HISTORY OF THE BARANGAY

Long before the Spanish “Conquistadores” set foot on the shores of the Philippine Islands and the establishment of Spanish Colonialism, our islands were composed of many settlements and villages each referred to as “Barangays”. Each Barangay was a community of more or less 50 to 100 families and has its linguistic roots in the Malayan word “Balangay” which means “boat”. Balangay supports contemporary theories on the origins of the Philippine people, that being, each original coastal Barangay formed as a result of a single or a group of colonist boat(s) arrival from another place of Malayan origin.

Each Barangay unit was ruled by a tribal chief called a Datu. In other areas, Barangay chiefs were called as Hadji, Sultan or Rajah, this usually being determined by the cultural origin of the Barangay unit, or the religious conversion of its people. Each chief carried the complete governmental authority on his shoulders and was responsible as law giver, judge, military head and chief executive. The chief was always assisted by a council of elders known as “Maginoos”. Datu selection was made by inheritance of title, wisdom based on experience and previous action record, wealth or combat ability.

Unwritten laws consisting of traditions and customs that were passed from generation to generation held great respect and widespread adherence. Even to this day the adherence to tradition can be plainly seen amongst the Filipino people.

There are two well known pre-Spanish written law codes, the first being the “Maragtas Code”, often reported to have been written in approximately 1250 A.D. by Datu Sumakwel of Panay. The second often reported to have been written approximately 1433 A.D. by Datu Kalantiaw, also of Panay.

The Blood Compact of March 1565 between Legaspi and Sikatuna formalized the autonomous nationality of Islas Filipinas. Four years later, King Philip II issued a royal decree creating the office of the Governor General. Since then the Spaniards established a highly centralized form of government with a more complex system of local government administration.

Groups of Barangays were consolidated into “Pueblos” or towns and placed under the administration of a Gobernadorcillo, pueblos in turn were grouped into provinces and placed under the supervision of the Alcalde Mayor. The Barangays which existed before Magellan discovered the Philippines were, however, allowed to continue its political functions but with limited powers for its rulers.
In 1609, Antonio de Morga reported in his Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas that the Governor-General appointed many local officials throughout the islands to carry on the reins of government and justice, and for military matters. The “Encomienda System” was also introduced to reward deserving persons, to receive and enjoy for themselves the tributes of the natives assigned to them. The “Encomienderos” were, in turn, in charge of providing security and temporal matters of defending the areas where the Encomienda should be granted.

The Cabeza de Barangay, head of each barrio or local unit, were afforded special political privileges throughout the more than 300 years of Spanish rule. According to Governor Raon’s “Ordinances of Good Government” promulgated in 1768, the Gobernadorcillo would be elected in the beginning of each year by the outgoing Gobernadorcillo and 12 senior Cabezas de Barangay.

This provision was carried over in the Royal Decree of October 5, 1847 otherwise called the Municipal Election Law and slightly modified under the Maura Law of 1893 where the members of the Municipal Tribunal, constituted by the town executive and four Tenientes, were chosen by 12 electors, six of which were former Cabezas de Barangay.