Politics & Governance with Philippine Constitution

Transition of Philippine Government: Spanish Government – Government

during the Revolution

Transition of Philippine Government

Age of Conquest• Need for spice, expansion of empire• Closure of usual trade route• Discovery of new trade route

Transition of Philippine Government

Ferdinand Magellan

Transition of Philippine Government

In Search of New Lands: The Coming of Magellan

Ferdinand Magellan (Fernhao Magalhaes) – a member of the Portugues nobility

Was wounded in Morocco which left him lame for life.

Conceived the idea of a passage to the West or around South America to reach the Moluccas or Spice Islands

Transition of Philippine Government

Left Portugal when the King refused to compensate him for his service and, support his plan to take a westward route to reach the Moluccas

In Spain Reached Spain in 1517, met with influential

people who helped him secure support for his plan

Transition of Philippine Government

One of those who supported him was Juan Rodriguez de Fonseca, Bishop of Burgos and Head of the Royal Council of the Indies.

The contract for the expedition was granted by King Charles and signed on March 18, 1518. Magellan was named Captain-General.

Transition of Philippine Government

Magellan‘s Fleet – Trinidad, Concepcion, Victoria, Santiago, Victoria, San Antonio

Transition of Philippine Government

Magellan‘s Route

Transition of the Philippine Government Magellan‘s Arrival Reached the island of Homonhon on March

16, 1521 but only stepped foot two days later. He befriended the local Chieftain named

Kalambu (Calambu). Kalambu, impressed with the armory used by

Magellan‘s men performed the Kasi-Kasi (blood compact) to seal his friendship with Magellan.

Transition of Philippine Government

In Cebu (Sugbu), Magellan, with Datu Kalambu, made a blood compact with Humabon after the latter had won his trust and friendship.

Humabon also converted to Christianity and was named Carlos.

Magellan made Humabon the king‘s representative in Cebu and promised to unite the local chieftains under his (Humabon) authority

Transition of the Philippine Government Lapu-Lapu‘s refusal and Magellan‘s death Lapu-Lapu‘s rival Zula informed Magellan that

the former refused to accept the new political system and, pay tribute.

Magellan with an army of 60 steel-clad Spaniards, three vessels and Cebuanos invaded Mactan, the territory of Lapu-Lapu

Magellan‘s leg was hit with a posion arrow and his face was struck with a bamboo spear.

Transition of Philippine Government

Magellan‘s death

Transition of Philippine Government

Other expeditions Led by Captain Garcia Jofre de Loaysa Sebastian Cabot Alvaro Saavedra Ceron Ruy Lopez de Villalobos Miguel Lopez de Legazpi – the most

successful expedition

- spent his own resources to finance the expedition

Governments during the Spanish Era

Political Set – up (1565 – 1821)

KING OF SPAIN

Viceroy of Mexico Council of Indies

Governor - General

Governments during the Spanish Era

Political Set – UpKING OF SPAIN

Council of Indies

Ministerio de Ultramar

Governor General

Governments during the Spanish Era

Beginning of the Spanish rule The king issued a decree in 1568, instructing

Legazpi to establish towns, cities and encomiendas to be distributed to deserving soldiers/who helped in the pacification of the natives.

What is an encomienda?

Governments during the Spanish Era

Encomienda Comes from the verb encomendar meaning

to commend or commit to one‘s care Originally, the encomienda was a feudal

system used in Spain to reward deserving generals and conquerors during the Spanish wars of recovery of territory

This system was introduced by the Spanish crown to reward deserving Spaniards

Governments during the Spanish Era

and attract others to settle in the colonies. Encomienda in the Philippines was not a land

grant per se, but rather a system of land distribution that brought benefits to the encomenderos/officials and institutions.

The encomenderos has certain rights and priviledges over a piece of territory including the inhabitants and the collection of tributes (taxes)

Governments during the Spanish Era

Duties and Responsibilities of the encomendero:

2. Keep peace and order

3. Protect the inhabitants

4. Spread Christianity

5. Educate the people

6. Collect tax (Tributes)

Governments during the Spanish Era

Types of Encomienda2. Royal – owned by the King 3. Private – owned by private persons or

charitable institutions4. Ecclesiatical – owned by religious orders The system was abolished in the 19th century &

was replaced by provinces, cities, etc., which then divided the government into 2, national and local

Governments during the Spanish Era

Executive Branch

Central/National Government

Governor General‘s broad powers: Executive Legislative – which led to the expression obedezco

pero no complo Judicial Military Diplomatic Religious – due to Patronato Real

Governments during the Spanish era

Checks to Gubernatorial powers:2. Residencia – conduct trial of an outgoing governor-

general and officials by incoming governor general for purposes of punishing those guilty of corruption.

3. Visitador – sent to the colony to check the conditions in the colony

4. Royal Audiencia – similar to the Supreme court; served as advisory body to the governor; audited the expenditures of the government.

5. Archbishop and clergy6. Complaints by subordinate officials and citizens

sent to the king‘s court.

Governments during the Spanish era

Local Governments

2. Provincial Government

Provincial

Alcaldia Corregimiento (ex. Cordilleras)

Governments during the Spanish era

2. City Government – Ayuntamiento

Cabildo (city council

2 Alcaldes ordinarios

Regodores (councilors)

Alguacil mayor (chief constable

Escribao (Secretary)

Governments during the Spanish

3. Municipal Government – unit of government in towns or pueblos

Headed by gobernadorcillos (open to non-Spaniards or natives)

First occupied by pre-colonial chieftains and their descendants and later elected by an Electoral Board composed of outgoing gobernadorcillo and principalia (prominent land or property owners)

The gobernadorcillo was later replaced by a capitan or capitana

Governments during the Spanish Era

Functions of a Gobernadorcillo

Gobernadorcillo

Preparation of pardon or tribute list

Recruitment and distribution of men for draft laborPolos y servicios

Communal public work

Military Conscription

Postal Clerk

Judge in civil suits involving 44 pesos or less

Governments during the Spanish Era

Assistants

Gobernadorcillo

Supernumeraries

Constables

4 Teniente Segunda

Teniente del Barrio

Secretary

Governments during the Spanish Era

Barrio – Barangays were transformed into barrios (villages)

- Placed directly under the cabezas (head) de Barangay

- Position was purely appointive- Excused from taxes and forced labor

Governments during the Spanish Era

Functions of Cabezas:

2. Collection of tax and contributions

3. Promotion of peace and order

4. In charge of recruiting polistas for communal public works

Governments during the Spanish Era

Judicial Branch

2. Real Audiencia (Supreme Court)

3. Appellate Courts (Court of appeals) for criminal cases

4. Courts of 1st Instance (district court) in each province

5. Justices of the peace courts in pueblos (deals primarily with less serious offenses)

Governments during the Spanish Era

Legislative Branch The Cortes (Parliament) Formulated all the laws in the Philippines The most famous of which was the colonial code

called Recopilacion de Leyes de los Reynos de las Indias (Compilation of Laws on Royal lands in the Indies)

Issued or promulated in 1680, used by Spain to rule its possessions or colonies.

Removed the Philippine representation on June 18 1837

II. Structure of revolutionary movements KKK (Kataastaasan, Kagalanggalangang

Katipunan ng mag Anak ng Bayan. Organized on July 7, 1892 by Andres

Bonifacio, Deodato Arellano, Roman Basa The KKK‘s objectives were political, civic and

moral

Structure of Revolutionary Movements

KKK

KKK

Supreme Council

Provincial Council

Popular Council

Structure of Revolutionary Movements

Supreme Council Supremo Interventor Fiscal Secretary Treasurer

*The structure later became more organized as the number of positions increased and the renaming of positions, which resembled government designations.