Draft:Friar Lands

Friar lands are lands acquired by the Philippine government from Spanish religious orders during the American colonial period. These lands are not public lands but private and patrimonial lands of the government.

History
The Friar Lands Question was a problem confronting the U.S. government after the takeover of the Philippines from Spain in 1898, concerning the disposition of large landed estates owned by Spanish monastic orders on the islands. For more than 300 years, the Roman Catholic Church had been intimately involved with Spanish colonial government in the Philippines. During that time, three religious orders—Dominicans, Augustinians, and Recollects—had acquired about one-tenth of all the improved land in the islands.

Purpose and Administration
In addition to their religious authority, Spanish friars held administrative power and owned extensive land holdings, including haciendas and encomiendas. These vast land estates allowed the friars to accumulate wealth and exert control over the local population, further reinforcing their influence and dominance in Philippine society.

List of Friar Lands
While a comprehensive list of all Friar Lands is not readily available, some known Friar Lands include San Francisco de Malabon in General Trias, Cavite, and Malinta in Bulacan.

Impact and Controversies
The economic effect of these holdings was detrimental due to the prohibitive rents demanded for them. The discontent of the Filipino peasants with this situation had been a contributing factor in the Philippine Revolution of 1896–98.

Friar Land Act
The Friar Land Act (Act No. 1120) was enacted on April 26, 1904. It provided for the administration and temporary leasing and sale of certain haciendas and parcels of land, commonly known as Friar Lands. The Act empowered the Government of the Philippine Islands to lease the said lands after their acquisition for a period not exceeding three years, and to sell the same on such terms and conditions as it may prescribe.