The Spanish colonial government in the Philippines had a central government administered from Manila that oversaw local governments. The highest officials were the Governor-General, who administered laws from Spain, and the Real Audiencia, the highest judicial court. Local governments included alcaldias overseen by alcaldes-mayores, corregimientos led by corregidores, and pueblos headed by gobernadorcillos. Barangays were the smallest local units headed by cabeza de barangays. However, the system faced limitations like delays in communication with Spain and incompetence and corruption among officials.

1. CIVICS 4
Handout / STUDY GUIDE
Name: ________________________________________________________ Date: __________________
LESSON 10: Spanish Colonial Government
A. Spanish Government System
Patronato Real - A doctrine wherein the Pope granted the Spanish king and his officials the privilege
of stepping in and administering the new territories in the name of Catholicism.
 Spanish Colonial Government
 Central Government
- administered the whole archipelago
1. Governor-General
2. Real Audiencia
3. Residencia and Visita
4. Guardia Civil
 Local Government
- oversees towns and provinces
1.Alcaldia
2. Corregimiento
3. Pueblo
4. Barangay
 Governor-General - The highest Spanish official of the colonial government.
Administer the colony and enacts laws and decrees coming from the king
 He was also the head of Real Audiencia and Military force
 He was granted cumplase, the right to reject decrees
 Real Audiencia - The highest judicial court during the Spanish colonial period.
Has the power to try government officials, including the governor-general, who are accused
of corruption and other crimes
 Residencia - Referred to the official investigation of a government official who was nearing to
end his term
 Residenciado - The official being invistigated was called residenciado
Visita - Was a secret investigation of a government official who was also nearing to end his term
Visitador-general - The official conducting the secret investigation was calledvisitador-general

2.  Guardia Civil - They were the national police force. It was comprised of policemen armed with
rifles and headed by Spanish officials
 Cuadrilleros - They were the watchmen or town guards selected from their respective
communities. They were responsible for peace and in the community.
 Alcaldia - Referred to the province that was under the control of the colonial government
 Alcalde-mayor - He was the head of the alcaldia. He oversees daily activities such as
collection of taxes
 Corregimiento - Referred to a province that was not fully under the control of the Spanish
colonial government
 Corregidor - He was the head of the corregimiento. Has the same power as the alcalde-
mayor
 Pueblo - Referred to towns that composed the provinces under the control of the Spanish
colonial government
 Gobernadorcillo - He was the head of the pueblo. They were chosen through elections. Also
known as capitan-municipal
 Natives who ruled as the gobernadorcillo belonged to the principalia class, comprised of
distinguished prominent members of society
 Barangay - The barangay government was under the control of the town government
 Cabeza de barangay - The cabeza de barangay was the head of the barangay. This post was
usually given to the former datus or members of magino class
 The primary duty cabeza de barangay was to collect taxes and contributions from the
members of the society. If the total collection fell short, he has to pay dues.
B. Limitations and Problems
 The distance between Spain and Philippines resulted in delays in the communication
between the Spanish Crown and Manila
 The distance between Spain and Philippines resulted in delays in the communication
between the Spanish Crown and Manila
 All communications between the Spanish Crown and Manila were dependent on the galleon
that travelled only once in a year.
 The government had incompetend and unqualified officials. They were considered
unqualified to hold office and exercise power
 Rampant corruption in the government
 Many abusive governor-generals bribe the visita and residencia