The Local Government

Provinces that were fully conquered and pacified were called alcadias
These provinces were put under the control of the alcalde-mayor.
The alcalde-mayor implemented the laws in his province.


Provinces that were not yet pacified were called corregimientos.
These provinces were put under the care of corregidores.

The provinces were divided into towns or pueblos. The gobernadorcillo was the head of the town. This position could be occupied by former datus or cabezas de barangay. This was the highest position in the government that a native occupy. The rest of the higher positions were given only to Spaniards.
The main duty of the gobernadorcillo was to collect tax, especially from the ports.

Each pueblo further subdivided into smaller communities called barrio or barangay. Each barangay was headed by the cabeza. More often than not, a former datu or a prominent native assumed this government position. The cabeza de barangay aided the gobernadorcillo in collecting taxes. The baranay, up to now, is still the smallest political unit in the Philippines.

Most of the former datus became ordinary members of the community. Those who found favor from the Spaniards maintained good standing in the community. They were given important positions such as local registrars, assistant of Spanish officials and friars, and guardias civil.