Spanish Gov't in the Phil.

            During the break of the year 1565, Spain colonized the Philippines as a part of their territory. This government would reign the country for the next 333 years and would create a tremendous impact on the Philippine culture, intellect, emotion and history. The name "Filipinas" indicated that these were all of actuality.
             Spain translated the traditional Filipino form of barangay kingdoms ruled by datus and rahas to the European form of monarchic dominion wherein the king is the absolute monarch above all and below him are his officials and branches of his sovereign. Filipinas was a part of his colony and he appointed a governor general as his representative to administrate this piece of land.
             Under the command of the governor general, there are other main and sub branches of Spanish colonial government. The Supreme Court of their time, the Royal Audiencia, determined important cases filed that affected the state. The local government consisted of two main branches - the provincial and city alcaldes. Alcaldes were the head of the "ayutamiento" or city government and "alcaldias" or provinces. A Filipino gobernadorcillo was the highest official in a "pueblo", the Spanish equivalent of the barangay, and it was under him that a cabeza de barangay worked.
             The central government was not alone in exercising authority over the domain. The Spanish governing body ruled the Philippines aligned with the Roman Catholic Church, a significant and influential hierarchic organization not only spiritually but also politically. These two enormous powers played the most important roles of the Spanish colonization in the Philippines. Imagine the impact they could cast and the greatness they could achieve for the country and for their beloved Spain if the people who comprised the Church and the administration were worthy and honest.
             However, that impact described transformed to a larger but worse strength. The government and the church mostly pretended to be allies and were connected.