Thegobernadorcillo (locally[ɡoβeɾnaðoɾˈsiʎo], literally "little governor") was a municipal judge orgovernor in thePhilippines during theSpanish colonial period, who carried out in a town the combined charges or responsibilities of leadership, economic, and judicial administration. Thegobernadorcillo was the leader of a town orpueblo (people or population). In a coastal town, thegobernadorcillo functioned as a port captain. They were appointed through an exclusive nomination provided by the Spanish law. Their term of office lasted for two years.
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The position of agobernadorcillo was honorary and mandatory in order to afford him those valid exemptions signified in the Philippine law. At the end of his biennial term he would enter and form part of theprincipalía, and was entitled to enjoy the honors and preeminence inherent to this state. This "mayor", who was at the same time "justice of the peace" and port captain, was directly responsible to the governor of the province in the exercise of his office.[1]: 410
In 1893, theMaura Law was passed with the aim of making the municipal governments in the Philippine Islands more effective and autonomous. One of the changes that this law brought about was the reorganization of certain structures of town governments, among which was the designation of town head's title, that is,gobernadorcillo, also ascapitan municipal, effective 1895.[2]
Thegobernadorcillo was elected from among the ranks of the principalía by twelve seniorcabezas de barangay. He was theprimus inter pares of thecabezas of a confederation of barangays that made up a municipality. The electors had to choose two candidates who were to compose a list, called "terna". It was a requirement that the respective place of each nominee in theterna be indicated.
The candidates must be able to speak, read, and write theCastilian language. If anyone was elected who did not possess these qualifications, the election would be considered null and void.
The same requirements were demanded in the election of officers of justice in the municipalities.[3]: 327–328
The election of agobernadorcillo was by ballot. It was authorized by a notary and presided over by the provincial chief. The priest of the town may be present if he wishes, to express what opinions he may consider fitting, but for no other purpose. The sealed envelopes containing the election results in provinces near Manila were sent to superior offices of the government in the capital. From theterna, thegovernor-general appointed thegobernadorcillo, taking into consideration the report of the president of the election. In distant territories, the chief of each province appointed the nominee who got the highest vote.[3]: 327–328, 331
Among the local leaders in theSpanish Philippines, the gobernadorcillos and Filipino officials of justice received the greatest consideration from the Spanish crown officials. The colonial officials were under obligation to show them the honor corresponding to their respective duties. They were allowed to be seated in the houses of the Spanish provincial governors, and in any other places. They were not to be left standing. It was not permitted for Spanish parish priests to treat these Filipino nobles with less consideration.[4]: 296–297
On the day on which the gobernadorcillo would take on government duties, his town would hold a grand celebration. The festive banquet was offered in the municipal or city hall where he would occupy a seat, adorned by the coat of arms of Spain and with fanciful designs, if his social footing was of a respectable antiquity.[3]: 331–332 [a]
On holy days the town officials would go to the church, together in one group. The principalía and"cuadrilleros", police patrol or assistance, formed two lines in front of the gobernadorcillo. They were preceded by a band playing the music as they processed towards the church, where the gobernadorcillo occupied a seat in precedence among those of the chiefs orcabezas de barangay, who had benches of honor. After the mass, they would usually go to the parish rectory to pay their respects to theparish priest. Then, they would return to thetribunal (municipal hall or city hall) in the same order, and still accompanied by the band playing a loud double quick march called in Spanish apaso doble.[3]: 332
The gobernadorcillo was always accompanied by analguacil orpolicia (police officer) whenever he went about the streets of his town.[3]: 32
The gobernadorcillos exercised command of the towns. They were port captains in coastal towns.[1]: 410 Their office corresponded to that of thealcaldes and municipal judges of theIberian Peninsula. They simultaneously performed the functions of judges and even of notaries with defined powers.[3]: 329 They also had the rights and powers to elect assistants and several lieutenants andalguaciles, proportionate in number to the inhabitants of the town.[3]: 329
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Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the close of the nineteenth century.
{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the close of the nineteenth century.
{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)