Political Changes During the Spanish Period

He served as the representative of the king of Spain in the Philippines.

• Alcalde-mayor

• Encomendero

• Visitador

• governor-general

Answer explanation

The Governor-General of the Philippines was the title of the government executive during the colonial period of the Philippines, governed mainly by Spain. They were also the representatives of the executive of the ruling power.

Their main responsibilities were to look into corrupt practices by the governor-general and lower-ranking officials. They aimed to reduce corruption in central and provincial governments.

• Alcalde-mayor

• Encomendero

• Visitador

• governor-general

Answer explanation

The Visitador Visita was a special investigation undertaken in the Spanish colonies in response to perceived mismanagement or an emergency. Visitas were of two types. Some visitas concentrate on a single official or smaller jurisdiction, such as a village or corregimiento.

This served as the highest court in the land and was established to prevent corrupt practices.

• Royal Audiencia

• Consejo de las Indias

• Residencia

• Ayuntamiento

Answer explanation

A Real Audiencia, or simply an Audiencia, was an appellate court in Spain and its empire. The name of the institution literally translates as "Royal Audience." The Royal Audencia was established on May 5, 1583, and is composed of a president, four oidores (justices), and a fiscal. The Audencia exercised both administrative and judicial functions.

It is also known as the "city government" and is composed of an alcalde or mayor, council regidores, a chief of police, a secretary, and clerks.

• Royal Audiencia

• Consejo de las Indias

• Residencia

• Ayuntamiento

Answer explanation

Ayuntamiento is the general term for the town council, or cabildo, of a municipality or, sometimes, as is often the case in Spain and Latin America, for the municipality itself. The first session of the Ayuntamiento, a Spanish colonial administrative council, was held in Manila on June 28, 1571, at Casas Consitoriales, considered the equivalent of today's City Hall. The Ayuntamiento stood witness to the signing of the terms of the capitulation of Manila between American and Spanish forces.

It refers to the right of the governor-general to delay or withdraw the enforcement of the laws by the king of Spain.

• cedula personal

• cumplase

• Indulto de comercio

• encomienda

Answer explanation

Cumplase was a special power granted to the Governor-general, which allowed him to cancel the implementation of a law made by the King of Spain. It was a privilege held by the Governor-general in the Philippines during Spanish rule that gave him the power to suspend royal degrees.

This refers to a privilege given to the alcalde-mayor to monopolize domestic trade and control prices and business practices. They bought goods from the natives at a cheap rate and sold these goods back to the natives in times of scarcity, but at a higher price.

• cedula personal

• cumplase

• Indulto de comercio

• encomienda

Answer explanation

The Indulto de Comercio was a right given to the alcalde mayor to engage in trade, which made him rich and powerful. However, it was abolished in 1844 because the alcalde mayor abused his power to the extent of scandalizing the Spaniards.

Their foremost duty was to collect taxes and tributes. They were also chosen because of their voice and influence in their community as former datus and leaders.

• corregidor

• cabeza de barangay

• alcalde-mayor

• gobernadorcillo

Answer explanation

The Cabeza de Barangay or Teniente del Barrio was the leader of a barangay, the smallest administrative division in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period. Within the pueblos (towns), the cabeza supervised small groups of 50 to 100 people. 

This was the highest position a Filipino was allowed to hold in office or govern during the Spanish Occupation of the Philippines.

• corregidor

• cabeza de barangay

• alcalde-mayor

• gobernadorcillo

Answer explanation

The gobernadorcillo was a municipal judge or governor in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period, who carried out in a town the combined charges or responsibilities of leadership, economic, and judicial administration. The gobernadorcillo was the leader of a town or pueblo.

He was the very first governor general of the Philippines.

• Miguel López de Legazpi

• Luís Pérez Dasmariñas

• Francisco Javier de la Torre

• José Basco y Vargas

Answer explanation

Miguel López de Legazpi (1502-1572) was a colonial official in New Spain and a Pacific explorer and conquistador who led the Spanish expedition that began the colonization of the Philippines and launched the first Asia-American trading line. Legazpi served as the first governor of the Philippines from 1565 until his death. In 1570, he sent an expedition to the northern island of Luzon, arriving there himself the next year.

His successful revolt against Ferdinand Magellan was the first manifestation of the Filipinos' opposition to Spanish rule.

• Raja Humabon

• Raja Lakandula

• Datu Lapulapu

• Raja Soliman

Answer explanation

Lapu-Lapu is widely celebrated as the first Filipino hero, famously vanquishing Portuguese conquistador Ferdinand Magellan and his army in their attempt to colonize Mactan Island. In honor of his triumph, Lapu-Lapu’s monument stands tall on the island of Mactan today, symbolizing the country’s first successful resistance to Spanish colonization.