Description and Definition
The Principalía was the ruling class in the municipalities of Spanish Philippines composed of the Gobernadorcillo or the Municipal Captain who presided over it, the First Lieutenant, the former Municipal Captains or ex-Gobernadorcillos, the municipal judges, the newly formed cabezas de baranggay (cabezas reformados), and the awardees of the medal of Civil Merit. Upon the change of regimes, from monarchy under Spain to democracy under the Americans, the Principalía and their descendants lost their traditional and legal powers and privileges. [Cf. Principalía in Encyclopedia Universal Ilustrada Europeo-Americana, Espasa-Calpe, S.A.: Madrid 1991, Vol. XLVII, p. 410.]
The Principalía was the privileged upper class exempted from forced labor during the colonial regime. It was the town’s aristocracy. Only the members of the Principalía could be addressed by the title DON, and only they were allowed to vote. The working class was then called cailianes. For most part, the social privileges of the Principales were freely acknowledged as befitting their greater social responsibilities. And these responsibilities were great. It was from their ranks that the elective municipal offices were filled- offices which carried more burdens than emoluments. The Gobernadorcillo that time, for example, received a very nominal salary and received no public funds for public services he was expected to maintain, like the post office, jail house, construction and repair services of public infrastructure and buildings. So, he has to be a man of means and wealth. [Cf. H. de la Costa, S. J., Reading in Philippine History, Manila 1973, pp. 182-183. Also cf. Gregorio F. Elizalde, Pageant of Philippine History, Vol. I, p. 294.]
Portrait of a Gobernadorcillo during the Spanish Regime in the Philippines. [[1]]
![[1]](http://aringaseo.web.aplus.net/pupuplatter/album_gobernadorcillo_de_mestizos.jpg){kind=link}
History and Evolution of this Social Class
From the beginning of the colonial regime the Spaniards built on traditional local organization by co-opting the traditional local leaders who were the native nobles, thereby ruling indirectly. In a law signed on 11 June 1594 Philip II ordered that the honor and privilege to rule pertaining to this native Filipino nobles should be retained and protected. He also ordered the Spanish governors in the islands to show these native nobles good treatment, and even ordered the natives to pay respect and tribute due to these nobles as they did before the conquest without prejudice to the things that pertain to King himself or to the encomenderos. The royal decree says: “It is not right that the Indian chiefs of Filipinas be in a worse condition after conversion; rather they should have such treatment that would gain their affection and keep them loyal, so that with the spiritual blessings that God has communicated to them by calling them to His true knowledge, the temporal blessings may be added, and they may live contentedly and comfortably. Therefore, we order the governors of those islands to show them good treatment and entrust them, in our name, with the government of the Indians, of whom they were formerly lords. In all else the governors shall see that the chiefs are benefited justly, and the Indians shall pay them something as a recognition, as they did during the period of their paganism, provided it be without prejudice to the tributes that are to be paid us, or prejudicial to that which pertains to their encomenderos.” [Felipe II, Ley de Junio 11, 1594 in Recapilación de leyes, lib. vi, tit. VII, ley xvi. Also cf. Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson, The Philippine Islands (1493-1898), Cleveland: The A.H. Clark Company, 1903, Vol. XVI, pp. 155-156.]
The system of indirect rule helped create in rural areas a Filipino upper class, referred to later as the Principalía or the Principales (principal ones). This group had local wealth, high status and prestige, and certain privileges, such as exemption from taxes, lesser roles in the parish church, and appointment to local offices. The Principalía was larger and more influential than the pre-conquest nobility. It created and perpetuated an oligarchic system of local control. [Cf. Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson, The Philippine Islands (1493-1898), Cleveland: The A.H. Clark Company, 1903, Vol. XVII, p. 331; Vol. XL, p. 218.]
Links
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-23714/Philippines#387377.hook
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janiuay,_Iloilo http://www.lapulapucity.gov.ph/the_people.htm#principalia