Political Institution

To set up trading post (Factoria), to bring to the inhabitants to those places our Holy Catholic Faith and to discover the return trip to this New Spain… through trade and barter and through other legitimate ways, which with a clear conscience should be carried on to bring back some spices and some of the wealth found in those places.

WHAT RIGHT DID SPAIN HAVE TO RULE THE PHILIPPINES?

At least in theory, it was clear how the Philippines should b ruled. An ideal colonial system had been drawn up. For one and all, there was a clear reminder of what, as Christians, they should do for the Philippines. Furthermore, a clear definition was also made of what consisted robbery of a helpless people.

This is how the land is pacified. A captain with soldiers and interpreters goes to a settlement… they tell the people if they want to be friends with the Spaniards they must pay the tribute at once. If the people say yes, they stop to work out what ach man must give…. Sometimes the people refuse to give what is asked; then they sack the settlement… the natives say they do not want the friendship of the Spaniards or … build fortifications to defend themselves. Those who do this are killed or made prisoners, and their houses plundered and burned.

Task of unifying into one faith and one government with Manila as the seat of government.  Datus and barangays were preserved.  Each barangay called gremio had 30 to 40 to 100 families all listed in the padron or mapa de almas drawn by the parish priest.  Colonization of the Philippines was through an encomienda. 

Governor-general – from the king through the Consejo de las Indias, governed through his sole spokesman and representative in the Philippines. He is the commander-in-chief of the army and navy, president of the Royal Audiencia (Supreme Court), vice-real patron – appoints ecclesiastical positions, supervise mission works. 40,000 per annum in salary plus special privileges.

Governor- gobernacion  Controlled colonial treasury until 1784  Extensive powers: judicial, financial, military, religious .  He was the royal mouthpiece, acting for the king who was absolute lord of the entire Spanish world.  He did not promulgate laws directly, it was an exclusive royal prerogative 

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Called alcadia, provincia, encomienda, hukuman, later lalawigan headed by alcalde mayor for the pacified provinces and corregimientos or unpacified military zones (Mariveles, Mindoro, Panay) headed by thecorregidores. He exercise executive and judicial powers plus privileges in trade called indulto de comercio between 1571-1844. Judge, inspector, chief of police, tribute collector, vice-general patron and captaingeneral of the province.

He is answerable to the gov-gen and royal audiencia.  Annual salary of 300-2,000 before 1844.  1,500-1,600 after 1847  Indulto de comercio, money-lending.  Estimated 50,000 per annum in 1840. 

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Residencia – judicial review of the residenciado conducted at he end of his term of office supervised by juez de residencia. If found guily of public misconduct, heavy fines, sequestration of properties, imprisonment or combination of the three. It was abolished in 1799. Visita/visitador – conducted by the visitadorgeneral from Spain and might occur any time within the official’s term. It may be specific or general visit if found guilty; fined, dismissed and expelled or combination.

Gobernadorcillo – “little governor” headed the pueblo or municipio. Any Filipino or Chinese mestizo, 25 years old, literate in oral or written Spanish, who had been a Cabeza de Barangay for 4 years could be a little governor. This was the highest position a Filipino could attain together with the parish priest.  He is considered highly significant in his town. 

Preparation of the padron (tribute list)  Recruitment and distribution of men for draft labor.  Communal public work  Quinto (military conscription)  Postal  Clerk  Judge in civil suits involving cases 44.0 or less. 

Intervened in all administrative cases of he town: land, justice, finance, armed forces  Yearly salary of 24.00 pesos  The gobernadorcillo is asisted by 4 lower officials: Tenyente Mayor (town deputy), juez de politica (peace and order), Juez de Sementeras (lands and crops), Juez de Ganados (livestock and animals). 

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Barrio government rested on the Cabeza de barangay Collect tax and contribution collection Tax exemption King Philip II conferred them the title “cabeza de barangay” Responsible for the peace and order in their own barrio Recruit polistas for communal work Knowledge in Spanish language, good moral and property ownership. Serve for 3 year term Serve for 25 years were exempted from polo.

Political and economic powers of the clergy caused the disunity between church and state.  Malolos Constitution of 1898.  Anti-friar demonstration in Manila on March 1, 1888 led by Doroteo Cortes.  Article 218 – right to petition and assembly.  Gobernadorcillos, principales and residents of Manila demanded the expulsion of friars in the Philippines. 

“but in effect rulers of municipalities; in fact the whole government of the islands rested on them”.  Owned big lands: Dominicans, Augustinians and Recollects. See page 79  Vow of poverty – reflect  Jesuits and Franciscans 