Perdio, Lejan Daniel I.

ZSC III / 1:30-3:00 / IT 4F / EN 422

February 26, 2014

Prof. Maria Filipinas Loquellano

Social Stratification System in the Philippines

First of all, social stratification system denotes the division of society into social
classes and social statuses of varying ranks of superiority and inferiority. It includes
institutionalized inequality in one major society. It reflects the amount of socialization,
the division of labor, and the degree of rewards in the society. Social stratification
systems may be closed or open. Where status is achieved and social opportunities are
equalized as much as possible to bring about greater social mobility, the social
stratification system is comparatively open and is called class system; where status is
ascribed and inherited inequality is established, the social stratification system is
relatively closed.
For me, the present Philippine social stratification system has an ethnical or
indigenous foundation. The Non-Christian Groups, the Christian people, Chinese,
Indians, Europeans and Americans have evolved in differentiated unity to compose its
social stratification system.
From our History, there were distinct social classes during the pre-Spanish
period like datus , maharlika, timawa, and alipin. His/her ability and wealth were the
criteria to have power in leadership. Social gap between people in different social
classes was clearly defined.
When the Spaniards came, slavery was abolished but a caste like stratification
system persisted. Religious, governmental and business positions were occupied by the
peninsulares, and the offspring of parents with mixed racial and ethnic backgrounds,
creoles and mestizos. The members of the native population were practically denied
any chance for social nobility.
But when the Americans came, the conditions were changed slightly because
they reinforced the predominant two-class social stratification system composed of a
small cosmopolitan upper class and a large indigenous lower class. A small and weak
middle class slowly emerged, however this is more evident in the urban areas than in
the rural areas. Remnants of pre-Spanish systems and outgrowths of the varied
historical experiences of the Filipino, overlap with the urban stratification system to
make up the total Philippine social stratification system.

Perdio, Lejan Daniel I.

ZSC III / 1:30-3:00 / IT 4F / EN 422

February 26, 2014

Prof. Maria Filipinas Loquellano

For the Muslim territories, they have three distinguishable social classes: the
hereditary aristocracy, the freemen and the slaves. These are based on the amount of
property and the number of slaves owned, titles and fees received, differences in
prestige, connections in politics and personal characteristics and personalities.

And for the Bicol society, they are classified into social class statuses as big
people or little people. It depends on how much land one holds, ones education and
occupation, life style, values and attitudes, community participation, and even
inconsequential things.
There are also social classes in industrial corporations like stockholders,
executives, and laborers. Whereas, in haciendas, there are the landowners, labor
contractors and laborers.
The most important indicators of the overall social class stratification system of
the Philippines are land ownership and family prestige. Secondary indicators are
cultural-linguistic, religion, education, and occupation. Education is regarded as a main
channel for mobility, its actual effectivity is sometimes offset by the patronage system.
There are certain conditions that work internally and externally on the Philippine
stratification system which cause it to change. These are the guided remolding of the
country, the emancipation of the landless tenants, growth in private movements, the
exodus of Filipino professionals to countries with opportunities for social mobility,
greater autonomy given to local governments, regional development and the improved
taxation system.
So I therefore conclude that the Philippine social stratification system has
features of the closed system. It is being subjected to the influence of land ownership,
transfer and tenure, ethnic background, family ancestry, friendship ties, occupation, and
international developments.