History of Hacienda de Imus, 1590-1910.

The history of the Spanish friars in the Philippines is more than a twice-told story, but it is a story worth retelling. The five religious orders that sent missionaries to the Philippines had a colorful career and they all deserve a chapter in the grand narrative of our country's history. They made lasting impact not only in the realm of faith but also in politics, education, culture, and economic life of the Filipinos. One aspect of Philippine history that the friars had a significant impact was in the field of agriculture. Of all the Spaniards who went to the Philippines, they emerged as the biggest investors in land and made significant contributions in the development of the country's agricultural potentials. This book continues to unravel the different issues connected with the friar haciendas. It will be different from previous studies because it focuses only on the Recollect hacienda in Cavite. It will give a panoramic view of the history of the hacienda and analyze its development within the context of the local history of Cavite. The main body of the book discusses its origin, labor force, system of production and the different problems and controversies that affected its operation. Its time frame starts from 1590 and ends in 1910. The former represents the year the Recollects received the first land grant from the King of Spain and the latter was the year the hacienda was offered for sale. The author based his narrative on the documents that the Recollects submitted to the Taft Commission and other primary sources in the U.S. Archives and the libraries and archives in Manila.