Spanish Occupation in the Philippines

Siglo de Oro: The Spanish Empire was one of the largest empires in history. It reached the peak of
its military, political and economic power under the Spanish Habsburgs, through most of the 16th
and 17th centuries, and its greatest territorial extent under the House of Bourbon in the 18th century,
when it was the largest empire in the world.

Goals of the Spanish Colony

GOD - conversion of the Philippines into Roman Catholicism
GOLD - acquire the country’s natural resources and profit from them
GLORY - exercise control, political power, and gain the prestige of ruling over a newly discovered
country

The Philippines was administered by the Council of the Indies through the Vice-royalty of Espana
(Mexico)

CENTRALIZED BEAUROCRACY
Governor-general- There were 115 Spanish Governor-Generals in our country.
 Implement all the directives and orders of the King of Spain
 Serve as the chief of the Spanish Army in the Philippines
 Manage and command the Spanish Army when needed
 Appoint and remove government officials
 Manage and control government offices
 Implement and execute justice and pardoning powers
Check and Balance in the government
A. Residencia
B. Visata
C. Royal Audiencia
Reorganization of towns
• To exercise control and spread Christianity around the country, the Spanish used the
“reduccion system” wherein they reorganized the barangays and called them “pueblos”
• Aims to put Catholicism as the center of the town
• Church regulated the activities of the natives “Bajo de las campanas” (under the peal of
bells)
Education

Parochial Schools: the first school founded by the missionaries in the 16th century
Colleges for girls: Colegio de Santa Potenciana ; Colegio de Santa Isabel
Colleges for boys: 1611: Colegio de Santissimo Rosario (Santo Tomas)
1620: Colegio de San Juan de Letran

SOCIAL STRATIFICATION
1. Peninsulares: Spaniards born in the Ibereian Peninsula

2. Insulares: Spaniards born in the Philippines. “Filipino Insulares” or “Filipinos”

3. Crillos or creoles: Spaniards born in Spanish colonies especially those in America
 4. Principalla: former Datu or member of pre-hispanic royalty. Served as mediator between the
natives and Spain as well as collector of taxes.
5. INDIO: natives in the island

The Adoption of Spanish Surnames and first names by Gov. Gen Narcisco Claveria -1849
The Limpieza de Sangre (purity of blood)
Is a statue of juridical instrument sometimes approved by the Holy See and the Spanish monarchs
through which during the 15th to 19th century, descendants of Jews, Moors and convicts were
excluded from public office, ecclesiastical positions, colleges and university., religious orders and
Spanish territories as found in several documents.

ECONOMIC CHANGES

A. Encomienda
an encomienda (from encomendar, “to entrust”) ) consisted of a grant by the crown to
a conquistador, soldier, official, or others of a specified number of Indians living in a
particular area. The receiver of the grant, the encomendero, could exact tribute from the
Indians in gold, in kind, or in labour and was required to protect them and instruct them in
the Christian faith. The encomienda did not include a grant of land, but in practice
the encomenderos gained control of the Indians’ lands and failed to fulfil their obligations to
the Indian population.

Kind of encomiendas:
1. Royal encomienda
2. Ecclesiastical encomienda
3. Private encomienda
B. Taxation System
1. Tribute/Tributo: tax paid by people in money or in kind
i. 1570: 8 reales or 12 ½ centavos
ii. Later raised to 15 reales
iii. 1884: abolished
2. Cedula: given to a male member of every house age 16 above, served as ID or pass
3. Bandala: yearly collection of agricultural products
4. Religious Tax:
 Diezmos prediales /tithe: the support of the church
 Donativo de Zambianga /samboangan: for defences against Moro raids
 Vinta (1635 until 19th century): for the defence of coast of western Luzon from
Muslim pirates
C. Galleon Trade
o “Manila-Acapulco Trade”
o Started: 1565
o Traded materials: Chinese goods, Indian cotton textiles, Moluccan spices, precious
stones from Cambodia, Manila cigars, Manta cloth
o Traders in the Philippines: Restricted in sending half the load for Mexico
o Boleta or ticket: entitled the bearer to a compartment in the vessel
 o Return Bound: carried more people consisting of incoming officials, soldier,
convicts and exiles
o It financially benefited only the members of the Spanish community
o Lasted for 2 ½ centuries until its abolition
o The shipyards were located in Cavite, Bagatao, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines,
Marinduque, Mindoro and Pangasinan
D. FORCED LABOR (POLO Y SERVICIO)
It is a sysytem of force labor. It is a 40 days of men ranging from 16 to 60 years of age who
were obligated to give personal services to community projects. If someone wants to be
exempted in laboring he should pay the "Falla" (corruption of the Spanish Falta, meaning
"absence").
E. Tobacco Monopoly
This is an economic program in which tobacco production in the Philippines was under total
control of the government. tobacco planting became compulsory to the point that some crops
were abandoned. Only tobacco is allowed to be raised in selected land areas. It was in
demand in Europe because they have a very cold wheater. Governor Basco established the
tobacco monopoly on March 1, 1782 to increase the revenue of the Government. Each family
was required to produce a certain number of plants to be sold to the Government.

CAUSES OF FILIPINO Early REVOLTS

1. Political : Desire to regain the lost freedom of their ancestors
2. Religious : Religious intolerance of Spanish authorities
3. Personal : Abuses of the Spaniards
4. Forced Imposition : The hated tribute, bandala and oppressive prestacion personal
5. Economic Exploitation: Loss of ancestral lands