PolSci Module6
PolSci Module6
MODULE 6
PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND
GOVERNANCE
The government in the Spaniards implemented in the country evolved in the time of
their colonization of the Philippines. During their first settlement in the country they impacted
the enconmienda system since they had limited resources and people that they put into power
and they also had the agreement with the leaders of the native and they used the highest social
class to control the lower classes. In this lesson, we will learn more on the contributions and
influences of the Spanish to the historical development of the Philippine politics and
government during the Spanih Era.
Content Standard:
The learners demonstrate an understanding of the historical background
of Philippine democratic politics, the executive, the legislative, the
judiciary, and decentralization and local governance.
Performance Standard:
The learners explain the roles of different political institutions.
Objectives:
After the lesson, the learners should be able to:
1. discuss the centralized government;
2. identify the functions of the different officials in the government; and
3. evaluate the impact of Spanish government to the Philippine government in the
present.
PRELIMINARY ACTIVITY
List down at least five (5) influences of Spanish to our Philippine culture during the
Spanish Era.
1. ________________________________
2. ________________________________
3. ________________________________
4. ________________________________
5. ________________________________
The Spanish Colonial government in the Philippines had no sufficient funds to bring
Spanish armies or recruit local armies to control the Philippines so the first Spanish Governor,
Miguel Lopez de Legaspi divided the land of the pacified Filipinos and assigned the loyal
Spaniards or those who contributed a lot for the colonization as the administrator or the
enconmiendero. The enconmiendero collected the tribute from the natives living inside the
enconmienda, maintained the peace and order in the place and controled the rebellion of the
people.
There are three types of enconmienda, the Enconmienda Royal, the land was given to
the loyal friend of the King and half or tributes collected went to the Spanish monarchy, the
Enconmienda Privado, the land given to those people who contributed a lot to the colonization
of the Philippines and the tribute went to the private persons and third was the Enconmięnda
Ecclesiastical, the tribute of the land went to the church. In the 18th century the Spaniards
abolished the enconmienda system but the land of the natives did not return to them and
instead the land was converted to hacienda but the power to collect taxes was transfered to the
gobernadorcillo and the Cabeza de Barangay.
[Spanish colonies]
executor, judiciary,
legislator)
[Philippines (Province
Empire)]
Encomendero (later alcalde-
mayor)
[Municipality: Encomienda
and later alcadia-mayor]
- - - -- - -- - - - -- - - -- - - -- - - - -- - - - - -- - -- - - - -- - - -- - - -- - - - -- - - - -
-- - Gobernadorcillo
-- - - - -- -
[pueblo or town]
INDIOS
The several pacified Barangay were unified and form the barrios or pueblos, the barrios
was serviced by the cebecera or the place where the main church was located. Each pueblo had
the gobernadorcillo as their chief and he was assisted by four lower officials such as the
following:
4. Juez de ganados who was in charge of livestock and the butchering of animals for
sale.
In the 17th century, the Gobernadorcillo was chosen by the representative of the king
out of the nominated three people from the election held during January 1 until February 28
every year and only the adult male in each pueblo could nominate a candidate. And because
they wanted to attain the position, the nominees tried to get the support of the people in the
town thru organizing fiestas, gaining the support of the priest in cebecera and sponsoring the
wine for the social gatherings. The chosen gobernadorcillo stayed in his position for one year
and did the responsibility of tax collection and the execution or laws formulated by the Consejo
de Indias. The Gobernadorcillo had no power to create law but he could delay the
implementation of the law. However, the gobernadorcillo needs to prepare his residencia or the
list of his accomplishments and activities to check the abuses.
Several pueblos formed an alcaldia and the chief official of the alcaldia or province was
the Alcalde Mayor. In the 17th century, there were 12 alcaldias or provinces in the Philippines,
the pacified provinces was called Alcaldia while the not pacified were called corregimientos.
The alcaldia was governed by the alcalde mayor while the corregimientos were
governed by the corregidores. The alcalde mayor or the corregidores was the chief executive of
each province, the head of the Audiencia or the judicial department and the head of the
military. However, his main objective was to act as the mediator between the head government
in Manila and the local government of the gobernadorcillo and to ensure that all laws coming
from the Manila and Madrid were implemented properly. He had the power of Indulto de
Comercio or the power of the Alcalde Mayor to engage into trading. He was also in charge in
the administration of the arsenal and he was earning an annual salary of 300 pesos.
The head of the country is the Governor General he had the executive, judicial and
military powers. He needed to implement laws created by the Consejo de Indias but he had the
power of Cumplace or the power to choose the laws that he implemented in the country where
he was assigned. He was the head of the Royal Audiencia or the Supreme Court and the head
of the Council of Judges or Oidores.
The Governor General was also the head of the Military and he was assisted by the
Segundo Cabo or the deputy commander. He also controlled the treasury of the country and
had the power of Vice Real Patrona or the power to nominate bishops and approve the budget
for the mission in line with Catholicism. And because of the vast power of the Governor
General he had the following people who checked his administration:
2. The Royal Audiencia which composed of the fiscal or the prosecuting attorney, an
alguacil mayor or the chief constable, teniente de gran canceller or the deputy of the
chief chancellor. The members of the Royal Audencia met thrice a week however
because of the low salary they often accepted bribery.
3. The Juez de Residencia or the special court which residee in the country and the
Visitador or the body which visited the country once a year to check the Governor
General.
The Spanish rules the Philippines indirectly, they ruled the country through the viceroy
in Mexico and the Consejo de Indias or the Council of Indies. The Viceroy was the one who
appointed the Governor General and the other higher officials and to be appointed they needed
to pay fixed amount of money. The position in the Philippine government was sold in public
auction and the one who had the highest bid and could pay in cash could assume the position
in the country so in return they exploited the people and resources of the Philippines to become
rich and save money for their return to Spain. The highest officials in the Philippine government
were assumed by the people who did not deserve and not capable of the position became part
of the government in the Philippines. So corruption and abuse in their power were rampant.
The administration of Justice was done in the audencia where in the head for each town
or pueblo was the gobernadorcillo and for the next level or the province was the Alcalde Mayor
who could hear the appeal after the gobernadorcillo had the decision in the certain case. In the
criminal and civil cases which were not cover by the customary laws released by the central
government, the Roman Catholic laws were utilized.
The Royal Audiencia was the Supreme Court in the Philippines headed by the Governor
General. In every Province and pueblo there were Audiencia, the Alcalde Mayor was the head
of the Audencia the province and the gobernadorcillo was the head in each pueblo. The rules
implemented in the country came from the Consejo de Indias in Mexico and the Spanish Cortes
wherein the Filipino had no representation. The imposed social class by the Spaniards where in
the highest class were the Peninsulares or the Spanish born in Spain and the Insulares or the
Spanish born in the Philippines affected the justice system. The Indios or the social class of the
natives usually experienced abused and violation of human rights but did not attain justice
from the Audiencia.
2. The Audiencia had the right to refuse to hear cases as its discretion.
ASSESSMENT
Direction: Answer the following question. Encircle the letter of the correct answer.
1. How was the Philippines ruled during the Spanish regime?
2. What is a viceroyalty?
A. It is a kind of colony that is directly ruled by Spain and the leader is called the
viceroy.
B. It is a kind of colony that is indirectly ruled by Spain and the leader is called the
governor general.
C. It is a kind of colony that is directly ruled by Spain and the leader is called the
governor general.
D. It is a kind of colony that is indirectly ruled by Spain and the leader is called the
viceroy.
4. What is a gobernacion?
A. It is a kind of colony that is directly ruled by Spain and the leader is called the
viceroy.
B. It is a kind of colony that is indirectly ruled by Spain and the leader is called the
governor general.
C. It is a kind of colony that is directly ruled by Spain and the leader is called the
governor general.
D. It is a kind of colony that is indirectly ruled by Spain and the leader is called the
viceroy.
6. What kind of government was established in the Philippines during the Spanish regime?
A. Federal Government
B. Decentralized Government
C. Democratic Government
D. Centralized Government
7. Which among these statements does not describe the Governor General?
8. Which among these statements would BEST describe the power of cumplase?
9. What is a gobernadorcillo?
10. What kind of government was established in Philippines during the Spanish regime?
A. Federal Government
B. Decentralized Government
C. Democratic Government
D. Centralized Government
11. Which among these statements does not describe the Governor General?
12. Which among these statements would BEST describe the power of cumplase?
14. How do you call the power of the gobernadorcillo to engage in business transactions?
A. Indulto de Comercio
B. Insulto de Comercio
C. Indulhencia de Comercio
D. Inpunto de Comercio
C. To create laws
Direction: Identify the term being describe in the following statements. Write the answer in the
line after the number.
1. The power of the Governor General to choose law that he will implement
_______________________________________.
9. The power of the Governor General to appoint the friars in each church
_______________________________________.
_______________________________________.
Direction: Enumerate the term being asked by the following statements. Write the answer on
the line
1. ____________________________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________________________
1. ____________________________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________________________
1. ____________________________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________________________
D. The Problems in the Justice System in the Philippine during the Spanish Colonization
1. ____________________________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________________________
FEEDBACK
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REFERENCES
Francisco, P. & Francisco, V. (2016). Philippine Politics and Governance for Senior High School.
Mindshappers Co., Inc., Intamuros, Manila.