This should also be my Phiippine Travel Blog

Just came back from Vigan. An epic 10hour drive with a 2-year old little boy. No nanny, just me, my wife and our little boy. I have a lot of notes to download into the web, I am just really tired.

To compound it I got LBM from eating in a mom&pop canteena. I should be more wary of such risks in the future.

Oh yeah, I was considering putting my research notes here. Particularly when I visit historical places. Having come from Vigan City, and walked along Crisologo Street a lot, while Staying in Ciudad Fernandina Hotel, there were a lot of ideas and learning regarding how the economy and social dynamics of a City of the 19th was at the time.

I just wish there was a Carlos Celdran like historian who was very charismatic and very knowledgeable regarding the town. I could help out using my knowledge regarding live-action role-playing's theatrical productions side regarding a Live and Interactive intrigue and drama that happens across the ages from the 19C to the 1960s.

I was imagining wireless hidden lapells, cameras recording all that is happening to be composed after tourist season. The "Theater Production" happens in front of tourists, the way it would in a Renaissance
Fair with some theater, folk music, and a chance for immersion for people i the age.

I'm not a Vigan Expert, but I know more than, sadly, most. I know more about the era with its science, economy, politics, and culture. Working with a Script writer, i can have various dramas going on and playing out in the course of the tourist season. Tourists get to see a day in the life, with some modern edits when it came to sanitation, and allow themselves to get immersed.

the drama I had in mind is a Romeo and Juliet, who are from two competing families vying for control of the City. There will be two plays going on either end of the street, 2 hours each. There will be "backroom" activities that allow servants and elite on the streets going about their business. they ignore people out of costume, and interact with those in costume (which may be tourists). They stay in character. Some editing where they speak in Tagalog and English, particularly the "elites" as well as other languages as their character sees fit.

There will be cameras and modern items, that are pointedly ignored. The drama will be edited, even with the modern tourists and props present. The Big clincher is the Intrigue and Mystery. Tourists will have clues to where the drama is going. There will be multiple takes and twists recorded and played out live, with audience participation deciding which one will air while all the alternate story lines will be available in download or DVD.

All immersive Tourists, get to interactive and even revel with the characters. They can be guests of the house, with little scripts regarding their interaction. they can be a distant relative or friend on a visit to the city, a potential client, a business partner or employee, or a stranger who looks for company.

After the interaction, there will be time for Pictures. For special requests, for the small scripts, sale of the video clips and highlights of the interaction.

Its Alive! 19th Century Philippines is my Signature Game Setting

Hoping to start GMing again, I have to say Mahadlika or my take on the Noli Me Tangere will be part of my signature settings. I have begun trying to record the Charles Derbyshire version of the Noli, and OMG how tiring it is to control my accent for the duration of reading it.

I have recorded as much as 1 hours worth and I'm not yet even done with the Authors intro. I really want to make Noli accessible, by allowing people too busy to learn Philippine history to do so on the commute.

I am recording using my Note 2 record function while reading the PDF of the Noli in my Ipad 1. I just need some quiet. I hope to finish an hour a week. I won't be editing it to make it better, since I have no time to do so, people will have to read it for themselves or listen to my work. Hopefully I will get better as I read through it all.

Philippine History Awareness or even Interest is practically non-existent even in Facebook. I guess times are that hard that History has become a Luxury and there are too many competing distractions.

I even started a Philippine History Group in Facebook. No biters either. I used to be part of Amang Pulo in Yahoo Groups, and there was no activity. The closes to Philippine History enthusiasts are WW2 Philippines Airsoft group in FB.

I am currently disbelieving what the current reality is telling me: there are no more filipinos who would care to remember the mistakes of the past. Because of this, It is of a greater likelihood we are doomed to repeat it.

Example: Carlos Celdran and the Offending Religious Feelings debacle. Not only did people forget the history of the church in the Philippines but also the people they have killed and massacres they brought about. Events Pule massacre, Gomburza, Rizal, 1888 Anti Cura petition, the land grabbing that they still posses to this day. Sigh... mistakes of the past, you don't have to forgive them you just have to learn from them.

I know people hate this part of Philippine history: the Crap we took. I realized the game I was running was Cthuluh-esque. A dis-empowerment Fantasy, to reflect the overwhelming difficulty to change and improve life and how this is so much of a sacrifice, with almost nothing to expect in return. Since most gamers want an Empowerment Fantasy, Mahadlika and a Noli or El-Fili game would be a very difficult sell.

personally, i find Dis-empowerment game a form of cognitive correction exercise.  The ability to deal with a reality that is very difficult to accept or to manage. Getting conditioned in such a game, helps any person weigh risks with a conservative and pragmatic eye. It helps us exercise digging deep and understanding our main objectives, and being able to plan and strategies actions towards that goal.

Every end of Chapter I pan to talk about the "cliff notes" or main points.


Opening Text
Translators Introduction Part 1
Translators Introduction Part 2
This is my audio reading of Charles' Derbyshire Translation of Noli Me Tangere. this is amature, and do not expect awesome ness. this is meant for people who are too busy and are willing to put up with my reading.

If I run out of material like History of the Philippine People, Roots of Dependency, Filipinos at War etc.. where I deal with Chapters and Cliff Notes.

Getting back to Mahadlika

I'm narrowing my gaming related writing to my Mahadlika blog... and not so much gaming related writing but Story-writing. I'll focus on putting down the setting of Mahadlika and moving towards fleshing out its characters and locals.

This is supposed to be an altered history setting, with the intent of pouring more gasoline in the tumultuous period of Philippine history by changing some key economic and political factors in order to fast track things along.

I won't be using real people from history, but people born into a strange and different philippines of the 19th century. the Philippines was roughly 2-3 million at the time, but the amount of control, taxable populace and commerce intensity was very low because of some very basic economic aspects noted by Jonathan Fast in Roots of Dependency.

I will begin to point out the differences and illuminate the cast of thousands. Write now Edit later, so the quality is not going to be great but at least the good ideas are going to finally find some readers. Anyway, this is a labor of love than a real business plan.

I will be working on some outlines this week and will be writing and posting next week.

Here is Jeds Character, some questions

Why is she unmarried? Women are typically forced to marry by society, an admirer or her relatives. Some reason why she is unmarried would be helpful. At default assume, she was but it is learned she was barren. This embarrassed her husbands family and they filed for annulment. You are free to make up your own reason.
Quirks? 5 distinguishing habits, or marks that make her stand out.
Stage Name or Real Name?
Flesh out the background. Feel free task about more about any historical details that might help.
flesh out her motivations, figure out what is her day to day conflict and what keeps her from marrying again or attaching herself to some man as a mistress. Very strong motivations are usually attached to independence.

Feel free modify her. I'll come up with my own version based on this. (will update probably next week)

Character: “Sophia Bella”

Archetype:

Description :

Background:

Attributes [40]: ST 9 [-10]; DX 10 [0]; IQ 12 [40]; HT 10 [0].

Secondary Characteristics [0]: Dmg 1d-2/1d [0]; Basic Lift 16lbs [0]; HP 9 [0]; FP 10 [0]; Per 12 [0]; Will 12 [0]; Basic Speed 5 [0]; Move 5 [0]; Dodge 8 [0];

Social Background [5]:

• Spanish Cultural Familiarity [0];

• Speak Kastil (native) [0];

• Tagalog Cultural Familiarity [1];

• Chinese Cultural Familiarity [1].

• Speak Tagalog (fluent) [3];

• R/W Spanish (fluent) [0];

Advantages [70]:

• Ally (Madrid Olivera) [5];

• Appearance: Beautiful [12];

• Combat Reflex [15];

• Charisma +2 [10];

• Empathy [15];

• Reputation (Performer: Manila Area; recognition-10) +2 [3].

• Fine Manual Dexterity +2 [10]

Disadvantages [-60]:

• Code of Honor (Lady) [-5];

• Duty, Non-Hazardous (Performer) [-5];

• Intolerance (Clergy) [-5];

• Pacifism (Cannot Harm Innocents) [-10];

• Secret: Agnostic (Serious Embarrassment) [-5];

• Sense of Duty (Friends and Loyal Patrons) [-5];

• Social Stigma (2nd Class Citizen, Barren) [-10];

• Strength -1 [-10].

Quirks [-5]:

• 
  

Skills [65]:

Primary Skills [31]:

Intra-Personal Skills [18]:

• Psychology (H) IQ [4]-15Ə;

• Body Language (A) Per [2]-12;

• Diplomacy (H) IQ [4]-14©;

• Acting (A) IQ [2]-14©;

• Public Speaking (A) IQ [2]-14©;

• Observation (A) Per [2]-12

• Carousing (A) HT [2]-14©.

Performer Skills [13]:

• Artist (Designer) (H) IQ-2 [1]-10;

• Profession (Actor) (A) IQ [2]-12;

• Performance (A) IQ [2]-12;

• Literature (Theater) (H) IQ-2 [1]-10;

• Writer (A) IQ [2]-12;

• Make Up (E) IQ [1]-12;

• Disguise (A) IQ [2]-12;

• Sewing (A) IQ [2]-12.

Secondary Skills [21]:

Unusual Skills [21]:

• Detect Lies (H) Per [4]-12Ə

• Sex Appeal (A) HT [2]-14@©

• Sleight of Hand (H) DX [4]-12§

• Pick Pocket (H) DX [4]-12§

• Filch (A) DX [2]-12§

• Hold-out (A) DX [2]-12§

• Merchant (A) IQ [1]-14©

• Knife (E) DX [1]-10

Background Skills [13]:

• Area Knowledge (Manila) (E) IQ [0]-12

Cultural Background [4]:

• Theology (Roman Catholic) (H) IQ-2 [1]-10;

• Literature (Spanish) (H) IQ-2 [1]-10;

• History (Local) (H) IQ-2 [1]-10;

• Current Affairs (Local) (E) IQ [1]-12;

Status Background [9]:

• Savoir-Faire (High Society) (E) IQ-2 [1]-12;

• House Keeping (E) IQ [1]-12;

• Dancing (A) DX [2]-10

• Musical Instrument (H) IQ-2 [1]-12§;

• Singing (H) HT [1]-10;

• Savoir-Faire (Servant) (E) IQ-2 [1]-12.

• Current Affairs (High Society) (E) IQ [1]-12;

• First Aid (E) IQ [1]-12;

@ - Appearance

§ - Fine manual Dexterity

Ə – Empathy

Reaction Bonus: +4 to everyone else, +6 to men, +1 in business transactions, +2 for people who recognize her. A the highest +9 doing business with working class men who watched her perform.

Appearance +2/+4

Charisma +2

Merchant Skill +1

Reputation +2

Worn:

• Clothes (status 0) ($120), 4lbs

• Shoes $40, 2lbs

• Gloves $15 neg

• Total $55, 2lbs

Carried:

• Umbrella $100 4lb

• Dagger $20 0.25lbs

• Pouch $10, 3lbs

  • Personal Basics $5 1lb

• Flask $10 1lbs

• Total $145, 9.25lbs

Alesandro Liu'wei'lin, sample character

Another character for the game. Will try to come up with one more tonight. Alesandro here is shrewd businessman and negotiator. On of his key strategic strengths is the diverse knowledge he can draw on because of his business. As an adventurer, he is an opportunist and will enjoy a good puzzle.

Character: Alesandro Liu'wei'lin

Archetype: Chinese Mestizo Illustrado

Description: tall 5'6”, (about 140lbs). He has a fair complexion, narrow eyes, a thick pencil mustache and long braided uncut hair. He is slender with long narrow fingers. He is always with his body guard and man servant.

Background: Alesandro's father was a native Tagolog from who was very young when he came to Manila for work. A Chinese carpenter and wood worker employed him. Circumstance had it that, he was a very enterprising youth and he found his employer suppliers to bring him a lot of lumber.

He moved mostly in and out of manila doing construction projects. His employer knew methods of construction that didn't use nails but was just as effective. They were able to employ it while maintain Spanish architecture. In a few years, the business grew large employing a 100 men who divide their work hauling lumber and doing construction.

His empoyer's son had a falling out and went back to the mainland. This broke the old man's heart and quickly many of what they have strive to work for came falling apart. Alesandro's father took the matter to his own hands, and proposed to marry his master's daughters. He told him, if the name mattered so much to him, he would give up his own and worship him in their altar.

His father worked for most of his life for his master, and marrying him off to the help wasn't appealing despite the necessity at that time. The old man died that night after considering the desperation he has fallen into.

The eldest daughter, carried on and married Alesandro's father. His uncle came back after hearing what had happened, only it to find too late to prevent the marriage. He tried to take with him, is two other sisters. They did not go with him, and he left empty handed.

Alesandro's aunts and mother raised him and handled much of the business. He and his brothers and cousins were sent to his uncle to apprentice in carpentry and wood working when they were young. Alesandro and his brothers studied civil engineering at the college, and learned to deal with people from his father.

Alesandro runs a shop that makes parts for wood block printing. This is his cover business, in reality he secretly makes copies and knock offs of western books and sells them.

Alesandro has with him always his body guard and his “mistress”. Estella, his significant other, is a very attractive “reformed” prostitute who Alesandro's family severely disapproves of.

Attributes [40]: ST 10 [10]; DX 10 [0]; IQ 12 [40]; HT 10 [0].

Secondary Characteristics [0]: Dmg 1d-2/1d [0]; Basic Lift 20lbs [0]; HP 10 [0]; FP 12 [0]; Per 12 [0]; Will 10 [0]; Basic Speed 6 [0]; Move 6 [0]; Dodge 10 [0] 10 [0];

Social Background [10]:

• Chinese (Cultural Familiarity) [0].

• Filipino Cultural Familiarity [1];

• Speak Tagalog (native) [0]

• Speak Amoy (Fluent) [3];

• R/W Chinese (native) [0];

• Western, Cultural Familiarity [1];

• Speak Spanish (accented) [2];

• R/W Western (fluent) [3];

Advantages [80]:

• Wealthy [20]

• Status 1 [0]

• Contact Group (Chinese Community) [5]

• Contact Group (Civil Guard) [5]

• Ally (Body Guard) [15]

• Ally (Mistress) [15]

• Intuitive mathematician [5]

• Versatility [5]

• Photographic Memory [10]

Disadvantages [-60]:

• Social Stigma (Second Class Citizen) [-5];

• Pacifism (Cannot Harm Innocents) [-10];

• Code of Honor (Professional) [-5];

• Secret: Criminal Activity (Prison/Exile) [-20];

• Bad vision, Mitigated with Glasses [-10]

• Sense of Duty (Family, and Friends) [-5];

• Duty, Non-Hazardous (Business Owner) [-5]

Quirks [-5]:

• Collects Rare and Expensive books (not a connoisseur)

• Mixes western and Chinese dress

• Likes eating out (and criticizes the food).

• A bit argumentative and particular

• Drinks a lots of stimulants, if he can't find any will complain about it.

Skills [55]:

Primary Skills [30]:

Intra-Personal Skills [14]:

• Psychology (H) IQ [4]-12;

• Body Language (A) Per [2]-12;

• Savoir-Faire (High Society) (E) IQ [1]-12;

• Diplomacy (A) IQ [4]-12;

• Acting (A) IQ [2]-12.

• Observation (A) Per [2]-12

Business Skills [9]:

• Administration (A) IQ [2]-12

• Merchant (A) IQ [2]-12

• Accounting (H) IQ-2 [1]-10

• Economics (H) IQ-2 [1]-10

• Market Analysis (H) IQ-2 [1]-10

• Finance (H) IQ-2 [1]-10

• Current Affairs (Business) (H) IQ-2 [1]-10

Underground Skills [7]:

• Gambling (A) IQ [2]-12

• Streetwise (A) IQ [2]-12

• Poison (A) Per [2]-12

• Current Affairs (Criminal) (E) Per [1]-12

Secondary Skills [15]:

Education [9]:

• Theology (Roman Catholic) (H) IQ-2 [1]-10;

• Literature (Western) (H) IQ-2 [1]-10

• History (Local) (H) IQ-2 [1]-10

• Math (Applied) (H) IQ-2 [1]-10

• Engineering (Civil) (H) IQ-2 [1]-10

• Engineering (Mechanical) (H) IQ-2 [1]-10

• Math (Geometry) (H) IQ-2 [1]-10

• Writing (A) IQ [2]-12

• Research (A) IQ-1 [1]-11

Personal Defense Skills [6]:

• Judo (E) DX [4]-10

• Rapier (A) DX [2]-10

• Fast Draw (rapier) (E) DX [1]-10

Background Skills [10]:

• Area Knowledge (Manila) (E) IQ [0]-12

Everyman Skills [4]:

• Riding (A) DX-1 [1]-11

• Packing (A) IQ-1 [1]-11

• Housekeeping (E) IQ [1]-12

• Area Knowledge (Laguna) (E) [1]-12

Chinese Background [6]:

• Theology (Confucian) (E) IQ-2 [1]-10

• Carpentry (Chinese) (E) IQ [1]-12

• Literature (Chinese) (H) IQ-2 [1]-10

• Savoir Faire (Chinese) (E) IQ [1]-12;

• Area Knowledge (Fujian) (E) IQ [1]-12

• Artist (Calligraphy) (H) IQ-2 [1]-10

Worn:

• Formal business Attire (status 1) ($240), 4lbs

• Shoes $40, 2lbs

• Gloves $30

• Total $70, 7lbs

Carried:

• Hidden Jian Umbrella $1400 4lb

• Revolver .36 $150 2.74lbs

• Pouch $10, 3lbs

  • Personal Basics $5 1lb

• Total $1560, 10lbs

Travel Load:

• Strong Pony (ST21) $1800

  • Medium Enc. 265lbs

  • Rider and Equipment 167lbs

  • Equestrian Gear

    • Bit and Bridle $35, 3lbs

    • Horseshoes $50, 4lbs

    • Saddle and Tack $150, 15lbs

    • Stirrups $125, 20lbs

    • Total $360 42lbs

  • Total $2160 209lbs

  • Move 4.2 on a trot, 8.4 on run.

• Pony (ST18) $1500

  • Medium Load 195lbs

  • Saddle Bag $100, 3lbs

    • Blanket $20, 4lb

    • Clothes ($600), 20lbs

    • Total $120, 24lbs

  • Saddle Bag $100, 3lbs

    • Rations $18 4.5lbs

    • 2 Water Skins $20, 16lbs

    • Total $138, 23.5lbs

  • Total $1758, 47.5lbs

• Total $3,918

Total $5587, has 15 real on him.

Diego Bautista, sample character

This is a sample character for my mahadlika game for the Saturday the 21st. Giving Ideas for my players and options for others to check out.

Character: Diego Bautista

Archetype: Caballero

Description (not going by historical standards of appearance): tall 5'8”, lean and athletic (about 150lbs). He is heavy calloused and scared from a hard life. His facial features reminiscent of being badly beaten while young but distinctly hard and prominent.

Background: Diego Bautista struggled growing up in the streets of Binondo. His father worked as servant and carriage driver of one of the many elite, who lived in the walled city of intramuros.

His life took a serious turn, when in an unfortunate street accident, he failed to stop in time and seriously embarrassed a spanish officer. The officer beat him. His father ran to check on his welfare when stumbled on the officer mercilessly pummeling his young boy. The sight caused him to lose his senses and attack the officer, who quickly shot him dead.

His mother died a year later from the loss and raising him alone. His last remaining relative, his uncle and brother to his mother, having found out too late decided to steal him away from his masters. He decided it would be best that he lived with him, and work in the ship yards.

Because of the many labor shortages of the succeeding year, he and his uncle was press ganged to serve as crew. Soon after the ship set sail, for Spain the crew mutinied and sailed instead to Mexico.

There Diego met with his adventures, joining soldiers turned bandits and lived a life of crime, hired goon, and opportunity. When his band slowly died out, he met many interesting people and grew up. Then, he decided to go back home and see what has changed while he was away.

Attributes [100]: ST 10 [0]; DX 12 [40]; IQ 12 [40]; HT 12 [20].

Secondary Characteristics [0]: Dmg 1d-2/1d [0]; Basic Lift 20lbs [0]; HP 10 [0]; FP 10 [0]; Per 12 [0]; Will 12 [0]; Basic Speed 6 [0]; Move 6 [0]; Dodge 10 [0];

Social Background [5]:

• Tagalog Cultural Familiarity [0];

• Speak Tagalog (native) [0];

• Western, Cultural Familiarity [1];

• Speak Spanish (fluent) [3];

• R/W Spanish (fluent) [0];

• South American (Cultural Familiarity) [1].

Advantages [25]:

• Unusual background (Soldiered in Mexico, seasoned in the Mexican-American skirmishes) [10];

• Combat Reflex [15].

Disadvantages [-60]:

• Social Stigma (Second Class Citizen) [-5];

• Pacifism (Cannot Harm Innocents) [-10];

• Code of Honor (Soldier) [-10];

• Intolerance (Peninsulares and Government) [-5];

• Secret: Agnostic (Serious Embarrassment) [-5];

• Sense of Duty (Friends and Loyal Patrons) [-5];

• Duty, Hazardous (Horseback Messenger) [-10]

• Curious (12) [-5]

• Nightmares (12) [-5].

Quirks [-5]:

• Carries a Notebook with him where ever he goes.

• Likes Horses

• Distinctive dark red brown scarring of his left eye. (making it look either red or black depending on the lightinig).

• Likes to finding small things to read

• A bit paranoid and careful

Skills [45]:

Primary Skills [22]:

Intra-Personal Skills [13]:

• Psychology (H) IQ [4]-12;

• Body Language (A) Per [2]-12;

• Leadership (A) Per [2]-12

• Savoir-Faire (Soldier) (E) IQ [1]-12

• Streetwise (A) IQ-1 [1]-11

• Intimidation (A) Will-1 [1]-11

• Acting (A) IQ [2]-12

Horsemanship [9]:

• Riding (A) DX [2]-12;

• Animal Handling (A) IQ-1 [1]-12

• Mounted Shooting Technique (Pistols) (H) Pistol-0 [5]^MA;

• No-Hands Riding (H) Riding+0 (if one hand, -2 if no hands) [2]^MA;

Secondary Skills [14]:

Soldier [9]:

• Soldier (A) IQ [2]-12;

• Hiking (A) HT [2]-12;

• Survival (Plains) (A) Per-1 [1]-11;

• Navigation (A) IQ-1 [1]-11;

• Swimming (E) HT [1]-12;

• Running (A) HT-1 [1]-10;

• Packing (A) IQ-1 [1]-11.

Combat Skills [5]:

• Pistols (E) DX [1]-12;

  • Weapon Bond Perk (Pistol, Colt Revolver) [1];

  • Fast Draw (Pistol) DX [1]-13;

  • Rifles (E) Pistols-2 [0]-10;

• Brawl (E) DX [1]-12;

• Knife (E) DX [1]-12.

Background Skills [7]:

• Area Knowledge (Manila) (E) IQ [0]-12

Filipino Growing Up [3]:

• Theology (Roman Catholic) (H) IQ-2 [1]-10;

• Savoir-Faire (Servant) (E) IQ-2 [1]-12;

• House Keeping (E) IQ [1]-12;

Unusual Background [4]:

• Area Knowledge (Rio Grande) (E) IQ [1]-12

• Ships (Crew) (E) IQ [1]-12

• Carpentry (E) IQ [1]-12

• Climbing (E) DX-1 [1]-11.

Worn:

• Clothes (status-1) ($60), 2lbs

• Rain-Coat (status-1) ($60), 2lbs

• Boots $80, 3lbs

• Total $80, 7lbs

Carried:

• Cheap Large Knife $24 1lb

• Revolver .36 $150 2.74lbs

• Pouch $10, 3lbs

  • Personal Basics $5 1lb

• Canteen $10 3lbs

• Total $189, 9.74lbs

Travel Load:

• Strong Pony (ST21) $1800

  • Medium Enc. 265lbs

  • Rider and Equipment 167lbs

  • Equestrian Gear

    • Bit and Bridle $35, 3lbs

    • Horseshoes $50, 4lbs

    • Saddle and Tack $150, 15lbs

    • Stirrups $125, 20lbs

    • Total $360 42lbs

  • Total 2160 209lbs

  • Move 4.2 on a trot, 8.4 on run.

• Pony (ST18) $1500

  • Medium Load 195lbs

  • Saddle Bag $100, 3lbs

    • Blanket $20, 4lb

    • Clothes ($600), 20lbs

    • Total $120, 24lbs

  • Saddle Bag $100, 3lbs

    • Rations $18 4.5lbs

    • 2 Water Skins $20, 16lbs

    • Total $138, 23.5lbs

  • Total $1758, 47.5lbs

• Total $3,918

Total $4187, $813 left (50 reals)

Crime, Society and the State in the 19C Philippines

Crime, Society, and The State in the nineteenth century Philippines

This is a great resource insight and ideas. Reverse engineering the anecdotal stories of crimes, contraversy, and deviant and dangerous behavior opened up a lot of game ideas.

Useful facts population growth is peged at around 1.6% annual. This is mainly due to the influx of Chinese and Provincial immigrants.

for GURPS
1 Peso = 8 Reals = 32 Quartos = 128 maravedis

1 Peso = $128
1 Real = $16
1 Quarto = $4
1 maravedis = $1 (US dollar of 2004, buying power)

Examples of some wages:

• An Spanish Officer P2,500 a year
• A Independent Prostitute 12 reals a month plus Basic*
  
• A typical servant is paid nothing except for Basic*. Typically servants come from the province escaping a worse fate, overcrowding, or have no family who can support them.
  

*Basic means: food, lodgings, and clothing

Thus the 1.5 real tax per day of forced labor was roughly equal to asking a working class laborer Php1,200 pesos a day. A prostitute earned nearly equal to a skilled working class at Php 9600.