The Spaniards as Colonial Masters

Spain reigned over the Philippines for 333 years, from 1565 to 1898. since Spain was far from
the country, the Spanish king ruled the Islands through the viceroy of Mexico, which was then
another Spanish colony. When Mexico regained its freedom in 1821, the Spanish king ruled the
Philippines through a governor general. A special government body that oversaw matters,
pertaining to the colonies assisted the king in this respect. This body became known by many
names. Council of the Indies (1565-1837), Overseas Council (1837-1863), and Ministry of the
Colonies (18631898). It is implemented the decrees and legal codes Spain promulgated
although many of its provisions could not apply to condition in the colonies. It also exercised
legislative and judicial powers.
The Political Structure
Spain established a centralized colonial government in the Philippines that was composed of a
national government and the local governments that administered provinces, cities, towns
and municipalities. With the cooperation of the local governments the national government
maintained peace and order, collected taxes and built schools and other public works.
The Governor General
As the King's representative and the highest-ranking official in the Philippines, the governor
general saw to it that royal decrees and laws emanating from Spain were implemented in the
Philippines. He had the power to appoint and dismiss public officials, except those personally
chosen by the King. He also supervised all government offices and the collection of taxes.
The governor general exercised certain legislative powers, as well. He issued proclamations to
facilitate the implementation of laws.
The Residencia
This was a special judicial court that investigates the performance of a governor general who
was about to be replaced. The residencia, of which the incoming governor general was usually
a member, submitted a report of its findings to the King.
The Visita
The Council of the Indies in Spain sent a government official called the Vistador General to
observe conditions in the colony. The Visitador General reported his findings directly to the
King.
The Royal Audiencia
Apart from its judicial functions, the Royal Audiencia served as an advisory body to the
Governor General and had the power to check and a report on his abuses. The Audiencia also
audited the expenditures of the colonial government and sent a yearly report to Spain. The
Archbishop and other government officials could also report the abuses of the colonial

government to be Spanish king. Despite all these checks, however, an abusive governor
general often managed to escape stiff fines, suspension, or dismissal by simply bribing the
Visitador and other investigators.

The Provincial Government

The Spaniards created local government units to facilitate the
countrys administration. There were two types of local government
units the alcadia and the corregimiento. The alcadia, led by the
alcalde mayor, governed the provinces that had been fully subjugated:
the corregimiento, headed by corregidor, governed the provinces that
were not yet entirely under Spanish control. The alcalde mayors
represented the Spanish king and the governor general in their
respective provinces. They managed the day-to-day operations of the provincial government,
implemented laws and supervised the collection of taxes. Through they were paid a small
salary, they enjoyed privileges such as the indulto de comercio, or the right to participate in
the galleon trade.
The Municipal Government
Each province was divided into several towns or pueblos headed by Gobernadordcillos, whose
main concerns were efficient governance and tax collection. Four lieutenants aided the
Governardorcillo: the Teniente Mayor (chief lieutenant), the Teniente de Policia (police
lieutenant), the Teniente de Sementeras (lieutenant of the fields) and the Teniente de
Ganados (lieutenant of the livestock).
The Encomienda System
Spain owed the colonization of the Philippines to Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, who valiantly and
loyally served the Spanish crown. To hasten the subjugation of the country, King Philip II
instructed Legazpi to divide the Philippines into large territories called encomiendas, to be
left to the management of designated encomenderos.

To show his gratitude to his conquistadors, the King made them the first encomenderos in the
colony. As the Kings representatives in their respective encomiendas, the encomenderos had
the right to collect taxes. However, the encomiendas were not there to own. The
encomenderos were only territorial overseers who had the duty to: 1) protect the people in
the encomienda; (2) maintain peace and order; (3) promote education and health programs;
and (4) help the missionaries propagate Christianity. Continue to The Galleon Trade.

The Editors of Encyclopdia Britannica

visitador, ( Spanish: inspector: ) plural Visitadores, royally appointed official sent

periodically in the late Middle Ages to investigate the administration of justice in the towns of
the Spanish Kingdom of Castile. In the late 15th century, the visitadores were also enjoined to
inspect the other aspects of civic administration, including finances and the state of repair of
roads and bridges.
The institution of the visita (inspection) was applied also to the Spanish colonies in the
Americas. The visitador reported to the Council of the Indies (colonial office) in Madrid.
Visitas were to be initiated without warning; they might concern only one official or province
or an entire principal colonial jurisdiction (a viceroyalty or captaincy general), in which case
the inspector was called a visitador general. Nonroyal appointees were investigated by
inspectors appointed by the viceroy or president (chief colonial officials) with the
collaboration of the audiencia (the administrative and judicial tribunal within their
jurisdictions).
King Philip II of Spain (155698) made the visita a regular feature of colonial government.
Visitas were usually initiated when complaints against specific colonial officials were lodged
with the government in Madrid. The Council of the Indies might order a further investigation
if one of the involved parties challenged the original report of the visitador. The visita (1765
71) of Jos Glvez, appointed by Charles III, in New Spain resulted in widespread reforms
throughout the Spanish-American colonies. Unlike many visitadores, Glvez forcefully and
honestly executed his royal commission even in the face of strong opposition by colonial
officials with vested interests, including the viceroy, who was replaced at Glvez suggestion.