In the 15th century, Philippines was invaded by Spain

and reigned over the Philippines for 333 years, from

1565 to 1898. Their coming changed our history
because of
THREE REASONS:

1. Through Spain, we became CATHOLIC.

2. We got new and more advanced culture from

Europe and Mexico.

3. But for the first time, WE LOST OUR FREEDOM

or INDEPENDENCE.
 Spain
established ONE CENTRAL
GOVERNMENT in the Philippines.

Many independent barangays of our

ancestors disappeared. One government alone
ruled most of the country. Thus, for the first time
in history, we became united as one nation called
FILIPINAS. The rest of the world came to know
our country by that name.
Since Spain was far from the
country, the Spanish king
ruled the Islands through the
viceroy of Mexico, which was
then another Spanish colony.

KING OF SPAIN

VICEROY OF MEXICO

PHILIPPINES
When Mexico regained its freedom in 1821, the Spanish
king ruled the Philippines through a Governor General.

KING OF SPAIN

GOVERNOR GENERAL

PHILIPPINES
 KING OF SPAIN
THE COLONIAL GOVERNMENT

THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH THE JUDICIAL BRANCH

(Governor General) (Royal Audencia, Residencia,
Lower Courts, Governor-General)

PROVINCIAL MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT CITY GOVERNMENT

GOVERNMENT CORRIGIMIENTO AYUNTAMIENTO
ALCALDIA (Corregidor) (Cabildo)
(Alcalde Mayor)
PUEBLOS OR TOWNS CABILDO
(Gobernadorcillos) City Council

ALCALDE
REGIDORES
BARRIOS AGUACIL MAYOR
(Cabeza de Barangay) ESCRIBANDO

BARRIOS
(Cabeza de Barangay)
THE POLITICAL STRUCTURE

Spain established a centralized colonial

government in the Philippines that was composed
of a NATIONAL GOVERNMENT and the LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS that administered provinces,
cities, towns and municipalities.

NATIONAL GOVERNMENT:

maintained peace and order

collected taxes
built schools and other public works
 THE GOVERNOR GENERAL

The King's representative and the highest-

ranking official in the Philippines.

He had GREAT POWERS. He had the power to

appoint and dismiss public officials, except those
personally chosen by the King. He was the
commander in chief of the colonial armed forces.

He was also the president of the Royal Audencia.

(Like the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court today)
 There were 115 Spanish Governor-Generals in our country.

The first one was Miguel Lopez

de Legazpi (1565-1572) and
the last was Diego de los Rios
(1898)

Diego de los Rios Miguel Lopez de Legazpi

The Governor General and other government
officials had so much power that it was
commonly abused.

To investigate the abuses, there were

bodies created:

THE RESIDENCIA

THE VISITA THE ROYAL AUDENCIA

 THE RESIDENCIA

This was a special judicial court that investigates

the performance of a Governor General who was
about to be replaced.

The Residencia, of which

the incoming Governor
General was usually a
member, submitted a report
of its findings to the King.
 THE VISITA

The Council of the Indies in Spain sent a

government official called the VISITADOR
GENERAL to observe conditions in the colony.

The Visitador General

reported his findings
directly to the king.
The highest court in the land during the Spanish times.

THE ROYAL AUDENCIA

LOCAL GOVERNMENT
 THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
The Spaniards created Local Government Units (LGU) for
the provinces. There were two types of local government
units:

ALCALDIA CORRIGIMIENTO

Alcalde Mayor Corregidor

Though they were paid a small salary, they enjoyed
privileges such as the INDULTO DE COMERCIO
or the right to participate in the GALLEON
TRADE.
THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

The ALCADIA, led by the Alcalde Mayor

governed the provinces.

DUTIES OF THE ALCALDE MAYOR:

They represented the Spanish king and the

Governor-General
They managed the day-to-day operations of
the provincial government
Implemented laws and supervised the
collection of taxes
THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

The CORREGIMIENTO, headed by

Corregidor governed the provinces that
were not yet entirely under Spanish
control.
 THE CITY GOVERNMENT

Larger towns became cities

called AYUNTAMIENTO. It became the center of
trade and industry.

The ayuntamiento had a city council

called the CABILDO

CABILDO is composed of:

ALCALDE (MAYOR)
REGIDORES (COUNCILLORS)
ALGUACIL MAYOR (POLICE CHIEF)
ESCRIBANDO (SECRETARY)
 THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
Each province was divided into several towns or
pueblos headed by GOBERNADORDCILLOS
(Little Governor)

MAIN DUTIES: Efficient governance and tax

collection.

FOUR LIEUTENANTS AIDED THE GOVERNARDORCILLO:

the Teniente Mayor (chief lieutenant),
the Teniente de Policia (police lieutenant),
the Teniente de Sementeras (lieutenant of the fields)
the Teniente de Ganados (lieutenant of the livestock)
GOBERNADORDCILLOS

They had SMALL SALARIES but were

exempted from PAYING TAXES.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Any NATIVE or CHINESE MEZTIZO
25 years old
Literate in ORAL or WRITTEN
SPANISH
Cabeza de Barangay for 4 years

Ex: Emilio Aguinaldo

 CABEZA DE BARANGAY
(Barrio Administrator or Barangay Captain)

Responsible for the peace and order of the barrio

Recruited men for public works

QUALIFICATIONS:
Cabezas should be literate in Spanish.
Have good moral character and property.
Cabezas who served for 25 years
were exempted from forced labor.