The Philippine Government During The Spanish Colonial Period

During the Spanish colonization in the Philippines , the government was composed of two branches, the
executive and the judicial. There was no legislative branch on that time since the laws of the islands
were coming from Spain . The only laws created in the Philippines are those who were ordered by the
Governor General. The government on that time was lead by the Governor General. He was considered
as the representative of Spain and the King himself. He is the highest officer in the island and
responsible for implementing laws from the mother country. He also has the power to appoint.

or relieve officer in the government or priest in the parish, except with those personally appointed by
the king of Spain .The provinces in the island were called as “Encomienda” and were governed by the
“Encomienderos”, later they were replaced by the “Alcalde Mayor “Alcalde Mayor” had both the
executive and judicial power. He had also given the right to collect taxes. The “Alcalde Mayor” was also
allowed to establish a business because of its limited salary. In 1886, their executive power was
abolished but their judicial powers remain. Small towns were governed by the “gobernadorcillo”. Under
his authority were one police chief and the lower government employees from which he had
jurisdiction. “Gobernadorcillo” were elected by the married people but later a “gobernadorcillo” was
chosen by those outgoing in the position as his replacement. The city was governed by two mayors, 12
councilors and a police chief, a secretary and other employees. The city is called as “Ayuntamiento”.

The “Encomienda” system was implemented. It is a system from which the king has the right to transfer
the authority of a particular land to any Spanish individual or institution. Those individual who posses
the right of “encomienda” was called as “Encomiendero”.

An “Encomiendero” has authority to collect taxes from the people in his jurisdiction. He also has the
duty to care and look for the benefits of those citizens. Unfortunately, the “encomienda” system was
misused by some “encomienderos”. A lot of them use the “encomienda” for their own interest. They
tend to abuse their power, collecting taxes more than the real tax value. The “encomiendero’s” abuse
their powers which sometimes made people revolts against them. The “encomienda” system created
hindrances for the economic development of the masses. This making the elite richer and making the
economic situation of the majority under developed. Although the “encomienda” system is designed for
governance, its implementation gives negative effects to the people from which the “encomienderos”
abuse their power against the people, to whom they are bound to govern.

During the Spanish colonization, some Filipinos were forced to work for the government. This colonial
policy, called polo y servicios, was implemented in the Philippines for more than 250 years.

Philippine History- Social Status during Spanish Era-last years of Spanish colonialism

1. Social Status during Spanish colonization

2. • Principalia - it was the social and educated class in the towns of colonial Philippines composed of
the Gobernadorcillo (Town Mayor), or the Cabeza de Barangay (Chief of the Barangay) who governed
the districts and the awardees of the medal of Civil Merit. • Exempted from forced labor during the
colonial period • Were allowed to vote, be elected to public office and be addressed by the title: Don or
Doña • Given certain roles in the Church, such as assisting the priest in pastoral and religious activities
3. Ilustrados • (Spanish for "erudite," "learned," or "enlightened ones"). constituted the Filipino
educated class during the Spanish colonial period in thelate19th century • They were the middle class
who were educated in Spanish and exposed to Spanish liberal and European nationalist ideals.

4. 1. Indios - person of pure Austronesian (Malay/Malayo Polynesian) ancestry (natives) 2. Insulares -

Spaniards born in Philippines who took important positions inthe Spanishgovernment in thePhilippines.
3. Mestizos - Filipinos of mixed indigenousFilipino (Austronesian people/Malay/Malayo-Polynesian), or
European or Chineseancestry. 4. Peninsulares,Spaniards who are born in Spain and took roles in
thePhilippines

5. Kinds of Mestizo’s Mestizo de Sangley - person of mixed Chinese and Malay ancestry Mestizo de
Español -person of mixed Spanish and Malay ancestry Tornatrás -person of mixed Spanish, Malay and
Chinese ancestry

What Is Polo?

All male Filipinos, aged 16 to 60 years old, were sent to different places to provide free labor, for 40 days
a year. This was reduced to 15 days in 1884. Polistas, as the workers were called, were required to do
such jobs as building roads and bridges, constructing public buildings and churches, cutting timber in the
forest, working in shipyards, and serving in Spanish military expeditions.

Exempted from forced labor were members of the principalia, or the noble class in the towns of Spanish
Philippines. Rich Filipinos also avoided polo by paying the falla, an annual tax then amounting to seven
pesos. The law also exempted local officials and school teachers because of their services to the state.
Native Filipinos, recruited under the forced labor system of polo, load cargo and provisions into a
waiting galleon.

The Effects of Polo?

Many Filipinos suffered abuse and injustice because of polo. Polistas worked for little to no pay. They
were also separated from their families and were forced to work despite hazardous or unhealthy
conditions, resulting in injuries and death. This led to a string of revolts, that eventually gave rise to a
wider revolution against the Spanish colonial government.

The opening of the Philippines to world trade

In Europe, the Industrial Revolution spread from the United Kingdom to Spain during the period known
as the Victorian era. The industrialization of Europe created great demands for raw materials from the
colonies, bringing with it investment and wealth. Governor-General Basco had opened the Philippines to
this trade. Previously, the Philippines was seen as a trading post for international trade but in the
nineteenth century it was developed both as a source of raw materials and as a market for
manufactured goods. Following the opening of Philippine ports to world trade in 1834,[65] shifts started
occurring within Filipino society.[66][67] The decline of the Manila Galleon trade contributed to shifts in
the domestic economy. Communal land became privatized to meet international demand for
agricultural products, which led to the formal opening of the ports of Manila, Iloilo, and Cebu to
international trade.[68]
Rise of Filipino nationalism

The opening of Philippine trade to the world gave rise to business and imposing edifices that made
Manila the 'Paris of Asia'. La Insular Cigar Factory is one of the most popular.

The development of the Philippines as a source of raw materials and as a market for European
manufactures created much local wealth. Many Filipinos prospered. Everyday Filipinos also benefited
from the new economy with the rapid increase in demand for labor and availability of business
opportunities. Some Europeans immigrated to the Philippines to join the wealth wagon, among them
Jacobo Zobel, patriarch of today's Zobel de Ayala family and prominent figure in the rise of Filipino
nationalism. Their scions studied in the best universities of Europe where they learned the ideals of
liberty from the French and American Revolutions. The new economy gave rise to a new middle class in
the Philippines, usually not ethnic Filipinos.

In the mid-19th century, the Suez Canal was opened which made the Philippines easier to reach from
Spain. The small increase of Peninsulares from the Iberian Peninsula threatened the secularization of the
Philippine churches. In state affairs, the Criollos, known locally as Insulares (lit. "islanders"). were
displaced from government positions by the Peninsulares, whom the Insulares regarded as foreigners.

The Latin American wars of independence and renewed immigration led to shifts in social identity, with
the term Filipino shifting from referring to Spaniards born in the Iberian Peninsula and in the Philippines
to a term encompassing all people in the archipelago. This identity shift was driven by wealthy families
of mixed ancestry, for which it developed into a national identity.[69][70] This was compounded by a
Mexican of Filipino descent, Isidoro Montes de Oca, becoming captain-general to the revolutionary
leader Vicente Guerrero during the Mexican War of Independence.[71][72][73] The Insulares had
become increasingly Filipino and called themselves Los hijos del país (lit. "sons of the country"). Among
the early proponents of Filipino nationalism were the Insulares Padre Pedro Peláez, archbishop of
Manila, who fought for the secularization of Philippine churches and expulsion of the friars; Padre José
Burgos whose execution influenced the national hero José Rizal; and Joaquín Pardo de Tavera who
fought for retention of government positions by natives, regardless of race. In retaliation to the rise of
Filipino nationalism, the friars called the Indios (possibly referring to Insulares and mestizos as well)
indolent and unfit for government and church positions. In response, the Insulares came out with Indios
agraviados, a manifesto defending the Filipino against discriminatory remarks. The tension between the
Insulares and Peninsulares erupted into the failed revolts of Novales and the Cavite Mutiny of 1872
which resulted to the deportation of prominent Filipino nationalists to the Marianas and Europe who
would continue the fight for liberty through the Propaganda Movement. The Cavite Mutiny implicated
the priests Mariano Gomez, José Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora (see Gomburza) whose executions would
influence the subversive activities of the next generation of Filipino nationalists, José Rizal, who then
dedicated his novel, El filibusterismo to these priests.

Rise of Spanish liberalism

After the Liberals won the Spanish Revolution of 1868, Carlos María de la Torre was sent to the
Philippines to serve as governor-general (1869–1871). He was one of the most loved governors-general
in the Philippines because of the reforms he implemented.[citation needed] At one time, his supporters,
including Padre Burgos and Joaquín Pardo de Tavera, serenaded him in front of the Malacañan Palace.
[citation needed] Following the Bourbon Restoration in Spain and the removal of the Liberals from
power, de la Torre was recalled and replaced by Governor-General Izquierdo who vowed to rule with an
iron fist.