Land ownership became a primary means of social status after Spanish conquest and remains so centuries later. Land-owning elite ruled like feudal lords, even though the Spanish governors in Manila relied on traditional tribal chiefs to administer local lands. Just as Philippine religion reflects a combination of Roman Catholic and indigenous Philippine beliefs, so too does Philippine social structure reflect a combination of European and Asian practices. The native Philippines, or "indios," practiced feudalism and slavery but with a different means of disseminating social class status than was used in Europe in the sixteenth century ("A Brief History"). Therefore, much of what distinguishes the Philippines from its Pacific Rim and South Pacific counterparts is owed to pre-conquest social and cultural traditions. The religious beliefs and social practices still extant on the islands today are not only a product of the Spanish invasion but also of the native practices. What makes the Philippines unique is the combination of native beliefs and practices with those of Spain in particular. Similarly, French Asian colonies combined...
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