Proem

Bohol was made a separate province from Cebu on March 3, 1854. The first annual provincial budget was a little over P5,120. The appointed Politico-Military governor of Bohol, Capt. Guillermo Kirkpatrick brought with him from the national treasury the amount of a little over P1,000 to cover initial expenses.

We must bear in mind that the concept of "inflation" was not present during Spanish times. Richness was measured by the amount of actual money in specie or coins in possession of the person.

Who Were the Rich?

When Bohol became a province, the rich were the Spaniards (priests, soldiers, and civilians) and the Chinese mestizos who were Christianized. This was because they were favored by the laws imposed during that time. The actual supply of money trickled down to the native Boholanos through the salaried Spaniards and through business transactions with the Spaniards and Chinese mestizos or laboring for them.

The Favored Chinese Mestizos

During that time there was a law that allowed a monopoly by one Chinese mestizo per province for a single line of business upon payment of a "contractor or franchise" fee. If a Spaniard was interested, he would be given preference.

In 1855

When the construction of the old provincial capitol building was started in 1855, the contractor or franchise holder for building construction in Bohol was Esteban Butalid. He was a Christianized Chinese mestizo who was formerly known as "Quiozon." The budget for the construction of the provincial capitol building was a little over P2,000. Esteban Butalid became the ascendant of the Butalids' in Bohol including former Provincial Governor Rolando Butalid.

In 1878

In year 1878, we have a record that Don Juan Reyes and his wife Doña Bernardina Fortich became the franchise holder of "juego de gallos de la provincial de Bohol" (cockfighting in the province of Bohol). The franchise was for three (3) years starting from June 7, 1878. Both Don Juan Reyes and his wife were Spaniards and living in the town of Dauis, Bohol. Unfortunately we do not have the data for amount paid for the franchise.

In 1884

In the year 1884, the franchise for cockfighting in the province of Bohol was obtained by a Christianized Chinese named Victoriano Herrera Lim-Chengco. The amount paid for the 3-year franchise was P8,215.85.

How Rich Could He Be?

Consider that in 1884, the first-class boat fare from Maribojoc to Manila was two pesos (P2). Now the first-class boat fare from Tagbilaran to Manila is about P2,000. The salary of an employee during that time was two pesos (P2) per month. Compare it to the lowest government and receiving about P6,000 per month.

If we use the conversion from boat fares which is already 1,000 times, the amount paid by Victoriano Herrera Lim-Chengco would amount to P8,215,850 today. If we use the conversion from government employee salary which is already 3,000 times, the amount will be equivalent to P24,647,550 today.

Can you imagine today how rich would be a person who can afford to pay P24,647,550 franchise fee for 3 years or P8,215,850 per year for the monopoly of cockfighting in Bohol? So there were really rich people in Bohol during Spanish times but they were only the Spaniards and the Chinese Mestizos.

Cockfighting must be rampant

If you pay more than P8 million per year franchise fee (in today's money) for cockfighting you must expect to recover your investment. You must hold cockfighting as often as possible to give you some profits. You must have also as many cockpits as you can in order to hold these cockfights.

You must also bear in mind that at those times there was no other means of diversion or entertainment except cockfighting. So those who could not afford to pay the permits from the franchise holder would hold a tukis or illegal cockfighting and run the risk of being arrested. This is still true even today.

After the passage of 123 years the situation is practically the same. It is still the Chinese in Bohol who are rich.

(Reference: Varias Provincias, Bohol (1871-1892), Bundle 113, National Archives, Manila)