Spanish Cortés, off limits

Gemma Cruz Araneta The first electoral law of the Spanish empire, contained in the Decree of 29 January 1810, called for representatives from Las Islas Filipinas, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Chile, Venezuela, in short, from all of Spain’s colonies in America and Asia to join the Cortés, that is, the Spanish parliament. The Philippine representative was Don Ventura de los Reyes who together with other delegates signed the hallmark Cadiz Constitution of 1812. In the 1812 Cadiz constitution, the colonies of Spain were given the status of provinces, these were no longer overseas possession but were considered integral parts of the Kingdom of Spain where all its peninsular laws applied