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| A Sketch of a Gobernadorcillo |
Elections in the Philippines is very colorful, but dirty and expensive. In local level, securing a highest seat is one of the most contested in electoral process. Several techniques and strategies were employed by the candidates to get substantial votes. Unknown to everybody, during Spanish period, the position of gobernadorcillo is a elective position. How a member of principalia was able to secure this position? When the Spanish colonial government was established in the Philippines, the pueblos were organized, one of them in Magalang. Then, the colonial government through the alcalde mayor of provincia introduced this kind of electoral system. By securing gobernadorcillo seat, the candidate must possess the following qualifications; he must possess substantial properties like lands, sugar mills, and livestock; he formerly served as cabeza de barangay or any position in the local government; and he able to write and speak Spanish. The alcalde mayor and his directorcillo (secretary) came to the casa tribunal (municipal hall) to conduct the elections every once a year. The election happened during the first harvest. Then, the alcalde will choose electors from twelve cabezas de barangay and they will choose the future gobernadorcillo through ballot.
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| Ballot used by Don Luis Magdangal |
However, a blessing of a parish priest had the say in the process. If the parish priest gave his blessing to his chosen candidate, that candidate will emerge as winner. After the elections, the directorcillo counts the votes and he will write it on a terna. After the counting was over, the directorcillo will announce the winner and a report will be forwarded to the electors and to the parish priest for attestation. Then, the alcalde will forward the report to the governor general. The newly elected gobernadorcillo will make a courtesy call to the parish priest, and he will assume his duties as the highest chief of the town. Then, the gobernadorcillo will assume the honorific title, capitan. In 1847, a decree was promulgated, given some changes in the electoral process. The electors will composed of six cabezas de barangay, six former gobernadorcillos or former cabezas de barangays who served more than ten years and the outgoing gobernadorcillo. However, the process is still the same, with the foremost blessing of the parish priest to his chosen candidate will emerge as the winner. The process was continued, even the Maura law was passed and implemented. The process of electing gobernadorcillo was ceased, when the Americans occupied Philippines.
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| Results of elecciones in Magalang signed by Don Antonio Graciano, alcalde mayor of Pampanga, Don Abdon Supan, outgoing gobernadorcillo, Fr. Baltasar Gamarra, parish priest and other electors |
Photo Credits:
gobernadorcillo, juanavote2016.wordpress.com
ballot of Don Luis Magdangal, National Archives of the Philippines
Elecciones del pueblo de Magalang, el bieno 1881 a 1883; National Archives of the Philippines
Sources:
Elecciones del pueblo de Magalang año 1843; National Archives of the Philippines
Elecciones del Pueblo de Magalang el bienio 1887 a 1889, National Archives of the Philippines