THE SPANISH COLONIAL SYSTEM

Aims of Spanish Colonization

• 3 G’s- God – propagation of Catholic

Christianity- Gold – economic wealth- Glory – ambition to be the

greatest empire in the world

Spain retains the Philippines despite

economic loss

As a colony, the Philippines was a financial burden to the Spanish treasury

The Philippines as Crown Colony

The Council of the Indies

• Consisted of a president, four councilors, secretary, a fiscal, treasurer, historian, cosmographer, a professor in Mathematics and an usher.

• Ministry of Colonies (Ministerio de Ultramar)

Law of the Indies

• Recopilacion de Leyes de las Indias, popularly known as simply Laws of the Indies (Leyes de Indias)

The Governor General

• He enforced the king’s royal decrees and other laws from Spain

• He was the commander-in-chief of the colonial armed forces

• Served as the president of the Royal Audencia

• Veto power called cumplase

Checks to Gubernatorial Powers

• Royal Audiencia which was the supreme court during the Spanish period

• Archbishop and the clergy who were influential in the king’s court

• Complaints which subordinate public officials and private citizens sent directly to the king

• Residencia• Visitador

The Royal Audiencia

• The Supreme Court in Spanish times

• Autos acordados (acts agreed upon)

• Served as auditor general of the colonial government

The Visitador

• Investigating officer which the king of Spain sent to Manila at certain times to investigate Philippine conditions and the complaints against the governor general and other Spanish officials

The Encomienda System• Was a grant of inhabitants living in a particular

conquered territory which Spain gave to a Spanish colonizer as a reward for his services

• Royal and Private• Encomenderos’ duties:

- protection from enemies

- assist missionaries

- promote education

The Residencia

• Judicial institution introduced by Spain in the Philippines

The Tribute

• As a symbol of vassalage to Spain, the Filipinos paid tribute

• Was abolished in 1884 and was replaced by the cedula tax

Why Filipinos hated the tribute?

• It reminded them of their bondage to Spain

• It spawned Spanish abuses

The Polo

• All male filipinos from 16 – 60 years old were obliged to render forced labor (polo)

• Lasts for 40 days and reduced to 15

• polista

Abolition of Slavery

• The early Spanish missionaries urged the king to abolish slavery in the Philippines

Provincial Government

• Alcaldias

• Corregimientos

• Alcalde mayor

Municipal Government• Provinces were divided into pueblos (towns)• Gobernadorcillo (governor)• Teniente mayor(chief lieutenant)• Juez de sementeras (justice of the fields)• Juez de ganados (justice of cattle)• Juez de policia (justice of police)• Directorcillo (municipal secretary)• Pueblo barangays cabeza de barangay

The Cities

• City government was called ayuntamiento

• City council (cabildo) was composed of of the alcalde(mayor), regidores(councilors), alguacil mayor(chief constable) and the escribano(secretary)

Missionaries and Colonization

• By the sign of the cross, they conquered, winning the Filipinos to accept Christianity and Spanish rule

• Augustinians – first missionaries to reach the Philippines

Ecclesiastical Organization

• Pope Archbishop of Manila Bishops parish priests

• Archbishop’s Court – tried cases involving Canon Law and cases concerning the clergy

Union of Church and State

• Catholic Christianity was the state religion

• In the town – parish priest

• Bishops and archbishops as governors general in cases of vacancy in the gubernatorial office