Group 3-Output 3 October 1 & 3,2019

21- w/ 22-w/ 23-w/ 24-w/ 25-w/ 26-w/ 27-w/ 28-w/ 29-w/ 30-w/ LF101

Factors on the Arrivals of Spanish in the Philippines

During the old times, science was known as an autonomous discipline, distinct from both philosophy
and technology. It paved way to different transformations such as the re-education of common sense in favor
of abstract reasoning and the viewing of nature as a machine rather than as an organism. These scientific
views led to great changes in Europe. Europeans experienced growth of commerce and industry, and the
improvement of the science of navigation which resulted to inventions of machines. This expansion was
entitled the Industrial Revolution.
Following these events came the age of exploration wherein the European demand for more products led to
the development of long trades in Asia. Later on, Portugal, Spain and other European countries began to
have commercial rivalries, resulting to imperialism. Spaniards wanted a footing in Asian trade in order to
boost their economy in competition with Portugal’s success. The Philippines’ geographic location was the
most ideal trading spot in Asia and this notion gave the Spaniards a motive to colonize the country. Spain’s
aim in colonizing the Philippines may be keynoted by the 3G’s- God, Gold and Glory. The chief aim of the
colonization was the propagation of Catholicism. The second aim was the desire for economic wealth and
lastly, Spain’s ambition to be the greatest empire in the world.

Political System During the Spanish Colonial Era

The government during the spanish era were made up of the executive and judicial branch. The laws were
coming from spain which is why there is no legislative branch during the spanish era. Although, the laws that
were created in the Philippines were ordered by the governor general. The governor general was the
representative of spain. He had the highest power in the country. Filipinos developed their own political
systems which exercised the right of Filipinos to lead among their communities until the Spaniards colonised
the country. Spaniards created a Central Government that covers most of the country, popularising it as
“Filipinas”. This centralised colonial government was composed of National and Local Governments. The
National Government maintained peace and order, collected taxes and built public works. This was divided
into the Executive and Judicial branch. The Executive branch was led by a “Governor- General”. For the
Judicial branch, it consisted of three bodies, the first one is “The Residencia” It was a special judicial court
that investigates the performance of a Governor- General who was about to be replaced. “The Visita” involved
a “Visitador General” who observes the condition of the colony and reports directly to the King. The Royal
Audencia was the highest court in the land during the Spanish period. It served as an advisory body to the
Governor- General and had the power to check and report on his abuses. For the Executive, the Local
Government was composed of the Provincial, Municipal and City Government. Spaniards created two types
of Local Government Units who were paid a small amount of salary but enjoyed privileges such as the “Indulto
de Comercio” or the right to participate in the “Galleon Trade”. Provincial Government “Alcadia” was led by
the “Alcalde Mayor” whose duties were to represent the Spanish King and Governor- General, manage the
daily operations of the provincial government, implement laws and supervise the collection of taxes. The
second was the “Corregimiento”, headed by the “Corregidor”. This sector governed provinces that were not
yet entirely under the Spanish control. Municipal Governments were headed by “Gobernadorcillos” (Little
Governors) whose duties were efficient governance and tax collection. City Government “Ayuntamiento”, had
a council entitled as “Cabildo”. It was composed of the “Alcalde” (Mayor), “Regidores” (Counsellors), “Alguacil
Mayor” (Police Chief), and the “Escribando” (Secretary). Under cities, there were smaller groups called
“Barrios” (Barangays). These groups had a “Cabeza de Barangay” which was led by a City Government.

Positions under the Political Institutions during the Colonial Period

The Philippines was a Bureaucracy in colonial Philippines, a system of government in which most of
the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives. In 1863, the
Ministry of the Colonies in Spain made the Cosejo de las Indies (Supreme Council of the Indies). The
government may be divided into different levels of administration, the highest level consists of the
central or national administration. The King of Spain (through the Supreme Council of the Indies)
governed the Philippines through his sole spokesman and representative Gobernador y Captain
General or Governor/Captain-General. He was appointed by the King of Spain; the King’s official
representative in the colony. The Governor-general had a lot of duties. He enforced the King’s royal
decrees from Spain, headed the Central government, Commander-in-Chief of the colonial armed forces,
Chief-Executive, Vice Royal Patron (had the power and right to nominate priests to ecclesiastical
positions). President of the Royal/Real Audencia (Supreme Court), this was the country’s highest judicial
body, performed executive and legislative functions, and audited the expenditures of the colonial
government. To avoid corruption, the power of the Governor-general was checked by the following: the
Royal Audencia , the Archbishop and the Clergy (were influential in the King’s court), the Residencia
(a judicial institution in which the outgoing Governor-general and other Spanish officers are tried for their
acts while in office), The Visitador (an investigating officer which the King of Spain sent to Manila at certain
times to investigate the Philippines conditions against the Governor-general and other Spanish officials). The
Cumplase was bestowed by the King of Spain to the Governor-general as his right as Governor to
suspend the operation of the royal decree if in his opinion said decree would not benefit the colony.
The Gobernadorcillo was a municipal judge or governor. He was the leader of town or pueblo. He carried
out in a town the combined charges or responsibilities of leadership, economic, and judicial administration.
His appointment was through an exclusive nomination provided by the Spanish law. His term of office lasts
for 2 years. The Escribano kept minutes for the council and preparing legal documents for city. He also took
testimonies from the witnesses, served papers, and retained all evidence. He worked along with the alguacil.
He had to ensure that the legal affairs of a province remain within the law. The Teniente Mayor 1 and 2
aided the Gobernadorcillo. The Juez de Policia supervised the operations and budget of the Estacion de
Policia (Police Department). The Aguacils mandated and seized property and assets pursuant to court
orders. The Juez de Sementera was the superintendent of fields and they were in charge with the general
conduct of planting and harvesting. The Juez de Ganados were called as the superintendent of livestock.
The Captain de Cuadrilleros was the town policemen in cahoots with the local officials, who facilitated the
approval of forgery of documents required for the sale of livestock. The Cabacera Barangay acted as the
head of certain towns within the municipal.