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Frailocracy

The friars, or members of religious orders, came to the Philippines in the 16th century to spread Catholicism but eventually came to rule the country through a system called "frailocracy" by the late 19th century. As the friars' power and land holdings grew, they frequently exploited and abused the Filipino people by forcibly seizing land and engaging in corrupt business practices. This oppression, particularly regarding issues of land ownership and the secularization of the clergy, contributed to numerous failed uprisings against the friars and ultimately triggered the Philippine Revolution against Spanish colonial rule. While frailocracy ended during the American occupation, the clergy still maintains influence in Philippine education, culture and politics today.

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Princess Monica Costelo
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7K views1 page

Frailocracy

The friars, or members of religious orders, came to the Philippines in the 16th century to spread Catholicism but eventually came to rule the country through a system called "frailocracy" by the late 19th century. As the friars' power and land holdings grew, they frequently exploited and abused the Filipino people by forcibly seizing land and engaging in corrupt business practices. This oppression, particularly regarding issues of land ownership and the secularization of the clergy, contributed to numerous failed uprisings against the friars and ultimately triggered the Philippine Revolution against Spanish colonial rule. While frailocracy ended during the American occupation, the clergy still maintains influence in Philippine education, culture and politics today.

Uploaded by

Princess Monica Costelo
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Frailocracy

What is Frailocracy?
A notorious invisible government existed in Spanish Philippines. This government was called
"frailocracy" meaning rule of the friars. In the last decades of the 19th century Spanish were so powerful
that they practically ruled the Philippines.

What is Friars?
A member of any of certain religious orders of men. The Role of the Friars. Aside from spreading
the word of God, the missionaries help in pacifying the country. They created more than 300 towns; built
churches, roads and bridges, and other infrastructures. They also established schools, colleges and
universities; hospitals, orphanages, and asylums across the country. They become the ‘carriers’ of the
Western culture.

How frailocracy affect Filipinos?


Filipinos' Response to the Friar Dominance
As the power of the friars grew in the Philippines, numerous instances of abuse against the Filipino
populace emerged. The issue of friar-owned lands played a significant role in triggering the Philippine
Revolution. A substantial portion of the land, particularly in the Tagalog region, was controlled by the
friars. This led to frequent incidents of mortgage foreclosures and blatant land seizures. The friars'
misconduct towards their constituents was conspicuously evident. Furthermore, the matter of
secularizing the parishes became contentious, as the friars resisted relinquishing their positions to
Filipino secular clergy. These instances of abuse perpetrated by the friars were vividly depicted in works
such as Rizal's "Noli Me Tangere" and "El Filibusterismo," Del Pilar's "La Soberania Monacal en Filipinas,"
and Lopez-Jaena's "Fray Botod." Although the first open anti-friar demonstration, led by several
gobernadorcillos in 1888, did not succeed, it marked a significant protest against the intolerable church
abuses. Many failed Filipino uprisings during the 18th and 19th centuries also stemmed from these friar
injustices.
The era of friar dominance came to an end during the early days of the Philippine Republic and the
American Occupation. Today, we still witness the influence of the clergy in our educational system and
culture. Although diminished, they continue to engage in the political affairs of the country, as evidenced
by their participation in the two EDSA People Power revolutions.

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