LESSON 3.

2 SPANISH GOVERNMENT IN TIHE PHILIPPNES

INTRODUCTION

The Spaniards set their colonial government after setting their settlements in the Pihiippines.
The Philippines was ruled through the Mexican viceroy in the name of the Spanish king until 1821 after
the revolts of the Mexicans against the Spaniards and won their independence. From 1821 to 1898, the
Philippines has a distinct government unit under the direct control of Spain. The king as sovercign issued
cedulas (decrees) for the administration of the Philippines and appointed the Governor-General, the
members of the Royal Audiencia and other high colonial officials.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of the lesson, the students are expected to:

1. explain the powers of the different government positions during the Spanish period,

2. determine the bodies formed by the King of Spain to check the Spanish officials assigned in the
Philippines.

3. draw the government structure and discuss each functions and responsibilities

4. discuss how religion influenced the Spanish administration in the Philippines. Now you can begin
to read

A. Spanish Government in the Philippine Central Government King of Spain Council of the Indies Spanish
Viceroy in Mexico Spanish Archbishop Spanish Governor-General in Manila Royal Audiencia Bishops
Provincial Alcaldes City Alcaldes Gobernadorcillos Parish Priest Cabeza de Barangay

Figure 1. Illustrates the Organizational Structure of Spanish Government in the Philippine Central
Goverament

The representative of the King of Spain is the Governor-General on the national level. He is appointed
and removed from the office by the king.

The functions of the Governor-General are:

a. He exercised great powers as executive, military, judicial and religious.

b. He had the right to supervise and control all administrative offices, and to appoint colonial
officials not named by the king.

c. As captain-general, he was commander-in-chief of all armed forces, with the special duty of
providing for the national defense of the Philippines.

d. he served also as president of the Royal Audiencia (Supreme Court), the highest judicial body of
the colony.
 e. He acted as vice-real patron and as such had the power to ecclesiastical appointments in the
church and even the right to supervise missionary work

f. He was the source of civil powers for the various levels of administration, like the collection and
administration of public revenues, the promulgation of regulation for the observance of local
officials, the pardoning of criminal offenders, and the supervision of trade and industries. C. 55h

g. One great power of the governor-general was the cumplase by which he could suspend or
disregard any royal decrees or law from Spain.

The first Governor-General of the Philippines was Miguel Lopez de Legaspi. Hẹ served from
1565-1572. He was also an adelantado and the one to have been given two titles

In case of vacancy in the governorship due to the incumbent's sickness, or absence, the
Audiencia (Spanish Supreme Court) took charge of the civil and political functions, with the senior
oidor (Justice) assuming the military affairs as captain- general.

B. Advisory Bodies

a. Board of authority (Junta de Autoridades). It was the cabinet established by the royal decree
of April 16, 1850. This body was composed of the governor-general as president, the
archbishop of Manila, the general second in command. Thje admiral of the navy, the
intendant of the treasury, the director-general of the civil administration, the president of
the Audiencia, and the attormey-general. Its chief function was to advise the governor-
general on questions of unusual importance.

b. Council of Administration. It was a consultative body created by the Royal Order and had
larger representation. / It is composed of high ranking officials. Its functions were to
deliberate on the government budgets, the questions of royal patronage and other matters
which the governor might submit for opinion.

C. Checks on Gobernatorial Powers

The King of Spain formed bodies to check the Spanish officials assigned in the Philippines.

a. The Royal Audiencia. In 1583, the Royal Audiencia was created purposely to check the powers of
the governor-general and as a protection to the Filipinos. It was composed of a president
(governor-general), three oidons (justices), a fiscal (prosecuting attorney), and other necessary
officials.

It was abolished in 1589 because of misunderstanding and quarrels between governor-

general and other members. Philippine condition and for this reason, King Philip Il re-established
the Audiencia of Manila by his Royal Decrees. It began in Manila on 1598 and ended in 1898.
The abolition worsened the

Functions:
 1. it took the administration of government in case of vacancy in the gubernatorial office,

2. it acted as advisory body to the governor-general,

3. it exerciscd executive and dministrative functions by sharing with thegovernor the

discharge of the royal patronage and by preparing an annual report to the king on
Philippine political and social conditions

4. it enjoyed legislative powers by enacting regulations for local government,

5. it discharged financial authority by auditing the yearly accounts of the colony.

b. The Residencia. It is a special court presided by the incoming governor- general which
investigated the conduct of the outgoing governor-general at the end of his term. from the
charges of complaints of his enemies or the people he may have done wrong while in office.
Outgoing governor-general found guilty of public misconduct were imposed to pay heavy fines,
have their properties sequestered and/or imprisoned. The Residencia continued until 1799
when it was officially abolished in the colony. The outgoing governor-general had to defend
himself

c. Visitador. It is conducted by a visiting investigator sent from Spain. The visit might occur anytime
within the official's term without previous notice. The objective was to check the abuse of
power of royal officials to cnsure that the government oficials perform efliciently.

Those found guilty of public misconduct were fined or dismissed from office and
expelled fiom the colony or received a combination of all these punishments.

D. Local Government

Below the central government was the provincial government. Provinces which were already
peaceful and recognizing the authority of Spain were governed by civil provincial governors. Those not
yet fully pacified and conquered were ruled by military officers. The provincial governor was called
alcalde mayor. He was appointed by the governor-general. His salary was small but he could collect a
part of the tributes to increase his income. What made him rich and powerful was the right given to him
to engage in trade. This right is called inchulto de comercio, In almost all cases, the provincial governor
abused his power so that he committed graft and corruption. Because this power was so abused as to
scandalize even Spaniards, it was abolished in 1884.

Another anomalous practice was the provincial governor's being at the same time judge of the
province. Since many abuses were committed by the governor-judge, the King in 1886, ordered that the
provincial governor should remain as the judge only. Another man was appointed provincial governor
whose main function was to administer the province

Below the provincial government was the municipal government headed by a gobernadorcillo
(little governor, also called capitan municapal or simply capitan. Today, he is called Mayor.
  The capitan was elected by thirteenth electors who were prominent in the town.

 Six of these electors were former cabeza de barangay, six were actual cabeza de barangay, and
the thirtcenth elector was the outgoing capitan

 The one elected had to be approved by the Spanish friar-curate. If approved was sent to the
provineial governor who, in turn sent it to the office of the governor-general in Manila for final
approval.

 The capitan was aided in the administration of the town by deputies called tenientes, a chief of
police, and subordinate oflicials called alguciles.

Each barrio or barangay of the town was headed by a cabeza or head who did not receive any salarv
liowever, he was given a part of the taxes collected in his barrio Also he was considered a member of
the principalia or the aristocracy

The City and its Government. Cebu and Manila were the only two centuries during the first century of
Spanish rule, By the 17 century, the Philippines had six cities: Cebu, Manila, Vigan, Nueva Segovia (now
Lal-loc), Arevalo, now a part of lloilo city, and Nueva Caceres (now Naga). The city then was the center of
social, commercial, religious, and cultural life Its government was different to that of the town. It was
called ayutamiento, now the city hall, and consisted of two alcaldes, twelve regidores (now called
councilors), a chief of police, a city secretary, and few other lesser officials.

E. Ecclesiastical Administration

For purposes of administration, the Philippines was divided into dioceses (bishoprics), parishes,
and missions. The whole colony was classified as an archdiocese.

At first, the Plilippines was a diocese, a suffrugan of Mexico but three years later Msgr. Domingo
de Salazar, a Donuinican prelate arrived in Manila to take charge of the diocese. He wvas then the first
Bishop of Manila.

Pope Clement VIII raised Manila to the rank of an archdiocese, with the bishoprics of Cebu,
Nueva Segovia, and Nueva Caceres as suffragan dioceses. Bishop Salazar was named archbishop but he
conld assume his new office and in his place Msgr lgnacio de Santibanez a Franciscan friar, was
appointed The third archbishop was Msgr Miguel de Benavides, founder of the University of Santo
Tomas.

 The head of the ecclesiastical administration was the Archbishop of Manila appointed by the
Pope upon the recommendation of the king of Spain. Under him were the bishops who were
heads of their respective dioceses; and below these bishops were the parish priests, who were
in charge of the parishes. The priests usually had assistants called coudjutors, who were young
priests.
  The Church exercised religious, political, and judicial functions functions were those pertaining
to the propagations and preservation of the Christian religion. Its political functions came out of
its union with the State Its judicial functions were discharged by the Archbishop's Court and the
Holy Inquisition. The hs religiousArchbishop's Court tried cases pertaining to Canon Law, heresy
on the part of Filipinos and Chinese, and cases involving the clergy.

SUMMARY

In the 16" century the Spaniards came, conquered and colonized the Philippines except for
Mindanao and Sulu, inhabited by Filipino Muslims (Moros) and the interior regions occupied by
pagan tribes (now the cultural minorities). After setting up settlements in the Philippines, the
Spaniards established their colonial government. From 1821 to 1898, the Philippines has a distinct
govermment unit under the direct control of Spain. The Central government was headed by
governor-general, appointed by the King of Spain. Royal Audiencia was cstablished in order Mu
check the outgoing governor-general Likewise, the Residencia and Visitador were also rstalilished.
The Local government is composed of the provinces, the City government, the Municipal
government, and the Barrio government practiced wherein the union of church and state was
observed. Meaning, the friars were not only priests, but they are also agents of the Spanish King and
members of some agencies of the Central Government and local government. Ecclesiastical
administration was also

ACTIVITY I6

1. Make a flow chart of the structure of the local government during the Spanish regime and
discuss their functions.

ACTIVITY 17

Venn Diagram Technique. Compare the local government during the Spanish period with the
present set up of our local government today.

TIME SIMILARITIES DIFFERENCES Spanish Period Present Local Government