2. Brief History of
Friar Estates in the
Philippines
• Land grants to Spanish
conquistadores
(the knights, soldiers and explorers of
the Spanish and the Portuguese
Empires)
͌ 120 Spaniards
Sitio de gana mayor = large tract of
land measuring 1, 742 hectares
Caballerias = smaller tracts
measuring 42.5 hectares
3. • Hacenderos failed to develop their lands for the following reasons:
1. Spanish population in the Philippines was transient;
2. Market for livestock products offered by the haciendas remained
relatively small;
3. Galleon Trade based in Manila offered bigger economic rewards and
attracted more Spaniards.
4. • Religious orders took over the task
• Lands were acquired by religious orders through various means.
• Sales and mortgage
• Principales contributed to the formation of friar estates through donation
and sales.
• Common belief of Filipinos : Religious orders had no titles to their lands
and that they had acquired these lands through usurpation or other
dubious means.
5. • Preoccupation in the estates varied during early centuries of Spanish
colonial rule.
• In 16-17th centuries, social structure in haciendas was primarily composed
of lay brother administrators at the top and cultivating tenants below.
6. • By the mid 18th century, expanding economy based on exporting
agricultural crops.
• Inquilinato system
- under this sytem, individual rented land for a fixed annual amount, known
as canon.
- Inquilino or the lessee, also expected to render personal services to
landlords.
- Failure to satisfy above requirements, means expulsion.
7. • Kasama or sharecropper (sub-lessee) – takes the task of cultivating the soil.
• Three-tiered system
• Haciendas as sites of contestation among Spanish religious hacienderos,
inquilinos and sharecroppers
• Revolt of 1896
8. Hacienda de Calamba Conflict
• Don Manuel Jauregui donated the lands to the Jesuits on the condition that he
would be allowed to live in the Jesuit monastery for the rest of his life.
• Jesuit were expelled from the Philippines
• Jesuit properties, including Hacienda de Calamba, were confiscated
• Government sold the property to Spanish layman, Don Clemente de Azansa
• Dominicans purchased the land
9. • Families from neighboring towns migrated to Calamba in search of
economic opportunities
• Lands leased to several families
