GOVERNMENT OF SPAIN

The Philippines under Spanish Rule

(1565 – 1898)
 The Coming of Spaniards
The Spice Conquerors

god: to spread catholicism

gold: to become rich by controlling the spice island
glory: to expand territories by conquering other nations

At the time, European countries are racing towards territory

expansion; mainly the Spaniards came for colonization.

Also, they think the PH is the Spice Island.

Ferdinand Magellan
Portuguese Navigator and
Explorer
• one of the most skilled sailors of European maritime
discoveries

• sailed in the service of the King of Spain

• took the credit for discovering the PH, the spice island

• was also killed in the PH

KING PHILIP II
King of Spain
King of Spain
- the one who truly ruled the PH through the help of a
Governor General
 Political Structure
Spain’s establishment of centralized colonial government
in the PH

National Government
Local Government
 NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

- headed by a Governor General

- maintains peace and order
- collected taxes
- built schools and public works
 Governor General

- a person that sees to it that laws & royal decrees are

implemented in the PH
- the King's representative and the highest-ranking official

 Issued proclamations to facilitate the implementation of laws

 Power to appoint/dismiss public officials
 Supervised all government officials & offices
 Collection of taxes
RESIDENCIA
- a special judicial court that investigates the performance of a
governor general who was about to be replaced
- the incoming governor general was usually a member, submits a report
of its findings to the King.

VISITA
- the council of the Indies in Spain sent a government official called
the visitador general to observe conditions in the colony and
reports his findings directly to the King.

ROYAL AUDENCIA
- the highest court in the land
- an advisory body to the Governor General
- had the power to check and report on his abuses
- audited the expenditures of the colonial government
- sent a yearly report to Spain
 LOCAL GOVERNMENT

- administered cities, municipalities, etc.

 PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
Alcaldia (Alcalde Mayor): managed the day-to-day operations
of the provincial government; implemented laws and supervised
the collection taxes.

Pueblos (Towns) Gobernadorcillos (Little Governor)

 efficient governance & collection of
taxes
 exempted from taxes

Barrios Cabeza de Barangay (Brgy. Captain)

 recruited men for public works
 peace & order in the barrio
Though they were paid a small salary, both enjoyed privileges
such as:

INDULTO DE COMERCIO
or the right to participate in the Galleon Trade
 MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT

Corregimiento (Corregidor): Governed the provinces

that were not yet entirely under spanish control
 CITY GOVERNMENT

Ayuntamiento: larger cities; center of trade & industry

Cabildo (City Council) • Alcalde (Mayor)

• Regidores (Councillor)
• Alguacil Mayor (Police Chief)
• Escribando (Secretary)
 What about the Executive, Legislative, &
Judiciary?

• Executive: Governor General

• Legislative: There were no legislative

branch at the time. The laws of the
islands came from the King of Spain
and orders from the Governor General.

• Judicial: The Residencia and Royal Audencia

Spanish Laws & Systems Implemented in the PH
Polo: forced labor requiring all men ages 16-60 to work 40
days each year

Bandala: all Filipinos are required to sell their

agricultural harvest to the government

Tribute/Tax: a payment in form of cash or product in

recognition of Spanish authority

Mercantilism: the ammount of exports must be greater than

the amount of imports