza at Ateneo to report the condition
of Rizal
- Dec 29 finished the writing of retraction
- Retraction was signed by Rizal with Senor Fresno
(chief of the Picket) and Senor Moure (adjudabt of the
Plaza)
- Before execution of Rizal he went to the Ateneo and
delivered the document to FR. Pio Pi the one who
brought it to Archbishop Nozaleda
Father Pio Pi
- Jesuit superior in the Philippines
- 1917, issued his involvement in the retraction of Rizal
- He secures the retraction document from the
Archbishop of Manila Bernardino Nozaleda
Fr. Pi's Statement
- Dec 28, he received the commission that Archbishop
Nozaleda entrusted
- He accepted it because it was from the venerable
prelate and to save the soul of their dearest pupil
Rizal
- He was informed of all happenings about Rizal
- Rizal willingly surrendered after persuasion of Fr.
Balaguer
Rafael Palma’s Critical Analysis
- Lawyer, writer, educator, and politician
- Author of Biografia de Rizal (The Life of the National
Hero) won a literary contest in 1938 sponsored by the
Commonwealth Government printed in 1949
The Analysis
- 1897 in Rizal y su Obra there is intervention in the
retraction of Rizal
- The only testimonial was considered impartial was of
Taviel de Andrade, defense counsel of Rizal and his
testimony was mere hearsay
- Brutus said “You are a friend, but truth is a greater
friend”
- Considering the coetaneous acts performed by
ecclesiastical authorities or government
- Rizal was not reconciled with the Catholic Church
- The document of retraction was kept secret and no
one saw the original
- 1. 30 years has transpired when the document was
found
- 2. Rizal family denied the original document of
retraction and the marriage of Rizal and Josephine
Bracken
- 3. Rizal’s burial was kept secret
- 4. No masses were said to Rizal soul or funeral
- 5. Not buried in the Catholic cemetery of Paco but in
the underground
- 6. Rizal body is not made on the page with those
buried on Dec. 30, 1896
- 7. No moral motive for conversation
- Rizal’s conversion was a pious fraud
Austin Coate
- Began his interest in Rizal when he was assistant
colonial secretary and Magistrate in Hong Kong in
1950
- First study was the latter’s year-long stay in Hong
Kong (1891-1892)
- Awareness of Rizal led to the writing and publication
of his book Rizal: Philippine Nationalist and Martyr
(oxford University Press, 1956) – the first biography
written by European since Vida y Escritos del Dr.
Jose Rizal by Wenceslao Retana in 1907
- The second edition was published in the Philippines
by Soliradidad Publishing House in 1992
The Analysis
- Most newspapers the text of a letter of retraction was
printed in full
- Rizal family and his circle of personal friends doubt it
and an ecclesiastical fraud
- No evidence to iplicate Nozaleda
- No signed letter of retraction
- After execution of Rizal, Vilaclara and March faced
with Balaguer’s claim but it was already late to rectify
- No poem had been written
- Fr. Balaguer was not within Fort Santiago
Pio Valenzuela’ Controversial
“Cry of Pugad Lawin” (August 23, 1896)
- No other eyewitnesses other than Dr. Pio Valenzuela
 - “cry of Balintawak” as first staging point of Philippine - After the outbreak she live with her parents in
Revolution Caloocan, while Bonifacio and his men gathered in
- First version, still fresh in his memory and abandoned hills of Balintawak
revolutionary after it outbreak and fled to Binan, - Warned by Spanish authorities she fled to Manila and
Laguna for safety later joined her husband
- Taking advantage of Gov. Gen. Ramon Blanco’s - The first cry occurred near Caloocan on August 25,
proclamation of amnesty to revolutionists 1896
- Returned to Manila on Sept. 3, 1896 and surrended to August 25
Blanco - First cry for freedom
- Imprisoned in Fort Santiago and told Francisco Olive Learned that Spanish was coming to arrest her
that the “Cry” was staged at Balintawak on She fled and secretly going through the ricefields of La Loma
Wednesday =, August 26, 1896 intention of returning to Manila
- Wrote Memoirs of the Revolution, claims that the cry The Guardia Civil’s Report on the “Cry of Balintawak” (August
was held at Pugad Lawin on August 23, 1896 25, 1896)
August 19, 1896 Captain Olegario Diaz
- first five arriving in Balintawak - Spanish commander of Guardia Civil Veterana of
August 20 Manila
- Valenzuela’s arrival in Balintawak - Invistaged the discovery of Katipunan
August 22, 1896 - The first cry occurred at Balintawa on August 25,
- 500 members of Katipunan met on the house and 1896
yard of Apolonio Samson at Kangkong August 23
August 23, 1896 - Conspiracy was discovered
- At Pugad Lawin, in the house, store-house and yard - Bonifacio moved to Barrio of Balintanac (Balintawak)
of Juan Ramos, son of Melchora Aquino, where 1,000 followed by 200 men from Caloocan
members of katipunero met and carried out August 24
discussion and debate - They were attacked by Guardia Civil in the outskirt
August 29, 1896 August 25
- Should be started the revolution or not - Supreme council called for a meeting
Teodoro Plata - More than 5,000 members attended
- Protested and fought against war August 30
After meeting they tore their cedula - Manila, Cavite, Nueva Ecija and other provinces for
The “Cry of Bahay-Toro” (August 24, 1896) the Katipuneros to strike
By Santiago Alvarez The “Cry of Balintawak” (August 26, 1896)
- Prominent Katipunan warlord of Cavite By Guillermo MAsangkay
- Son of Mariano Alvarez, aand relative of Gregoria de Katipunan General
Jesus - Eyewitness
- Not an eyewitness - Bonifacio’s childhood friend
August 23, 1896 August 26
- 500 katipuneros met and gathered at Sampalukan, - Meeting was held in Balintawak at the House of
barrio of Bahay Toro Apolonio Samson
August 24 - Discuss about the uprising
- 1,000 katipuneros and decided to hold a meeting at - Teodoro Plata opposed to starting revolution too
10 a.m early
- 12 a.m the meeting was adjourned Bonifacio talked to the people about starting a revolution early
Gregoria de Jesus’ Version of the First Cry People pulled their cedulas and tore them into pieces
- Participant in the Philippine revolution of 1896 Bonifacio
- Lakambini of Katipunan - Mere bodeguero (warehouseman) earning 25 a
- Custodian of the secret documents, seal and some month
weapons - Wore open coat with black necktie and black hat
- Always carried an umbrella
 - August 26 took of his coat and was wearing only shirt
with collar and tie
- His hobby was weaving bamboo hats
Constitution
- Principles or established precedents
- Limitations of the power of government and
responsibilities
- Highest law of land
Malolos Constitution or 1899 Constitution (unicameral)
- Drafted after the Congress of Aguinaldo
Revolutionary Government on September 15, 1898 at
Barasoain Church in Malolos Bulacan
- 85 deputies comprised the Committee
- 3 initial drafts
1. True Decalogue and Constitutional Program of
Apolinario Mabini
2. Pedro Paterno version
3. Felipe Calderon version (prevailed)
- Arguments sparation of Church and State and
contradicting it
- Promulgated on January 21, 1898 after adopted by
congress
- Significant Features
1. Independent Republic of the Philippines (3
independent powers), president with a term of 4
years (executive) and not eligible for re-election,
unicameral legislative and judicial
2. The Bill of Rights
3. The Separation of Church and State
- Structure of constitution was borrowed from Costa
Rica, Chile, and Spain
The Acts of US Congress (December 10, 1898 – March 24,
1934)
- Philippines was a territory of US because of Treaty of
Paris
Treaty of Paris – transferred of sovereignty from Spain to
US
- Philippine Organic Act of 1934, Philippine Autonomy
Act of 1916 and Tydings-McDuffie passed the US
congress and considered as Philippine Constitution
Philippine Organic Act of 1902 a.k.a. “Philippine Bill of 1902”
- First organic law
- Creation of Philippine assembly, bicameral legislature
composed of Philippine Commission (upper house)
and Philippine Assembly (lower house)
- Bill of rights of Filipinos and provided two-voting
Filipino resident Commissioner of the Philippines
Philippine Autonomy Act of 1916 “Jones Law”
- Provided for Philippine Bill of 1902
- Removed Philippine Commission and replaced with
Senate
- Expression of US to grant Philippines its
Independence as soon as a stable Philippine
government would established
The 1935 Philippine Constitution (bicameral)
- Written in 1934, meeting the US expectation of
political maturity
- among Philippine leaders
- Promulgated by 1934 Constitutional Convention and
in operation during commonwealth era (1935-1946)
until 3rd Republic
- 3rd Republic started with granting of Philippine
Independence from US domination with Roxas,
(1946-1948), Quirino (1948-1953), Magsaysay (1953-
1957), Garcia (1957-1961) and Macapagal (1961-
1965)
- During the commonwealth peiod Presidential system
was the form of government
- Presidential system – president serving 6 years term
without reelection and unicameral National Assembly
- 1940, president term become 4 years term with
maximum of two consecutive terms in office and
creation of bicameral congress (Senate and House of
Representatives, Independent Electoral Commission)
- Unitary Presidential Constitutional is the form of
government in 3rd Republic
- 1947, provision of Parity Rights (equal rights over
Philippine natural resources) between American and
Filipinos
The 1943 Constitution (2nd Philippine Republic, Oct. 14, 1943 –
August 17, 1945)
- Promulgated by the Preparatory committee for
Philippine Independence (PCPI) during Japanese
occupation
- 2nd republic was a single-party authoritarian republic
with Jose P. Laurel as Pres. by National Assembly
and Benigno Simeon Aquino Sr. as speaker
1973 Constitution (4th Philippine Republic, Jan. 17, 1973 – Feb.
22, 1986) (Marcos)
- Promulgated by the 1973 Constitutional Convention,
after Marcos declared Martial Law.
- Unicameral legislature, whose members were elected
for a six-year term of office.
- The President was elected from among the members
of the national assembly for a sixyear term and
eligible for reelections.
- President will serve as purely ceremonial head of
state and executive power by Prime Minister who was
elected.
 - The PM was the head of government and
Commander -in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
- Amended on four occasions:
- 1. 1976, the Interim National Assembly was replaced
by the Interim Batasang Pambansa, the President
would also become the PM and would exercise
legislative powers until the lifting of martial law, the
President can legislate on his own on an “emergency”
basis;
- 2. 1980 amendment, the retirement age was
extended to 70 years;
- 3. 1981 amendments, the false parliamentary system
was modified into a French-style semi-presidential
system were executive power was restored to the
President, direct election of the president was
restored, and executive committee composed of the
PM and not more than 14 members was created to
assist the President in and the PM was a head of the
Cabinet.
- 4. 1984 amendment abolished the Executive
Committee and restored the position of Vice-
President
The 1986 Freedom Constitution (Cory Aquino)
- President Corazon Aquino issued Proclamation No. 3
to serve as a provisional constitution.
- proclamation contained provision adopted from the
1973 constitution
The 1987 Philippine Constitution (February 8, 1987 to date)
- Drafted by a Constitutional assembly that was
mandated in Proclamation No. 3.
- The commission composed fifty members of the
House of Representatives, former justices of the
Supreme Court, a Roman Catholic bishop, and
political activists against the Marcos regime. Cecilia
Munoz Palma, a former Associate Chief Justice of the
SC was elected by the commission as its president.
- A democratic republican state (Sec 1, Article 2)
- Executive (President and Vice-President, elected by
the Filipino people with six-year term)
- Senator (elected by the Filipino people, with six-year
term and eligible for reelection)
- House of Representative (elected by district, 3 years
term of office with two reelection