Principalía

Typical clothing of a family belonging to the Principalía during the late 19th century. Photo of an exhibition at the Villa Escudero Museum in San Pablo, Laguna, Philippines.

The Principalía or ruling class was the educated upper class in the cities of the colonial Philippines, consisting of the Gobernadorcillo (Mayor), the Cabezas de Barangay (leaders of the Barangays ) who ruled the districts, and the holders of the Medal for Civil Service.

Admission into the circle of Principalía could either be acquired or inherited according to the Royal Decree of December 20, 1863 - signed in the name of Queen Isabella II of Spain by the Minister for Colonies, José de la Concha . Skills in the Spanish language were a prerequisite for advancing into this group. For those who had inherited this honor, this requirement did not apply. The royal decree was announced in the Philippines by the governor general by circular.

With the change of government from the monarchy under Spanish rule to democracy under the United States of America, the Principalía and its descendants lost their legal power and their social privileges.

Privileges

This noble upper class was exempt from forced labor during the Spanish colonial era. As aristocrats of the cities, they could be compared to the patricians of ancient Rome or the Italian city-states. The members of this class enjoyed exclusive privileges:

The cabezas , their wives and firstborn children were exempt from paying tribute to the Spanish crown. Only the members of the Principalía were allowed to participate in elections and be elected to public office. They were always addressed by the title Don or Doña . They also performed certain roles in the Church, such as assisting the priest in pastoral and religious activities.

In general, the nobles' social privileges were considered justified because they also carried greater social responsibility. The gobernadorcillo received a nominal salary during this time and received no state support for public services. Rather, the mayor had to support the administration of his community by taking care of the post office or the prison as well as the construction and repair of the public infrastructure and buildings.

History and Development

This page of the "Recapitolación de leyes" shows the law on the Principalia of Philip II. The work is in the library Estudio Teologico Agustiniano de Valladolid

From the beginning of the colonial period in the Philippines, the Spanish crown built on the traditional socio-political structures of the barangays and at the same time on the traditional indigenous leaders, such as the Datus, and thereby indirectly asserted their claim to power. To enforce this policy, King Philip II of Spain passed a law on June 11, 1594 , which continued to guarantee the dignity and government privileges of Indian chiefs, provided they accepted and exercised the Catholic faith. He also ordered the Spanish governors to treat these local nobles well. The king also ordered that the natives should show these nobles the same respect they had before colonization, but without prejudice to the things that were due to the king himself or his encomenderos (agents).

The royal decree reads: “It is not lawful that the Indian chiefs of the Philippines should be in a worse condition after their conversion; rather, they should be treated in such a way that wins their affection and makes them submissive to us, so that in addition to the spiritual blessings God has bestowed upon them with their conversion, the temporal blessings may be added, and they may live contentedly and comfortably. Therefore we command the governors of these islands to treat them well and to entrust them, on our behalf, with the government of those Indians of whom they were also before. Otherwise, the governors may see that the chiefs are favored and that the Indians pay them something in recognition, just as they did when they were pagans, as long as it does not affect the tribute they pay us or whatever Encomendores is entitled to is detrimental. "

Portrait of a pre-colonial Filipino noble couple, depicted in the Boxer Codex. On the left a general of the Kingdom of Butuan, on the right a princess of the Kingdom of Tondo

Through this law the local Filipino princes became followers (encomenderos) of the Spanish king, who ruled the country indirectly through these nobles, albeit under the supervision of the Spanish colonial officials. This system of indirect governance was extremely helpful in pacifying rural areas and institutionalized the role of an upper class of the "Principalía" or the "Principales" until the end of the Spanish colonial period in the Philippines in 1898.

The Principalía was larger and more influential than the pre-colonial indigenous noble class. She helped to build an oligarchic system in the Spanish colonies and to maintain it for more than three hundred years.

Spanish colonial government legislation prohibited foreigners from buying land in the Philippines. This went a long way towards promoting this particular form of oligarchy. In some provinces of the Philippines, many Spaniards and foreign traders married with the local Malayo-Polynesian nobility. From these connections a new cultural group emerged, the Mestizos . Their descendants developed into an influential part of the government and the Principalía.

Symbol sign

Salakot, decorated with silver

In later Spanish colonial times, the elite Christian landowner class began to wear a distinctive salakot , a Filipino headdress traditionally worn by the Indians. Instead of the rattan or reed or various shells commonly used by the Filipinos for headdresses , the principales used more valuable materials such as tortoiseshell or valuable metals. The decorations on these salakots were made of chased silver and were sometimes decorated with silver coins or pendants that hung from the edge of the headdress.

literature

Regalado Trota Jose, The Many Images of Christ (especially the section: Spain retains the old class system ) in Kasaysayan: The Story of the Filipino People , Jose S. Arcilla, ed, Philippines: Asia Publishing Company, Limited, 1998, Vol III, pp. 178-179.
Alfredo R. Roces, et al., Eds., The Ruling Class in Filipino Heritage: The Making of a Nation , Philippines: Lahing Pilipino Publishing, Inc., 1978, Vol. V, pp. 1155-1158.

Web links

Individual evidence

↑ Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson, The Philippine Islands (1493-1898) , Cleveland: The AH Clark Company, 1903, Vol. XVII, p. 331.
↑ In 1893 the Maura Law was passed to reorganize the city administrations with the aim of making them more effective and more autonomous and in this context the term 'gobernadorcillo' became the 'capitan municipal' in 1895
↑ The rise of the Filipino population during the Spanish colonial period consequently required the creation and election of a new leadership elite and class. The emergence of the mestizo culture (both Filipinos of Chinese descent and Filipinos of Spanish descent) made this necessary as well as the creation of various gobernadorcillo posts for the various mestizo groups and for the Indian tribes who live in the same territory or in cities with large populations, cf. Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson, The Philippine Islands (1493-1898) , Cleveland: The AH Clark Company, 1903, Vol. XVII, pp. 324-326.
↑ cf. Principalía in Encyclopedia Universal Ilustrada Europeo-Américana , Madrid: Espasa-Calpe, SA, 1991, Vol. XLVII, p. 410
↑ Article 16 of the Royal Decree of December 20, 1863 reads: Now that a school has existed in a village for more than 15 years, no native who cannot speak, read or write the Castilian language should become part of the principalía, unless he inherits these honors. If the school has existed for thirty years, only those who meet the above conditions should be exempt from poll tax. Isabel II, Royal Decree of December 20 , 1863, Art. 16 in The Philippine Islands (1493-1898) , Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson, Cleveland: The AH Clark Company, 1903, Vol. XLVI, p. 85.
↑ Section III of the letter signed August 30, 1867 reads: The law has been carefully considered and it is appropriate that the overseer disclose it in front of the parents so that her simple intellect may well understand that she is not only for the School should send, but that this is also profitable, because if the school has existed for fifteen years in the village of their tribe, then those who cannot speak, read and write Castilian cannot become gobernadorcillo, not even judicial employees, nor can they be Belong to Principalía ; unless they have inherited this privilege ... General Gándara, Circular of the Superior Civil Government Giving Rules for the Good Discharge of School Supervision in The Philippine Islands (1493-1898) , Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson, Cleveland: The AH Clark Company, 1903, Vol. XLVI, 133.

↑ Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson, The Philippine Islands (1493-1898) , Cleveland: The AH Clark Company, 1903, Vol. XLII, p. 326.

↑ Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson, The Philippine Islands (1493-1898) , Cleveland: The AH Clark Company, 1903, Vol. XL, p. 218.

^ H. de la Costa, SJ, Reading in Philippine History , Manila 1973, pp. 182-183

^ Gregorio F. Elizalde, Pageant of Philippine History , Vol. I, p. 294

↑ Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson, The Philippine Islands (1493-1898) , Cleveland: The AH Clark Company, 1903, Vol. XVII, p. 326.

↑ More information about the social system of the pre-colonial indigenous Filipino society under the keyword Barangay in Enciclopedia Universal Ilustrada Europea-Americana , Madrid: Espasa-Calpe, SA, 1991, Vol. VII, p.624. This article also says: Los nobles de un barangay eran los más ricos ó los más fuertes, formándose por este sistema los dattos ó maguinoos , principes á quienes heredaban los hijos mayores, las hijas á falta de éstos, ó los parientes más próximos si noximos tenían descendencia directa; pero siempre teniendo en cuenta las condiciones de fuerza ó de dinero ... Los vassalos plebeyos tenían que remar en los barcos del maguinoo , cultivar sus campos y pelear en la guerra. Los siervos, que formaban el término medio entre los esclavos y los hombres libres, podían tener propriedad individual, mujer, campos, casa y esclavos; pero los tagalos debían pagar una cantidad en polvo de oro equivalente á una parte de sus cosechas, los de los barangayes bisayas estaban obligados á trabajar en las tieras del señor cinco días al mes, pagarle un tributo anual en arroz y hacerle un presente en las fiestas. Durante la dominación española, el cacique , jefe de un barangay, ejercía funciones judiciales y administrativas. A los tres años tenía el tattamiento de don y se reconocía capacidad para ser gobernadorcillo , con facultades para nombrarse un auxiliar llamado primogenito , siendo hereditario el cargo de jefe. It should also be noted that Cabeza de Barangay was the far better known term for the district chiefs cacique during the Spanish colonial era

↑ Felipe II, Ley de Junio 11, 1594 in Recapilación de leyes , lib. vi, tit. VII, ley xvi. The translation of the law into English by Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson can be found in The Philippine Islands (1493-1898) , Cleveland: The AH Clark Company, 1903, Vol. XVI, pp. 155-156. The original text (Recapilación de leyes) in Spanish is: No es justo, que los Indios Principales de Filipinas sean de peor condición, después de haberse convertido, ántes de les debe hacer tattamiento, que los aficione, y mantenga en felicidad, para que con los bienes espirituales, que Dios les ha comunicado llamándolos a su verdadero conocimiento, se junten los temporales, y vivan con gusto y conveniencia. Por lo qua mandamos a los Gobernadores de aquellas Islas, que les hagan buen tratamiento, y encomienden en nuestro nombre el gobierno de los Indios, de que eran Señores, y en todo lo demás procuren, que justamente se aprovechen haciéndooles los reconocimienton en los Indios algún la forma que corría el tiempo de su Gentilidad, con que esto sin perjuicio de los tributos, que á Nos han de pagar, ni de lo que á sus Encomenderos . Juan de Ariztia, ed., Recapilación de leyes , Madrid (1723), lib. vi, tit. VII, ley xvi. This source is in the library of the Estudio Teologico Agustiniano de Valladolid in Spain.

↑ Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson, The Philippine Islands (1493-1898) , Cleveland: The AH Clark Company, 1903, Vol. XVII, p. 331; Ibid ., Vol. XL, p. 218.

^ The Impact of Spanish Rule in the Philippines at www.seasite.niu.edu. Archived copy ( memento of the original from October 1, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2
↑ Blair and Robertson describe the salakot as part of the usual clothing of the Principalía. They call the headdress "mushroom hat": They (the Principalía) usually wear a black jacket , European trousers , mushroom hat and colored (velvet) slippers; some even patent leather shoes. The shirt is short and worn over trousers. The gobernadorcillo stick with tassels (baston) , the lieutenants' crops (varas) . For larger ceremonies they dress very formally in a frock coat and high hat ... cf. Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson, The Philippine Islands (1493-1898) , Cleveland: The AH Clark Company, 1903, Vol.XVII , p. 331.

↑ Alfredo R. Roces, et al, eds., Ethnic Headgear in Filipino Heritage: the Making of a Nation , Philippines: Lahing Pilipino Publishing, Inc., 1977, Vol IV, pp.. 1106-1107.

[1] Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson, The Philippine Islands (1493-1898) , Cleveland: The AH Clark Company, 1903, Vol. XVII, p. 331.

[2] In 1893 the Maura Law was passed to reorganize the city administrations with the aim of making them more effective and more autonomous and in this context the term 'gobernadorcillo' became the 'capitan municipal' in 1895

[3] The rise of the Filipino population during the Spanish colonial period consequently required the creation and election of a new leadership elite and class. The emergence of the mestizo culture (both Filipinos of Chinese descent and Filipinos of Spanish descent) made this necessary as well as the creation of various gobernadorcillo posts for the various mestizo groups and for the Indian tribes who live in the same territory or in cities with large populations, cf. Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson, The Philippine Islands (1493-1898) , Cleveland: The AH Clark Company, 1903, Vol. XVII, pp. 324-326.

[4] . Principalía in Encyclopedia Universal Ilustrada Europeo-Américana , Madrid: Espasa-Calpe, SA, 1991, Vol. XLVII, p. 410

[5] Article 16 of the Royal Decree of December 20, 1863 reads: Now that a school has existed in a village for more than 15 years, no native who cannot speak, read or write the Castilian language should become part of the principalía, unless he inherits these honors. If the school has existed for thirty years, only those who meet the above conditions should be exempt from poll tax. Isabel II, Royal Decree of December 20 , 1863, Art. 16 in The Philippine Islands (1493-1898) , Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson, Cleveland: The AH Clark Company, 1903, Vol. XLVI, p. 85.

[6] Section III of the letter signed August 30, 1867 reads: The law has been carefully considered and it is appropriate that the overseer disclose it in front of the parents so that her simple intellect may well understand that she is not only for the School should send, but that this is also profitable, because if the school has existed for fifteen years in the village of their tribe, then those who cannot speak, read and write Castilian cannot become gobernadorcillo, not even judicial employees, nor can they be Belong to Principalía ; unless they have inherited this privilege ... General Gándara, Circular of the Superior Civil Government Giving Rules for the Good Discharge of School Supervision in The Philippine Islands (1493-1898) , Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson, Cleveland: The AH Clark Company, 1903, Vol. XLVI, 133.

[7] Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson, The Philippine Islands (1493-1898) , Cleveland: The AH Clark Company, 1903, Vol. XLII, p. 326.

[8] Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson, The Philippine Islands (1493-1898) , Cleveland: The AH Clark Company, 1903, Vol. XL, p. 218.

[9] H. de la Costa, SJ, Reading in Philippine History , Manila 1973, pp. 182-183

[10] Gregorio F. Elizalde, Pageant of Philippine History , Vol. I, p. 294

[11] Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson, The Philippine Islands (1493-1898) , Cleveland: The AH Clark Company, 1903, Vol. XVII, p. 326.

[12] More information about the social system of the pre-colonial indigenous Filipino society under the keyword Barangay in Enciclopedia Universal Ilustrada Europea-Americana , Madrid: Espasa-Calpe, SA, 1991, Vol. VII, p.624. This article also says: Los nobles de un barangay eran los más ricos ó los más fuertes, formándose por este sistema los dattos ó maguinoos , principes á quienes heredaban los hijos mayores, las hijas á falta de éstos, ó los parientes más próximos si noximos tenían descendencia directa; pero siempre teniendo en cuenta las condiciones de fuerza ó de dinero ... Los vassalos plebeyos tenían que remar en los barcos del maguinoo , cultivar sus campos y pelear en la guerra. Los siervos, que formaban el término medio entre los esclavos y los hombres libres, podían tener propriedad individual, mujer, campos, casa y esclavos; pero los tagalos debían pagar una cantidad en polvo de oro equivalente á una parte de sus cosechas, los de los barangayes bisayas estaban obligados á trabajar en las tieras del señor cinco días al mes, pagarle un tributo anual en arroz y hacerle un presente en las fiestas. Durante la dominación española, el cacique , jefe de un barangay, ejercía funciones judiciales y administrativas. A los tres años tenía el tattamiento de don y se reconocía capacidad para ser gobernadorcillo , con facultades para nombrarse un auxiliar llamado primogenito , siendo hereditario el cargo de jefe. It should also be noted that Cabeza de Barangay was the far better known term for the district chiefs cacique during the Spanish colonial era

[13] Felipe II, Ley de Junio 11, 1594 in Recapilación de leyes , lib. vi, tit. VII, ley xvi. The translation of the law into English by Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson can be found in The Philippine Islands (1493-1898) , Cleveland: The AH Clark Company, 1903, Vol. XVI, pp. 155-156. The original text (Recapilación de leyes) in Spanish is: No es justo, que los Indios Principales de Filipinas sean de peor condición, después de haberse convertido, ántes de les debe hacer tattamiento, que los aficione, y mantenga en felicidad, para que con los bienes espirituales, que Dios les ha comunicado llamándolos a su verdadero conocimiento, se junten los temporales, y vivan con gusto y conveniencia. Por lo qua mandamos a los Gobernadores de aquellas Islas, que les hagan buen tratamiento, y encomienden en nuestro nombre el gobierno de los Indios, de que eran Señores, y en todo lo demás procuren, que justamente se aprovechen haciéndooles los reconocimienton en los Indios algún la forma que corría el tiempo de su Gentilidad, con que esto sin perjuicio de los tributos, que á Nos han de pagar, ni de lo que á sus Encomenderos . Juan de Ariztia, ed., Recapilación de leyes , Madrid (1723), lib. vi, tit. VII, ley xvi. This source is in the library of the Estudio Teologico Agustiniano de Valladolid in Spain.

[14] Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson, The Philippine Islands (1493-1898) , Cleveland: The AH Clark Company, 1903, Vol. XVII, p. 331; Ibid ., Vol. XL, p. 218.

[15] The Impact of Spanish Rule in the Philippines at www.seasite.niu.edu. Archived copy ( memento of the original from October 1, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2

[16] Blair and Robertson describe the salakot as part of the usual clothing of the Principalía. They call the headdress "mushroom hat": They (the Principalía) usually wear a black jacket , European trousers , mushroom hat and colored (velvet) slippers; some even patent leather shoes. The shirt is short and worn over trousers. The gobernadorcillo stick with tassels (baston) , the lieutenants' crops (varas) . For larger ceremonies they dress very formally in a frock coat and high hat ... cf. Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson, The Philippine Islands (1493-1898) , Cleveland: The AH Clark Company, 1903, Vol.XVII , p. 331.

[17] Alfredo R. Roces, et al, eds., Ethnic Headgear in Filipino Heritage: the Making of a Nation , Philippines: Lahing Pilipino Publishing, Inc., 1977, Vol IV, pp.. 1106-1107.