Spanish Colonization

Philippines under imperial Spain

Encomienda

Land owner ship system

Forced Labor (Polo y servicio)

Taxation

To support the colony, several forms of taxes and monopolies were imposed.

Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade

What it was:

• A trade route between Manila (Philippines) and Acapulco (Mexico).

• Lasted over 250 years, starting in 1565 and ending in 1821.

Main goods exchanged:

• From New Spain (Mexico): Silver

• From China (via Manila): Silk

• The Philippines acted as a middleman, earning money by reselling these goods.

Impact:

• Major source of income for the colony.

• But it caused problems:

  • Local industries and farming were neglected.

  • Native Filipinos were burdened by forced labor and taxes.

End of the trade:

• It stopped in 1821 when Mexico broke away from Spain.

Royal Philippine Company (1785–1814)

Founded by:

• King Charles III of Spain on March 10, 1785

• Given a 25-year charter

Purpose:

• Exclusive monopoly to bring Chinese and Indian goods to Manila

• Ship them directly to Spain via the Cape of Good Hope

Opposition:

• Dutch and English traders — saw it as a threat to their Asian trade

• Galleon trade merchants — feared competition

Outcome:

• Both systems collapsed:

  • Royal Company ended in 1814

  • Galleon trade ended in 1815

Philippine Economy During Spanish Rule

Overall condition:

• The economy was underdeveloped and a financial burden to Spain.

• Spain faced annual deficits from managing the colony.

Efforts to improve agriculture:

• The Economic Society of Friends of the Country helped boost farming.

• The Tobacco Monopoly made the Philippines a major tobacco producer in Asia.

  • Farmers had quotas.

  • Surplus tobacco was sold to the government.

Problems with Spanish policies:

• Policies mostly benefited Spaniards, not Filipinos.

• Government officials were mostly Spanish, while Filipinos did the hard labor.

• Filipinos were often forced to work for free and beyond their hours.

Impact on Filipino workers:

• Those in the Galleon Trade suffered from heavy workloads.

• Many died or were separated from families due to poverty and harsh conditions.

Colonial Government of Spain

Colonial Government Under the King of Spain

Top Authority:

• King of Spain — ultimate ruler

🏛 Two Main Branches:
1. Executive Branch
Led by: Governor-General Levels of Local Government:

• Province: Alcalde Mayor (Provincial Governor)

• Town (Pueblo): Gobernadorcillo

• Barrio (Village): Cabeza de Barangay

2. Judicial Branch

Includes: Royal Audiencia, Residencia, Lower Courts, Governor-General Levels of Local Judiciary:

• Province: Corregidor (Judicial Officer)

• City: Ayuntamiento (City Council)

  • Cabildo — made up of:

    • Alcalde (Mayor)

    • Regidores (Council Members)

    • Escribano (Clerk)

• Barrio: Cabeza de Barangay (same as in Executive)

The Political Structure

Type of Government:

• Centralized Colonial Government

  • Split into National Government and Local Governments

National Government Responsibilities:

• 🕊Maintained peace and order

• 💰 Collected taxes

• 🏫 Built schools and public infrastructure

Reach of Authority:

• Controlled provinces, cities, towns, and municipalities

The Governor General of the Philippines

Who they were:

• The King of Spain’s top representative in the Philippines

• Held the highest authority in the colony

⚔ Powers and Responsibilities:

• Appointed and dismissed public officials

• Commanded the army

• Served as President of the Royal Audiencia

• Acted as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

🧍‍♂ Notable Governor-Generals:

• Miguel Lopez de Legazpi (1565–1572) — first

• Diego de los Rios (1898) — last

There were 115 Spanish Governor-Generals in total.

🕵 Oversight Bodies (to check abuses of power):

• Residencia — investigated officials after their term

• Visita — surprise inspections

• Royal Audiencia — colonial high court

The Residencia

What it was:

• A special judicial court used to investigate the outgoing Governor General’s performance

Who was involved:

• The incoming Governor General usually took part in the investigation

• A report was sent to the King of Spain with the findings

Purpose:

• To check for abuse of power and ensure accountability before the transition of leadership

The Visita

What it was:

• A special inspection sent by the Council of the Indies in Spain

Who led it:

• A government official called the Visitador General

Purpose:

• To observe conditions in the colony

• To report findings directly to the King

The Royal Audencia

What it was:

• The highest court in the Philippines during Spanish rule

• Also served as an advisory body to the Governor General

🛡 Key Functions:

• Checked and reported abuses of power by the Governor General

• Audited government spending

• Sent yearly reports to Spain

• Allowed other officials, including the Archbishop, to report abuses too

The Provincial Government

Two Types of Local Government Units (LGUs):

Type	Leader	Area Governed	Notes
Alcaldía	Alcalde Mayor	Provinces fully under Spanish control	Had duties like law enforcement, tax collection, and representing the King
Corregimiento	Corregidor	Provinces not yet fully pacified	Often more militarized and unstable

💰 Perks for Officials:

• Though paid little, both Alcalde Mayor and Corregidor enjoyed the Indulto de Comercio → This gave them the right to join the Galleon Trade, a lucrative privilege

The City Government

What it was:

• The Ayuntamiento was the governing body in cities (larger towns that became trade and industry centers)

• It included the Cabildo, or city council

Members of the Cabildo:

Role	Function
Alcalde (Mayor)	Head of the city government
Regidores	Councilors who helped make decisions
Alguacil Mayor	Chief of police
Escribano	Secretary or clerk

The Municipal Government

Leader:

• Gobernadorcillo (“Little Governor”) — head of the town

Main Duties:

• Ensured efficient governance

• Collected taxes

Four Lieutenants Who Assisted the Gobernadorcillo:

Role	Responsibility
Teniente Mayor	Chief lieutenant, second-in-command
Teniente de Policía	Oversaw peace and order
Teniente de Sementeras	Managed agricultural fields
Teniente de Ganados	Supervised livestock

Cabeza De Barangay (Barrio Administrator or Barangay Captain)

Responsibilities:

• Maintained peace and order in the barrio

• Recruited men for public works (forced labor)

📜 Qualifications:

• Must be literate in Spanish

• Have good moral character and own property

• Cabezas who served for 25 years were exempted from forced labor