1.

The Philippines under Spain houses, even in Manila

2. The Government used the natives for their own work for many days
Governor General Encomienda abolished in 1576
sole representative of the Spanish crown in the The Philippines under Spain
country Thelma V. Villaflores
powers: legislative, executive, judicial, military, 9. The Little Governor Generals
ecclesiastical (related to the Church) alcaldesmayores the heads of the provinces, civil
cumplase power to suspend the implementation of official, appointive
any royal orderif the condition in the colony did not alcaldias the provinces
warrant it. powers: political, financial, judicial, & military
The Philippines under Spain The Philippines under Spain
Thelma V. Villaflores Thelma V. Villaflores
3. The Royal Audiencia 10. The Little Governor Generals
a council of judges that acted as the Supreme Court indulto de commercio a privilege to engage in
in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period trade which gave the provincial governor a
check the abuses of the governor general monopoly of commerce in the province
conduct the Residencia: the process of submitting Abolished in 1844
the governor general to a trial before the court for The Philippines under Spain
the purpose of punishing corrupt and dishonest Thelma V. Villaflores
officials 11. The Little Governor Generals
The Philippines under Spain Duties of an alcalde mayor
Thelma V. Villaflores see to it that his region has adequate food supply
4. The Royal Audiencia make sure that the roads and bridges were well-
oidores judges maintained
juez de residencia the person responsible for grant licenses and permits to carry on trade
scrutinizing the acts of the outgoing governor supervise town elections
general and for imposing a sentence on him should The Philippines under Spain
he be found guilty of committing a crime in his Thelma V. Villaflores
exercise of his powers as head of the colonial 12. The Little Governor Generals
government Duties of an alcalde mayor
The Philippines under Spain oversee religious welfare of the people
Thelma V. Villaflores make sure that the tributes were collected
5. The Little Governor Generals see to it that the Church always had enough men
encomendero the holder of an encomienda and funds
encomienda the right over a piece of land granted The Philippines under Spain
to a Spanish conquistador (a Spaniard who helped Thelma V. Villaflores
conquer the Philippine islands for Spain) as a 13. The Little Governor Generals
reward for his services gobernadorcillos mayors of the towns or cities
The Philippines under Spain pueblos cities or towns
Thelma V. Villaflores gobernadorcillos elected by the outgoing
6. The Little Governor Generals governadorcillo and 12 members of the principalia
Duties of an encomendero The Philippines under Spain
protect the natives from their enemies Thelma V. Villaflores
act as peacemaker among the natives 14. The Little Governor Generals
see to it that the natives were provided with religious principalia a body of prominent land owners and
instruction wealthy citizens of the village who could read, write,
The Philippines under Spain and speak Spanish
Thelma V. Villaflores The Philippines under Spain
7. The Little Governor Generals Thelma V. Villaflores
Abuses made by the encomenderos 15. The Little Governor Generals
collected taxes from minors, the aged, the poor, the Duties of a gobernadorcillo
infirmed, the dead and the fugitives maintain the municipal jail
arrested, whipped or imprisoned those who cannot take charge of public works
pay the tribute administer justice in the town
The Philippines under Spain manage the casa tribunal
Thelma V. Villaflores supervise collection of taxes
8. The Little Governor Generals The Philippines under Spain
Abuses made by the encomenderos Thelma V. Villaflores
made the natives to build houses and large vessels, 16. The Union of Church and State
grind rice, cut wood and carry the woods to their friars occupied significant positions in the central
 government The Philippines under Spain
friars dominated the permanent commission on Thelma V. Villaflores
censorship 24. Galleon Trade
exercised political and economic powers ObrasPias (Pious Works)
controlled the educational system and public works foundations which invest their money in trade and
of the municipalities devotes the profit to charitable works
The Philippines under Spain The Philippines under Spain
Thelma V. Villaflores Thelma V. Villaflores
17. The Union of Church and State 25. Jose Basco y Vargas
supervised the collection of taxes and taking of 44th governor of the Philippines
census formulated a general economic plan (self-sufficiency
certified correctness of cedulas of the colony)
The Philippines under Spain established SociedadEconomica de los Amigos del
Thelma V. Villaflores Pais
18. Taxation The Philippines under Spain
heavy and numerous Thelma V. Villaflores
pocketed by the Spanish officials The Spaniards as Colonial Masters
The Philippines under Spain
Thelma V. Villaflores Spain reigned over
19. Taxes collected the Philippines for 333
tribute or tributo (1570 1884), replaced by the years, from 1565 to
cedula 1898. since Spain was
municipal and local taxes far from the country,
episcopal tax (sanctorium) the Spanish king ruled
special taxes
the Islands through the
The Philippines under Spain
viceroy of Mexico,
Thelma V. Villaflores
which was then another
20. Bandala System
the farmers produce were sold on a wholesale basis Spanish colony. When
to the government on a compulsory basis Mexico regained its
not only were the goods or products undervalued but freedom in 1821, the
also in many cases they were not even paid for Spanish king ruled the
The Philippines under Spain Philippines through a governor general. A
Thelma V. Villaflores special government body that oversaw
21. Bandala System matters, pertaining to the colonies
Annual tax per family assisted the king in this respect. This body
1 Peso became known by many names. Council of
Starting 1851 1 Pesos. the Indies (1565-1837), Overseas Council
in 1884 the "bandala" is replaced by the "cedula" (1837-1863), and Ministry of the Colonies
(poll tax) (18631898). It is implemented the decrees
The Philippines under Spain and legal codes Spain promulgated although
Thelma V. Villaflores many of its provisions could not apply to
22. Forced labor condition in the colonies. It also
or polo y servicios exercised legislative and judicial powers.
forced labor for 40 days of men (16 to 60 years of
age)
The Political Structure
polistas the laborers
Spain established a centralized colonial
falla payment for exemption for forced labor (one
government in the Philippines that was
and a half real/day)
abolished - 1884 composed of a national government and
The Philippines under Spain the local
Thelma V. Villaflores governments thatadministered provinces,
23. Galleon Trade cities, towns and municipalities. With the
route Manila to Acapulco cooperation of the local
benefits: governments the national
maintain hospitals, orphanages and other charitable government maintained peace and order,
institutions collected taxes and built schools and other
allowed modern, liberal ideas to enter the country public works.
cultural and commercial exchanges between Asia
and the Americas The Governor General
As the King's representative and the highest-
ranking official in the Philippines, the
governor general saw to it that royal decrees
and laws emanating from Spain were
implemented in the Philippines. He had the
power to appoint and dismiss public officials,
except those personally chosen by the King.
He also supervised all government offices and
the collection of taxes.
The governor general exercised
certain legislative powers, as well. He issued
proclamations to facilitate the implementation
of laws.
The Residencia
This was a special judicial court that
investigates the performance of a governor
general who was about to be replaced. The
residencia, of which the incoming governor
general was usually a member, submitted a
report of its findings to the King.
The Visita
The Council of the Indies in Spain sent a
government official called the Vistador
General to observe conditions in the colony.
The Visitador General reported his findings
directly to the King.
The Royal Audiencia
Apart from its judicial functions, the Royal
Audiencia served as an advisory body to the
Governor General and had the power to check
and a report on his abuses. The Audiencia
also audited the expenditures of the colonial
government and sent a yearly report to
Spain. The Archbishop and other
government officials could also report the
abuses of the colonial government to be
Spanish king. Despite all these checks,
however, an abusive governor general often
managed to escape stiff fines, suspension, or
dismissal by simply bribing the Visitador and
other investigators.
The Provincial Government
The Spaniards created local government units
to facilitate the countrys administration.
There were two types of local government
units the alcadia and the corregimiento. The
alcadia, led by the alcalde mayor, governed
the provinces that had been fully subjugated:
the corregimiento, headed by corregidor,
governed the provinces that were not yet
entirely under Spanish control. The alcalde
mayors represented the Spanish king and the
governor general in their respective
provinces. They managed the day-to-day
operations of the provincial government,
implemented laws and supervised the
collection of taxes. Through they were paid a
small salary, they enjoyed privileges such as
the indulto de comercio, or the right to
participate in the galleon trade.
The Municipal Government
Each province was divided into several towns
or pueblos headed by Gobernadordcillos,
whose main concerns were efficient
governance and tax collection. Four
lieutenants aided the Governardorcillo: the
Teniente Mayor (chief lieutenant), the
Teniente de Policia (police lieutenant), the
Teniente de Sementeras (lieutenant of the
fields) and the Teniente de Ganados
(lieutenant of the livestock).
The Encomienda System
Spain owed the colonization of the Philippines
to Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, who valiantly and
loyally served the Spanish crown. To hasten
the subjugation of the country, King Philip
II instructed Legazpi to divide the Philippines
into large territories called encomiendas, to
be left to the management of designated
encomenderos.
To show his gratitude to his
conquistadors, the King made them the first
encomenderos in the colony. As the Kings
representatives in their respective
encomiendas, the encomenderos had the
right to collect taxes. However, the
encomiendas were not there to own. The
encomenderos were only territorial overseers
who had the duty to: 1) protect the people in
the encomienda; (2) maintain peace and
order; (3) promote education and health
programs; and (4) help the missionaries
propagate Christianity.
3. the government which Spain set up in the
Philippines was highly centralized that the central or
national government was so powerful that almost
nothing official could be done without its knowledge
and consent there were two branches of
government, the executive and judicial there was no
legislative branch because laws passed in Spain
were extended to the Philippines or simply the laws
to govern the Philippines were not made in the
Philippines but in Spain executive powers were
exercised by the governor-general, while judicial
powers were exercised by the judges of the Royal
Audiencia (Supreme Court), by judges of the lower
courts, and to a certain extent by the governor-
general all these officials represented the central
 government below the central government were the
provincial, the municipal, the barrio, and the city
governments
4. The Municipal Government below the provincial
government was the municipal government and
each municipality or town was headed by the
gobernadorcillio (little governor), popularly known as
the capitan the barrios or barangays of which each
town was composed were headed by a cabeza de
barangay The Provincial Government the provinces
in the Philippines in the Spanish times were of two
kinds the civil provinces and the military provinces
the civil provinces were headed by the alcade-mayor
and the military provinces were headed by army
officers known as corregidores
5. Alcalde -Alcalde - mayormayor the colonial
chieftain and exercised both executive and judicial
powers including the power to collect taxes
exercised both executive and judicial powers,
collected tributes from the town and enjoyed the
privilege of monopolizing commerce in the province
and engaged in usury manipulated government
funds as well as drew loans from the obras pias, the
friars' chest for "charities," to engage in nefarious
commerce and usury described as a model of graft,
corruption, and inefficiency brought about by
inexperienced men being assigned to govern the
provinces had the privilege of engaging in trade to
increase his income (indulto de comercio) but
abused his powers and committed graft
7. Cabeza deCabeza de barangaybarangay each
town had several villages or barangays placed
directly under the cabezas de barangay was
appointed by the gobernadorcillo from among the
former datus or gobernadorcillos relatives his most
important duty is to collect taxes from the barrio or
barangay inhabitants the town and barangay officials
had no salary and their positions were honorary they
and their families however were exempted from
paying tributes and were considered as members pf
the principalia (leading citizens)
15. Principalia or the principales (principal
ones)Principalia or the principales (principal ones)
had local wealth; high status and prestige; and
certain privileges, such as exemption from taxes,
lesser roles in the parish church, and appointment to
local offices larger and more influential than the
preconquest nobility, and it created and perpetuated
an oligarchic system of local control became
responsible for collecting and remitting tributes and
other contributions to the encomendero and church,
and in return, they and their eldest sons were
exempt from tribute and labor service and their
position allowed them to engage in various tactics to
enrichment, such as demanding excess payment
and reviving debt slavery referred to the prominent
land-owning and propertied citizens who could read,
write, and speak English and enjoyed many social
and political advantages including the right to vote in
elections and the right to hold public office the
descendants of the ancient datus and maharlikas,
the rich plantation owners, and the local officials or
ex-officials; the members of this class comprised the
town aristrocracy
16. iLLustradiLLustrad ooin the 19th century, thanks
to the opening of the Philippines to world trade and
the effects of material progress, a new social class
the illustrado, an enlightened middle class
developed in the country members of this social
class formed the town intelligentsia they enjoyed
economic security and high social status came from
wealthy Filipino families that could afford to send
them to the limited number of secondary schools
(colegios) open to non-Spaniards they included
physicians, pharmacists, lawyers, teachers, writers,
businessmen, and educated property owners among
them were Jose Rizal, Emilio Jacinto, Apolinario
Mabini, etc.
5. Social ClassesNobles who werecomposed of
rulersand their families,occupied the highestclass.
They wereusually addressed asGat, Lakan, Raja
orDatu.Freemen werethe working classSlaves
wereclassified into two;* Aliping namamahay were
not fullpledge slave. They had their ownrespective
families and their own houses.They were required to
serve their mastersonly during planting and
harveting period.* Aliping sagigilid were the real
slaves,they were homeless, forbidden to formtheir
own families, required to stay in theirmasters
dwelling and they could be usedas a payment for
debt.
6. GovernmentThe government was called
barangay.There was no national government.
There weremany independent barangays and datus.
But therewas no datu strong enough to unite the
archipelagointo one nation. Some barangays,
however, unitedto form a confederation.It was
headed by a ruler called datu or raja.
7. Power and Functions of DatuImplementing
laws.Maintaining peace and order.Giving
protection to his subjects.He also made the law,
with theassistance of group of elders who
gaveadvice.(a newly enacted law was madeknown
to the public through town criercalled
umalokohan)He acted also as a judge during
trial.(it was easy for the datu to run for thebarangay
since the population was verysmall.
1. Pre-Hispanic Philippines
Society is divided to three classes:
Datu
Maharlika
Slaves
A persons status may immediately be changed in
 this period: A Datu may become a slave and a slave
may become a Datu.
2. Datu
Maharlika
Slaves
The leader of the community
Soldiers are included in this class of society
The lowest class of the society
3. Slavery may be due to the ff:
Inherited status
Captured by the enemies in war
Those who cannot pay their debt
Punishment of the crime committed
Sold to become slave
4. 2 kinds of slaves in Tagalog
Aliping namamahay those who have their own
houses and only works for their master in times of
sowing and harvest.
Aliping saguiguilid those who live in their masters
house and does what their master told them to do.
5. Government
The Barangay is the basic unit of government . It
may compose of about 30-100 families. Every
barangay is autonomous, and is ruled by either a
Datu, Rajah, King or Lakan.
6. Powers of a Datu:
In times of peace: Executive, Legislator and Chief
Justice.
In war: he is the commander in chief of the armed
forces
Foreign affairs: the datu enables treatise and
truse(sanduguan)
7. How one can be a Datu
It may be inherited, either by a man or a woman.
(the eldest child)
Or may be chosen by the community according to
the following characteristics (bravest, wealthiest or
the wisest)
8. Laws
It may be written or not
Unwritten laws are spoken laws that is passed by of
course the word of mouth, and may be passed
through generations.
Written laws are made by the Datu together with the
council of the elders as his advisers.
Written laws are proclaimed by the umalokohans
9. Family
The society encourages the marriage of equal status
in the society. But it does not discourage marriages
of different class. A Datu may be married to a slave.
Divorce is allowed in some parts of the country due
to: if the wife is unfaithful, if the man abandons his
wife and children, domestic violence, barren or
impotence.
10. Spanish era:
o Governor, Governor General or Captain General
is the highest local position (only for Spaniard
General).
o 11. The Governor General represents the King of
Spain.
o 12. He has the powers: Legislate, Executive and
Judicial Powers.
o 13. Has the right to suspend the orders of the
King it is called Cumplase.
o He is the commander in chief of the Armed
Forces
o 14. Has the capacity to remove any government
official except those appointed by the King of
Spain.
o 15. Foreign Affairs: He has the right to make
treatise, and accept establishment of embassies
and etc.
o 16. The right to declare war
o 17. Patron of the Church may recommend a
priest and resolve any crisis among clergies
(Patronadoreal) royal patronage.
The advisers of the Governor General
o Board authority: 1850, Cabinet composed of (
Archbishop of Manila, 2nd General, admiral of
the sea, director general, general of civil
administration, president of the supreme court
and the solicitor general.
o 18. Council of administration: 1861, Council of
the State. Compose of: Council of Authority,
government treasurer, head of religious orders,
president of SociedadEconomico, delegates from
Luzon, Visayas and Minadanao compose of 3
representatives and 4 appointees of the King.
Ways of stopping the powers of the Governor
General
o Audencia Supreme Court
o 19. The Archbishop of Manila together with the
influential clergy, that may influence the King.
o 20. Complains of the lower officials that are
brought to the King.
o 21. Residencia
o 22. Visitador
Encomienda
Encomienda de real Corona owned by the King.
Encomienda de particulares owned by individual.
23. Provinces are divided into 2
o Alcadia: these are the provinces which attains a
peaceful status, fully controlled by the Spanish
government. It is governed by the Alcalde Mayor
(Luzon and Visayas)
o 24. Corigimiente: the province that are not yet
peaceful administered by Corregidor (Mindanao,
Palawan, Mindoro and Northern Luzon).
Alcalde bayor
o Appointed by the governor Gneral
o 25. Has the executive and Legislative Powers
o 26. The Head of Tax Collection of the province.
 o 27. Has the rights for Commerce (indulto de
Comercio).
o 28. Provinces are divided to pueblos governed by
little governors (gobernadorcillo).
Social Structure
The social structure comprised a petty nobility, the ruling
class which had started to accumulate land that it owned
privately or administered in the name of the clan or
community.
Maharlika: an intermediate class of freemen called
the Maharlika who had enough land for their livelihood or
who rendered special service to the rulers and who did not
have to work in the fields.
Timawa: the ruled classes that included the timawa, the
serfs who shared the crops with the petty nobility.
Alipin: and also the slaves and semislaves who worked
without having any definite share in the harvest. There were
two kinds of slaves then: those who had their own quarters,
the aliping namamahay, and those who lived in their
masters house, the aliping sagigilid. One acquired the status
of a serf or a slave by inheritance, failure to pay debts and
tribute, commission of crimes and captivity in wars between
barangays.
Social structure
o Peninsulares = Spaniards who grew up in Spain
o 17. Insulares = Spaniards who grew up in the
Philippines
o 18. Spanish Mestizos = half-Spaniards
o 19. Principalia = former Filipino tribe leaders
before the invasion of Spain (datus, rajahs,
maharlikas and others)
o 20. Chinese Mestizos = half-Chinese
o 21. Chinese = Chinese living in the Philippines
o 22. Indios = what the Spaniards derogatorily
call the Filipinos
education
Principalia- nobility class was the social and
educated class in the towns of colonial Philippines
composed of the Gobernadorcillo (Town Mayor), or
the Cabeza de Barangay (Chief of the Barangay)
who governed the districts and the awardees of the
medal of Civil Merit.
o Exempted from forced labor during the colonial
period
o 3. Were allowed to vote, be elected to public
office and be addressed by the title: Don or Doa
o 4. Given certain roles in the Church, such as
assisting the priest in pastoral and religious
activities
Costume of a family belonging to Principala during
the 19th century.
5. Ilustrados- (Spanish for "erudite," "learned," or
"enlightened ones"). constituted the Filipino
educated class during the Spanish colonial period in
the late 19th century
They were the middle class who were educated in
Spanish and exposed to Spanish liberal and
European nationalist ideals.
6. Composed of native-born intellectuals and cut
across ethnolinguistic and racial lines
1. Indios - person of pure Austronesian
(Malay/Malayo Polynesian) ancestry (natives)
7. 2. Insulares - Spaniards born in Philippines who
took important positions
in the Spanish government in the Philippines.
8. 3. Mestizos - Filipinos of mixed indigenous
Filipino
(Austronesian people/Malay/Malayo-Polynesian),
or European or Chinese ancestry.
9.
10. 4. Peninsulares, Spaniards who are born in
Spain
and took roles in the Philippines
Peninsulares, Spaniards who are born in Spain
3. Spaniards born in Philippines who took important
positions in the Spanish government in the
Philippines.
4. Peninsulares Highest class in the Philippines
Pure blooded Spaniards born from Spain The
wealthiest and most politically powerful among the
social classes High positions in the Government
Referred to as KastilasInsulares Spaniards born in
the Philippines Recieves discrimination from fellow
Spaniards Enjoy various goverment and church
positions A son or daughter of a Spanish couple is
an insulare
5. - (Spanish for "erudite," "learned," or "enlightened
ones"). constituted the Filipino educated class during
the Spanish colonial period in the late 19th century-
They were the middle class who were educated in
Spanish and exposed to Spanish liberal and
European nationalist ideals.
6. nobility class was the social and educated class
in the towns of colonial Philippines composed of the
Gobernadorcillo, or the Cabeza de Barangay who
governed the districts and the awardees of the
medal of Civil Merit.
7. Filipinos of mixed indigenous Filipino
(Austronesian people/Malay/Malayo- Polynesian), or
European or Chinese ancestry.
On June 23, 1869, Carlos Maria de la Torre y
Nava Cerrada started his term as the new Spanish
Governor-General of the Philippines.
De la Torre, who was assigned in the Philippines
after the bloodless Spanish Revolution of 1869, was
considered the most beloved among the Spanish
governors-general to serve in the Philippines (1869
1871).
He released political prisoners and even endorsed
their criticism of the church and the friars. He was
considered a liberal for imposing liberal laws.
He was very close to the ilustrados, a group of
Filipinos who understood the situation of the
Philippines under Spanish rule.
He was ousted when the monarchy in Spain was
reestablished by the Spanish Cortes. He was
succeeded by the reactionary Governor-General
Rafael de Izquierdo, who immediately restored the
old order of things in the Philippines.
Reference: Philippines News Agency
The Cavite Mutiny of 1872 and the Execution of three Filipino
Priests
On January 20, 1872, about two hundred discontented Filipino
soldiers and workers at Cavite arsenal rose up in arms and killed
their Spanish officers. In two days the mutiny was smashed by the
government troops. Since there was evidence that the mutineers
were in collusion with soldiers in Manila, the whole matter was
judged not merely a local revolt but one aimed at the separation of
the colony from Spain. The suspected leaders were those believed
to have been harboring liberal ideas. Many masons were arrested,
punished and exiled. Many Masonic Lodges were forced to close
and those that remained merely existed. General Izquierdo caught
by surprise the Lodge Espanola in Cebu, while at work, and turned
over to the court of justice all Masons captured.
Among those arrested in that tragic event of 1872 were three
priests, Fathers Burgos, Gomez, Zamora. Father Jose Burgos was a
Philippine-born Spaniard and had been a student of the brilliant
Filipino priest, Dr. Pedro Pelaez who so ably championed the
rights of the Filipino clergy. After the death of Father Pelaez in
1863, Father Burgos took up the torch for the Filipino clergy, and
in 1864 anonymously published a manifesto, which implored the
righting of wrongs done to Filipino priests who had proved loyal to
Spaniards whose moral and intellectual qualities were beyond
question. When, in the middle 1860s, a Reform Committee of
laymen and priests was organized in Manila and Madrid to press
for secularization of the parishes, Father Burgos became leader of
the sub-committee of the clergy which also included Father
Mariano Gomez and Father Jacinto Zamora. At the time of his
arrest, Father Burgos, 35 years of age, was serving on the staff of
the Manila Cathedral.
Father Gomez was a Chinese-Filipino mestizo. He was the curate
of Bacoor Cavite, when he was arrested, and about 73 years of age.
Father Jacinto Zamora, 37 years of age, was serving as a curate of
the Manila Cathedral when he was arrested. His imprisonment and
trial caused him to lose his mind.
The three priests were accused of having fomented the Cavite
revolt. The charges were supported by the perjured testimony of a
man who was connected with the Cavite mutiny and consequently
they were publicly garroted on February 17, 1872. The above
public execution created consternation, shock and scandal among
the people. The refusal of the Manila Archbishop to defrock them
thereby expressed the Churchs official doubt as to the guilt of the
three priests. It was inevitable that the friars would be blamed for
their execution. The opinion held universally by the Filipinos was
that the friars were indeed implicated.
It was difficult to ignore the racial implications of the execution.
The executed priests were called martyrs by the ilustrados and
other sympathizers. The line between anti-Spanish friar and anti-
Spaniard became thinner with dire results for Spanish sovereignty.
The above event represents a recognizable stage in anticlericalism
in the Philippines, a stage equated with anti-friary. However, it was
an attitude initially directed at four religious orders only, the
Recollects, the Dominicans, the Augustinians, and the Franciscans.
1. THE SECULARIZATION MOVEMENT AND THE
MATYRDOM OF GOMBURZA
2. Without 1872, there would have been no Plaridel,
Jaena or Sanciongco; nor would the brave and
generous Filipino colonies in Europe have existed.
Without 1872, Rizal would now have been a Jesuit
and instead of writing "Noli Me Tangere,"
would have written the opposite. Jose Rizal in a
letter to the staff of La Solidaridad in Paris
3.
4. This movement demanded the handling over of
the parishes from the regular clergy ( Dominicans,
Franciscans, Recollects etc.), who were Spanish
friars, to secular priests, most of whom were
Filipinos.
5. The seculars were those who were not bound by
monastic vows or rules. Filipino priests were then
not accepted by the regular clergy, and were mostly
assigned as assistants to Spanish friars.
6. BUT WHAT IS THE REAL SCORE? 1. ISSUE ON
VISITATION .
7. Filipino Secular Clergy
8. Cavite Mutiny
9. The three secular priests were implicated in the
Cavite Mutiny.
 10. They were executed in Bagumbayan (Luneta) Cathedral in 1863. After his death, other
through Garrote. priests took his place in fighting for the
11. Paciano Rizal witnessed the event and secularization movement. Among them
mentioned it to his brother Jose. were Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos
12. Accidental Heroes of 1872? and Jacinto Zamora.
13. PACO PARK : Former Cemetery and former site
of GOMBURZA tomb (taken from
www.filipinasoul.com )
The Secularization Controversy
Two kinds of priests served the Catholic
Church in the Philippines. These were
the regulars and the seculars. Regular priests
belonged to religious orders. Their main task
was to spread Christianity. Examples were the
Franciscans, Recollects, Dominicans, and
Augustinians. Secular priests did not belong
to any religious order. They were trained
specifically to run the parishes and were
under the supervision of the bishops.
Conflict began when the bishops insisted on
visiting the parishes that were being run by
regular priests. It was their duty, they
argued, to check on the administration of
these parishes. But the regular priests
refused these visits, saying that they were
not under the bishops jurisdiction. They
threatened to abandon their parishes if the
bishops persisted.
In 1774, Archbishop Basilio Santa Justa
decided to uphold the dioceses authority over
the parishes and accepted the resignations of
the regular priests. He assigned secular
priests to take their place. Since there were
not enough seculars to fill all
the vacancies the Archbishop hastened the
ordination of Filipino seculars. A royal decree
was also issued on November 9, 1774, which
provided for the secularization of all parishes
or the transfer of parochial administration
from the regular friars to the secular priests.
The regulars resented the move because they
considered the Filipinos unfit for the
priesthood. Among other reasons they cited
the Filipinos brown skin, lack of education,
and inadequate experience.
The controversy became more intense when
the Jesuits returned to the Philippines. They
had been exiled from the country because of
certain policies of the order that theSpanish
authorities did not like.
The issue soon took on a racial slant. The
Spaniards were clearly favouring their own
regular priest over Filipino priests.
Monsignor Pedro Pelaez, ecclesiastical
governor of the Church, sided with
the Filipinos. Unfortunately, he died in an
earthquake that destroyed the Manila