In the 15th century, Philippines was invaded by Spain and reigned over the Philippines for 333 years,

from 1565 to 1898. Their coming changed our history because of THREE REASONS:

1. Through Spain, we became CATHOLIC.

2. We got new and more advanced culture from Europe and Mexico.
3. But for the first time, WE LOST OUR FREEDOM or INDEPENDENCE.

Spain

established ONE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT in the Philippines.

Many independent barangays of our ancestors disappeared. One government alone ruled most of the country. Thus, for the first time in history, we became united as one nation called FILIPINAS. The rest of the world came to know our country by that name.

Since Spain was far from the country, the Spanish king ruled the Islands through the viceroy of Mexico, which was then another Spanish colony.

KING OF SPAIN
VICEROY OF MEXICO

PHILIPPINES

When Mexico regained its freedom in 1821, the Spanish king ruled the Philippines through a Governor General.

KING OF SPAIN

GOVERNOR GENERAL

PHILIPPINES

KING OF SPAIN
THE COLONIAL GOVERNMENT THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH (Governor General) THE JUDICIAL BRANCH (Royal Audencia, Residencia, Lower Courts, Governor-General)

PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT ALCALDIA (Alcalde Mayor) PUEBLOS OR TOWNS (Gobernadorcillos)

MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT CORRIGIMIENTO (Corregidor)

CITY GOVERNMENT AYUNTAMIENTO (Cabildo) CABILDO City Council ALCALDE REGIDORES AGUACIL MAYOR ESCRIBANDO

BARRIOS (Cabeza de Barangay)

BARRIOS (Cabeza de Barangay)

THE POLITICAL STRUCTURE

Spain established a centralized colonial government in the Philippines that was composed of a NATIONAL GOVERNMENT and the LOCAL GOVERNMENTS that administered provinces, cities, towns and municipalities. NATIONAL GOVERNMENT: maintained peace and order collected taxes built schools and other public works

THE GOVERNOR GENERAL

The King's representative and the highest-ranking official in the Philippines. He had GREAT POWERS. He had the power to appoint and dismiss public officials, except those personally chosen by the King. He was the commander in chief of the colonial armed forces. He was also the president of the Royal Audencia.
(Like the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court today)

 There were 115 Spanish Governor-Generals in our country.

The first one was Miguel Lopez de Legazpi (1565-1572) and the last was Diego de los Rios (1898)

Diego de los Rios

Miguel Lopez de Legazpi

The Governor General and other government officials had so much power that it was commonly abused.

To investigate the abuses, there were bodies created:

THE RESIDENCIA THE VISITA THE ROYAL AUDENCIA

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 VISITADOR GENERAL to observe conditions in the colony.

The Visitador General reported his findings directly to the king.

The highest court in the land during the Spanish times.

THE ROYAL AUDENCIA

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT The Spaniards created Local Government Units (LGU) for the provinces. There were two types of local government units:

ALCALDIA
Alcalde Mayor

CORRIGIMIENTO
Corregidor

Though 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 PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

The ALCADIA, led by the Alcalde Mayor governed the provinces.

DUTIES OF THE ALCALDE MAYOR: They represented the Spanish king and the Governor-General They managed the day-to-day operations of the provincial government Implemented laws and supervised the collection of taxes

THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

The CORREGIMIENTO, headed by Corregidor governed the provinces that were not yet entirely under Spanish control.

THE CITY GOVERNMENT

Larger towns became cities called AYUNTAMIENTO. It became the center of trade and industry. The ayuntamiento had a city council called the CABILDO

CABILDO is composed of:

ALCALDE (MAYOR) REGIDORES (COUNCILLORS) ALGUACIL MAYOR (POLICE CHIEF) ESCRIBANDO (SECRETARY)

THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT

Each province was divided into several towns or pueblos headed by GOBERNADORDCILLOS (Little Governor) MAIN DUTIES: collection. Efficient governance and tax

FOUR LIEUTENANTS AIDED THE GOVERNARDORCILLO: the Teniente Mayor (chief lieutenant), the Teniente de Policia (police lieutenant), the Teniente de Sementeras (lieutenant of the fields) the Teniente de Ganados (lieutenant of the livestock)

GOBERNADORDCILLOS
They had SMALL SALARIES but were exempted from PAYING TAXES. QUALIFICATIONS:
Any NATIVE or CHINESE MEZTIZO 25 years old Literate in ORAL or WRITTEN SPANISH Cabeza de Barangay for 4 years

Ex: Emilio Aguinaldo

CABEZA DE BARANGAY
(Barrio Administrator or Barangay Captain)

Responsible for the peace and order of the barrio Recruited men for public works
QUALIFICATIONS: Cabezas should be literate in Spanish. Have good moral character and property. Cabezas who served for 25 years were exempted from forced labor.