Spanish PeriodGroup 3

Reinwald TanIan Lipio

Ethan LimNicholas Chua

Jorge Tesoro

Syste

m of

Govern

ment (Polit

ical

Structu

re) a

nd their

positions

Governor-GeneralHighest position in a colony is the Governor-GeneralThe Governor General is the near equivalent to a

president of the country but he has limitations to be a ruler of the colony.

One of the limitations is the Governor General can’t make new laws

Provincial GovernorThe Provincial Governor is the one managing the

province's economy and security

CorregidoresThe unpacified military zones (corregidor),

such as Mariveles and Mindoro, were headed by the corregidores.

The Corregidores are the commander of the military zones of the Spaniards and were also headed by the provincial governor.

The Governor-General, Provincial Governor, and the Corregidores have equal power

GobernadorcilloThe pueblo or town is headed by

the gobernadorcillo or little governor.The little governor is the one who’s managing the

town for peace and security.

Rights and duties of the Filipinos as “subjects” of Spanish CrownForced Labor (Polo y servicios)The system of forced labor otherwise known as polo

y servicios evolved within the framework of the encomienda system, introduced into the South American colonies by the Conquistadores and Catholic priests who accompanied them.

Polo y servicios is the forced labor for 40 days of men ranging from 16 to 60 years of age who were obligated to give personal services to community projects

One could be exempted from polo by paying the falla (corruption of the Spanish Falta, meaning "absence"), a daily fine.

The falla is like a payment wherein to those who wish to be exempted in the force labor must pay a daily fine to the government. This is also known as corruption to us in the present. The “right” of the Filipinos in Force Labor is the right to choose if the individual wants to pay the falla or condemned to force labor.

In 1884, labor was reduced to 15 days. The polo system was patterned after the Mexican repartimento, selection for forced labor.

Formulation and

Implementation of

Laws

Maura LawThe legal foundation for municipal governments in

the country was laid with the promulgation of the Maura Law on May 19, 189 was Named after its author, Don Antonio Maura, the Spanish Minister of Colonies at the time, the law reorganized town governments in the Philippines with the aim of making them more effective and autonomous.

This law created the municipal organization that was later adopted, revised, and further strengthened by the American and Filipino governments that succeeded Spanish.

DivorceIn the pre-Hispanic era Filipinos have Divorce law

which enables them to separate and remarry. When the Spaniards came to the Philippines in 1521 the divorce law only allowed permanent separation/ divorce.

Religion as a means to conquer or subjugate the peopleChurch and state were inseparably linked in Spanish

policy, with the state assuming responsibility for religious establishments. One of Spain's objectives in colonizing the Philippines was the conversion of Filipinos to Catholicism.

Religion as a means to conquer or subjugate peopleThe work of conversion was facilitated by the

absence of other organized religions, except for Islam, which dominated the south. The pageantry of the church had a wide plea, reinforced by the incorporation of Filipino social customs into religious observances. The eventual outcome was a new Christian majority of the main Malay low land population, from which the Muslims of Mindanao and the upland tribal peoples of Luzon remained detached and separated.

Visita and Royal AudienciaTo check the abuse of power of royal officials, two

ancient castilian institutions were brought to the Philippines. The Residencia, dating back to the 5th century and the Visita differed from the residencia in that it was conducted by a visitador-general sent from Spain and might occur anytime within the official’s term, without any previous notice. Visitas may be specific or general.

Sourceshttp://www.asiatour.com/philippines/e-02trav/ep-tra10_e.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Philippines_(1521%E2%80%931898)#Political_System