is to be noted that the nominee must be able to speak, read, and write the Spanish language.  If he cannot do that, the election of the one who lacks this express condition will be considered null and void, where such election has been made.  For the other officials of justice, those needed by the town are elected by the same convention.  The balloting must be secret, and is authorized by the notary and presided over by the provincial chief.  The parish priest may be present, if he wishes, to express what opinions he may consider fitting, but for no other purpose.  In sealed envelopes the election returns are sent to the superior governments of the provinces of Tondo, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Zambales, Nueva Ecija, Laguna, Batangas, and Cavite, so that after choosing one of those proposed as gobernadorcillo, the respective government orders the credentials corresponding to each class to be despatched.  In the other provinces, because of their distance from the capital, the chief of each one appoints the nominee in the first place, and making use of the blank credentials entrusted to him by the superior government, writes therein the names of those interested, and places them in possession [of their offices].

The cabezas of barangay can be elected, if they preserve their cabecerias and the collection of tributes, by the rule in the royal decree of October 17, 1785.

The Chinese community may elect from among its Christian individuals, and in a meeting presided over by the alcalde-mayor of Tondo, one man as gobernadorcillo, one as chief deputy, and a third as alguacil-mayor.  The government grants those elected the proper credentials, by virtue of which they exercise jurisdiction.  The officials of justice in this community are called bilangos, and are appointed by the new gobernadorcillo.  The electors are also thirteen in number, and are composed of the outgoing gobernadorcillo, the ex-captains, and the petty chiefs [cabecillas] of the tribute and of champans, both past and present.  When any number is lacking, it is made up from the petty heads of the trades.  At present the collection of tribute or the poll-tax from the Chinese is in direct charge of the alcalde-mayor in the province of Tondo, with a supervisor chosen from among the officials of administration of the royal treasury.  In the other provinces it is attended to in person by the chief of each province.  This levy of taxes is managed by a register, where the Chinese are enrolled and classified, and that register determines the quota of each, who contributes according to his class.

The gobernadorcillos and officials of justice deserve the greatest consideration from the government.  The provincial chiefs are under obligation to show them the honor corresponding to their respective duties.  They are allowed to sit in the houses of the latter, and in any other place, and are not suffered to remain standing.  Neither is it permitted to the parish priests to treat these officials with less consideration.