The Philippine Legislature from Spanish Roots
The Philippine Legislature from Spanish Roots
Pre- Spanish Roots Pre-Spanish Philippines was composed of barangay societies scattered throughout the archipelago. These villages were located along the seashores or along riverbanks, close to the resources of food supply.
The Spanish Regime By the time the Spaniards reached the Philippines in 1521, some of the barangays, such as those Cebu and Manila, had formed federations. By 1571, the Spaniards settled in Cebu and Manila and placed the barangays under the authority of the King of Spain. Initially, the colonized territory was organized into encomiendas to facilitate evangelization and collection of tribute from the natives. However, because of reports of abuses committed by the encomenderos, the colonial authorities abolished these encomiendas and recognized the government of the archipelago into provinces called alcaldias mayors, goviernos or corrregimientos, each encompassing several municipalities. Alcaldias mayores were under military administration. Each of these local units were headed by appointed officials- the alcaldes mayores or governors. Initially, the King of Spain ruled the archipelago through the Viceroy of Mexico. The laws governing the archipelago were enacted in Spain. The highest official of the Philippine archipelago was the governor-general who was both chief executive and Commander in Chief of the Spanish troops in the islands. In 1820, Mexico became independent from Spain, and the Philippines had to be ruled directly from Spain. Trade and commerce between Manila and the outside world was accelerate by the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. This enabled wealthy Filipinos to travel and study ineurope. Increased trade and commerce, together with the influx of liberal ideas, brought economic development to Manila and its environs.
The failure of the Spanish colonial authorities to institute political reforms led to a revolutionary movement spearheaded by the secret society,
Pre- Spanish Roots Pre-Spanish Philippines was composed of barangay societies scattered throughout the archipelago. These villages were located along the seashores or along riverbanks, close to the resources of food supply.
The Spanish Regime By the time the Spaniards reached the Philippines in 1521, some of the barangays, such as those Cebu and Manila, had formed federations. By 1571, the Spaniards settled in Cebu and Manila and placed the barangays under the authority of the King of Spain. Initially, the colonized territory was organized into encomiendas to facilitate evangelization and collection of tribute from the natives. However, because of reports of abuses committed by the encomenderos, the colonial authorities abolished these encomiendas and recognized the government of the archipelago into provinces called alcaldias mayors, goviernos or corrregimientos, each encompassing several municipalities. Alcaldias mayores were under military administration. Each of these local units were headed by appointed officials- the alcaldes mayores or governors. Initially, the King of Spain ruled the archipelago through the Viceroy of Mexico. The laws governing the archipelago were enacted in Spain. The highest official of the Philippine archipelago was the governor-general who was both chief executive and Commander in Chief of the Spanish troops in the islands. In 1820, Mexico became independent from Spain, and the Philippines had to be ruled directly from Spain. Trade and commerce between Manila and the outside world was accelerate by the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. This enabled wealthy Filipinos to travel and study ineurope. Increased trade and commerce, together with the influx of liberal ideas, brought economic development to Manila and its environs.
The failure of the Spanish colonial authorities to institute political reforms led to a revolutionary movement spearheaded by the secret society,