Thesis 2

1

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

The researchers desire to study the political awareness as a determinant of social

discontentment of peasants/ farmers that will be conducted on Nueva Ecija in barangays

Talipapa and Cinco-cinco. Peasants that will be the main respondents were classified

into; land owning and non-land owning. The main goal of the study is to determine the

extent of political awareness and level of social discontent on specific issues that can be

related to the status of the life of a peasant. The research will include the factors of political

socialization that will be further arranged in order to verify whether what factor affects the

most.

According to Urban Dictionary the term peasant originally referred to the lowest

class of society who had to do hard manual labor to earn a small wage. They lived in

poverty. Peasants were/are typically small farmers, tenant farmers, sharecroppers,

farmhands, and laborers and invariably rural, living in villages and tending land which is

practically theirs but officially belongs to the wealthy. However, some peasants have their

own lands that are classified in this study as land owning peasants. Even they are

classified to be the lowest class; they have an important role in the society.

Farmers provide a basic necessity of the people and that is the food we eat. Other

than providing us this basic necessity, farmers voice is also an important factor for rural

and agricultural development. If there is one principal lesson farmers can draw from

2

history, it is the following: that, when farmers are not strong, many sections and sectors

of the society are ready not only to tell the farmers what they should do, but even worse,

to speak on their behalf. (Pertev, 1994).

Questions remain on whether farmers voice is such a sought-after commodity

after all, and whether the society would like farmers to speak. Indeed the lack of farmers

voice is often unnoticed, precisely because of the enthusiasm with which other people

are ready to speak on behalf of farmers. Similarly, during periods when farmers do speak,

farmers voice is more readily seen as something of a "problem". Irrespective of its

desirability, the lack of an effective farmers voice is indeed an impediment to agricultural

and rural development. Whether it is the development of agriculture or of rural society or

the protection of environment, farmers play a vital role. (Pertev, 1994)

The world isnt what it was, and farmers need strong voices and strong

representation if they are not going to get overlooked in todays economy and politics.

Our economy has been going through a fundamental transformation since the 1970s. The

environment is changing: the economic environment, the natural environment, the social

and political environment. But the internal, structural changes within the agricultural sector

have only just begun to become apparent. There is more to come. And it is important that

farmers and rural people think about the issues and guide the change process as much

as they can in their own interests. (Fairbairn, 2003)

Given the roles of farmers and his/her voice as an important factor in rural and

agricultural development, the problems of land tenure remained because of the high

concentration of land ownership during the Spanish colonial period in the Philippines. The

3

Congress enacted Republic Act No. 1199 known as Agricultural Tenancy Act of the

Philippines. The purpose of the Act is to establish agricultural tenancy relations between

landholders and tenants upon the principle of school justice; to afford adequate protection

to the rights of both tenants and landholders; to insure an equitable division of the produce

and income derived from the land; to provide tenant- farmers with incentives to greater

and more efficient agricultural production; to bolster their economic position and to

encourage their participation in the development of peaceful, vigorous and democratic

rural communities.

Rights, Incentives and other form of subsidies are already given to the farmers.

However, farmers still confront many issues that makes them suffer to privatization of

lands, monopoly in business cause by rich and powerful corporations, subsidies are not

felt by these peasants and lastly, the everlastingly tenant-being of the farmer. The

question is, if they are politically aware of these issues, then still why they are suffering?

If they are ignorant, then they cant, in reality, resolve their own problems.

Political awareness, in this study, is defined to be the consciousness, attitudes,

and beliefs of peasants with regards to the government actions and policies that possibly

or totally affecting their lives. It also involves clear understanding of what originates and

perpetuates the mundane surroundings of being a farmer in terms of government

activities specifically in the agricultural aspect of the country. Political thinking and

peasant strengthening could be the answer for solving the underlying and still existing

concerns of the lowest class in the society. Other than the level of political awareness,

the social discontentment of farmers on the identified issues will be also measured.

4

The study will focus on evaluating the level of awareness and social

discontentment of the land owning and non-land owning farmers based on the presented

issues that affects their lives. It will tackle also the peasants, landlords, and government

relationship that will be further expounded by the study. It will also awaken organizations,

especially farmer organizations to volume up the voice and cries of the peasants/ farmers

for the development of rural and agricultural sector of the Philippines.

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The time of the arrival of the Spanish Agriculture in the Philippines was in a

comparatively prosperous condition. The first plants introduced were those brought by

the early Malayan invaders: millet, taro, yam, garlic, and various kinds of bananas, jack

fruit, indigo, batao, mango, various citrus fruits, santol, lansone, castor - oil plant, condol,

ampalaya, tamarind, and other ornamental and medicinal plants. On the extent and

distribution of crops, we get our chief information from the accounts of the early Spanish

explorers.

At the time of Legazpis founding of Manila, the province in Luzon which produced

the most rice was Pampanga, and along its river banks dwelt tillers of the soil. The region

around Manila was described as fertile and well provisioned, and that the Laguna de Bay

district raised rice as well as cotton and fruit groves, but Pampanga was still the main

source of supply of rice for Manila. Panay, Negros, and Leyte were reported to have

5

abundant food crops. In fact, Panay was said to be the second only to Luzon in this

respect, and Leyte to have two rice crops a year. On the Economic plants

introduced by Spaniards from America, among the American plants thus introduced into

the Philippines which have had the greatest effect on agriculture, mention may be made

of the following: tobacco, corn, cacao, cotton, pineapple, maguey, arrowroot, peanut,

indigo, cassava, papaya, achuete, chico, chico-mamey, tomato, and squash.

On the Filipino agricultural methods, the early Filipinos knew how to construct implements

for the cultivation of rice. On laws to encourage agriculture, the Spanish government both

by means of the laws of the Indies, which often applied to all Spanish overseas colonies

and by royal decrees applicable directly to the Philippines, did try to encourage

agriculture. To that effect is a law of the Indies which required the governors and alcaldes-

mayor to encourage the cultivation of the land, and held them accountable for so doing

when their terms expired. Another law required the planting of fruit trees. Still another law

required those who received land from the government to cultivate it within three months

after they took possession, on penalty of losing the land should they fail to do so (Benitez,

1954).

On the beginning of Agrarian Problems is the taming of the wilderness generated

much wealth, although little of it benefited the pioneers themselves. The gap between the

rich and the poor became larger and more rigid. To homestead, they would need an initial

capital which could be provided by those who had excess funds: landlords and

entrepreneurs. Those who supplied the funds allowed the pioneers to work the land only

as tenants or laborers, or they lent cash, tools and carabaos at rates of interest that forced

the peasants to become tenants. The lack of alternative credit left peasants helpless in

6

altering their condition. Peasants never controlled the marketing of their produce. The

major difference was that the rich were richer and the poor poorer.

On the other hand Filipino landholding, practically all peoples who have reached

the agricultural stage of economic development, the Filipinos at that time of the coming

of the Spaniards recognized private ownership of land. All usable land in barangay was

divided between people living there; outsiders could obtain land only through purchase

or inheritance.

There were still common lands, however, which could be claimed by any individuals under

conditions somewhat similar to those of the present homestead law. The mountainous

land, usually forested, belonging to a barangay could be claimed by anyone, whether a

member of barangay or an outsider, who cleared and sowed it, also existed in a few place

a form of rent the use of agricultural land, paid in produce. Fisheries were sometimes

controlled by the local chiefs, who charged fees to outsiders who wanted to fish there.

In the long run, one of the major interventions to effect rural development in the

Philippines is the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, which was instituted in 1988

and its implementation is extended until 2014. In response to the peasants demand for

equitable access to land, which is the main productive resource in the rural areas of the

country, the Philippine constitution enshrined that the government shall undertake an

agrarian reform program founded in the right of farmers and regular farm workers who

are landless to own directly or collectively the lands they till, or, in the case of farm

workers, to receive a just share of the fruits (Article XIII, Section 4). This intent was

operationalized by the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program

7

(CARP) under the legal framework of Republic Act 6657. CARP was designed not only

to mitigate social unrest through redistribution of land but also to enhance household

incomes and promote rural development through the provision of support services such

as credit, capacity building, rural infrastructures, technology promotions and agribusiness

development.

In talking about the discontentment of peasants, rural revolts-- isolated and

unsuccessful--were common during the early part of the twentieth century and before.

Discontent among peasants over land tenancy and growing population pressures inspired

increasing violence in the 1930s, especially in Central Luzon where isolated peasant

rebellions gave way to better organized, sometimes revolutionary movements. After

World War II, tensions between peasants and the government-backed landlords grew,

leading to the Huk rebellion. Formerly anti-Japanese guerrillas, the Huk fighters were

associated with the Communist Party of the Philippines (Partido Kommunistang Pilipinas-

-PKP), which had been established in 1930. The rebellion waned during the early 1950s,

but Huk supporters and the remnants of the Huk army later played important roles in the

founding of the NPA in the late 1960s. This shows that peasants do experienced

discontentment that lead them to a revolution to protect their welfare and interests.

The researchers, by understanding the past tends to comprehend how peasants

are politically aware and their reaction with the issues that concerns with their daily lives

until today.

8

SETTING OF THE STUDY

Nueva Ecija is one of the provinces in Central Luzon where a big part of agriculture

lies. They are considered as Rice Granary of the Philippines because of their naturally

rich soil which produces mainly the rice, corn, and other vegetables and are sometimes

being export because of the good quality of the product.

The researcher will conduct the study in the two barangays of Cabanatuan City

which is Barangay Talipapa and Barangay Cinco-cinco. Both are in a distant area wherein

farming is more seen as their primary work. Talipapa is a barangay of the component city

Cabanatuan City. It belongs to the barangays of Component City Cabanatuan City which

are in the outlying area. Based on the statistical report on the population of Talipapa, it

had 1,877 residents and an estimated 400 farmers. Barangay Cinco-Cinco, same as

Barangay Talipapa which is in an outlying area too had 1,542 residents and an estimated

300 farmers. These two barangays will help the researchers in the study on the political

awareness of peasants to determine their social discontent.

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

Political awareness of peasants will be measured by the issues that have

significance in their daily lives. In this study, the theory that is associated with the political

9

awareness of peasants and how they became aware of such phenomenon and issues is

the Conflict Theory. According to Ritzer (2005), in his Encyclopedia of Social Theory, the

neo-marxian conflict theory that all variants of this approach emphasized that patterns of

inequality that lead subordinates to become aware of their interest in changing the system

of stratification through mobilization for conflict. As we have seen in the study, peasants

face issues because of the inequalities whether on economic aspect but also political

aspect. The issues drawn here are about privatization, subsidy, monopoly of business

and tenancy and the behavior of peasants toward these issues can be seen because of

their interest in changing the system. They want to change the system pertaining to the

issues that they are facing and also that is what makes them experience the so called

agrarian unrest.

In the study conducted by the authors Hayami, Quisumbing and Mariano (1990),

they stated that because of the transformation of the Philippine agrarian structure,

sources of agrarian unrest arose. The major sources of agrarian unrest are the disputes

between tenants and landlords, the confrontation of wage labourers with hacendero-

planters in traditional plantations, and lastly with corporate management in modern

agribusiness plantations.

Another theory that attributes to the agrarian unrest is the Paiges Theory of

Agrarian Revolution. In the study done by Jeffrey Paige (1975), he sought to develop a

series of generalizations about conflict between cultivators (agricultural workers) and non-

cultivators (owners/manager/elites). He also posits that economic exploitation alone will

not lead to mass mobilization rather, revolutionary conflict will occur when economic

10

conflict moves in the political arena. Some of the economic conflict before was caused by

the officials of government thats why peasants experienced such agrarian unrest

because of them. The relationships between the agricultural workers and the elites or

owners were not good because the latter being powerful over the peasants, usually

control the agricultural system that brought the agrarian unrest in the society.

In the context of social discontentment among peasants, a critical social theorist

named Max Horkheimer best explained why peasants are discontented with their daily

living. Through critical theory, Max Horkheimer attempted to revitalize radical social, and

cultural criticism and discussed authoritarianism, militarism, economic disruption,

environmental crisis and the poverty of mass culture. He developed his critical theory by

examining his own wealth while witnessing the connection of the bourgeois and the

impoverished. This critical theory embraced the future possibilities of society and was

preoccupied with forces which moved society toward rational institutions that would

ensure a true, free, and just life. He was convinced of the need to examine the entire

material and spiritual culture of mankind in order to transform society as a whole.

Horkheimer sought to enable the working class to reclaim their power in order to resist

the pull of fascism. He then stated himself that the rationally organized society that

regulates its own existence was necessary along with a society that could satisfy common

needs. To satisfy these needs, it would need to engage with the social conditions within

which people lived and in which their concepts and actions were formed. It reached out

for a total understanding of history and knowledge. Critical theory sought to develop a

critical perspective in the discussion of all social practices. This theory explained why

peasants are discontented because as the researchers have stated, peasants are facing

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a lot of issues that affects their daily lives. The society itself made them discontented

because of the socio-political factors.

With these theories, it will serve as a guide for the researchers to conduct their

study and also to answer some problems regarding on political awareness of peasants

among Barangay Talipapa and Barangay Cinco-cinco of Cabanatuan City.

RESEARCH PARADIGM

The primary aim of the study is to determine the extent of level of political

awareness and discontentment of the peasants/ farmers from Brgy. Talipapa and

Brgy.Cinco-cinco. The farmers are classified into four categories; land owning, non-land

owning, tenant and farm-worker. The respondents and also the enumerated issues are

the independent variables in this research. The issues will be utilized as a tool to analyze

the political awareness and also the level of discontent of each respondent whether they

are: very aware, moderately aware, slightly aware, aware and not aware at all and highly

discontented, discontented, slightly discontented, fairly discontented and no reaction.

Other than determining the awareness and discontent of the respondents, the factors of

political socialization will be arranged in order. The factors of political socialization are the

cause of the awareness of the respondents. Thus, the researchers will find out what factor

that may have moderated the level of social discontent of the respondents. The

independent variable, therefore, is the level of political awareness. The moderating

variable mediate the level of social discontent

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Determinants

Moderating Variable

Figure 1: Research Paradigm

Level of Political Awareness

Privatization

Monopoly

Lack of Subsidy

Tenancy

SOCIAL

DISCONTENT

Factors

Religion

Education

Media

Family

Peer Groups

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STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

1. What is the profile of peasants in terms of:

a. Name (optional)

b. Age

c. Sex

d. Barangay

e. Educational Attainment

f. Religion

g. Income range

h. Classification

2. What is the level of political awareness of peasants in Barangay Talipapa and

Barangay Cinco-Cinco in terms of the following issues:

a. Privatization

b. Subsidy

c. Monopoly

d. Tenancy

3. What is the level of social discontent of peasants in Barangay Talipapa and

Barangay Cinco-Cinco in terms of the following issues:

a. Privatization

b. Subsidy

c. Monopoly

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d. Tenancy

4. What is the order of efficacy of the factors of socio-political socialization relative to

the respondents level of social-political discontentment?

5. Is there a significant relationship between the level of political awareness and level

of social discontent of peasants in terms of:

a. Privatization

b. Monopoly

c. Tenancy

d. Lack of Subsidy

HYPOTHESIS

1. There is no significant relationship between the level of political awareness and

the level of social discontent of peasants in terms of privatization.


the level of social discontent of peasants in terms of monopoly.


the level of social discontent of peasants in terms of tenancy.


the level of social discontent of peasants in terms of lack of subsidy.

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SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The significance of this study is to influence and benefit the peasants knowledge

by determining their political awareness. Although this study focuses on the peasants, it

also aims to influence and benefit the government, the future researchers, the consumers,

the policy makers, and the readers.

For the peasants, it is to enhance their political awareness in order for them to

acquire development. Enhancing and feeding their political awareness would cater

change in their daily lives. By knowing their political awareness, this study could measure

solutions to their problems on why they find difficulties in accumulating progress in spite

of their hard works. By knowing their level of political awareness, this study would help

them to improve the information they know that concerns their welfare. The relevance of

this study is for the benefit of the peasants to enhance their awareness on how will they

respond on the issues concerning them.

For the government, it is for them to be conscious enough on the policies,

ordinances, and programs they are implementing. By knowing the political awareness of

the peasants how they can respond to the consciousness of these people. This study will

help them realize on how they will implement those policies, ordinances, and programs.

It is for the government to truthfully know their actions basing on the level of political

awareness of the peasants. How does the government can react on this level of

awareness? If the government will know the level of political awareness of the peasants,

they will be able to determine their certain actions and solutions on how the peasants can

16

benefit to those programs they implemented, and for the both parties to have a

harmonious tie. It will help them think of certain solutions on how these peasants will help

in gradually improving our economic status by means of their political awareness.

For the future researchers, this study will help them review the political

awareness of the peasants. This study may help them to have related resources if they

decide to conduct a research related to our topic. This may become their stepping stone

in starting a study that is related to this. This may act as a component in their future

research. It can make them feel interested on conducting a study concerning peasants in

other aspects that may slightly relate to this study.

For the Filipino people, the significance of the peasants awareness will enlighten

them on the issues concerning our society especially with our colleagues. By knowing the

stand of peasants, Filipino people will realize the importance of the role of the farmers in

our society. Filipino people will also be aware of how can they participate for them to

contribute to gradually solve the problems concerning our peasants. This study will also

add to their knowledge about the current situation of peasants and will make them figured

out how does the government prioritize this peasant groups by knowing/determining their

political awareness. And also, Filipino people will have an active participation on the

issues concerning our society especially our farners.

For the consumers, knowing the political awareness of the peasants will let them

realize the worth of the products coming from them. They will be conscious enough on

how will they consume. They will be reminded on the situation of the peasants and instead

of helping the economy for its backwardness the last thing they can do is to be sage in

17

consuming the resources they have. For policy makers, knowing the political awareness

of peasants may awake them with the policies, ordinances, and programs they are

implementing. This study will help them find the means in resolving issues even how

petty it may seems but has a great contribution in our society. This can benefit them by

means of the responding to their policies. If the peasants will have a strong relationship

with them, our country will increase its economic status. On the other hand, having a weak

relationship between peasants and policymakers would acquire chaos and

misunderstanding. Lastly for the readers, this study will benefit them in terms of feeding

their awareness and consciousness towards the issue and the aspects concerning the

situation of the peasants in our society. It will help them see the different perspective on

how the peasants contribute in our society. Readers will be knowledgeable enough on

how they can contribute in building a strong foundation among peasant groups. The

relevance of this study greatly concerns the peasants current situation, regarding on how

they will continuously survive with the changing situation of our society. On how they will

bring back the productivity of our resources and how will they fight against the issues

concerning them by knowing their level of political awareness.

SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

The scope of this research is the farmers or peasants who are the main actor in

agriculture of Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija. The researchers conducted a survey about the

18

political awareness of peasants in terms of monopoly of business, privatization, subsidy,

and also tenancy issues in the said city/province.

It covers the barangay Talipapa and barangay Cinco-Cinco of Cabanatuan City, Nueva

Ecija. The time allocated for the research is school year June 2013 to March 2014.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

1. Awareness it is also known as the consciousness, sensitivity or knowledge of

the person on a certain phenomenon or activity.

2. Barangay it is a small political unit that affects the daily transaction of peasants

in terms of agriculture.

3. Determinant it is an element that identifies or determines the nature of social

discontent in the study.

4. Discontentment/Discontent it is a condition of a people who are showing their

lack of satisfaction over things.

5. Issues- inequalities produced by capitalists and the government. Issues in this

study were privatization, monopoly, tenancy and lack of subsidy.

19

6. Landlord a person who owns large or small portion of lands which he leases to

another non-owning party called tenants.

7. Land-owning a person/farmer who have his own land for farming.

8. Monopoly of businessan issue raised here in the study wherein a corporation

or enterprises control the flow of agriculture and by that they will benefit.

9. Non-land-owning a person/farmer who have no land but working or farming on

another land which he rented.

10. Peasant a member of the class of low social status that depends on either

cottage industry or agriculture labour as a means of sustenance.

11. Political Awareness is defined to be as the consciousness of peasants with

regards to government acts and policies that have been affecting their current

status or lives. It also involves clear understanding of what originates and

perpetuates the mundane surroundings of being a farmer in terms of government

activities specifically in the agricultural aspect of the country. Political thinking and

peasant strengthening could be the answer for solving the underlying and still

existing concerns of the lowest class in the society

20

12. Privatization in this study, this has to be explained as a process of transferring

public lands into private lands controlled by any corporations and enterprises.

13. Socio-economic Political Socialization this refers to the participation of

peasants in the social, economic, and political aspects of the barangay or the

government.

14. Subsidy an issue raised here in the study wherein the government fails to help

peasants in terms of assistance for the development of agriculture. Peasants or

farmers play an important role in the country because they are the one who

produce the basic needs of the people especially the food that we eat.

15. Tenancy an issue raised here in the study wherein because peasants dont have

their own farmlands, they are usually working all of the agricultural works for their

landlords. Meaning to say, they are working on the farmlands of a landlord.

16. Tenant a person, who holds, occupies land or property by any kind of right or

title to their landlord.

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CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURES

In this chapter, the researchers were able to gathered literatures and studies that

will help them in their study. By these, relevant information will be used to justify the need

for studying a problem. It can also be a source of theoretical basis for the study and also

enable the researchers to learn how to conceptualize the problem out of the data or

sources that has been gathered.

LOCAL LITERATURES

A book article entitled Neoliberal Offensive: Impact on Agrarian Reform in the

Philippines (2006) talks about the effects of major agrarian restructuring from Marcos

Regime. It talks about the seeding of neoliberal concepts of local agriculture. In 1980, an

IMF-World Bank structural adjustment program (SAP) for the Philippines introduced the

first Tariff Reform Program (TRP I); the Import Liberalization Program; and the

complimentary realignment of indirect taxes. The SAP was followed by a Standby

Arrangement with the IMF in 1983 that required the reduction of tariff protection rates by

reducing to 31% the tariff protection level against an average of 70.3% in 1980. Another

topic was the failure of CARP because of the flaws that lie in its orientation, which is

subsequently reflected in its design. Government land and agrarian reform programs all

these decades have been less about genuinely breaking the domination of landlord and

22

rural elites than about basically undercutting peasant unrest and resistance, especially

the escalating peasant-based armed struggle. At present, the best prospects for true

agrarian reform in the Philippines lie in the strengthening peasant movement. Building on

the successes of its legal and extra-legal local struggles, the countrys organized

peasantry is able to significantly contribute to consolidation and expansion in the

countryside of the countrys overall movement for social change.

The researchers desire to determine the extent of political awareness and level of

discontent because this will result to unleash the potentials of the peasantry in the

Philippines. Once they will be able to know the issues and to be politically aware of it, will

realize that their lives can be uplifted to develop themselves by being discontented about

the response of the government to oppressed agricultural aspect of the nation, the

peasantry will be organized and form a movement to shout and voice out their needs.

In the study of Antonio J. Ledesma entitled (1982) Landless Workers and Rice

Farmers: Peasant Subclasses under Agrarian Reform in Two Villages this shows that in

the past years, agrarian unrest was a big issue back then. The author made a study on

two villages which were greatly affected by the issue on agrarian reform. Land tenure

security for agrarian reform beneficiaries has been paralleled by a growing demand for

labor tenure rights among landless workers, either in the traditional tasks of transplanting

and harvesting, or in newer arrangements like the sagod system. Here, the sagod system

refers to a labor arrangement entailing weeding without immediate remuneration but with

an exclusive right to harvest and earn the harvesters share on the weeded plot. This

23

brought the stratification of the peasants into hierarchy of subgroups based on their claims

on the resources called land. The three major subclasses are; amortizing owners,

permanent lessees and landless workers. Agrarian reform, therefore, do not pertain to

dealing with the pre-existing differences of landless rural workers and tenant farmers but

instead, it brought about what the tenant farmers see as an arbitrary difference between

sharecropper-turned-amortizing-owners and the sharecroppers-turned-permanent-

lessees.

Landless rural workers, according to Ledesma, 1982, are those workers who have

no lands and also rights to the land. They also sell their labors to others, together with the

labor of their family, as a source of their income. Agrarian reform program here is failing

in its original objective of land ownership.

This shows how and why peasants have discontentment towards their life because

of the issues they are facing especially the landlessness issue. This book of Ledesma

has a big impact on our study since it pertains to the issue which we laid down in our

study, the privatization of land. Although this book refers to the two particular villages, it

brings a clear view on the true condition or situation of peasants in a small lens. This is

relevant to our study since it shows why do peasants were discontented with their current

state and also from this; we can also measure how politically aware peasants are.

On the book compiled, edited and annotated by Gregorio F. Zaide (1990) entitled

Documentary Sources of Philippine History there is the document about the Agrarian

Uprising of 1751. This document shows the uprising of agrarian during 1751 particularly

24

in Bian, Silang, Imus, Bacoor, Cavite el Viejo (Kawit), Hagonoy, Paraaque, San Mateo,

and Taguig, because of the usurpation of Filipino lands by the Dominican, Augustinian,

and Recollect Orders. It has been said also that these uprisings were soon pacified by

Don Pedro Enriquez, member of the Royal Audiencia of Manila, who promptly ordered

the restoration of the usurped lands to their Filipino owners. From San Lorenzo (El

Escorial), King Philip V issued his Royal Order dated November 7, 1751, expressing his

approval of Oidor Enriquez action and commending the government general and the

Royal Audiencia to protect the Indians (Filipinos) from the unjust acts of friars.

This work of Zaide has been in much help to the study, because it made the

researchers understand that people in that time are politically aware of what they own

and what their rights are. Friars usurping the lands of the Indians, without leaving them

the freedom of the rivers for their fishing, or allowing them to cut wood for their necessary

use, or even to collect the wild fruits, nor did they allow the natives to pasture on the hills

near their villages the carabaos which they used for agriculture. These privileges and

rights of the Filipinos are took away by the friars, so Filipinos decided to revolt against the

Dominicans and Augustinians because they are not contented on the privileges they

exercise and to the lands that they really own. This means that this document has

relevance with our study, because it mirrors here the political awareness of the Indians

(Filipinos) to the privileges they must enjoy and to the enjoyment of the lands they own.

It measures here their level of political awareness on why they decided to revolt knowing

the fact that they are not to be innocent and they must be aware of what the government

is doing. This document pointed out that the government must always bear in mind that

the Indians (Filipinos) shall be well- treated and shall not suffer oppressions or extortion.

25

This document is to relate in our study the political awareness of the people on what does

the government performs to them and the Filipinos certain actions base on their

awareness.

On the article of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP): Land Reform In the

Philippines briefly discussed how agrarian reform started from encomienda system to

hacienda system in which it is still present today in the Philippines context. How the

Spanish colonial period oppress the natives, into the extent that with the capitalist

exploitation. Furthermore the Spanish and American colonial period the land

accumulation and dispossessing the peasantry occurred in three phases each constitutes

a stage of agrarian development in the country from the development in the post-

independence era up to the liberalization policies and their impact on agriculture. The

penetration of capital into agriculture in this period characterized itself by the pre dominant

role of a narrow section of the landlord -comprador class, in which former President

Ferdinand Marcos used as a base of political support. The liberalization policies occurred

first under the second round of the Structural Adjustment Program (SAP), of GATT- WTO.

The economic liberalization has spawned new forms of land tenure and control designed

to re-dispose lands to export crops expansion along economy. It said that in this wave of

liberalization, arose the privatization which it is one of the issues the peasants are facing

in the researchers study. The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) of the

Aquino Government in 1988 was said to be the one major vehicle for the expansion on

the said wave. The said program was refined to "market-oriented" land reform program.

It was further discussed that CARP does not implement genuine land reform or the free

26

distribution of land to farmers, but instead asks farmers to compensate the landlords for

the land that belonged to the farmers.

In relation to research the historical events enable us to see the penetration of the

capitalist penetration here in the Philippines. Thus, the capitalist flaunt the nature when it

became monopoly and ascended to its imperialist stage; The alliance of Kilusang

Magbubukid ng Pilipinas numerous act helps the peasants fight for their lands against the

capitalist exploitations Through their patient discussions of the root cause of the land

problem, mobilizing and educating the peasants to be politically aware strengthens their

struggle for their land and freedom. It is crucial to know the level of political awareness of

the peasant/ farmers wherein such action would help them in their decision making,

planning action in confronting problems and be able to formulate solutions.

FOREIGN LITERATURES

In the study of Niaz Muhammad and Ali Askar (2009) entitled Socio-economic

and political impacts of a peasant uprising (Kissani Movement) in Charsada district, it

presents how the uprising of Kissans greatly affected their life patterns from many

dimensions like social, economic and political. The changes that were brought about by

the revolution overthrew the structural contents inclined to stagnancy of society. Now that

the Kissans attained political awareness at greater degree in all ages of people, they are

now practicing family planning, sending children for attainment of education at different

institutes, allowing educated females to work outside homes at different places, living in

nuclear dwelling units at maximum and having provision for outside family marriage

27

mainly followed by the consent of youngsters. In addition, there has been an increase in

agricultural productivity, which eased all their economic constraints. The income of local

people has jumped up by the extent satisfying their maximum needs of life. They are now

wearing more expensive and fashionable clothing; have access to foodstuffs that suffice

their needs; many business opportunities are in their hands; and the provision of a share

in property to female members offers a good measure of the increasingly politically

aware Kissan society.

This study goes to show that being politically aware means development of the

peasants in many aspects of their life, politically, socially and also economically. On the

term development, we, the researchers say that this political awareness can lead to

improving the peasants way of life, educating themselves, increase their productivity and

many more positive effects. The paper concludes that the enlightenment of local mind

can further be glimpsed from developing the thought that education and freedom of

expression are the bases of development. This study is very relevant to our research

because the researchers also do determine if the peasants of Brgy. Talipapa and

Brgy.Cinco-cinco is politically aware of specific issues that had happened and still

happening in the society.

An article from preservearticles.com The Struggle of Peasants in the Colonial

India (n.d.) shows how highly discontented peasants was because of the establishment

of economic policy. The economic policy was instituted by the British government caused

Indian zamindars and moneylenders exploit illiterate peasant mass. After the permanent

settlement of 1793, the absentee landlords, the intermediaries and the village money-

28

lenders and the oppression of the Europeans reduced the Indian peasants into beggary.

The growing oppression was not simply swallowed by the peasants but they raised voice

against it. Many movements arose because of the abusive money-lenders including the

Santhal rebellion of 1855-1856, strike of Bengal Indigo cultivators in 1860, peasant

uprising in Deccan during 1875, Champaran movement of 1917, Kheda Satyagraha of

1918, the Moplah uprising in 1921-1922, KishanSahhas and other peasant movement

before independence.

On part of our research, the level of discontentment of peasants because of the

issues and anomalies that were created by the government may result to large peasant

movements to voice out their own needs as peasants that provide basic necessities of

the people. Because of the discontentment that will be determined as high or low, may

rattle and wake, not only the peasants but also the government that must respond to

them. This discontentment also helps the peasantry to be organized and face complex

issues that must be solve.

On Schwarzers (2011) paper about Political socialization as the driving factor for

political engagement and political participation shows the importance of the factors of

political socialization. The paper evaluates the roles of different agents of political

socialization in political engagement and political participation. The whole analysis was

that it is based on the theoretical assumption that socialization effects associated with

families and friends are quite important for political engagement and political participation.

Furthermore, , the theoretical discussions indicate that agents such as media and schools

should be considered as a second important source of political participation, as

29

adolescents spend more time in schools that they actually spend with their families.

Additionally, political engagement should to a certain extent function as mediation

variable for political socialization on political participation. In the paper, it appears that all

agents of political socialization considered are important in the development of political

engagement of students. A model in the paper indicates that the primary socialization

model is more influential the second phase is media and schools, as the influence of

parents appears dominant. (Schwarzer, 2011)

Our research included the agents of political socialization as a moderating variable.

It was stated in the literature of Schwarzer that political socialization is key variable for

political participation and engagement. The agents of political socialization will determine

the strength of the relation of the determinant and the dependent variable of the study

which includes political awareness and level of discontent of peasants on given

barangays.

The article World Peasant Farmer need a Peasant Farmers Rights Convention

discusses how big companies and international financial institutions have affected the

lives of the farmers around the world. According to Saragih (2005) one of the issues

peasants are facing is the subsidy, in which the World Bank evicted farmers. Thus, they

provided loans to developing countries for many kinds of projects ranging from

infrastructures to technical assistance mainly with the objective of boosting high economic

growth. While in the agriculture sector the Banks favorite project has been to build big

dams, which has caused the eviction of many peasant farmers from their land. This kind

of project has subjected many rural inhabitants to suffering. This shows that the rich reap

30

benefits from such projects and the farmers have left nothing and were force to work to

another lands or shift to another forms of work. The author concludes that these big

corporations and institutions became a big blockage from becoming a perfect agricultural

country. Because the land that was supposed to be for farming are being taken away by

the government and being made to subdivisions and other private properties.

In relation to the researchers study it provides the basis for the understanding on

how peasants should be treated in the society especially in the field of agriculture and

provides information about the issues/problems that concerns them. The researchers aim

to determine the awareness of the peasant/farmers on the issue at hand and how they

will react on this present situation. The researchers Assumes that agriculture in the

Philippines could be improve or be fixed by giving proper information to the

peasant/farmers about the problems that this big corporations and institutions blinded

them for a many years.

A book article entitled Agriculture, poverty & freedom Talks about how peasants

contribute towards the development of the countries, peasants behavior and decisions

when they are politically aware , As well as by the constrained environment, within which

farm production takes place. Farm level decisions are directly affected by the multiple

objectives of the peasant farm families. According to Clayton (1983) the concept of

opportunity cost and decision making in peasant agriculture, in which the cost of

producing agricultural products in the developing countries derive largely from non-cash

factor cost. Much of the land worked by peasant farmers is held under customary,

communal tenure arrangements. Thus, there is no market for this land; it therefore

31

possesses neither a capital nor a rental value, whatever its productivity. In other cases,

even where peasant farmers have acquired title ownership to their land, it might appear

to them to be without monetary value - either because it was acquired without cost

perhaps as a consequence of a land reform or for social or family land. In all these cases,

farmer will work his land without any capital or rental cash costs. Peasant farm are also

mainly worked by family labour

This book of Clayton (1983) is relevant to the researchers study; it helps us to fully

understand the behaviour of the peasants in relation to their level of discontentment.

Farmers being the sole producer of rice face issues. This book helps us to assess their

stand on the issue and how they are politically aware, and mainly helps us to know the

specific issues in which among these issues affects their daily lives and the development

of the country. Through this study researchers will be able to determine other issues that

farmers were not able to pay attention. It is relevant for the researchers for it will help us

to cluster their different issue. and this enables the farmer to avoid cash payments for

farm labour.

On the book A Visit to the Philippine Islands by Sir John Bowring (1963), it is

written about the sale of tobacco that is a strict government monopoly, and how does

cigars, sugar- cane, rice, cocoa, and cotton are being manufactured. This chapter also

discusses that the consumption of rice is universal, and the superfluity of the harvests is

taken to the Chinese markets. It has been said that there is no doubt that the Philippines

offer great facilities for the cultivation of indigo, but it has been neglected and inadequate

attention paid to the manufacturer.

32

This work of Bowring has been in much help to our study, because it made us

understand how does rice are being manufactured since our study is concerning on the

peasants, it is important to know the classes of rice which is the water and mountain rice

for us to be familiar with the nature of our peasants. It is also for us to importantly know

how this rice is being harvested for peasants works for it and the problems they encounter

during harvesting. It is very relevant to our study, because we also understand how the

manufacturing of rice works. This chapter helps us researchers to have a background on

the rice production, and also the tobacco monopoly which is to be related with one of our

given issue which is monopoly. This tobacco monopoly helps us to understand what

monopoly really is and how does it work. It may not exactly pertain with the monopoly on

rice but it gave the concept of monopoly that these tobacco monopolies are under the

charge of an administration whose headquarters are in Manila, and one of the issues to

be asked by the peasants in our study is monopoly, to what extent their political

awareness to it and their level of discontent. Also it is relevant in our study, because it

made us understand the exclusive possession and control to the manufacturing of

tobacco.

33

CHAPTER III

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

RESEARCH APPROACH

In this chapter, the researchers discuss the methods used in determining the

extent of political awareness and level of discontent of peasants in barangay Talipapa

and barangay Cinco-Cinco in Cabanatuan City. Quantitative research refers to the

systematic empirical investigation of social phenomena via statistical, mathematical or

numerical data or computational techniques. The objective of quantitative research is to

develop and employ mathematical models, theories and/or hypotheses pertaining to

phenomena. This research method will be used since the researchers will conduct a

survey to the respondents (peasants) of the two barangays to measure their level of

political awareness and social discontentment. This chapter also gives preview on how

the researchers will determine the correlation of factors and issues that are identified by

the researchers. The research methodology of this study will consist of research design,

subjects of the study, instrumentation and validity, data gathering procedure, and

statistical treatment.

34

RESEARCH DESIGN

The researchers will use a descriptive design which is purposive of gathering,

analyzing, classifying and tabulating data and then making an interpretation about the

data that have been gathered with the with the support of statistical methods. This

research method involves surveying and gives the extent of political awareness of

peasants on the political issues that have effects on their daily lives. The researchers

considered this design for the study because it will see how peasants are aware of the

political issues that have effects on their way of living and how peasants show their level

of discontentment. Since the collection of data is not directly observed, this study will use

survey and interviews as a useful means in gathering information on the subject matter.

Through the use of questionnaires, the researchers will evaluate the extent of political

awareness of peasants and their discontentment on the political issues laid down by the

researchers in this study.

RESPONDENT OF THE STUDY SUBJECT

The respondents of this study focused mainly on the selected respondents of

barangay Talipapa and barangay Cinco-Cinco of Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija. The

researchers used the quota sampling method in order to get the sample from the two

barangay. Each barangay have 50 respondents in order to get a total of 100 and a

percentage of 100%. The sample is ranging from 30-70 years old peasants. The

researchers used this kind of sampling method because there is no exact data available

of the statistics of the peasants in barangay Talipapa and barangay Cinco-cinco.

35

Barangay Talipapa Barangay Cinco-Cinco

Land-owner 16 15

Non-land-owner 34 35

Total: 50 50

Figure 2: Sample Frame of the Respondents

36

RESEARCH INSTRUMENT

The principal instrument used by the researchers in this study is survey sheet or

questionnaire supplemented by personal interviews and direct observation of the

researchers in gathering needed data from the respondents.

Survey sheets will be distributed and will be answered by the target respondents,

the peasants. In preparing for the questionnaire, the researchers consulted the research

adviser for the questions that will be used for effective gathering of data. The

questionnaire contains two (2) parts: the first part which is the profile of the respondent

and the second part which is the responses of the respondent on specific questions. For

the profile of the respondent, classification of peasants was identified for the researchers

to know whether the subject is a land owning and non-land owning. On the second part,

the respondent will rate their level of political awareness and also their level of discontent

from the given issues. The researchers used 1-4 scale on measuring political awareness

and 1-5 scale for measuring social discontent, which has corresponding value for the

subject for rating. It is also important to know what factor affects the most to the political

awareness, the respondent had, thus, another question was provided.

The survey sheet or questionnaire was consulted to and validated by the

researchers adviser.

VALIDATION OF THE INSTRUMENT

37

We, the researchers will use the survey questionnaire as our instrument to

determine the extent of political awareness and extent of discontent of peasants in

Barangay Talipapa and Barangay Cinco- Cinco. The survey questionnaire is effective as

we will conduct a dry-run survey with the peasants in Barangay Talipapa and Barangay

Cinco-Cinco. Before we determine its validity, we decided to test the peasants if they will

be able to understand and answer the questions in the survey. As we analyze the result

of the dry-run survey, we saw that the survey questionnaire was understandable for the

peasants and that were able to respond to it. Also we included in our survey questionnaire

the Tagalog translations of every words and questions, for the peasants to easily

understand it. This dry-run survey/ trial survey prove its reliability, because peasants were

able to understand the questions for they respond to it.

DATA GATHERING PROCEDURE

We, the researchers, started to collect data with the approval of the proposed topic

of the research adviser.

1. The researchers, in order to have further knowledge about the issues that affects

peasants, went to a farmers organization also known as Kilusang Magbubukid ng

Pilipinas (KMP) and conducted an interview.

2. The researchers accumulate related information to determine and define the

theories and concepts that was utilized by going to Far Eastern University library

and other means such as using the internet to procure needed information.

38

3. The researchers asked for the permission of the barangay chairmen of Talipapa

and Cinco-cinco in the distribution of questionnaire forms and also to conduct

interviews with the classes of peasants along those barangays.

STATISTICAL TREATMENT

The data gathered by the researchers were treated using different formulas and

tools in order to answer the statement of the problem raised by the researchers in this

study.

1. Mean (x) this formula will be used in order to identify and determine the extent

of political awareness and discontentment of peasants (respondents).

x = fs Where:

N X = mean S = number of scale

F = frequency N = total number of respondent

2. Standard Deviation this formula will be used to show the significant relationship

of the data on the control set of data. A low standard deviation indicates that the

data points tend to be very close to the mean.

39

3. Percentage Analysis ( % ) this formula will be used to present the percentage

of the observation on the level of political awareness and discontentment of

peasants based on the given issues and factors.

% = f

N Where:

% = percentage

f = frequency

N = total number of respondents

4. T-test ( t ) this formula will be used by the researchers to determine if there is

significant difference in the level of awareness and discontentment of peasants in

terms of the issues on privatization, tenancy, subsidy, and monopoly.

40

5. Pearson R this formula will be used to calculate the degree to which the two

variables (independent and dependent variables) are related inversely or directly.

41

Chapter IV

This chapter shows the analysis, findings and interpretation of data that obtained

in the study. It provides a statistical presentation of data and figures to show the result of

the computed data. The purpose of this chapter is to show the value of each data with

regards to the level of awareness and discontent of peasants in the two selected

barangay.

Frequency Distribution and the Percentage of the Respondents Profile

Table 1.1. Frequency Distribution and Percentage of the Age of the Repondents

Table 1.1 shows the frequency distribution and percentage of the respondents in terms

of their age. Among the 100 respondents which are the peasants, the 40-50 years old got

the highest percentage wherein it has the 33% of the total respondents and the 60-70

years old peasants got the lowest percentage of 14% from the total respondents.

Age of respondent

Frequency Percent

30-40 22 22.0

40-50 33 33.0

50-60 31 31.0

60-70 14 14.0

Total 100 100.0

42

Table 1.2 Frequency Distribution and Percentage of the Gender of the

Repondents

Table 1.2 shows frequency distribution and percentage of the respondents in terms of

their gender, whereas the number 0 represents the male and the number 1 represents

the female. The table shows that the male respondents got the highest population from

the total respondents for about 76% and the female got the lowest percentage of 24%.

Table 1.3 Frequency Distribution and Percentage of the Educational Attainment of

the Repondents

Table 1.3 shows the frequency distribution and the percentage of the respondents in

terms of their educational attainment. From the table 1.3, the respondents who attain the

Sex

Frequency Percent

Male 76 76.0

Female 24 24.0

Total 100 100.0

Educational Attainment

Frequency Percent

No formal education 1 1.0

Elementary 42 42.0

High school 33 33.0

College 23 23.0

Na 1 1.0

Total 100 100.0

43

elementary level in education got the highest percentage of 42%, high school level got

33%.

Table 1.4 Frequency Distribution and Percentage of the Religion of the

Repondents


terms of their religion. The result shows that the dominant religion of the respondents is

Catholic which got the percentage of 95% and only 5% for Christians.

Religion

Frequency Percent

Catholic 95 95.0

Christian 5 5.0

Total 100 100.0

44

Table 1.5 Frequency Distribution and Percentage of the Income Range of the

Repondents


terms of their income range.

Table 1.6 Frequency Distribution and Percentage of the Classification of the

Repondents

Income range

Frequency Percent

30k - 50k 51 51.0

51k - 70k 24 24.0

71k - 90k 12 12.0

91k - 110k 7 7.0

111k - 130k 2 2.0

131k - 150k 1 1.0

151k - 170k 1 1.0

191k - 210k 2 2.0

Total 100 100.0

Classification

Frequency Percent

Land owner 31 31.0

Non-Land owner 69 69.0

Total 100 100.0

45

Table 1.6 shows the frequency distribution and percentage of the respondents in terms

of their classification as a peasant. The result shows that there are 31 peasants who own

farm land and 69 peasants who do not own any farm land.

Table 2. Mean, Standard Deviation and Interpretation for the Sub-questions on

Political Awareness.

Statement Mean Standard

Deviation

Interpretation

1. Are you aware that some farm lands were turned

into Mining operation? 2.34 .934 Moderately Aware

2. Subdivision, villages and buildings are increasing

in number and this is because of farm

lands that were converted

2.80 1.005 Aware

3. Government is proposing a project which is the

MRT 7 and many farm lands will be affected

because of this project.

1.96 1.014 Moderately Aware

1. In Marcos era, the Americans were able to hoard

seedlings that can grow healthy without chemical

sprays such as pesticides etc., with the hoarding;

corporations were able to monopolize biocide industry.

1.42 .699 Not Aware

2. The agribusiness and food TNCs is currently

controlling 90 percent of the market, thus effectively

dominating all aspects of food production

1.34 .670 Not Aware

3. World Trade Organization (WTO) came to Third

World countries and introduced the Agreement on

Agriculture that is wreaking havoc on farmers and

peasants increasing landlessness, intensifying

exploitation and spreading poverty

1.19 .486 Not Aware

46

Table 2 shows the Mean and Standard Deviation of each sub question for level of political

awareness. It is evident in the results that on sub question 2 in the issue of privatization,

respondents were aware that many of farm lands were converted into buildings and

subdivisions. However, in all of the sub questions in the issue of monopoly, sub question

3 in the issue of tenancy, and sub question 3 in the issue of lack of subsidy, respondents

were not aware of such. In the remaining sub questions, respondent answered that they

were moderately aware.

1. Are you aware that being a tenant means that you

have full control and possession on the land for the

duration of Lawful occupancy?

1.90 .916 Moderately Aware

2. Some tenants were ranting about acquiring farm

lands since they were a long time occupants on the

said lands. Are you aware that peasants/farmers can

acquire lands that they have been occupying or

renting for the long period of time?


3. Do you know Philippine Rice Share Tenancy Act?

Are you aware of the increasing inequality of the

tenants and the landlords bargaining power?

1.39 .695 Not Aware

1. Subsidy is a form of financial support of the

government to the economic sector. Are you aware

that there is a shortage of subsidy among peasants?


2. Fertilizer fund scam has been an issue over time in

the Philippines .Are you aware that there is really a

scam when it comes to agricultural sector?


3. There was a withdrawal of farm subsidies dictated

by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that resulted

to limited capacity of farmers to increase productivity.

Are you aware of this issue?

1.38 .708 Not Aware

47

Table 3.1 Frequency Distribution and Percentage of the Responses of Peasants

with their extent of Political Awareness in the Sub-question Number 1 on the

Issue of Privatization

Frequency Percent

Not aware 23 23.0

Moderately aware 29 29.0

Aware 39 39.0

Very aware 9 9.0

Total 100 100.0




Frequency Percent

Not aware 13 13.0


Aware 35 35.0

Very aware 29 29.0

Total 100 100.0

48




Frequency Percent

Not aware 46 46.0


Aware 28 28.0

Very aware 7 7.0

Total 100 100.0

The tables show the frequency distribution and percentage of the responses of

peasants in the issue of privatization. On the first question of how they are aware that

lands were turned into mining operation, the highest number of peasants answered that

they are aware with a total of 39 percent. On the second question of how aware they are

that subdivision, villages and buildings are increasing in numbers and this is because of

farm lands that were converted, the highest number of peasants answered that they are

aware with a total of 35 percent. And lastly on the question of how aware they are that

the government is preparing a project which is the MRT 7 and many farm lands will be

affected because of this project, the highest number of peasants answered that they are

not aware with a total of 46 percent.

49

Table 3.4. Frequency Distribution and Percentage of the Responses of Peasants


Issue of Monopoly



Issue of Monopoly

Frequency Percent

Not aware 70 70.0


Aware 12 12.0

Total 100 100.0

Frequency Percent

Not aware 77 77.0


Aware 11 11.0

Total 100 100.0

50



Issue of Monopoly.

The tables show the frequency distribution and percentage distribution and

percentage of the responses of peasants in the issue of monopoly. On the first question

of how aware they are that during the Marcos era, Americans were able to hand seedlings

and that corporation were able to monopolize biocide industry the highest number of

peasants answered that they are not aware with a total of 70 percent. On the second

question of how aware they are that agribusiness and food TNCs is currently controlling

90 percent of the market dominating all aspects of food production, highest number of

peasants answered they are not aware with a total of 77 percent. Lastly on the question

of how World Trade Organization (WTO) came to third world countries and introduced the

agreement on agriculture that is breaking on thousand peasants that increases

landlessness, intensifying exportation and spreading poverty many of them answered that

they are not aware with a total of 85 percent.

Frequency Percent

Not aware 85 85.0


Aware 4 4.0

Total 100 100.0

51



Issue of Tenancy

Frequency Percent

Not aware 44 44.0


Aware 28 28.0

Very aware 3 3.0

Total 100 100.0



Issue of Tenancy

Frequency Percent

Not aware 41 41.0


Aware 23 23.0

Very aware 8 8.0

Total 100 100.0

52



Issue of Tenancy

Frequency Percent

Not aware 73 73.0


Aware 12 12.0

Total 100 100.0

The tables show the frequency distribution and percentage of the responses of

peasants in the issue of tenancy. On the first question of how aware they are that being

a tenant means that you have full control and possession on the land for the duration of

lawful occupancy, the highest number of peasants answered that they are not aware with

total of 44 percent. On the second question on how aware they are that some

peasants/farmers can acquire lands that they have been occupying or renting for the long

period of time, the highest number of peasants answered that they are not aware with a

total of 41 percent. And lastly on the question of how aware they are of the increasing

inequality of the tenants and the landlords bargaining power, the highest number of

peasants answered that they are not aware with a total of 73 percent.

53



Issue of Lack of Subsidy

Frequency Percent

Not aware 35 35.0


Aware 26 26.0

Very aware 8 8.0

Total 100 100.0




Frequency Percent

Not aware 34 34.0


Aware 26 26.0

Very aware 10 10.0

Total 100 100.0

54




Frequency Percent

Not aware 74 74.0


Aware 10 10.0

Very aware 1 1.0

Total 100 100.0

The table shows the frequency distribution and percentage responses of peasants

in the issue of subsidy. On the first question on how aware they are that subsidy is a form

of financial support of the government to the economic sector and that there is a shortage

of this subsidy, the highest number of peasants answered that they are not aware with

the total of 35 percent. On the second question of how aware they are on the fertilizer

fund scam and that there is really a scam when it comes to agriculture sector, highest

number of peasants answered that they are not aware with a total of 34 percent. Lastly,

on how aware they are that there was a withdrawal of farm subsidies dictated by the IMF

that resulted to limited capacity of farmers to increase productivity, the highest number of

peasants answered that they are answered with a total of 74 percent.

55

Frequency Distribution and Percentage of the Responses of Peasants with their

extent of Social Discontent in the Issues of Privatization, Monopoly, Tenancy and

Lack of Subsidy


with their extent of Social Discontent in the Issue of Privatization


terms of their level of discontent on the issues of privatization. The result shows that 52%

of the total respondents are discontented with regards to their knowledge on the issue of

privatization.

Frequency Percent

No Reaction 4 4.0

Fairly discontented 1 1.0

Slightly discontented 13 13.0

Discontented 52 52.0

Highly discontented 30 30.0

Total 100 100.0

56


with their extent of Social Discontent in the Issue of Monopoly


terms of their level of discontent on the issue of monopoly. The result shows that the

respondents are slightly discontented, discontented and highly discontented. About 23%

peasants have the same reaction towards the issue on monopoly.


with their extent of Social Discontent in the Issue of Tenancy

Frequency Percent

No Reaction 10 10.0





Total 100 100.0

Frequency Percent

No Reaction 24 24.0





Total 100 100.0

57


terms of their level of discontent on the issue of tenancy. The result shows that 28% of

the respondents are highly discontented on the issue of tenancy.


with their extent of Social Discontent in the Sub-question Number 1 in the Issue

of Lack of Subsidy


terms of their level of discontent on the issue of lack of subsidy. The result shows that

33% of the respondents are highly discontented on the issue of lack of subsidy.

Frequency Percent

No Reaction 7 7.0





Total 100 100.0

58

Descriptive Statistics of Political Awareness in terms of the Issues of

Privatization, Monopoly, Tenancy and Lack of Subsidy

Table 5. Mean, Standard Deviation and Interpretation of the Descriptive Statistics

of Political Awareness in the Issues of Privatization, Monopoly, Tenancy and Lack

of Subsidy

Table 5 shows the descriptive statistics of political awareness in terms of the issues. The

result shows that the respondents are moderately aware on the questions regarding on

the issues of privatization, monopoly, tenancy and lack of subsidy. The factors that the

researchers laid down in the study have affected their awareness. However, on the issue

of monopoly, the result shows that the respondents are not aware on the questions

regarding on the issue.

Descriptive Statistics

Mean Std. Deviation Interpretation

Political awareness on Privatization 2.37 .809 Moderately aware

Political awareness on Monopoly 1.32 .557 Not aware

Political awareness on Tenancy 1.76 .743 Moderately aware

Political awareness on Lack of Subsidy 1.86 .687 Moderately aware

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Descriptive Statistics of Social Discontent in terms of the Issues of

Privatization, Monopoly, Tenancy and Lack of Subsidy

Table 6. Mean, Standard Deviation and Interpretation of the Descriptive Statistics

of Social Discontent in the Issues of Privatization, Monopoly, Tenancy and Lack

of Subsidy

Table 6 shows the descriptive statistics of level of social discontent of the respondents in

terms of the issues. The result shows that the respondents are slightly discontented on

the issue of monopoly and tenancy while some respondents are discontented on the issue

of privatization and lack of subsidy. Based on the results, the peasants are discontented

on any issue that they are facing.


Mean Std. Deviation Interpretation

Level of discontent on Privatization issue 4.03 .915 Discontented

Level of discontent on Monopoly issue 3.28 1.303 Slightly discontented

Level of discontent on Tenancy issue 3.18 1.553 Slightly discontented

Level of discontent on Lack of subsidy issue 3.62 1.309 Discontented

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Descriptive Statistics of the Efficacy of the Factors of Political Socialization

Table 7. Mean, Standard Deviation and Rank of the Descriptive Statistics of the

Efficacy of the Factors of Political Socialization


Mean Rank Std. Deviation Rank

What factor affected you the most in understanding/knowing the issues with

regards to: Religion 4.88 .383

5


regards to: Education 3.56 .857

4


regards to: Media 2.02 .985

2


regards to: Family 2.82 .989

3


regards to: Peer groups or organization 1.72 .854

1

Table 7 shows the descriptive statistics of the order of efficacy of the factors affecting

political socialization. It is evident in the results that Peer groups or organization is in the

highest rank, followed by Media, Family, Education and lastly Religion. This is to show

that Peer groups and organization is the factor that affected peasants of Brgy. Talipapa

and Brgy. Cinco-cinco the most and can be concluded that their political awareness came

from this factor.

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Table 8. Relationship of Political Awareness and Social Discontent in the Issues

**. Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).

*. Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (2-tailed).

Table 8 shows the Pearson correlation and relationship of political awareness and

social discontent in the issues. The result shows that the relationship of political

awareness and social discontent on privatization are not significant. Same with the

Political

Awareness

Social

Discontent

P-value

Pearson

Correlation

Relationship

Political

awareness on

Privatization

Social Discontent

on Privatization

.868

.017

Not significant

Political

awareness on

Monopoly

Social Discontent

on Monopoly

.373

.090

Not significant

Political

awareness on

Tenancy

Social Discontent

on Tenancy

.001

.327**

Significant

Political

awareness on

Lack of Subsidy

Social Discontent

on Lack of

Subsidy

.015

.242*

Significant

62

relationship of political awareness and social discontent on monopoly, the result also

shows that their relationship is not significant. However, the political awareness and social

discontent on tenancy and lack of subsidy are both significant.

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Chapter V

The last chapter presents the summary of findings, the conclusion and

recommendations offered by the researchers on the study of political awareness as a

determinant of social discontent among peasants in Barangay Talipapa and Barangay

Cinco-cinco, Nueva Ecija.

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

On the basis of the significant facts collected and presented in Chapter IV, the

following findings were observed.

1. That the majority of the respondents were 40-50 years old with a percentage of

33%.

2. That the majority of the respondents were males with a percentage of 76%.

3. That the majority of the respondents attained the elementary level in education

with a percentage of 42%.

4. That the majority of the respondents were Catholic with a percentage of 95%.

5. That the majority of the respondents have the annual income range of 30,000

pesos to 50,000 pesos with a percentage of 51%.

6. That the majority of the respondents were non-land owner with a percentage of

69%.

7. That the level of political awareness of respondents in sub question #1 on the issue

of privatization is moderately aware with 2.34 mean.

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of privatization is aware with 2.80 mean.


of privatization is moderately aware with 1.96 mean.


of monopoly is not aware with 1.42 mean.





13. That the level of political awareness of respondents in sub question #1 on the

issue of tenancy is moderately aware with 1.90 mean.


of tenancy is moderately aware with 1.98 mean.


of tenancy is not aware with 1.39 mean.


of lack of subsidy is moderately aware with 2.07 mean.


of lack of subsidy is moderately aware with 2.12 mean.


of lack of subsidy is not aware with 1.38 mean.

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19. That the majority of the respondents answered aware in sub question #1 on the

issue of privatization with a percentage of 39%.

20. That the majority of the respondents answered aware in sub question #2 on the

issue of privatization with a percentage of 35%.

21. That the majority of the respondents answered not aware in sub question #3 on

the issue of privatization with a percentage of 46%.


the issue of monopoly with a percentage of 70%.






the issue of tenancy with a percentage of 44%.

26. That the majority of the respondents an

Thesis 2

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