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Philippine Politics and Governance

MODULE NO. 7
I. TITLE
● PHILIPPINE DEMOCRATIC POLITICS

II. INTRODUCTION
Present-day Philippine politics is a product of a long history influenced by colonialism and nationalism. The emergence of
government among precolonial Filipino societies was considered a mark of civilization and a gradual transition to
nationhood. In this lesson, we will learn about the historical background of Philippine democratic politics and how the
this greatly influence are politics today.

III. OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the module, you should be able to:
1. narrate the evolution of Philippine politics and governance
2. describe the different stages in the evolution of the Philippine politics and Governance; and
3. explain the evolution of Philippine politics and governance

IV. PRE-TEST
Warm up!
List at least five differences between the political structure in the Philippines.

Spanish Colonial Government Current Government in the Philippines

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V. DISCUSSION
Early Pre-Colonial Political Structures
The precolonial Filipino communities share some cultural similarities with ancient communities in Southeast
Asia and even Polynesia. The first communities that were established were defined by inter-island trade and
seafaring, and these activities contributed to the growth and expansion of the first barangays. Ancient
communities were situated on riverbanks and close to the sea. The people depended on maritime travel and
their livelihood was primarily based on access to bodies of water such as seas and rivers. Land-based
communities, meanwhile, were nomadic and lived by hunting animals and gathering plants. With the advent
of agriculture and improvements in technology, small bands of people began to come together and form large
communities called the barangay (Joven:2017).

Barangay System
Barangay, type of first Filipino settlement; the term is originated from balangay, the name for the sailboats
that originally took settlers of Malay stock to the Philippines from Borneo. Each boat carried a large family
group, and the master of the boat who has the power was called as leader, or datu, of the village formed by
his family.
The barangay was the basic political unit that occurred throughout the Philippine islands prior to the 1400s.
Each barangay was an independent polity (political entity) which practiced authority over several communities
within a definite territory. Barangays also interacted with other communities, and there is evidence of the
formation of political-military alliances between barangays for mutual support and protection.

The barangay was headed by a datu, who rose to the position

either by valor or by birth and feats attained in war. In Luzon,
the word datu means the chieftain. However, in the Visayas, the
term datu referred not only to the chieftain as an individual, but
Source:https://images.summitmedia-digital.com/ to a whole social class that comprised the relatives and friends
spotph/images/2017/06/07/balangay-inside.jpg of the chieftain. In Luzon, the noble class was termed Maharlika.
The datu, in most cases, belonged to the nobility and was
rewarded great respect by the community. In addition, women
also had the opportunity to become datu as precolonial society
acknowledge women warriors and rulers and held them in high
regard. Furthermore, other terms were also used to refer to rulers during precolonial times such as rajah and
lakan. The datu executed the customary laws of the community and served as the commander-in-chief during
times of war. The datu was also accountable for the livelihood of the people and the barangay’s communal
wealth.

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The Sultanates
A lot of what we know of pre-colonial culture and politics originates from
the Visayas, mainly thanks to early Spanish sources like Miguel de Loarca Try to visit the
and Fr. Chirino. Because the Spanish initial landed in the Visayas before link:
https://
settling in Manila, a great deal of effort was made to know the rules of the youtu.be/
strange land and its people. vvWpJygJZ4c
Story of Sulu
The most famous of these was by far the Rajahnate of Cebu. Ruling from
the central seat of power in Cebu, the Rajahnate was an important trading
hub among the Kingdom of Borneo to the south and the Sultanates of
Mindanao, the Chinese Empire to the west and the Rajahnates of Luzon to the north.

The Kingdom of Cebu also had bind with the outside world. Created
by a minor prince of Sumatra, Sri Lumay, Cebu grew to become a
main player in the archipelago’s local politics. Rajah Humabon was
the undisputed ruler of
Rajah Humabon, later baptized as Don
Carlos, was Cebu, by the time of
the Rajah of Cebu (an Indianized Philip Magellan in 1521. Some 40
pine polity) at the time of Portuguese-
years later, Humabon’s
TRIVIA
born Spanish explorer Ferdinand
Magellan's arrival in the Philippines in cousin Rajah Tupas
1521. encountered the Born around 1480 into a
Source: Rajah Humabon. (2020, July 30). conquistador Miguel Lopez family of minor Portuguese
Retrieved August 07, 2020, from de Legazpi, and was the last nobility, Magellan became a
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajah_Humabon skilled sailor and naval
Rajah of Cebu.
officer and was in service of
the Portuguese crown in
Although Cebu was a Asia. After King Manuel I
central community in the of Portugal refused to
Visayas, it was by no means the only one. Humabon was known to had support his plan to reach
a rival in Lapu-Lapu, who ruled in the island of Mactan. On reason of India by a new route, by
directing a key position in the Visayan trade route, there are some sailing around the southern
end of the South American
sources alleged that Lapu-Lapu was even stronger than his rival.
continent, he was eventually
selected by King Charles I
of Spain to search for a
westward route to the
Spanish Colonialism in the Philippines Maluku Islands (the "Spice
The Renaissance, a period of cultural and intellectual rebirth in Europe Islands")
during the 14th century, introduced the desire for exploration, Source: Ferdinand Magellan. (2020, June
30). Retrieved August 07, 2020, from
acquisition of knowledge, and discovery among Europeans. This gave https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_M
agellan
way to the Age of Discovery which resulted in greater contact and
trading relations between Europe and Asia. One offshoot of the Age of
Discovery colonialism, an economic and political ideology that
influenced the European kingdoms to embark on voyages of
exploration and conquest Colonialism believes that the power and
influence of a country is based on the number of territories it conquers
and colonies it establishes. Spain was one of the European states which
embarked on discovering and conquering colonies, and it was specifically motivated by Catholic missionary
zeal and the spice trade in Asia (Joven:69).

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 In 1521, Spain embarked on its colonial pursuits in Asia as it launched the Magellan expedition. Magellan and
his crew arrived in the Philippine islands and traveled throughout Eastern and Central Visayas. Magellan’s
intervention in a local conflict among feuding datus led to an ill-fated military attack on Mactan island which
led to his death. However, the Spanish government was steadfast in its desire to establish a colonial outpost in
Asia. The Magellan expedition was soon followed by several more attempts by the Spaniards to conquer the
islands (Joven:69).
The Spanish Colonial Government in the
TRIVIA
Philippines
Miguel López de Legazpi The Philippines was ruled over by Spain for 333 years, from 1565 to
was a Spanish navigator and 1898. The Spanish king ruled the Islands through the viceroy of Mexico,
governor who established the which was then another Spanish colony, since Spain was far from the
first Spanish settlement in the country. When Mexico reclaimed its freedom in 1821, the Spanish king
East Indies when his expedition reigned the Philippines through a governor general. A special
crossed the Pacific Ocean from
government body that supervised matters, pertaining to the colonies
the Viceroyalty of New Spain in
modern-day Mexico, arriving in aided the king in this respect. This body turn out to be known by many
Cebu in the Philippine Islands in names. Overseas Council (1837-1863), Ministry of the Colonies (1863–
1565. He was the first Governor- 1898) and Council of the Indies (1565-1837). It executed the decrees and
General of the Spanish East
legal codes of Spain although many of its provisions could not apply to
Indies, which was governed and
mainly located in the Philippines. condition in the colonies. It also exercised judicial powers and legislative.
Sources: Miguel López de Legazpi. (2020, July 30). Retrieved
August 07, 2020, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miguel_L
%C3%B3pez_de_Legazpi
The Political Structure
During Spanish colonial period, Spain recognized a centralized colonial
government in the Philippines that was comprised of a national
government and the local governments that administered towns, cities,
municipalities and provinces. With the collaboration of the local
governments the national government-maintained peace and order,
collected taxes and constructed schools and other public works.

The Governor General

As the highest-ranking official and the King's representative in the
Philippines, the governor general sees to it that royal decrees and laws
coming from Spain were executed in the Philippines. He had the power
to appoint and dismiss public officials, except those appointed by the King. He also administered all
government offices and the collection of taxes.
The governor general enjoys certain legislative powers, as well. He issued proclamations to facilitate the
enforcement of laws.

The Residencia
A special judicial court that investigates governor general’s performance in who was about to be replaced. The
residencia, of which the incoming governor general was usually a member, submitted a report of its
discoveries to the King.

The Visita
A government official called the Vistador General will be sent by the Council of the Indies in Spain to observe
situations in the colony. The Visitador General will inform his findings directly to the King.

The Royal Audiencia

Aside from its judicial functions, the Royal Audiencia served as an advisory body to the Governor General and
had the power to report and check on his abuses. The Audiencia also assessed the expenses of the colonial
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government and submits a yearly report to Spain. The other government officials and the Archbishop could
also report the abuses of the colonial government to be Spanish king. Notwithstanding all these checks,
however, an abusive governor general often able to escape stiff suspension, fines, or dismissal by simply
bribing the Visitador and other investigators.

The Provincial Government

The Spaniards formulated local government units to facilitate the country’s administration. There were two
types of local government units – the corregimiento and the alcadia. The alcadia, headed by the alcalde
mayor, ruled the provinces that had been fully dominated: the corregimiento, led by corregidor, oversee the
provinces that were not yet entirely under Spanish control. The alcalde mayor signifies the Spanish king and
the governor general in their respective provinces. They managed the day-to-day operations of the provincial
government, supervised the collection of taxes and implemented laws. Through they were compensated a
small salary, they have privileges such as the indulto de comercio, or the right to participate in the galleon
trade.

The Municipal Government

Each province was separated into several towns or pueblos led by Gobernadordcillos, whose main concerns
were effective governance and tax collection. Four lieutenants aided the Governardorcillo: the Teniente Mayor
(chief lieutenant), the Teniente de Policia (police lieutenant), the Teniente de Ganados (lieutenant of the
livestock) and the Teniente de Sementeras (lieutenant of the fields).

The Encomienda System

Owing Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, the Spain was able to colonize the Philippines, who courageously and loyally
served the Spanish crown. To hasten the suppression of the country, King Philip II order Legazpi to divide the
Philippines into large territories called encomiendas, to be left to the management of assigned encomenderos.
To show his gratefulness to his conquistadors, the King made them the first encomenderos in the colony. As
the King’s representatives in their respective encomiendas, the encomenderos had the authority to collect
taxes. Nevertheless, the encomiendas were not there to own.

The encomenderos were only territorial administrators who had the duty to:

(1) protect the people in the encomienda;

(2) maintain peace and order;
(3) promote education and health programs; and
(4) help the missionaries propagate Christianity.

Early Revolts and the Reform Movement

The Spanish colonial administration of the Philippines faced numerous uprisings since the early years of
colonial rule. One of the earliest attempts at an uprising was the 1587 Tondo Conspiracy where various
members of the local elite, including former datus and their relatives, sought to drive out the Spaniards.
Notable uprisings such as the Dagohoy Revolt (1744-1829) in Bohol and the Silang Revolt (1762-1763) in
Ilocos, gained widespread support and participation from the people (Joven: 73).

These revolts were mainly reactions to the abuses that the natives suffered under the Spaniards. However,
there were also political motivation behind these revolts. For instance, the Silang Revolt and the 1660 Malong
Revolt in Pangasinan declared independence from Spanish colonial rule. However, the objectives of the
uprisings m focused on local concerns. The independent states they envisioned and declared only covered
their respective communities. There was no evidence of a desire for nationhood as the varied communities in
the colony were still divided along ethnolinguistic lines, and community leaders were intensely local and
parochial in their views and aspirations. The lack of integration among the various communities in the

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Philippines, brought about by differences in language and cultural traditions, was a significant factor that
contributed to the failure of the initial revolts against the colonial government (Joven: 73).

During the 19th century, increased the trade opportunities and improvement in technology, particularly in
agriculture, brought about the emergence of a middle class, which consisted of families that gained wealth
through trade and commerce. This meant that apart from the principales or the political elite, a new group of
influential natives emerged due to their accumulated wealth. This transformation brought about the
emergence of a new group of liberal-minded citizens, the illustrados, who adopted liberal ideas and views
because of their travels and studies in Europe. This group began to call for political reforms in the Philippines.
It was during this time that various members of the upper class began to establish a strong bond due to their
shared ideas and the fact that they were all born in the Philippines. Also included in this group were the
insulares, who were full-blooded Spaniards born in the Philippines (Joven: 73).
Sources:
● Joven, A. (2017). Philippine Politics and Governance for Senior High School. Quezon City: C & E Publishing, Inc.
● Miguel López de Legazpi. (2020, July 30). Retrieved August 07, 2020, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miguel_L
%C3%B3pez_de_Legazpi
● Ferdinand Magellan. (2020, June 30). Retrieved August 07, 2020, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_Magellan
● https://youtu.be/vvWpJygJZ4c
● Rajah Humabon. (2020, July 30). Retrieved August 07, 2020, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajah_Humabon

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VI. ASSESSMENT
Exercise no.1
Direction: Give the definition of the following terminologies.
1.Barangay

2.Sultan

3.Encomienda System

4.Encominderos

5. Gobernadorcillo

6. Colonialism

Exercise no.2
Direction : Explain the following questions in not less than seven sentences. Use another sheet of long bond
paper.

1.How did colonialism transform politics and governance in the Philippines during the Spanish conquest?

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 2.What are the differences between the first and current barangay system?

3.What are the differences between the functions of the governor general during the Spanish period and the
functions of the president in the current administration?

PREPARED BY: MS. JESALEEH M. DULAY & MR. SEALTIEL VILLAREAL

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
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