Under the Spanish Rule
Gold, Gospel and Glory
(1600s-1800s)
Reasons for Spanish Colonization
• -King Charles I sent an expedition to the Spice
Islands in Asia bec. spices were profitable (gold);
to Christianize the natives (gospel); and to
showcase power to the world (glory)
• 1. “discovery” was made under the auspices of
Spain
• 2. Spain claimed the Philippines by right of
“discovery” and by right of actual conquest,
therefore a crown colony
Social Structure
Pre-colonial period
• With social mobility
Spanish period
• Big class gapdwithout social
mobility
Reduccion (Plaza complex)
Pre-colonial
Spanish period
Reduccion plan
• -by Fr. Juan de Plasencia
• Those who refused to obey were labelled
bandits or tulisanes
• Bandidos, taga-bayan/taga-bundok divide
“under peals of the bell”
• -bajo de las campanas
• -spread Christianity by the “peals of the
bell”
• Plaza complex as a politico-religious
structure of the colonial govt to
effectively control the natives
Administrative Organization
(centralized form of govt)
18th century
• -Spanish crown governed
indirectly through the Consejo
dela Indias or Council of the
Indies
• Governor-General heads (had
the cumplase: “I obey but not
comply”
• Vice-royal patron over
religious affairs
• Commander-in-chief of the
colonial army
19th century
• Spanish crown governed
directly through the
Ministry of the Colonies or
Ministerio de Ultamar
• no law-making body
(legislative)
• Royal Audiencia as the
judicial power
Local government
Pacified provinces
City govt (Ayuntamiento )
• ALCALDE MAYOR ( PROV’L
GOVT)
• -his right to monopolized
trade (indulto comercio) made
him corrupt and rich
• -had the power to judge in
courts
GOBERNADORCILLO (little
governor); also called
capitan/capitan municipal
(mayor)
CABEZA DE BARANGAY
• -governed by a city council or
the cabildo; (Cebu and Mla)
had the city hall where there
were the• Two alcaldes
• 12 regidores (councillors)
• Chief of Police
• City secretary
• Other lesser officials
• Cabeza de barangay
(datu/principalia)
“Frailocracia”-Graciano Lopez Jaena
• Union of Church and State- principle upon
which the Spanish colonial government in the
Philippines was founded
• -supremacy of the friars
• -friar was the supervising representative of
the Spanish govt for all local affairs (ruler of
the town, school inspector, health inspector,
prison inspector, inspector of the accounts of
the governadorcillos and cabezas de barangay
Weaknesses
• 1. bribery, graft and corruption- Gov. gen could
award positions to his favorites; control and
influence over colonial affairs of other officials;
widespread selling of lower positions to highest
bidders
• 2. inefficient- many govt officials were appointed
not on the basis of merit but the ability to but
position
• 50 Governor Generals during Spanish period
changing hands for one year – at most
Economic institutions
•
1. encomienda system- a system where lands were subdivided into
parcels, together with its inhabitants, entrusted to Spanish
encomenderos as a reward in helping colonize the country; abolished
in 1674 due to complains of abuses
• 2. taxation-Filipinos paid in cash called reales; encomenderos reaped
huge profits and became wealthy; cedula as a form of taxation;
bandala-forced selling of agricultural products to the Spaniards
• 3. forced labor (polo y servicio) – laborers were called polistas; can pay
a falla or exemprion fee, also a source of corruption
• 4. Galleon Trade- early trade in Manila and Acapulco, Mexico that
commenced in 1565; basically a trade between the Spaniards and the
Chinese in Manila and counterparts in Mexico