The Spanish established a centralized colonial government in the Philippines from 1565-1898. The political structure consisted of a national government ruled by a Governor General appointed by the King of Spain. Local governments administered provinces, cities, towns, and municipalities. This included alcaldias governed by Alcalde Mayors, corregimientos led by Corregidors, and municipal governments or ayuntamientos with cabildos. Barrios were governed by Cabezas de Barangay at the lowest level. This system aimed to maintain control over the islands and collect taxes for Spain.

1. THE SPANIARDS
AS
COLONIAL MASTERS

2. Spain reigned over the Philippines for 333 years, from 1565
to 1898.
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

3. When Mexico regained its freedom in
1821, the Spanish king ruled the
Philippines through a Governor
General, (GG).
KING OF SPAIN
GOVERNOR
GENERAL
PHILIPPINES

4. 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

5. THE GOVERNOR
GENERAL
The King's representative and the highest-ranking
official in the Philippines
Royal decrees and laws emanating from Spain
were implemented in the Philippines
Had the power to appoint and dismiss public
officials, except those personally chosen by the
King

6. THE GOVERNOR
GENERAL
Supervised all government offices and the
collection of taxes
Exercised certain legislative powers
Issued proclamations to facilitate the
implementation of laws

7. THE GOVERNOR
GENERAL
REQUIREMENT:
Must be a PENINSULARES
or A SPANIARD BORN IN SPAIN

8. THE POLITICAL STRUCTURE
THE GOVERNOR
GENERAL
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

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. The highest court in
THE ROYAL AUDENCIA
the land
Served as an advisory body to the Governor
General
Had the power to check and report on his
abuses
The Audiencia also audited the expenditures of
the colonial government
Sent a yearly report to Spain
The Archbishop and other government officials

12. THE ROYAL AUDENCIA
Despite all these checks, however, an
abusive governor general often managed
to escape stiff fines, suspension, or
dismissal by simply bribing the Visitador
and other investigators.

13. THE PROVINCIAL
GOVERNMENT
The Spaniards created Local Government Units (LGU)
for the provinces
There were two types of local government units:
ALCALDIA CORRIGIMIENTO
Alcalde Corregidor
Mayor

14. THE PROVINCIAL
GOVERNMENT
The ALCADIA, led by the
Alcalde Mayor
governed the provinces that had
been fully subjugated:
UNDER SPANISH CONTROL
ALREADY
SALARY: P300 A MONTH

15. THE PROVINCIAL
GOVERNMENT
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

16. THE PROVINCIAL
GOVERNMENT
The CORREGIMIENTO, headed by
Corregidor
governed the provinces that were
not yet entirely under Spanish
control.

17. THE PROVINCIAL
GOVERNMENT
The ALCADIA and the CORREGIMIENTO
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.

18. 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)

19. THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
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

20. THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
CABEZA DE BARANGAY OR
(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

21. 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)

22. KING OF SPAIN
THE COLONIAL GOVERNMENT
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH THE JUDICIAL BRANCH
(Governor General) (Royal
Audencia, Residencia, Lower
Courts, Governor-General)
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT CITY GOVERNMENT
ALCALDIA CORRIGIMIENTO AYUNTAMIENTO
(Alcalde Mayor) (Corregidor) (Cabildo)
PUEBLOS OR TOWNS CABILDO
(Gobernadorcillos) City Council
•ALCALDE
•REGIDORES
BARRIOS •AGUACIL MAYOR
(Cabeza de Barangay) •ESCRIBANDO
BARRIOS
(Cabeza de Barangay)