LESSON NO. 8: THE CHURCH DURING THE SPANISH PERIOD
The Parish Priest
• On the local level, a friar endorsed the candidates running for office.
• Approves who should be admitted to higher educational institutions in the Philippines.
• He was the guardian of morals in the community – the Chief censor
• Keeps record of the people living in his community
• As a leading member, he is invited to important gatherings and social events and he always
occupies places of honor.
The Archbishop of Manila
• The highest church official in the Philippines.
• Most powerful religious official in the colony
• He has a strong influence in the government, like his local counterpart in the parishes, and the
nation as a whole.
• He can influence the decision of the governor-general
• He can cause the removal of a governor-general if he opposes the will of the church
• Famous Confrontations between the Church Officials and the Government
ARCHBISHOP OF MANILA GOVERNOR GENERAL ISSUES RESULT
Arch. Hernando Guerrero Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera Right of sanctuary for fugitives
who sought asylum in churches. Corcuera was punished and imprisoned at the end of his
term
Arch. Fernando dela Cuesta Fernando Bustamante Immunity from crimes and sanctuary
Bustamante was eventually murdered by a mob led by churchmen on October 11, 1719.
FAMOUS “BAD” GOVERNOR GENERALS ACCORDING THE CHURCH
Many governor generals were labeled bad by the Church either because they clashed with the
Archbishop of Manila or were slow to comply with their wishes.
, - Simon de Anda - Emilio Terrero
- Jose dela Gandara - Ramon Blanco
- Carlos Ma. Dela Torre
a. Gov. Gen. Simon de Anda. He replaced the friar curates with secular as soon as they resigned
or died earning the condemnation from the Regulars and was not forgiven by them.
b. Gov. Gen. Jose dela Gandara. He was accused by the Church of favoring the liberals.
c. Gov. Gen. Carlos Ma. Dela Torre. Also accused of consorting with the liberals and the
emerging Filipino middle class during his time.
d. Gov. Gen. Emilio Terrero. He was disliked by the Church for not acting on Rizal’s Noli Me
Tangere and for ordering the investigation of the Dominicans regarding their hacienda income.
e. Gov. Gen. Ramon Blanco. He dismissed the friars as alarmists and for not acting on the issue
of suspected existence of Katipuneros in 1896 as well as for not executing Rizal.
FAMOUS “GOOD” GOVERNOR GENERALS ACCORDING THE CHURCH
- Rafael de Izquierdo
- Eulogio Despujol
- Camilo de Polavieja
They are the governor generals that are repressive to the Filipinos.
a. Gov. Gen. Rafael de Izquierdo. He was the governor general who ordered the execution of
the three leaders of secularization movement (the GOMBURZA) in 1872.
b. Gov. Gen. Eulogio Despujol. The governor general who ensured that Rizal will not be able
to leave the Philippines after his arrival in 1892 and subsequently ordered Rizal to be exiled
in Dapitan.
c. Gov. Gen. Camilo de Polavieja. Known for his repressive measures against the masons and
Katipunan suspects; he also signed the death warrant of Jose Rizal.
ARCHBISHOPS OF MANILA AS ACTING GOVERNOR GENERAL OF THE PHILIPPINES
On average, governor generals assigned in the Philippines served for 2 years as opposed to the
position of the archbishop who can stay in his post indefinitely. Of the 96 recorded governor generals
assigned in the Philippine Islands, four of them are Archbishops of Manila. The position of the Church
in the Philippines was further strengthened when Queen Isabella II issued a decree making the Rector
of the University of Santo Tomas the supervisor of all higher education in the Philippines – this means
that all higher academic certificates and titles will be issued by UST.
Archbishops of Manila as Acting Governor General of the Philippines
Old Coat-of-Arms of the Archdiocese of Manila used until 1949
Coats-of-Arms of the Captaincy General of the Philippines
a) Arch. Francisco dela Cuesta (October 11, 1719- August 6, 1721)
b) Arch. Juan Arrechederra (September 21, 1745- July 20, 1750)
c) Bishop Miguel Lino de Ezpeleta (June 1759 –May 31, 1761)
d.Arch. Manuel Rojo del Rio y Vieyra (June 1761 – October 6, 1762)
Archbishops of Manila as Acting Governor
GENERAL OF THE PHILIPPINES
The Parish Priest
• On the local level, a friar endorsed the candidates running for office.
• Approves who should be admitted to higher educational institutions in the Philippines.
• He was the guardian of morals in the community – the Chief censor
• Keeps record of the people living in his community
• As a leading member, he is invited to important gatherings and social events and he always
occupies places of honor.
The Archbishop of Manila
• The highest church official in the Philippines.
• Most powerful religious official in the colony
• He has a strong influence in the government, like his local counterpart in the parishes, and the
nation as a whole.
• He can influence the decision of the governor-general
• He can cause the removal of a governor-general if he opposes the will of the church
• Famous Confrontations between the Church Officials and the Government
ARCHBISHOP OF MANILA GOVERNOR GENERAL ISSUES RESULT
Arch. Hernando Guerrero Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera Right of sanctuary for fugitives
who sought asylum in churches. Corcuera was punished and imprisoned at the end of his
term
Arch. Fernando dela Cuesta Fernando Bustamante Immunity from crimes and sanctuary
Bustamante was eventually murdered by a mob led by churchmen on October 11, 1719.
FAMOUS “BAD” GOVERNOR GENERALS ACCORDING THE CHURCH
Many governor generals were labeled bad by the Church either because they clashed with the
Archbishop of Manila or were slow to comply with their wishes.
, - Simon de Anda - Emilio Terrero
- Jose dela Gandara - Ramon Blanco
- Carlos Ma. Dela Torre
a. Gov. Gen. Simon de Anda. He replaced the friar curates with secular as soon as they resigned
or died earning the condemnation from the Regulars and was not forgiven by them.
b. Gov. Gen. Jose dela Gandara. He was accused by the Church of favoring the liberals.
c. Gov. Gen. Carlos Ma. Dela Torre. Also accused of consorting with the liberals and the
emerging Filipino middle class during his time.
d. Gov. Gen. Emilio Terrero. He was disliked by the Church for not acting on Rizal’s Noli Me
Tangere and for ordering the investigation of the Dominicans regarding their hacienda income.
e. Gov. Gen. Ramon Blanco. He dismissed the friars as alarmists and for not acting on the issue
of suspected existence of Katipuneros in 1896 as well as for not executing Rizal.
FAMOUS “GOOD” GOVERNOR GENERALS ACCORDING THE CHURCH
- Rafael de Izquierdo
- Eulogio Despujol
- Camilo de Polavieja
They are the governor generals that are repressive to the Filipinos.
a. Gov. Gen. Rafael de Izquierdo. He was the governor general who ordered the execution of
the three leaders of secularization movement (the GOMBURZA) in 1872.
b. Gov. Gen. Eulogio Despujol. The governor general who ensured that Rizal will not be able
to leave the Philippines after his arrival in 1892 and subsequently ordered Rizal to be exiled
in Dapitan.
c. Gov. Gen. Camilo de Polavieja. Known for his repressive measures against the masons and
Katipunan suspects; he also signed the death warrant of Jose Rizal.
ARCHBISHOPS OF MANILA AS ACTING GOVERNOR GENERAL OF THE PHILIPPINES
On average, governor generals assigned in the Philippines served for 2 years as opposed to the
position of the archbishop who can stay in his post indefinitely. Of the 96 recorded governor generals
assigned in the Philippine Islands, four of them are Archbishops of Manila. The position of the Church
in the Philippines was further strengthened when Queen Isabella II issued a decree making the Rector
of the University of Santo Tomas the supervisor of all higher education in the Philippines – this means
that all higher academic certificates and titles will be issued by UST.
Archbishops of Manila as Acting Governor General of the Philippines
Old Coat-of-Arms of the Archdiocese of Manila used until 1949
Coats-of-Arms of the Captaincy General of the Philippines
a) Arch. Francisco dela Cuesta (October 11, 1719- August 6, 1721)
b) Arch. Juan Arrechederra (September 21, 1745- July 20, 1750)
c) Bishop Miguel Lino de Ezpeleta (June 1759 –May 31, 1761)
d.Arch. Manuel Rojo del Rio y Vieyra (June 1761 – October 6, 1762)
Archbishops of Manila as Acting Governor
GENERAL OF THE PHILIPPINES
