TOPIC 8: THE AGRARIAN DISPUTES

Summary

The lecture, delivered by Sean Savial Clipper, delves into the agrarian disputes in 19th-century Philippines, focusing on the Hacienda de Calamba conflict. It covers key learning objectives such as analyzing Rizal's life in this context, explaining the Hacienda de Calamba as an example of agrarian conflicts, and understanding the economic and societal shifts of the era. The lecture also provides essential vocabulary and historical background on the Spanish friar estates, highlighting the causes and consequences of land disputes, including the involvement of Rizal's family and their eventual exile.

Takeaways

• 📚 The lesson discusses agrarian disputes in the 19th century Philippines, particularly focusing on Hacienda de Calamba.
• 🎯 Learning objectives include examining Rizal's life in the Philippines, explaining the Hacienda de Calamba issue, and understanding the economic and social landscape of the time.
• 👑 'Conquistador' refers to Spanish conquerors, while 'hacienda' describes large estates used for agriculture and livestock production.
• 🏞️ The origin of friar estates traces back to Spanish land grants in the 16th and 17th centuries, later owned and expanded by religious orders.
• 🏰 Spanish hacienderos were transient and often left their lands undeveloped, leading religious orders to take over the estates.
• 💰 The friar estates expanded in regions like Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, and Laguna, covering 40% of the provinces by the 19th century.
• 🌾 Hacienda de Calamba, initially owned by Spanish laymen, was later controlled by Jesuits and then by Dominicans, where sugar production became a major source of wealth.
• 📜 The Rizal family, significant tenants in the Hacienda de Calamba, faced eviction during the agrarian conflicts as rents increased and sugar prices dropped.
• 💢 The Dominican Friars retaliated against tenant resistance by evicting non-paying tenants, including Rizal's family, which deeply affected him and his writing.
• 📝 Jose Rizal authored a petition listing grievances against the Hacienda owners, which contributed to the broader resistance against friar lands.

Q & A

What are the main learning objectives of this chapter on agrarian disputes in the Philippines?

The objectives are to examine Jose Rizal's life within the context of 19th-century developments, explain how the Hacienda de Calamba issue illustrates agrarian conflicts, and describe factors contributing to changes in Philippine society and economy.

What is a 'Conquistador' as mentioned in the vocabulary section?

A 'Conquistador' refers to a Spanish conqueror during the colonial period.

What was the role of religious orders in acquiring land in the Philippines?

Religious orders acquired lands through donations, purchases, or as payments for debts, and by the 19th century, they owned around 40% of the provinces of Bulacan, Tondo, Cavite, and Laguna.

What were the main commodities produced in haciendas during the Spanish colonial period?

Initially, haciendas produced livestock and subsistence crops like rice. In the 19th century, sugar became the main commodity, particularly in places like Hacienda de Calamba.

Who were the principales in the context of haciendas?

The principales were the local ruling elite class, some of whom contributed to the formation of friar estates through donations or sales.

What were some of the grievances of the tenants in Hacienda de Calamba?

Grievances included increasing rents, faulty irrigation systems, failure to issue receipts for rent payments, and the economic burden of falling sugar prices.

How did the conflict in Hacienda de Calamba affect Jose Rizal's family?

Rizal's family was deeply affected as they were major tenants in Hacienda de Calamba. The escalating dispute led to the exile of Rizal's parents and siblings due to their refusal to pay increased rents.

What actions did Jose Rizal take to address the agrarian conflict?

Jose Rizal authored a petition listing grievances against the friars managing Hacienda de Calamba and submitted it with tenants' reports to the colonial government in an attempt to resolve the conflict.

What was the significance of sugar production in Hacienda de Calamba?

Sugar was the primary source of income for both the tenants and the religious orders managing the hacienda, especially given the crop's demand in the global market during the 19th century.

How did the Friars retaliate when tenants resisted paying rent in Hacienda de Calamba?

The Friars began evicting tenants who refused to pay rent in 1891. Eventually, some tenants, including Rizal’s family, were exiled to remote areas of the Philippines as punishment.