Part III Transitions of Government

• Transitions in Philippine Government


  Precolonial Era

  Spanish Era

  Revolutionary Era

  American Era

  Japanese Era

  Post-Colonial Era
• The Nobilities


  • Datu
  • Mapiang Sugi
• Datu


  Chief of the settlement or community called balangay (Malay word for ‘boat’). They have followers beyond their immediate household and controls a larger area. Each barangay is an independent ‘micro state’ because there is no central power yet that is national in scope although alliances are common forming ‘kingdoms’ or ‘wangdoms’
• Mapiang Sugi


  A societal class composed of Pure Blooded Nobility where the datu is usually part which include the lakan (divine ruler, descendants of the diwatas). In Kapampangan and Tagalog societies, Lakan as a title is considered higher in class among the datus/rajas/dayangs (lord of the domain)/guinus on account of divine ancestry but not necessarily higher than the datu or its Hindic equivalents.
• Social-Political Dynamics


  1. Pure Blood Nobility
  2. Lesser Nobilities
  3. Working-Serving Populace
  4. Shamans
• Pure Blood Nobility


  • Datu, Lakan/Rajah, inu/Dayang, Saripanda
  • Executive Role
  • Legislative Role
  • Judicial Role
• Lesser Nobility


  • Maharlika/Timawa
  • Socio-Political
  • Support (Military Might and Wealth Builders)
• Working-Serving Populace


  • Alipin/Oripun
  • Muscle Power
• Shamans

  • Babaylan/Catalonan
  • Spiritual Authorities and Guardians of Health and Well-Being
• Socio-Political Structure during the Philippine Antiquity is a control on man-power and man-resources rooted on subsistence economic model.
• Settlements or villages, each called hulop, dulohan, barangay or balangay, a Malayan word meaning “boat” were headed by a datu and a form of federation exists although there is no ruler higher than the datu to equate in today’s national government level but a respected datu by other datus head the federation assisted by a Council of Elders.
• Rudiments of Legal System


  Philippine Antiquity is governed by a legal system that is not a product of legislation but emanated from the natural order of things. Exacting justice is through the imposition of trial by ordeal such as getting a stone in a pot of boiling water – based on the belief that if the litigant is innocent, the diwatas or gods will help him and protect him from harm. Similar with other cultures, our precolonial legal system is defective but generally fair considering the conditions in Europe, China, and the rest of the known world.
• 1521


  Ferdinand Magellan arrived in Cebu, died in Mactan – his expedition made the first circumnavigation of the globe stirring Spanish interest to expand its empire in the ‘western islands’ which is an excuse to conquer and colonize islands reached by Magellan and his crew. 
• 1565


  Miguel Lopez de Legazpi arrived in Cebu from Mexico under the directions of King Philip II to conquer and colonize las islas Filipinas given by Ruy Lopez de Villalobos to the islands of Samar and Leyte in a failed attempt of colonization in 1544.
• 1821


  The Philippines was under the Captaincy General established by Legaspi in 1565; the King of Spain governs the colony through the Viceroy of Mexico until the Mexican War for Independence in 1821 due to its distance from Spain.
• 1898


  Directly governed by Spain from Madrid under the Council of Indies until 1837; legislation for the colony was performed by the Council of Ministers until 1863; and by the Ministry of Ultramar since then exercising general powers of supervision.
• Patronato Real


  A basic principle of government introduced by Spain to the Philippines was the union of the church and the state through the Patronato Real or Royal Patronage between the Kingdom of Spain and the Pope of the Holy See in Vatican; it resulted to the so-called monastic supremacy (frailocracy) and eventually led to the 1896 Philippine Revolution.
• Governador General


  Captaincy General
• Governador


  Provinces (Provincias)
• Governadorcillos / Captain Municipal


  Towns or Pueblos
• Cabeza de Barangay


  Barangay
• Colonial Cities


  Cities governed under special charters were also created - each of these cities had an ayuntamiento or cabildo (city council).
• Broad Powers of the Governor-General


  These broad powers made the Governor-General enjoyed more powers than the King of Spain himself
• Governador General


  He had executive, administrative, legislative, and judicial powers
• Captain General


  Commander-in-Chief of all the Armed Forces of the Philippines
• Vice Real Patrono


  He exercised certain religious powers
• The Judiciary


  The Royal Audiencia which was established on May 15, 1583 was the Supreme Court of the Philippines during the Spanish times; it held its first session on June 15, 1584. Its first president is Gov. Santiago de Vera. It was abolished in 1589 due to friction between the governor and the justices (oidores) but re-established in 1595. Its decision was final except on certain cases of great importance which could be appealed to the King of Spain. It also performed functions of executive and legislative nature.
• General Features of Colonial Spanish Government


  • Spain established a defective government in the Philippines.
  • The government is designed for the benefit of the Peninsular Spaniards  and not for the Filipinos (insulares and indios).
  • The Spanish officials were often inefficient and corrupt.
  • The union of church and state produced serious strife between the ecclesiastical and civil authorities.
  • Equality before the law was denied to the Filipinos on account of racial purity (limpieza de sangre).
• Katipunan Government


  It was secret society that precipitated our glorious revolution on August 26, 1896. It was organized by Andres Bonifacio, who, together with a group of Filipino patriots, signed the covenant of the Katipunan with their own blood on July 7, 1892 although new evidence shows that it happened as early as first week of January 1892 before the founding of La Liga Filipina by Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal.
• The Biak-Na-Bato Republic


  On May 31, 1897, a republic was established by Gen. Aguinaldo in Biak-na-Bato and adopted its constitution on November 1, 1897 which was to take effect for two years only. It declared that the aim of the revolutions was  “separation of the Philippines from the Spanish monarchy and their formation into an independent state.”
• The Dictatorial Government


  • April 25, 1898
  • May 23, 1898
  • June 12, 1898
• April 25, 1898


  “Remember Maine!” Spanish-American War broke out when USS Maine sunk in the harbor of Havanna in Cuba.
• May 23, 1898


  Gen. Aguinaldo, in view of the chaotic conditions in the country, established the dictatorial government, Apolinario Mabini was appointed as chief adviser.
• June 12, 1898


  Proclamation of Philippine Independence at Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898; local government are reorganized and declaration of independence was ratified in Bacoor, Cavite.
• Revolutionary Government


  On June 29, 1898, Gen. Aguinaldo established the Revolutionary government replacing the Dictatorial Government with himself as President and a Congress whose function was advisory and ministerial.
• Revolutionary Government


  The decree making such change stated that the aims of the new government were “to struggle for the independence of the Philippines, until all nations including Spain will expressly recognize it,” and “to prepare the country for the establishment of a real Republic.” It sent diplomatic note to foreign nations, requesting them to accord formal recognition to the Philippines as a free and independent nation.
• The First Philippine Republic


  • September 15, 1898
  • September 29, 1898
  • January 23, 1899
• September 15, 1898


  Revolutionary Congress of Filipino representatives met in Malolos, Bulacan at the call of Revolutionary Government.
• September 29, 1898


  The Malolos Congress ratified the Malolos Constitution and the proclamation of Philippine Independence made by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo in Kawit, Cavite on June 12,1898.
• January 23, 1899


  Inauguration of the First Republic under the Malolos Constitution, the first democratic constitution ever promulgated in the whole Asia established a “free and independent Philippine Republic”.