¢ THE SPANISH COLONIAL SYSTEM SPAIN WAS THE first European country to rise as a great colonizin power in modern times. At the zenith of her glory and grandeur anne The 6th century, her siglo de oro (golden century), she had far-flung colonies in Afric, the New World (Latin America and Asia) - the first global colonial empire in history — so that King Philip II was the first monarch to justly boast that the sun never set on his realm. To rule such extensive possessions, Spain compiled the first code of colonial laws, called Leyes de Indias, which modern authorities on colonialism acclaim as “one of the most humane and one of the most comprehensive codes published for any colonial empire”. However, because of the distance of the Philippines from Spain and the corruption and decadence of Spanish officials and friars, especially in the 19th century, these colonial laws were unevenly applied or failed to benefit the colonies. Aims of Spanish Colonization. Spain's aims in colonizing over- seas lands (including the Philippines) may be keynoted by three G's ~ God, Gold and Glory. The first and chief aim of her colonization was the propagation of Catholic Christianity, which is attested by the Testament? of Queen Isabel the Catholic (1479-1504) and the Christian spirit of the Leyes de Indias. This is the reason why every expedition of discovery, exploration and conquest was accompanied by Christian As Dr. Wilhelm Roscher, noted German authority on “The principal aim of Spanish coloni- 3 missionaries. Spanish colonization, affirmed: zation was the conversion of the heathen peoples to Christianity- ‘The second aim of Spanish colonization was the desire for gold or economic wealth. This aim sprang from the struggle among European powers to monopolize the spice trade of the Orient and to acquire riches. At that time (as it is today), material wealth was a measure of greatness among nations. The third aim of colonization arose out of Spain’s ambition to be the greatest empire in the world. By acquiring so many colonies Gin cluding the Philippines), Spain realized her imperialist ambition.103 By and large, th e first , was the most successful Ree aim (propagation of Christiani had colonized are ners Chr ending, Alll the colonies which ‘Spa ich by colonizi ~ Mist Nations. Spai unng co meesePNppines andor harnna mlad Baie nies did not | : rarer century her glory vanished and she asia = in the 19th power. Spain Retai ilip;: E Tippin Philippines Despite Economic Loss. As a colony, the Philippines was . For this reason, the ada a financial burden to the Spanish treasury. \ jective of the Spanish colonizatior f th Propagation of christianity, and that for the conversion of the Filipino peopl Ould gladly spend “all the riches of the Indies” In 1619 the question of abandoni loning the Philippines was revived by the court advisers. Upon hearing this news, Fr. Fernando Moraga, eran eaves ase and feeble health, journeyed to Spain. He ew himself at the feet of Philip III, impl hi Me iP ploring him not to abandon es for the sake of Christianity. Deeply touched by thi padre’s pleading, the king replied: with God, Father Mecape, n “Depart with God,, Father Moraga, and be assured that I will not give up what my father had conquered and left me”.5 The Philippines as Crown Colony. The Philippines was acrown colony in the sense that she belonged to the Spanish king. From the beginning of Spanish rule to 1821, she was a dependency of Mexico, being administered directly by the Mexican viceroy in the name of the Spanish king. After Mexico’s separation from Spain in 1821, the Philippines came to be directly ruled from Madrid, and this arrange- ment lasted until 1898. The king appointed the governor general and other colonial officials and issued royal decrees governing the Philip- pines. The Council of the Indies. To help the king rule the colonies, the Council of the Indies was created by King Charles 1 (concurrently Emperor Charles V of Germany) in his Royal Decree of August 1, 1524.- This council was a powerful body, for it handled all matters pertaining to the colonies of the Spanish empire. It consisted of a president, four councilors who were either lawyers or clergymen, a secretary, a fiscal, (crown attorney), a treasurer, a historian, a cosmo- grapher, a professor of mathematics and an usher. The first President ‘of the Council of the Indies was Fray Garcia Jofre de Loaisa, Father General of the Dominican Order and Archbishop of Seville.104 HISTORY OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Later the Council of the Indies was dismantled by Queen j IT in 1863. This Queen issued Royal Decree of May 20, 1863 repisih' it with the Ministry of Colonies (Ministerio de Ultramar), whieh <"? headed by the Minister of Colonies, assisted by the Council of is Philippines (Consejo de Filipinas). This Council was composed of 4 Deputy Minister of Colonies, the directors of the Ministry of Colonix as ¢x-officio members and twelve regular members appointed by fe king because of their knowledge of Philippine affairs. " The Laws of the Indies. The numerous laws Governing the Colonies of Spain were compiled and published into a convenien, colonial code entitled Recopilacion de Leyes de las Indias, Popularly known as simply Laws of the Indies (Leyes de Indias) § The Governor General. The chief executive of the Philippines during Spanish times was the Governor and the Captain-General. This was his official title. He was, however, commonly called governor general. As chief executive, he enforced the king’s royal decrees and other laws from Spain. He was the commander-in-chief of the colonial armed forces. He appointed and removed colonial officials, except those who were appointed by the king. Until 1861, he served as president (chief justice) of the Royal Audiencia (Supreme Court). As the king’s representative in the colony, he served as vice-royal patron with the power to recommend priests for appointment as parish Priests and to intervene in controversies between religious authorities Because of the great distance of thé Philippines from Spain, the governor general exercised the powers of a monarch. He could declare war or peace with China, Japan, Siam, and other countries in the Orient. He appointed ambassadors to, and received ambassadors from, these countries. He administered not only the Philippines, but also the Marianas, the Carolines and the Palaus (archipelagoes in the Pacific). These islands were considered a part of the Philippines during Spanish times. Finally, the governor general could veto any royal decree or law from Spain. This veto power was called cumplase. Checks to Gubernatorial Powers. The great powers of i governor general were checked by the following: (1) the Roy Audiencia which was the Supreme Court during the Spanish pen?” (2) the archbishop and the clergy who were influential in the aa court; (3) the complaints which subordinate public officials private citizens sent directly to the king; (4) the residencia, the tria