During the pre-colonial period, Barangay is used to be their form of government.

BARANGAY is originated from the Malayan word balangay which means

sailboat.

-Each barangay was ruled by a chief. In some places they called ( datu,
rajah, sultan, or hadji)
-implementing rules.
-maintaining peace and orders.
-he also made the law with assistance of the
group of elders.
-he acted also as a judge during trial.
People on the barangay were divided into four classes, namely:
1. Nobility (maharlika) who were composed of rulers and their
families occupied by the highest class.
2. Freemen (timawa) were the working class.
3. Serfs (aliping namamahay) were not full pledge slave. They
had their own respective families and houses.
4. Slaves (aliping sagigilid)- were the real slaves. They were
homeless, required to stay in their masters dwelling and they could
be used as a payment for debt.

Spain established a centralized colonial government in the philippines

that was composed of a NATIONAL GOVERNMENT and LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS that administered provinces, cities, town and
municipalities

National Government
-maintained peace and orders
-collected taxes
-built schools and their public works

Executive Branch
Governor General
- had the power to appoint and dismiss public officials except
those who personally chosen by the king.
-supervised all government offices and the collection of taxes.
-exercised certain legislative powers.

Judicial branch
Royal Audencia- the highest court in the land.
-served as an advisory body to the governor
general.
Residencia- special judicial court that investigates the
performance of a governor general who was about to be
replaced.

Pronvincial Government
Alcaldia- led by the alcalde mayor
-governed the provinces that had been fully
subjugated.
Alcalde Mayor- they managed the day-to-day operations of
the provincial government.
Gobernadorcillos- exempted from paying taxes.
Cabeza de barangay- responsible for the peace and order of the
barrio.
`

-recruited men for public works.

Municipal Government
Corregimiento- headed by the corregidor
Corregidor- governed the provinces that were not yet entirely
under spanish control.
CITY GOVERNMENT
Ayuntamiento- center of trade and industry.
Cabildo- a city council. Composed of Alcalde, Regidores,
Aguacil Mayor, and Escribando.

During the Spanish colonization in the Philippines, the government was composed of
two branches, the executive and the judicial.
There was no legislative branch on that time since the laws of the islands were coming
from Spain. The only laws created in the Philippines are those who were ordered by the
Governor General.