What are the qualities of a good researcherPatience PersistencePERSPICAPACITY – He or she must have

the patience to plod along through card catalogues. The persistence to continue searching despite discouraging and misleading information and the perspicapacity in recognizing leads which may lead to the mother lode of information being sought

Knowledge of Spanish is a mustThe researcher must have more than adequate

knowledge of Philippine history and Spanish since most of the archival documents are in Spanish

He must have good eyesight to decipher the handwriting of the past and to read faded, ink-corroded pages

He must have sensitive hands to properly handle delicate, brittle insect or time ravaged pages

Must have the humility to ask help from the chief librarian or chief archivist if assistance is needed for the clarification of doubts regarding the document at hand. After all they are there to help

To assist the first time researcher the following procedure is suggested:Consult the partial list of archival holdings to

identify which bundles he would need to request

List the bundle title and numberCheck out the list of card catalogues which

correspond to the bundles identified. The card catalogues contain summaries in Spanish of each file contained in the bundle

Other available finding aids are the following:List of maps, plans and sketchesList of “Hojas de Servicios”List of “Testamentos”Patrocolo or notarial records listed by province

and by yearList of bound volumes of photocopied Spanish

documentsList of sketches, plans, blueprints of public works

(Obras Publicas) of buildings, bridges, etc. Lists of available microfilms

Knowing the Spanish documents It is important to know the structure and

development of the Spanish government in the Philippines

The Colonial Government up to the 1800sThe highest official in the Philippines was the Governor

GeneralRoyal orders were transmitted through the Consejo de

Indias which had legislative, executive and judicial powersThe Governor General was given the supreme power to

legislate on various matter subject to the will of the CrownHe was the Chief of the Army and the Navy with powers

to dispose land and sea forces.He was also chief of Civil administration with the powers

to appoint and remove officials as he pleasedBy rights of ecclesiastical patronage he was a Vice Royal

Patron (1581) with a great influence over ecclesiastical matters

Too much concentration of power led to the establishment of a Royal Audiencia Its function was to check the powers of the

Governor GeneralIt was an advisory body and the sala de real

acuerdo to give advice to the Governor General either on its own initiative or upon consultations on matters pertaining to diezmos prediales (tithes on real estate), tierras realengas or Crown lands, fondos de Agana and others. The operational administration were devolved on the Hacienda Publica

Local governmentsProvinces were administered by the Alcaldes

Mayores in areas that were completely pacified

Military areas were called corrigimientos which were under politico-military governors most of whom were military captains appointed by the Governor General and to him they owed direct responsibility for their conduct in office

The towns were headed by GobernadorcillosThe towns were divided into cabecerias or

barangay undr the leadership of the cabezas de barangay

The gobernadorcillo and the cabeza de barangay were honorary positions which were filled by hereditary succession until the 18th century when elections were introduced a certain fee was imposed on the holders of the offices for the grant of honorary titles

Ayuntamiento de ManilaThe Ayuntamiento de Manila formed the core

of the city government in the early Spanish period

This was composed of the center of action for all public affairs.

It was composed of two alcaldes who exercised the powers of judges of first instance with royal jurisdiction

There were eight aldermen or regidores who were later increased to twelve, a clerk and a chief constable