The Philippines Under Spanish Rule
The Philippines Under Spanish Rule (1600s-1800s)
REASONS FOR SPANISH COLONIZATION When King Charles send an expedition to the East, his purpose was for commercial. But when Legazpi succeeded laying foundation in the Philippines, the Spanish claim the archipelago in two reasons: first, since the Philippines was discovered under the patronage of Spain, Philippines therefore was owned by Spain; second, since Spain, being in actual possession of the Philippines, it had the right to colonize it.
As such, the Philippines was in possession of the King of Spain and therefore, a crown colony. POLITICAL CHANGES The Central Government The Laws of the Indies were applied in the Philippines. Spanish then made an organized central government in the Philippines.By this, the central government was so powerful that everything has to be done with its knowledge and consent. The central government was headed by the governor and governor-general who was appointed by the King of Spain. However, there were only two branches: the executive and the judicial. There were no legislative because the laws were made by the Spaniards in Spain.
The governor-general was so powerful that he was also the vice royal patron in the Philippines and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. This power was best shown in the right of cumplase. Cumplase was the right of the governor to suspend the operation of a Royal decree in the Philippines. TheAudiencia The Audiencia is a court where the judicial powers of the government were exercised. The lower courts were also one, therefore the Audiencia was the highest court. Here, civil and criminal cases were concerned. Local Government Under the central government was the provincial government. This was headed by the alcalde mayor. His salary was small but he could collect a part of the tribute to increase his income. This right was called indulto de comercio.
Under the provincial government was the municipal government which is headed by the gobernadorcillo.
REASONS FOR SPANISH COLONIZATION When King Charles send an expedition to the East, his purpose was for commercial. But when Legazpi succeeded laying foundation in the Philippines, the Spanish claim the archipelago in two reasons: first, since the Philippines was discovered under the patronage of Spain, Philippines therefore was owned by Spain; second, since Spain, being in actual possession of the Philippines, it had the right to colonize it.
As such, the Philippines was in possession of the King of Spain and therefore, a crown colony. POLITICAL CHANGES The Central Government The Laws of the Indies were applied in the Philippines. Spanish then made an organized central government in the Philippines.By this, the central government was so powerful that everything has to be done with its knowledge and consent. The central government was headed by the governor and governor-general who was appointed by the King of Spain. However, there were only two branches: the executive and the judicial. There were no legislative because the laws were made by the Spaniards in Spain.
The governor-general was so powerful that he was also the vice royal patron in the Philippines and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. This power was best shown in the right of cumplase. Cumplase was the right of the governor to suspend the operation of a Royal decree in the Philippines. TheAudiencia The Audiencia is a court where the judicial powers of the government were exercised. The lower courts were also one, therefore the Audiencia was the highest court. Here, civil and criminal cases were concerned. Local Government Under the central government was the provincial government. This was headed by the alcalde mayor. His salary was small but he could collect a part of the tribute to increase his income. This right was called indulto de comercio.
Under the provincial government was the municipal government which is headed by the gobernadorcillo.