GE 2
encomienda was the
The Philippines Under Spanish Rule
(1600s - 1898)
● By the Time the Spaniards ruled the
Philippines, there were plenty of permanent
changes...
○ Unlike previous foreign visitors, they
chose to stay.
○ The Philippines was ruled or
colonized directly by Spain.
○ The Philippines was ruled through
the Union of the church.
○ Filipinos would undergo hardships
except for a select few.
So, why did Spain colonize the Philippines in the
First Place?
Political Changes
Conditions for the Polo:
● The Philippines was administered by the
Council of the Indies.
● Union Between church and state.
Temporary Governor Generals:
● Archbishop Francisco de la Cuesta
(1719-1721)
● Bishop Juan Arrechederra (1745-1750)
● Bishop Miguel Lino de Ezpeleta
(1759-1761)
● Archbishop Manuel Rojo (1761-1762)
Economic Changes
● The Encomienda — In principle, it was not
a piece of land but a favor from the King of
Spain.
○ The one who administers the
Encomiendero.
○ The encomiendero was tasked by
the king to Christianize the natives in
his Jurisdiction.
○ Protect the inhabitants from harm
Three kinds of Encomienda:
1. Royal Encomienda — Belonged to the king.
2. The Ecclesiastical Encomienda — Church...
3. The Private Encomienda — Belonged to
private individuals
● Polo y Servicio (Forced Labor)
○ Requires the Filipinos to render
services to the state and church
○ Its purpose was for the construction
of churches, roads, bridges, ships,
and other structures.
1. The drafted should be paid.
2. Should not be assigned to very far places
where they cannot return to their families.
3. Should not coincide with the planting and
harvest seasons.
4. Physically incapable people should not be
overworked.
5. Resorted to only in cases of absolute
necessity.
6. Should be diminished once outside help has
arrived (Referring probably to the Chinese.).
● On paper, the provisions of the polo protects
the Filipinos from exploitation.
● In practice, it was cruel. The provisions
were almost always never followed.
● Filipinos who were 16 to 60 were eligible for
the polo. For a period of 40 days a
year(reduced to 15 days in 1884).
● Falla —Exemption fee from polo duties.
However, only the rich and the Chinese
were able to pay.
● Tribute — Early form of tax (encomienda
era).
○ Abusive in nature.
 ○ The poor and the lame were
exempted
○ It is paid by all married males above
20 (Single females, above 25).
○ Paid by everyone until 60 years of
age.
● Bandala — Forced sale of products to the
government
○ There is a set price set by the
government but oftentimes, the
government does not pay. They pay
only in "promissory notes."
Other Taxes:
● Sanctorum (Church use)
● Caja de Comunidad (Community Fund)
● Diezmos prediales (Tithe)
● Donativo de Zamboanga (War bond)
● Vinta (1781-1851) Coastal protection
(Pampanga and Bulacan) Falua —For
Camarines Sur, Cebu, Misamis, and other
provinces.
● Monopoly — Complete control of the entire
supply of goods or of a service in a certain
area or market.
○ Tobacco Monopoly (1782)
○ Wine Monopoly (1807)
● Galleon Trade — Also called the
Manila-Acapulco trade, was established in
1565.
○ Principal products were Asian goods
like:
■ Porcelain and silk from
China,
■ Spices from the Moluccas,
■ Jewelry from India,
■ Carpets and rugs from
Persia,
■ Ivory from Cambodia; and
■ Siver and lacquer ware from
Japan.
○ Benefits of the Galleon Trade:
■ Maintain Hospitals,
orphanages and other
charitable institutions.
■ Allowed modern, liberal ideas
to enter the country.
■ Cultural and commercial
exchanges between Asia and
Americas.
○ New Plants and animals:
■ Tobacco, corn, cacao, cotton,
pineapple, peanut, papaya,
cashew, guava, and many
more.
■ Cows, turkey, and sheep.
Foreign Threats
● The Spaniards in the Philippines did not
only contend with filipino insurgency.
—They also had to deal with foreign threats.
○ Portuguese
○ The Chinese
○ The Dutch
○ British
The Portuguese
● The conflict started when Spain violated the
Treaty of Zaragoza.
● The Portuguese twice attempted to assert
their authority in the Philippines.
● First in 1568, Second in 1570
● They besieged Legazpi in Cebu
The Chinese
● Lin Feng, or "Limahong" as he was
popularly known, was the Subordinate of
Chu Ling Pao
● The Chinese sailed for Manila on Nov.3,
1574
○ 3000 men
○ 62 ships.
● Limahong wanted to conquer the
Philippines.
● They arrive on November 29, and
immediately launched an attack
● They were defeated in the first battle.
○ Although they killed Martin de Goiti
— Master-of- camp of the
Spaniards...
 ● Fearing Limahong's return, Gov-Gen. Guido
de Lavezares strengthened the defenses of
the city.
● The Chinese attached again and failed.
● Limahong then escaped.
The Dutch
● The conflict between the Dutch and the
Spaniards began when the Netherlands
became a part of Spain. —The Dutch
desired to be free.
○ Most of the Dutch were Protestant.
○ The Spaniards were Catholic.
● The Dutch declared their independence in
The British
1581. —It took a long time for the Spaniards
to recognize it.
● Admiral Oliver van Noort was ordered to
invade the ports of Spain and loot its
commercial ships.
● In 1600, Van Noort arrived in the
Philippines.
○ There was a naval battle on
December 14, 1600, the Dutch were
defeated.
○ Van Noort Escaped.
● In 1609, a squadron led by Admiral Francois
de Wittert arrived in Panay. —Wittert was
defeated.
● Wittert went to Manila bay but didn't attack
Manila. He just bombarded the trade ships
from China and Japan.
● He was eventually defeated at Playa
Honda, Zambales.
● Other attacks by the Dutch:
○ 1616, Admiral Joris van Speilbergen
—Did not attack, just harassed the
trading ships.
○ 1617, Admiral Jan Derickson Lam.
— Defeated by the Spaniards at
Playa Honda, Captured his flagship,
Sun of Holland.
○ 1624, 3rd battle of Playa Honda
—The Dutch left
○ 1646, Spanish and Dutch forces
faced off in naval warfare. 2 Spanish
Galleons (Encarnacion and
Rosario), 5 Dutch Ships in Bolinao
and Marinduque. —The Spaniards
won in all three battles.
○ 1647, Admiral Gertzen, returned to
the Philippines, gertzen was
eventually defeated in battle and his
ship sunk. The remaining Dutch
continued to Abucay and cassacred
400 Filipino soldiers.
○ The Dutch invasions only ended
when the Spaniards stopped their
incursions in the Moluccas. And the
Spaniards closing their forts in
Ternate in 1662.
● In 1762, The British invaded and occupied
Manila.
● The root cause was the 7 years war in
Europe in 1756.
● British forces left Madras, India on August 1,
1762.
● The British naval force was led by Admiral
Samuel Cornish.
● British Squadron was composed of:
○ 3 frigates
○ 2 storeships
○ 2 Indiamen
● The Landing force:
○ 1000 British soldiers
○ 300 Marines
○ 600 Sepoy
○ 40 Mercenaries
*The Landing force was led by Sir William
Draper.
● The British Entered Manila Bay on
September 23, 1762.
● The British were not met with resistance.
○ The Acting-Gov.Gen, Manuel Rojo
depended only on the assistance
from God...
● The British Bombarded Manila.
○ Rojo waved the white flag of
Surrender.
● The Brits entered Manila on Oct 5.
● Gov-Gen. Simon de Anda transferred his
capital to Bacolor, Pampanga.
 ○ From there, he made the British
suffer.
● The British occupation of Manila ended in
1764. —Following the Provisions of the
Treaty of Paris.
 crown
→ King/ Queen – makes the laws and issues Royal
decrees
R.C. CHURCH (Bishops and Friars)… Pope and Cardinals too…

Council of → Ultramar or Formally the “Ministerio de Ultramar”

the Indies → Overseas Ministry
SPAIN
PHILIPPINES “Governor General”
Governor and Capt. General - There were no “Legislators” in the Philippines.
He was also the: (Executive, Legislative, Judicial) - The laws were made in Spain or were made by the
- Presiding officer of the Audiencia Gov. Gen. Himself.
- Vice Royal Patron of the Philippines
- King’s representative Real Audiencia - Were called Gov. Gen. has the right of Cumplase
- Commander-in-chief Judicial Powers Superior decrees – to suspend Royal Decrees based on
“Monitors” the High Court his opinions.
Governor General - Also exercised Political Powers “ I obey but do not comply”
CENTRAL in the absence of a governor

LOCAL - Open only to Spaniards

Alcalde Mayor (Provincial Governor)
- Appointed by the Gov. Gen.
- Highest Judge in the Province
- Had the right of “Indulto de Comercio”
Aristocrats
- Headed the “Pueblo” Allowed him to engage
Gobernadorcillo (Town Mayor) - Open to Elections in Trade in the Province
Principalia class
- native elite
Cabeza de barangay - Positions given to former datus