Political Development of

the Philippine Government

Pre-Colonial Philippines to Spanish Era
The Pre-Spanish Government
Prior to the arrival of the Spaniards, the Philippines was
composed of settlements or villages, each called barangay,
named after balangay, a Malayan word meaning “boat”.
The Pre-Spanish Government
Every barangay was virtually a state, for it possessed the four
basic elements of statehood. At times, however, some barangays
joined together as “confederations” mainly for the purpose of
mutual protection against common enemies.
Datu
Each barangay was ruled by a chief called datu in some places,
and rajah, sultan or hadji in others. He was its chief executive, law
giver, chief judge, and military head.

In the performance of his duties, however, he was assisted

usually by a council of elders (maginoos) which served as his
advisers. In form, the barangay was monarchy with the wealth, or
physical prowess.
SOCIAL CLASSES IN THE BARANGAY
The people of the barangay were divided into four classes,
namely: the nobility (maharlika), to which the datu belonged, the
freemen (timawa), the serfs (aliping namamhay), and the slaves
(aliping sagigilid).
Early Laws
The early Filipinos had both written and unwritten laws. The
written laws were promulgated by the datus.

The two known written codes in the pre-Spanish era are the
“Maragtas Code” which was said to have been written about
1250 A.D by Datu Sumakwel of Panay, and the Kalantiaw Code
written in 1433 A.D by Datu Kalantiaw, also of Panay.
The Arrival of Spaniards
Ferdinand Magellan
(HE DID NOT DISCOVER THE PHILIPPINES!)
A Portuguese in the service of the
Spanish crown, was looking for a westward
route to the to the Spice Islands of Indonesia.

-San Antonio
-Santiago
-Conception
-Trinidad
-Victoria
Objectives of the Spain
• The foremost aim of Spanish colonization was to spread
Christianity.
• The second aim of the Spanish colonizers was economic
wealth.
• The third aim of Spanish colonization was political
grandeur.
March 16, 1521
April 27, 1521
Other Expeditions
• Garcia Jofre Loaisa (1525)
• Sebastian Cabot (1526)
• Alvaro de Saavedra (1527)
• Rudy Lopez de Villalobos (1542)
• Miguel Lopez de Legazpi (1564)
The Philippines was not formally organized as a
Spanish colony until 1565 when Philip II
appointed Miguel Lopez de Legazpi the first
Governor-General.

Legazpi selected Manila for the capital of the

colony in 1571 because of its fine natural harbour
and the rich lands surrounding the city that could
supply it with produce.
Colonial Administration
333 years – Philippines was a crown colony of Spain

1821 – Mexican revolted against Spain

Why does it matter?

1821-1898 – direct control of the home government in Madrid.

 KING OF SPAIN

VICEROY OF MEXICO

PHILIPPINES
 KING OF SPAIN

GOVERNOR GENERAL

PHILIPPINES
 KING OF SPAIN

COLONIAL GOVERNMENT

EXECUTIVE BRANCH JUDICIAL BRANCH

GOVERNOR ROYAL AUDENCIA, RESIDENCIA, LOWER
GENERAL COURTS, GOVERNOR-GENERAL
PROVINCIAL CITY GOV’T
GOV’T AYUNTAMIENTO
ALCALDIA MUNICIPAL (Cabildo)
(Alcalde Mayor) GOVERNMENT
CORRIGIMIENTIO
(Corregidor) • Alcalde
CABILDO
PUEBLOS or • Regidores
City Council
TOWNS • Aguacil Mayor
(Gobernadorcillos) • Escribeando

BARRIOS
BARRIOS (Cabeza de Barangay)
(Cabeza de Barangay)
Governor General
• The King's representative and the highest-ranking official in the
Philippines
• Royal decrees and laws emanating from Spain were
implemented in the Philippines
• Had the power to appoint and dismiss public officials
• Supervised all government offices and the collection of taxes
• Exercised certain legislative powers
• Issued proclamations to facilitate the implementation of laws
Gobernadorcillo
A municipal judge or governor in the Philippines during the
Spanish colonial period, who carried out in a town the combined
charges or responsibilities of leadership, economic, and judicial
administration.

The Gobernadorcillo was the leader of a town or pueblo (people

or population). In a coastal town, the "Gobernadorcillo"
functioned as a Port Captain.
Political Structure
The Governor General and other government officials had so
much power that it was commonly abused.

The Royal Residencia

The Residencia The Visita

THE RESIDENCIA
• This was a special judicial court that investigates the
performance of a Governor General who was about to be
replaced.
THE VISITA
• The Council of the Indies in Spain sent a government official
called the VISITADOR GENERAL to observe conditions in the
colony.
THE ROYAL AUDENCIA
• Served as an advisory body to the Governor General
• Had the power to check and report on his abuses
• The Audiencia also audited the expenditures of the colonial
government
• Sent a yearly report to Spain
• The Archbishop and other government officials could also
report the abuses of the colonial
The Provincial Government
• The Spaniards created Local Government Units (LGU) for the
provinces.
There were two types of local government units:

Alcaldia > Alcalde Mayor

Corrigimiento > Corregidor

DUTIES OF THE ALCALDE MAYOR:
• They represented the Spanish king and the Governor-General.
• They managed the day-to-day operations of the provincial
government.
• Implemented laws and supervised the collection of taxes.
THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
• Each province was divided into several towns or pueblos headed
by GOBERNADORDCILLOS (Little Governor)

MAIN DUTIES: Efficient governance and tax collection.

Four lieutenants aided the Governardorcillo:
• Teniente Mayor (chief lieutenant)
• Teniente de Policia (police lieutenant)
• Teniente de Sementeras (lieutenant of the fields)
• Teniente de Ganados (lieutenant of the livestock)
GOBERNADORCILLOS
They had SMALL SALARIES but were exempted from PAYING
TAXES.

QUALIFICATIONS:
Any NATIVE or CHINESE MEZTIZO
25 years old Literate in ORAL or WRITTEN SPANISH
Cabeza de Barangay for 4 years
CABEZA DE BARANGAY
Responsible for the peace and order of the barrio
Recruited men for public works

QUALIFICATIONS:
Cabezas should be literate in Spanish
Have good moral character and property
Cabezas who served for 25 years were exempted from forced
labor
THE CITY GOVERNMENT
Larger towns became cities called: AYUNTAMIENTO
It became the center of trade and industry.
The ayuntamiento had a city council called the CABILDO
CABILDO is composed of:
1. ALCALDE (MAYOR)
2. REGIDORES (COUNCILLORS)
3. ALGUACIL MAYOR (POLICE CHIEF)
4. ESCRIBANDO (SECRETARY)