The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803/Volume 3/Foundation of the city

←

The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803
edited by Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson

Foundation of the city

→

3902343The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 — Foundation of the cityEmma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson

FOUNDATION OF THE CITY OF MANILA

I, Hernando Riquel, notary-in-chief and governmental notary for his Majesty in these islands of the West, do hereby certify most solemnly, to whomsoever shall see this present, that the most illustrious Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, governor and captain-general in these said islands, gave the title of city to this colony of Manila, on the third day of the month of June of the past year, seventy-one; and on the twenty-fourth day of the same month and year, which was St. John's day, he appointed two alcaldes in ordinary, one alguacil-mayor, and twelve regidores; and on the day following he appointed one notary for the cabildo and two notaries public for the court of the said alcaldes,^[1] as is set forth in greater detail, and appears by the list of the said appointments, which are in my possession. Therefore, that this might be manifest, I have been ordered by the aforesaid governor to draw up the present document; which is done in the said city of Manilla, on the nineteenth day of the month of June, in the year one thousand five hundred and seventy-two.

Fernando Riquel

[Endorsed: "June 19, 1572. Copy of the [notarial record of the] bestowal on Manilla of the title of city, and the establishment of alcaldes and regidores." And, in another hand: "For the first article of the 7th, consult the viceroy."]

↑ This municipal organization may be thus defined: The cabildo was the municipal official corporation—nearly the same as the American city council; the regidores were members of it. The alguazil was an official who executed the orders given by the cabildo, or by the alcaldes (judges). Regarding this subject, see Historical Introduction, vol. i, p. 56; also Dic.-Encicl. Hisp.-Amer, art: Cabildo, Alcalde, etc.

Layout 2

[1] This municipal organization may be thus defined: The cabildo was the municipal official corporation—nearly the same as the American city council; the regidores were members of it. The alguazil was an official who executed the orders given by the cabildo, or by the alcaldes (judges). Regarding this subject, see Historical Introduction, vol. i, p. 56; also Dic.-Encicl. Hisp.-Amer, art: Cabildo, Alcalde, etc.

[1]