Polo y servicio was theforced labor system without compensation[1] imposed upon the local population in thePhilippines during theSpanish colonial period.[2] In concept, it was similar toRepartimiento, a forced labor system used in theSpanish America.[3]
The wordpolo refers to community work, and the laborer was calledpolista.[4] The community activities thatpolistas have to perform may include cutting trees for timber, and buildingGalleon trade ships,[5] churches, government buildings, roads, and bridges.[6]
Polo y servicio was mandatory for males from 16 to 60 years old, for a 40-day period per year.[4] The laborers could be sent to any community project, and anyone who refused was fined and imprisoned.[7]
Polo y servicio was imposed on the local indigenous male population in the Philippines since the late sixteenth century.[7]
In 1863, astrong earthquake struck Manila, and killed more than a thousand people and destroyed much of the city.[8] To support with the city reconstruction, a decree was promulgated to expand thepolo y servicio, calledprestación personal at that time, to Spaniards and other foreigners in the Philippines.[7]
In 1867, the Spanish colonial government mandated male Chinese residing in the Philippines between 18 and 60 years old, to render forced labor.[7] Similar to the local population, the Chinese laborers were tasked with working on churches, government buildings, and roads.[9] Chinese who had the money preferred paying thefalla of 3pesos to be exempted from forced labor.[7]
Polo y servicio was employed for the construction of several churches and government projects in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period, such as:
For colonial Spain, the forced labor system was necessary to establish a reliable source of labor in the Philippines.[7] It was also a source for government revenue as males who evadedpolo y servicio had to pay thefalla, amounting to 1½reales per day.[14]
However, the system crippled the ability of the local male population to feed themselves and their families, which caused hunger.[4] In particular, the system affected the agricultural sector because of the lack of male farmers, which resulted in low harvests.[15]
Moreover, it led to injury and death of many men working in hazardous projects.[4]
Polo y servicio also resulted in numerous rebellions and movements against colonial Spain, such as:[15]
InNorthern Samar,Agustin Sumuroy held a rebellion against polo y servicio on 1649.[citation needed] He rebelled against the sending of his fellowmen to the shipyards inCavite, which is quite far from his hometown in Northern Samar.[16] A rebel government was successfully established in the mountains, however he was captured and executed in 1650.[17]
InPampanga,Francisco Maniago rebelled in 1660 due to forced labor.[18] His fellowmen were made to work for eight months as timber cutters and were not paid. Maniago mutinied and set their campsite on fire.[19] As a result, he and Governor-GeneralSabiniano Manrique de Lara met to negotiate conditions to end the rebellion.[20]
InBohol,Francisco Dagohoy, from 1744 to 1829, led the longest revolution against Spain in the Philippine history.[21]Polo y servicio is one of the reasons for Dagohoy's revolution.[22]
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Governor-GeneralCarlos María de la Torre granted privileges to arsenal laborers inFort San Felipe inCavite, like exemption from paying tributes and rendering forced labor.[23] However,Rafael Izquierdo withdrew these privileges when he succeeded de la Torre.[24] This triggered theCavite Mutiny in 1872.[25]
The mutiny was immediately suppressed, but three Filipino priests,Mariano Gómez,José Burgos, andJacinto Zamora—collectively known asGomburza—were implicated as the masterminds behind the mutiny and executed bygarrote that same year.[26]
ThePropaganda Movement was consisted of several prominent Filipinos, such asJosé Rizal,Graciano Lopez Jaena,Mariano Ponce, andMarcelo del Pilar.[27][28] Established in 1880–1895, the propagandists started the formation of a nationalist ideology in the Philippines.[29] Among the aims of the movement was to abolishpolo y servicio.[30]
Polo y servicio was eventually abolished in 1898 after thePhilippine revolution and the country'sindependence from Spain.[31]