chapter 3, the spanish period

The Spanish PeriodChapter 3 for Pol Sci 3

Chapter 3 for Pol Sci 3• The Spanish Period

– Reference• Ariola, Mariano M. Philippine History and

Government. Manila. Purely Books Trading & Publishing Corporation. 2012

Chapter 3 for Pol Sci 3• Aims of Spanish Colonization of the Philippines

– There were four aims of the Spanish colonization in the Philippines:

1. To spread Christianity, as evidenced by the will and testament of Queen Isabella, by the laws of the Indians, by the contributions of the missionaries and by Spain's more than 300 years of colonial work;

2. To generate wealth to support the Spanish government, as evidenced by the imposition of taxes, monopolized agricultural products, forced labor called polo y servicio where males worked in the construction of roads, bridges, galleon and churches;

Chapter 3 for Pol Sci 3• Aims of Spanish Colonization of the Philippines

– There were four aims of the Spanish colonization in the Philippines:

3. To acquire territories, as evidenced in the Treaty of Tordesillas where lands going to the west belong to Spain; and

4. Acquisition of spices which was very expensive at that time.

Chapter 3 for Pol Sci 3• Magellan's Expedition in Search of the Spice

Island– Ferdinand Magellan (Magallanes) who was born in 1480 and

died in 1521 was a Portuguese maritime explorer who went to Spain in 1518 to offer his service to King Charles I. He left Portugal for Spain because he was ignored by the King of Portugal, Manuel I for his bravery and expertise in expeditions. The Spanish king agreed to send an expedition to the Moluccas, then known as the Spice Island (or the Indies or Indonesia), with Magellan as the commander-in-chief. The expedition consisted of five (5) ships: flagship Trinidad, Concepcion, Victoria, Santiago and San Antonio. Antonio Pigafetta, an Italian chronicler, went with Magellan's voyage. The expedition left Spain on September 20, 1519 and sailed southward across the Pacific Ocean. After two months of difficult sailings due to hunger and hardship, the expedition reached Brazil, then to Rio de Janeiro in the southern tip of South America. In this place, a mutiny occurred but the mutiny was suppressed and the participants punished.


Island– From the tip of South America, the expedition reached the strait in

the Pacific Ocean which bears his name the Strait of Magellan. Then on March 1521, with only three (3) ships remaining, the expedition reached the Ladrones Island (Marianas Island), named by Magellan because one of Magellan's boats was stolen by the natives. After they had rested in this island, the voyage continued until a mountain was sighted in Samar on March 16, 1521 (but should be March 17 by adding one day after crossing the International Dateline coming from America). This marked the coming of the Spaniards to the Philippines (rediscovery). On March 17, Magellan and his 150 men went to Homonhon and after having rested, proceeded to Limasawa which was ruled by Raja Kulambo. A blood compact was held as a sign of friendship. Father Pedro de Valderama who went with Magellan's expedition celebrated mass at Limasawa seashore on March 31, Easter Sunday and it was the first mass celebrated in the Philippines.


Island– Then a large cross was planted on top of the hill

overlooking the sea. Magellan called this island Archipelago de San Lazaro because it was St. Lazarus's day when Magellan found this island. However, in 1542, this island was named “Philippines”by Ruz Lopez de Villalobos, a voyager, in honor of the Spanish Prince Felipe who later became King Philip II of Spain. After staying a week in Limasawa, Magellan proceeded to Ceby on April 8 and soon a blood compact between him and King Humabon was made. On April 15, a mass was celebrated and a cross was erected. Some 800 natives were christianized. King Humabon was christened as “Carlos” (in honor of King Charles of Spain) and his wife “Juana” (in honor of King Charles' mother). Magellan presented “Juana” an image of the Infant Jesus (Sto. Nino), now the Patron Saint of Cebu.

Chapter 3 for Pol Sci 3• The Battle of Mactan and Death of Magellan

– Raja Sula, one of the chieftains of the neighboring islands of Mactan (Maktan) asked Magellan's help to defeat his rival, Rajah Lapu Lapu who refused to pay tribute to Spain. In order to show his might, Magellan with some sixty (60) men sailed to Mactan on April 27 (some authors say March 28). Lapu Lapu and his men armed with spears and kampilan faced Magellan's men. In that battle, Magellan was wounded in the leg and seeing him wounded. Lapu Lapu's men killed him with their spears. With the death of Magellan, his men fled to their ships and returned to Cebu. In one occasion, while attending a party tendered by Raja Humabon, they were massacred by the Cebuano natives because some of them robbed the natives and raped some Cebuanos.

Chapter 3 for Pol Sci 3• The Return of Trinidad and Victoria

– On May 2, the remaining Spanish men left the Philippines with only 2 ships, Trinidad and Victoria, with Concepcion being abandoned. On their way to the Pacific Ocean, they reached Brunei. In Brunei, Rajah Siripada gave the Spaniards 26 tons of spices (cloves and cinnamon). Trinidad was captured by the Portuguese soldiers but Victoria set sail via the Indian Ocean enroute home on December 21, commanded by Juan Sebastian Elcano. On May 6, Victoria rounded Cape Good Hope and Cape Verde but many of Elcano's men died of starvation and sickness. On September 6, 1522, Elcano and his few men arrived in Spain (3 years after they departed).

Chapter 3 for Pol Sci 3• Other Spanish Expeditions.

– Magellan's expedition was significant because it led to other Spanish expeditions to the Philippines. These were the Loaysa expedition in 1526, Cabot expedition in 1530, Sayavedra expedition in 1528. The two famous and significant expeditions were the Villalobos and Legazpi expeditions.


– In order to settle the question of ownership of the Moluccas Island, the monarchs of Spain and Portugal agreed to draw an imaginary line of the Moluccas Island and lands west of the line belong to Spain while those of the east belong to Portugal. Spain was paid by Portugal in the sum of 350,000 gold ducats (US$800,000 today) to get the Moluccas. Spain respected the provisions of the Treaty of Zaragoza for many years but later violated it by sending Ruy Lopez de Villalobos to an expedition to Moluccas and reached Mindanaw (Mindanao). It was here where Villalobos named the islands of Leyte and Samar as Felipinas to honor King Philip of Spain. Thereafter, Villalobos sailed for Moluccas but was captured by the Portuguese.


– Set free, he sailed for Mexico but died later in 1546. In 1556, King Philip II who succeeded his father King Charles I, sent Miguel Lopez de Legazpi to head another expedition. Father Andres de Urdaneta, a member of the Loaysa expedition, became the pilot of the expedition. With four (4) ships and about 380 men, Legazpi sailed from Mexico in 1564 and reached Cebu in 1565. With Panay at his home base, he decided to spread Spanish rule to the other islands. At almost the same time, Juan de Salcedo (Legazpi's younger grandson) and Martin de Goiti captured Manila (Maynila) which was then a Muslim kingdom ruled by Raja Sulayman.


– After Legazpi took over Manila, he laid the foundation of a new city and made Manila, the capital of the Philippines. King Philip II later called Manila as “Distinguised and Ever Loyal City”. The Augustinians were the first missionaries to reach the Philippines led by Father Andres de Urdaneta who was also a member and the pilot of Loaysa expedition.

– Miguel Lopez de Legazpi founded the first European settlement in Cebu in 1565. He declared Manila as the capital of the Philippines in June 3, 1571. He became the first governor-general of the Philippines. Diego delos Rios, on the other hand, was the last governor-general (1889).

Chapter 3 for Pol Sci 3• The Central Government

– The head of the Spanish central government in the Philippines was the governor general or captain general who was appointed by the King of Spain. The governor-general was the King's official representative to the colony. He possessed vast executive, legislative and judicial powers. There was no legislature or Congress because laws were either made by the King of Spain through a Royal Decree or Order of the governor-general through a superior decree.

Chapter 3 for Pol Sci 3• The Audiencia

– Judicial powers were exercised by the Audiencia (the highest court) and the lower courts. The governor-general was the president or presiding officer of the Audiencia. The Audiencia was established in 1854 with Santiago de Vera as the first president.

Chapter 3 for Pol Sci 3• The Provincial Government

– The provincial government was headed by alcalde mayor who was appointed by the governor-general. His salary was meager but he was given the privilege to collect tributes and engage in trade to increase his income. Because of abuses committed by the provincial governor (alkalde mayor), the position was abolished in 1844.

Chapter 3 for Pol Sci 3• Municipal Government

– Each municipality or town was headed by a gobernadorcillo (little governor). The gobernadorcillo was assisted by four (4) tenientes, a chief of police and subordinate officials called alguaciles. The gobernadorcillo was also called capitan municipal or simply capitan. Today, he is called Mayor. In the beginning, the gobernadorcillo was elected for one year by all married men in each town but in the late 19th century, he was elected by a board of electors composed of the outgoing gobernadorcillo and twelve cabeza de barangay heads. The parish priest and the alcalde mayor presided over the election. The result of the election had to be approved by the parish priest and the alcalde mayor. The winning candidate had to be sent to the governor general for final approval. To qualify for the office of the gobernadorcillo, he must be Filipino, at least 25 years old, be able to read and write Spanish, and must be a teniente mayor or a cabeza de barangay.

Thank You

Kingsoft OfficeMake Presentation much more fun

chapter 3, the spanish period

Education