Spanish Government in the Philippines

Introduction
The Spaniards set their colonial government after setting their settlements in the
Philippines. The Philippines was ruled through the Mexican viceroy in the name of the
Spanish king until 1821 after the revolts of the Mexicans against Spaniards and won their
independence. From 1821 to 1898, the Philippines has a distinct government unit under the
direct control of Spain. The king as sovereign issued cedulas (derees) for the administration
of the Philippines and appointed the Governor-General, the members of the Royal Audiencia
and other colonial officials.

A. Spanish Government in the Philippine Central Government

The representative of the King of Spain is the Governor-General on the national level.
He is appointed and removed from the office by the king.

The functions of the Governor-General are:

A. He exercised great powers as executive, military, judicial, and religious.
B. He had the right to supervise and control all administrative offices,and to appoint colonial
officials not named by the king.
C. As capital-general, he was commander-in-chief of all armed forces, with the special duty
of providing for the national defense of the Philippines.
D. He served also as president of the Royal Audiencia (Supreme Court), the highest judicial
body of the colony.
E. He acted as vice0real patron and as such had the power to ecclesiastical appointments in
the church and even the right to supervise missionary work.
F. He was the source of civil powers for the various levels of administration, like the
collection and administration of public revenues, the promulgation of regulation for the
observance of local officials, the pardoning of criminal offenders, and the supervision of trade
and industries.
G. One great power of the governor-general was the cumplaseby which he could suspend or
disregard any royal decrees or law from Spain.

The first Governor-General of the Philippines was Miguel Lopez de Legaspi. He served
from 1565-1572.He was also an adelantado and the one to have been given two titles.

In case of vacancy in the governorship due to the incumbents’ sickness, or absence, the
Audiencia (Spanish Supreme Court) took charge of the civil and political functions, with the
senior oidor (Justice) assuming the military affairs as captain-general.

B. Advisory Bodies
1. Board of Authority (Junta de Autoridades)
It was the cabinet established by the royal decree of April 16,1850. This body was
composed of the governor-general as president, the Archbishop of Manila, the general
second in command. The admiral of the navy, the intendant of the treasury, the director-
general of the civil administration, the president of the Audiencia, and the attorney-general.
Its chief function was to advise the governor-general on questions of unusual importance.

2. Council of the Administration

It was a consultative body created by the Royal Order and had larger representation. It
is composed of high ranking officials. Its functions were to deliberate on the government
budgets, the questions of royal patronage and other matters which governor might submit for
opinion.
C. Checks on Gobernatorial Powers

The King of Spain formed bodies to check the Spanish Officials assigned in the
Philippines.

1. The Royal Audiencia

In 1583, the Royal Audiencia was created purposely to check the powers of the
governor-general and as a protection to the Filipinos. It was composed of a president (gov-
gen), three oidons (justices), a fiscal (prosecuting attorney), and other necessary officials.

It was abolished in 1589 because of misunderstanding and quarrels between governor-

general and other members. The abolition worsened the Philippine condition and for this
reason, King Philip II re-established the Audiencia of Manila by his Royal Decrees. It began
on 1589 and ended in 1898.

Functions:
1. It took the administration of government in case of vacancy in the gubernatorial office.
2. It acted as advisory body to the governor-general;
3. Ot exercised executive and administrative functions by sharing with the governor the
discharge of the royal patronage and by preparing an annual report to the king on Philippine
politics and social conditions.
4. It enjoyed legislative powers by enacting regulations for local government.
5. It discharged financial authority by auditing the yearly accounts of the colony.

2. Residencia
It is a special court presided by the incoming governor-general which investigated the
conduct of the outgoing gov-gen at the end of his term. The outgoing govgen had to defend
himself from the charges of complaints of his enemies or the people he may have done wrong
while in office. Outgoing gov-gen found guilty of public misconduct were imposed to pay
heavy fines, have their propertiess sequestered and/or imprisoned. The residencia continued
until 1799 when it was officially abolished in the colony.

3. Visitador
It is conducted by visiting investigator sent from Spain. The visit might occur anytime
within the official’s term without previous notice. The objective was to check abuse of power
of royal officials to ensure that the government officials perform efficiently.

Those found guilty of public misconduct were fined or dismissed from office and
expelled from the colony or received a combination of all theses punishments.

D. Local Government
Below the central government was the provincial government. Provinces which were
already peaceful and recognizing the authority of Spain were governed by civil provincial
governors. Those not yet fully pacified and conquered were ruled by military officers. The
provincial governor was called alcalde mayor. He was appointed by the gov-gen. His salary
was small but he could collect a part of tributes to increase his income. What made him rich
and powerful was the right given to him to engage in trade. This right was called indulto de
comercio. In almost all cases, the provincial governor abused his power so that he committed
graft and coruption. Because this power was so abused as to scandalze even Spaniards, it was
abolished in 1884.

Another anomalous practice was the provincial governor’s being at the same time judge
of the province. Since many abuses were committed by the governor-judge, the King in 1886,
ordered the provincial governor should remain as the judge only. Another man was appointed
provincial governor whose main function was to administer the province.
 Below the provincial government was the municipal government headed by a
gobernadorcillo (liitle governor, also called captain municipal or simply capitan.)

 The captain was elected by thirteen electors who were prominent in the town. Six of
these electors were were former cabeza de barangay, six were actual cabeza de barangay,
and the thirteenth was the outgoing capitan.
 The one elected had to be approved by the Spanish friar-curate. If approved was sent to
the provincial governor who, in turn sent it to the office of the governor-general in
Manila for the final approval.
 The capitan was aided in the administration of the town by deputies called tenientes, a
chief of police, and subordinate officials called alguaciles

Each barrio or barangay of the town was headed by a cabezas or head who did not
receive any salary. However, he was given a part of the taxes collected in his barrio. Also he
was considered a member of the principalia or the aristocracy.

The City and its Government. Cebu and Manila were the only two cities during the
first century of Spanish rule. By the 17 th century, the Philippines has six cities; Cebu, manila,
Vigan, Nueva Segovia (now Lal-loc), Arevalo (part of Iloilo City), and nueva Caceres (now
Naga). The city then was the center of social, commercial, religious, and cultural life. Its
government was different to that of the town. It was called ayuntamiento, now the city hall,
and consisted of two alcaldes, twelve regidores (now called councilors), a chief of police, a
city secretary, and few other lesser officials.

E. Ecclesiastical Administration

For purposes of administration, the Philippines was divided into dioceses (bishoprics),
parishes, and missions. The whole colony was classified as an archdiocese.

At first, the Philippines was a dioces, a suffragan of Mexico but three years later Msgr.
Domingo de Salazar, a dominican prelate arrived in Manila to take charge of the diocese. He
was then the first bishop of Manila.

Pope Clement VIII raised Manila to the rank of an archdiocese, with the bishoprics of
Cebu, Nueva Segovia, and Nueva Segovia, and Nueva Caceres as suffragan dioceses. Bishop
Salazar was named archbishop but ha could assume his new office and in his place Msgr.
Ignacio de Santibanez a Franciscan friar, was appointed. The third archbishop was Msgr.
Miguel de Benavides, a founder of the University of Santo Tomas.

 The head of the ecclesiastical administration was the Archbishop of Manila appointed by
the Pope upon the recommendation of the king of Spain. Under him were the bishops
who were head of their respected dioceses; and below these bishops were the parish
priests, who were in charge of the parishes. The priests usually had assistants called
coadjutors, who were young priests.
 The church exercised religious, political, and judicial functions. Its religious functions
were those pertaining to the propagations and preservation of the Christian religion. Its
political functions came out of its union with the state. Its judicial functions were
discharged by the Archbishop’s Court and the Holy Inquisition. The Archbishop’s Court
tried cases pertaining to Canon Law, heresy on the part of Filipinos and Chinese, and
cases involving the clergy.

SUMMARY
 In the 16th century the Spaniards came, conquered and colonized the Philippines except
for Mindanao and Sulu, inhabited by Filipino Muslims (Moros) and the interior regions
occupied by pagan tribes (now the cultural minorities). After setting up settlements in the
Philippines, the Spaniards established their colonial government. From 1821 to 1898, the
Philippines has a distinct government unit under the direct control of the Spain. Royal
Audiencia was established in order to check the outgoing governor-general. Likewise, the
Residencia and Visitador were also established. The Local government is compared is
composed of the provinces, the City Government, the Municipal Government, and the Barrio
Government. Ecclesiastical administration was also practiced wherein the union of church
and state was observed. Meaning, the friars were not only priests, but they are also agents of
the Spanish King and members of some agencies of the Central Government and local
Government.

Activity
Venn Diagram Technique.
Compare the local government during the Spanish period with the present set up of our
government today.