Thursday, September 30, 2010

"Economic Policies of Spanish Government"

-Polo Y Servicious
This is what we call forced labor where the polista are required to attend this. 16-60 years old were the age that is going to join this forced labor to the government for about 40 days each year. The polistas were building roads, bridges, churches, forests, and then the galleon ships. Being a polista was hard because they are working but the Spaniards don't pay them in the right price and sometimes they don't got a money from the Spaniards. Only the principalia and aristocracy or the upper class was exempted to these forced labor. The gobernadorcillo, teachers, and rich people are under in the principalia. But the aristocrats was required to pay the falla for the exchange for being exempted in forced labor.
-Bandala System
The Filipinos were required or forced to sell their agricultural harvests to the government in a cheap price and then the government will sell it back to them in a higher price that is what we called the bandala system.
-Tobacco Monopoly
The tobacco monopoly was established by Governor-General Jose Basco. It's aim was to increase government revenue because the annual subsidy received from Mexico was no longer sufficient to maintain the colony. The provinces that is under the tobacco monopoly was the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Cagayan Valley, Ilocos Sur and Marinduque.
The tobacco monopoly suceeded in its goal of increasing government revenue. the tobacco monopoly was resulted in food shortages because planting of rice and crops was neglected and only the tobacco was allowed to plant. the system was abolished by Governor General Primo de Rivera in 1882.
-The Galleon Trade
the galleon trade was also called Manila-Acapulco Trade. It was named after the trading ship that sailed from Acapulco to Manila, and vice-versa. The galleon trade left Manila with a rich cargo of Chinese silk and porcelain; Philippine cloth, hemp, cigars, and wood carvings, and other oriental goods brought to Manila from Asian countries such as chinaware, perfumes, and rugs. These goods were shipped to Acapulco. Someone can only join the galleon trade if they have a boleta cost 250 pesos. The boleta was like a ticket for the illustragos for joining the galleon trade.
-Royal Subsidy
The Spanish colonial government found itself short of funds to support the expenses of the government. The king of the Spain will give money to the governor-general of the Philippines to support the expenses but that is not true. The governor-general of the Philippines were just betraying the king of Spain for their own needs not for the needs of the Filipinos.
-Tributes
The tributes is the taxes that the people were about to pay to the government. If the people can't pay in cash they can pay in kind just like tobacco, rice, and other crops. 18 years old were required to have a cedula or poll tax so that they can pay their own taxes.
-Obras Pias and the Rise of Banks
The first financial groups in Manila were the Obras Pias. The obras pias served as banks which were run by the Spanish Missionaries. They loaned money to the banks and charged in the interests of 20% to 50%. The first bank in the Philippines was in Manila called the "Rodriguez Bank" but it is not existing today but the oldest bank that is existing today is the "Bank of the Philippine Islands".
-The Encomienda
The Encomienda was taken by the Spanish word encomendar means "to entrust". The encomienda was a privilege granted by the King of Spain to Spaniards who contributed to the colonization of the Philippines as a reward for services rendered. The holder of this privilege had the right to control a certain territory, including its residents. He was called encomendero. The encomendero protects the encomienda. The two kinds of the encomiendas was the private and royal. Private encomiendas were those that belonged to the King's official. The royal encomiendas were those that belonged to the King of Spain. This is abolished at the 19th century.
-Opening of the Philippines to World Trade and Foreign Investment
This new policy improved the Philippines economy. As a result of this opening to world trade, foreign investment poured into the country. American and European traders cae to open new businesses in the Philippines. There were already 15 foreign companies in Manila-seven British, three Americans, two French, two Swiss, and one German.
-Improvement in Agriculture
The participation of the Philippines in world trade resulted in increased agricultural production. Batangas became known for its coffee, Isabela for its tobacco, Laguna and Tayabas for their coconuts, Bicol for its abaca plantations, and Negros for its sugar haciendas.
-Improvement in the Standard of Living
The opening of the Philippines to world trade brought economic prosperity to the people. Trade between the Philippines and other countries resulted in an increased income, as well as a general improvement in their standard living. It bacame fashionable to have a house with a red tile roof, an azotea(balcony) and a patio(yard). others were foods, shoes, hats, jewelry, pianos, and nice clothes. For traveling they used tranvias(street cars pulled by horses).
-Transportation and Comunication
The construction of roads and bridges bacame necessary to facilitate the transportation of goods in the country. The first farola or lighthouse was built at the mouth of the Pasig River to guide ships at sea. The first railroad built was the Manila-Dagupan Railway. The first street car called tranvia.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

"The Way I Loved You"

I miss screaming and fighting
And kissing in the rain
And it's 2a.m. and I'm cursing your name
You're so in love that you act insane
And that's the way I loved you

Breaking down and coming undone
It's a roller coaster kinda rush
And I never knew I could feel that much
And that's the way I loved you

Saturday, September 4, 2010

"Soulmate"

A Soul mate is a perfect bond,
But what exactly may that be?
Well, I pondered it with you in mind.
And here's what it means to me.

When I pass through this world,
if for a time, you fear I'm gone.
Just know that we exist somewhere,
And we're always living on.

My love for you, it has no end,
and will never go away.
Our existence's are in Gods time,
and this is where they'll stay.

Gods children he made perfect,
and he gave us all the perfect gift.
the ability to have our soul mate,
who will for infinity uplift.

You are a gift from god to me,
of this I have no doubt.
I will climb the highest mountain top
And from its grandeur I shall shout.

That's its written in the cosmos
as its written here on earth.
That we were destine for each other
from the moment of our birth.

We are Alpha and Omega
Infinitely tiny in Gods name,
To feel joy and progress in his likeness,
As our love is one in same.

And "in" Gods love, our souls have mixed,
the ultimate inevitable played out,
perhaps taking all of time itself,
but that it has, no doubt.

And we are here right now "in" truth.
with wondrous experiences in stow
an infinite amount in fact, my dear.
and the entire time you'll glow.

In the matrix your my Trinity,
in 300...! your my Queen!
In Star Wars you're my Princess Leia,
And in others, as we deem.

I know for sure now, there's a place,
For "Our particle" of never ending sizes,
Where we exist in unison,
And share infinite sunrises.

by: Randy East