THE PHILIPPINES UNDER SPANISH

RULE
Subtitle

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Introduction
• By the late 18th century, political and economic changes in Europe
were finally beginning to affect Spain and, thus, the Philippines.
• Important as a stimulus to trade was the gradual elimination of the
monopoly enjoyed by the galleon to Acapulco.
• The last galleon arrived in Manila in 1815, and by the mid-1830s
Manila was open to foreign merchants almost without restriction.
• The demand for Philippine sugar and abaca (hemp) grew apace, and
the volume of exports to Europe expanded even further after the
completion of the Suez Canal in 1869.
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The Spanish Colonial Government
• For three hundred thirty three years, the Spaniards ruled the islands as a Crown Colony. In
theory, it was ruled directly by the King. However, due to its distance, it was placed under the
supervision of the Viceroy of Mexico until 1821.

• The Council of the Indies was established to assist the King in the administration of all Spanish
colonies. The Council exercised executive, legislative and judicial authority until 1834, when it
was permanently abolished. It was replaced by the Ministry of Overseas Territories in 1863 to
supervise the administration Spain’s remaining colonies – the Philippines, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the
Carolinas, Marianas, and Palau.

• Within the Philippines, Spain established a centralized colonial government made up of national
and local officials who were responsible for maintaining peace and order, collecting taxes,
building public infrastructure, and protecting the colony from external threats.

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THE SPANISH COLONIAL GOVERNMENT

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 The Spanish Colonial Policies
OBRAS PIAS TRIBUTES
The Galleon Trade The obras pias served as banks Filipinos were required to pay
Spain closed our country to world which were run by the Spanish attributes or taxes, as a recognition
trade, brought about by the practice missionaries. They loaned money to of Spanish authority and to finance
of mercantilism. We became businessmen who wanted to engage the expenses of the colonial
preoccupied with the Manila- in galleon trade, and charged government.
Acapulco trade, popularly known as interests ranging from 20% to 50%. In 1570,each family paid 8 reales
the "Galleon trade." it was named When they loaned money you should which was equivalent to 1 peso,
after the trading ship that sailed from give a collateral that if you did not while a single person paid only one-
Acapulco Manila, and vice versa pay your property is now the half peso. Later, this was increased
property of the government. to 15 reales.

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 The Spanish Colonial Policies
BANDALA SYSTEM
The Filipinos wre required or forced to sell
their agricultural products to the
government. In return, they will recieve a
promissory note that promises and says that
they will pay you at this particular date and
they will not pay you at all.  churches, and cutting timbers in forests,
POLO Y SERVICIO
Polo y Servicion means forced labor. A
person who performed this was called
polista. All Filipino male 16 years old to 60
were required to do this for 40 days in a
year. In 1884, this was reduced to 15 days.
The polistas rendered free labor by serving
as soldiers or sailors in Spanish military
expeditions; by building roads, bridges,
which they later used in building galleon
ships. Filipinos at that time also became
good ship builders. .
TOBACCO MONOPOLY
On March 1, 1782, the tobacco monopoly
was established by governor general Jose
Basco. Its aim is to increase government
revenue because the annual subsidy
received from Mexico was no longer
sufficient to maintain the colony. As such,
an order was isssued for the widespread
cultivation of tobacco in the provinces of
Nueva Ecija, Cagayan Valley, Ilocos and
Marinduque.
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THE ENCOMIENDA SYSTEM
IN SPANISH COLONIES

Two Types of Encomienda

Taken from the Spanish word encomendar which means to

entrust, the encomienda was a privilege to had a right to
control a certain territory including its residence. There were
two kinds of encomiendas:
(a) Private encomiendas were those belonged to the King's
officials and other Spaniards who contributed to the
colonization of the Philippines.

(b) Royal encomiendas were those who belonged to the

King of Spain, such as the Bagumbayan, which is now
known as the Luneta. The encomienda system was
eventually abolished at the turn 19th century due to
complaints of abuses from the people.

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THE REDUCCION

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 Insert image

Reducción, (Spanish: “contraction”) in Latin

America and Philippines, a community set up
under ecclesiastical or royal authority to
facilitate colonization. Native peoples, many
of whom had lived in small villages or hamlets
before contact with Europeans, were forcibly
relocated to these new settlements.

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TONDO CHURCH

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TAAL BASILICA

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DIOS MABALOS

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