POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF SPANISH COLONIZATION

A. Political aspects

Centralized GovernmentThe Philippines being a crown colony was

placed under the absolute control of the king. VICE ROYAL of Nueva Espana(Mexico) was given charge to govern the Philippines in behalf of the king

1524 King Charles V established the REAL y

SUPREMO de las INDIAS (ROYAL AND SUPREME COUNCIL OF INDIES), a political body that governed all spanish possesions.

Recopilacion de leyes de los reynos de ls indias was a set of laws first compiled by the spanish cortes Two ancient Castilian ConstitutionA.) Residencia – was a legal body that

conducted an investigation and on the performance of an official

b.) Visita – had far greater impact than the residencia in terms of the manner of investigation

Governor-general or Gobernador general

Highest official of the central government, was appointed by the consejo de las indias

Held office at Intramuros Manila, recognized as the seat of the national government

Captain-general or the commander-in-chief of the army and navy

He was the president of the royal audiencia or supreme court

highest judicial body in the spanish colonies Granted with numerous prerogatives and

discretionary powers for some reasons

Alcalde Mayor or provincial governor leads or govern all alcaldias or

pacified areas

Corregidores Govern all unpacified areas or

corregimientosexamples of unpacified areas

MarivelesMindoro Panay

Gobernadorcillo or little governor governs the towns(pueblos)

Ayuntamiento or Cabildo governing body of each city

CEBU-- declared as the first city in 1569Manila-- became city in 1571

Cabeza de barangay-- headed the barangay which is

considered as the local lowest unit-- was the tax collector of the

contributions forwarded to the gobernadorcillo

-- this position was given to the former datu’s

INTRODUCTION OF

SPANISH LAWS

19TH CENTURY-- Roman civil laws, penal, and commercial

codes where introduced in the Philippines Abolition of slavery in the Philippines -- most important humanitarian laws passed

in accordance to the laws of indies

August 9,1589--King Philip II issued a royal decree

to further strengthen to the enforcement of such law

April 18,1591-- Pope Gregory XIV issued a Papal

bull at Rome which strengthened the decree of King Philip II

B. ECONOMIC ASPECTS

Public TaxationThe various kinds of taxes paid in cash

or in kind equivalent to 8 reales( one peseta) were exacted from the Filipinos until 1884

1589 t0 1851 -- the amount of taxes increases to 10 reales up to 12 reales

(Each of the native pay a tribute to anyone unmarried male member over {20 years old} living with parents was duty bound to pay half of the tribute)

Exempted to pay the taxes were the : EldersBeggarsDisabled

NUMEROUS FORMS OF TAXES Sanctorium (three reales)-- a tax amounted to three reales and

collected by the government and in turned given to the church

Caja de comunidad-- a tax of one real used as a

community fund later its named was changed to cedula tax

presently known as the residence tax

Donativo de Zamboanga-- was imposed in almost all of the

provinces between 1635 and the middle of the 19th century.

Fifths -- laborers and owners(gold mining

industry) paid this kind of tax Bandala-- is an indirect tax imposed on the

Filipino farmers

Pampanga and the Tagalog regions-- practices the bandala because they are the

major crop producing areas Polo y Servicios (force labor)-- another form of indirect tax-- required all male Filipino’s between ages

16 to 60 to render service for 40 days a year

{Polistas– told to be paid ¼ real a day and provided with rice upon actual performance of the polo y servicios}

--Fallapayment to be paid to have an

exemption from duty to render force labor

was considered as a form of bribery and class discrimination

1884 -- demolition of sanctorium, caja de

comunidad and tribute was implemented

Personal cedula tax -- replacement of the tribute--imposed in every male and female resident

of the Philippines who were 18 years old -- all residents(Filipino, Spaniards, Chinese,

or Foreigner) was required to pay the new tax

-- amount to be paid range from 50 centavos to 37.50 depending on the income of the tax payer

Real Situado -- a financial aide given by the

treasury of the Mexico to save the colonial government from bankruptcy

Encomienda System

The owning and ruling of lands by the spanish soldiers.

It is the counterpart of the medieval europe’s feudalism

Encomendero ---took charge of all matters pertaining to his

area of jurisdiction.--- by law they were duty bound to provide for

the spiritual and material welfare of the natives placed under their jurisdiction and to defend his encomienda from enemy attact

Two kinds of encomiendas

The Royal or crown encomiendas -- refered to lands reserved for the

crown and included the principal towns and ports

The private encomiendas-- were granted to individuals who

were either the kings proteges or men who serve with merit during the conquest and pacification campaigns

Cabeza de barangay -- a former chieftain, and was given the task to be the tax collector

Encomendero-- later became the tax collector

{the native tax payer were given the options of paying either in cash or in goods(rice, vegetables, fowls, and others)

The Manila –Acapulco Galleon Trade (1565-1815) Galleons-- commercial trading that was

operated by government-owned vessels

-- galley(Spanish word) meaning a vessel which is very similar to a war vessel during that time

Manila galleons were most renowned for 250 years.

Boletas-- tickets given to each of the participants

signifying their rights to ship goodsObras Pias-- established to ensure the smooth flow of

business, and an economic institution -- it gives loans to all merchants who took part

in the shipment of goods via the galleon trade

-- it help to maintain charitable works for public benefit