History of Barangay During Spanish Regime

     The Blood Compact of March 1565 entered into between Legaspi and Sikatuna formalized the autonomous nationality of Islas Filipinas. Four years later, King Philip II issued a royal decree creating the office of the Governor-General of the Philippines. Since then, the Spaniards established a highly centralized form of government with a more complex system of local government administration. Groups of Barangay were consolidated into pueblos or towns and placed under the administration of a Gobernadorcillo, pueblos in turn were grouped into provinces and placed under the supervision of Alcalde Mayor. The Barangays which existed before Magellan discovered the Philippines were, however, allowed to continue its political functions but with limited powers for its rulers.

     According to historian David Rubio, it was not Spanish policy "to trample underfoot and completely disregard existing native administration, no matter how poor it was. At the head of each barrio or local unit was a "Cabeza de Barangay".

     In 1609, Antonio de Morga reported in his Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas that the Governor-General appointed many local officials throughout the islands to carry on the reins of government and justice, and for military matters. The Encomienda system was also introduced to reward deserving persons in the Islands, to receive and enjoy for themselves the tributes of the natives who should be assigned to them. The Encomienderos were, in turn, in charge of providing security and well-being of the native particularly in spiritual and temporal matters of defending the areas where the Encomienda should be granted. The native barangay rulers, through their leadership, contributed much in strengthening the foothold of the Spanish rule in the Philippines.

     The Cabezas de Barangay were accorded special political privileges throughout the more than 300 years of Spanish rule. According to Governor Raon's "Ordinances of Good Government" promulgated in 1768, the Gobernadorcillo would be elected in the beginning of each year by the outgoing Gobernadorcillo and 12 senior Cabezas de Barangay.

     This provison was carried over in the Royal Decree of October 5, 1847 otherwise called the Municipal Election Law and slightly modified under the Maura Law of 1893 where the members of Municipal Tribunal, constitued by the town executive and four Tenientes, were chosen by 12 electors, six of which were former Cabezas de Barangays.

     Under the Spanish rule, tributes were imposed on almost every Filipino native. The Cabezas de Barangay of each locality acted as agent in the collection of tributes and in return, were exempted from taxation together with their wife and eldest son.