PHILIPPINES UNDER SPAIN

•The history of the Philippines from 1565

THE to 1898 is known as the Spanish colonial
HISTORY: period.
•Ruled as the Captaincy General of the
Philippines within the Spanish East
Indies.
•In 1521 by Ferdinand Magellan in his circumnavigation
expedition.
• killed in the Battle of Mactan.
• Forty-four years later, a Spanish expedition led by 
Miguel López de Legazpi .
•1565, during the reign of Philip II of Spain.
CROWN COLONY
•Referred specifically to those colonies ruled directly
by a governor appointed by the monarch.
- Spain govern the Philippines through the union of
church and state, introducing to a new beliefs.
“REASON FOR SPANISH
COLONIZATION”
• When king Charles I decided to sent an expedition to moluccas, his
purpose was primarily commercial
SPANISH CLAIM THE
ARCHIPELAGO(PHILIPPINES) BASE ON THE
TWO REASON.
•First - since the “discovery” of the Philippines was
made under the auspices of Spain, the Philippines
therefore was rightfully owned by Spain.
•Second – since Spain, being in actual profession of the
Philippines, it had a right to colonize it.
in other words Spain claimed the Philippines by right of “discovery”

Expedition
+
Magellan
+
Discovery
=
Philippines
POLITICAL CHANGES
Council of the Indies – administered the
Philippines, even so the king of the Spain
appointed Spanish officials to deal with the proper
administration of the colony.

- The most important administrative organ of the

Spanish Empire for the Americas and Asia.
•In 1863 – in order to make the administration of the Philippines
efficient as a colony, it was place under the jurisdiction of
Ministry of the Colonies or Overseas Ministry ( Ministerio de
ultramar)
• the ministerial department in charge of the direction of Spanish
colonies between 1863 and 1899. it administered the Philippines,
Cuba Puerto Rico and the Carolinas, Marianas and Palaos.
 THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
In order to make the central government of the Philippines organize under Spaniard rule, they
adopted their experience in Mexico and South America, including the law of the indies.

Some Spanish law were likewise adopted,

1. La Lovisma Recompilacion
2. Leyes De toro
3. Siete Partidas
•Central Government – was headed by the governor and
captain.

•Captain – general or governor – general – was appointed by

the king of Spain.

- He possessed vast executive, legislative, and judicial powers.

 There are only two branches of government under Spanish Rule.
1. The executive
2. The judicial
there was no legislative or congress.

SUPERIOR DECREES – order from the governor general.

ROYAL DECREES – orders coming from the king of spain.
the governor-general
-He is the president of Audiencia, he was also the vice
Royal Patron in the Philippines.
-He can appoint minor official in the government
including the parish priests.
-He is the commander in chief of the armed forces.
THE GOVERNOR GENERAL IS
POWERFUL
•Compalse – the right of the governor-general to
suspend the operation of a royal decree or order
relative to the Philippines if in his opinion, the said
order or decree would not be beneficial to the
administration of the country.
•The usual formula in exercising the right of cumples
was “ I obey but I do not comply”
 THE AUDIENCIA
•The Audiencia was established in the Philippines in 1583 to
administer justice to the aggrieved people in the colony.
•Governor Santiago De Vera – First president of Audiencia.
•Audiencia was the Highest court in so far as the civil and
criminal cases were concerned even political, and
administrative matters.
•In the absence of the governor the audiencia exercised
political and administrative powers.
•Audiencia was abolish by the king of Spain in 1589
because of the opposition of some powerful person in
colonial.
•King of Spain re- establish the audiencia in 1595.
However, it’s actually carried out it’s function in 1568
when it was inaugurated.
 LOCAL GOVERNMENT
•Provincial Government – under by the central government, which
were already recognizing the authority of Spain.
Alcalde Mayor – called to provincial governor who govern
provincial government, he was appoint by the governor- general
- His salary is small but he could collect tribute to increase his
income.
Indulto de comercio – a right given to alcalde mayor to engage in trade, what made
him rich and powerful.

- It was abolished in 1844 because the alcalde mayor abuse his power to the extend of
scandalizing the Spaniards.

Municipal government – under the provincial government and it composed of several

barrios.
Gobernadorcillio (little governor) also called captain municipal or simply kapitan.
- today he is called mayor, he was elected by the thirteen electors who were
prominent in the town.
 -six of the electors were former Cabezas
De Barangay six were Cabezas de Barangay the thirteenth electors
was the outgoing captain.
Spanish Fria- curate – are the one who approve the selected
gobernadorcillio.
- if approve, his name was sent to the provincial governor who, in
turn submitted his name to the office of the governor general in
manila for final approval.
• The captain was aided in the administration of the town by deputies called
tenientes, a chief of police, and subordinate officials called alguaciles.

THE CITY AND ITS GOVERNMENT

During first century of Spanish rule, there were only two cities:
1. Cebu
2. Manila
•After seventeenth century, the Philippines had six cities:
1. Cebu
2. Manila
3. Vigan
4. Nueva Segovia (la-lo Cagayan)
5. Arevalo (part of Iloilo City)
6. Nueva Caseres ( Naga )