Lesson 2

• Mercantilism


  A theory in political economy that wealth consists not in labor and its products, but in quantity of silver and gold in a country, hence, encourage exportation of goods & importation of gold encouraged by state
• Encomienda System


  1. Integrate subjugated barangay into larger administrative and economic units

  2. Encomiendas - wide area of land awarded as royal grants to the colonial officials and Catholic religious orders in exchange for their "meritorious services" in conquest of the native people

  3. Phased out in 17th century (~100 years) - organization of regular provinces and establishment of large-scale private land ownership

  4. Encomenderos - collected tributes/taxes, enforced forced labor, organized military conscription, spread Catholic faith
• Colonial and Feudal Society

  • Centralized bureaucracy to consolidate empire with manila as central government; traditional ruling class coopted into colonial bureaucracy
  • Galleon trade (16th to 19th Century) - trade certain goods from China and neighboring countries to Mexico
  • Feudal state (18th Century) - large scale cultivation of export crops, landowners/serfs VS farmers/peasants/worker/tenants/toiling masses
• Philippine Revolution of 1896

  1. Leading to independence from Spain

  2. Democratic system of government and governance stemming out from liberal democratic ideas, increase trade and commerce between the Philippine Islands (PI) and Europe in 18th Century, Propaganda Movement - illustrados (educated elite) fought for political reforms
• Malolos Republic


  • Constitutional Government
  • Constitution - Malolos
  • Assembly - parliamentary, unicameral (cross between French & Latin America)
  • President - popularly elected, head of cabinet (7 secretaries)/parliament, comprised council together with 7 secretaries, powerful - practiced as Presidential Form with strong executive, government was on the run due to war with Americans
• Philippine-American War


  1. Spain sold PI to US for US$20 million at end of Spanish-American War, as per Treaty of Paris

  2. Filipinos lost

  3. PI as colony - more humane than Spaniards: education, road, sanitary, health
• Government Set-up


  1. Military Government (1898) - military governor: Wesley Merritt, Elwell Otis, Arthur MacArthur, control of PI: 1901

  2. Civil Government (1902) - Cooper Act of 1902 - civil gov't set-up, local elections held (through General Henry W. Lawton), civil courts + Supreme Court (Cayetano Arellano), William Howard Taft as 1st US Civil Governor (appointed by US Pres)

  3. Evolution of government - Philippine Commission, Philippine Assembly (1907), Philippine Legislature (1916), Tydings McDuffie Law (1934), Commonwealth Government (1935)
• Japanese Occupation


  • 1941-1945: derail promised independence
  • Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere
  • Japanese Imperialism
  • Puppet Government (1943) - Jose P. Laurel as President, With Constitution - granting independence that turned out to be a sham, With Congress - called National Assembly: Speaker Benigno Aquino, With Judiciary - emasculated because of strong executive
• World War II - Allies Won; US Came Back; PI Granted Independence
• Free in writing but not in practice


  Almost same effect but without much responsibility (US Bases, ACSA/EDCA)
• Democratic Capitalist Government


  • Executive, Legislative, Judiciary
  • Freedom
  • Bill of Rights
  • 1935 Constitution - Presidential, Bicameral, 2 party system
• Philippine Independence


  1. July 4, 1946

  2. War Reparations - with strings attached: Parity Amendment - Americans can own land/properties, Bell Trade Act - free trade
• Showcase of Democracy in Asia

  • Military Treaties - Military Bases Agreement (MBA/1947), Military Assistance Agreement (MAA/1947), Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT/1951)
  • Big Comprador Class - Exploiting Class (Ruling Class/Elite + Bourgeoisie) and Exploited Class (Ruled Class/Masses)
  • Education System - Colonial Mentality, Taste - food, fashion, etc.
• Martial Law Period


  1. First Quarter Storm - youth/students + working class, peasantry, teachers, other professionals and businessmen against President Marcos

  2. US-Marcos Collusion

  3. Marcos Dictatorship - Executive: President and Prime Minister, Legislative: Padlocked/Rubberstamp, Judiciary: Emasculated, 1971 Constitutional Convention - finished by Marcos: 1973 Constitution

  4. Repression and Oppression, Human Rights Violations - suspension of Writ of Habeas Corpus
• Post-Martial Law Era


  • Reverted back to Pre-Martial Law Period - Democratic/Capitalist, ELJ, freedom/liberty, bill of rights, 1987 Constitution with Presidential Form, Bicameral, Multi-Party, Unitary System
  • The more things change, the more things stay the same - Pro-US, controlled by US