Subject Code: GE 2 Subject Title: Readings in Philippine History

Topic:
Chapter 1: The country, first inhabitants, resources, ancient relations with other countries
Chapter 2: Ancient Filipino civilization
Chapter 3: The discovery and the conquest by sword and cross the rediscovery
Chapter 4: The Spanish colonial system and relation with another foreigner
Chapter 5: The cross versus the crescent and Filipino revolts against Spain

PRELIM

Chapter 1: The country, first inhabitants, resources, ancient relations with other countries

The history of any nation is determined to a large extent by two basic factors namely:
1. land
2. people
To understand, therefore, it is necessary to know the geographical foundations like area, location,
soil and natural resources of the Philippines and the lineage and character of the Filipino people.

The Country

Origin of the name

Since ancient times the Philippines has been known by many names referred by the
Chinese trader like:
Ma-i- Land of Barbarians
Chin-San- Mountain of Gold
Lie-Sung- Land Adjacent to Mainland

While from the Spaniards, the first name that was given by Magellan in 1521 was
Archipelago de San Lazaro. In subsequent times, other Spanish names arose such as Manilas, Islas
del Poniente, Archipelago de Magallanes, Archipelago de Legazpi and Islas de Luzunes. It was
Villalobos the Spanish navigator who in the year 1543 named this country the “Philippines” from
“Las Islas Filipinas” in honor of Prince Philip of Asturias, who became Philip II of Spain.

Location and area

The Philippines appears like a broken rosary made up of Islands and forming in physical
geography a part of the Malay Archipelago. Situated about 1,210 km (750mi) east of the coast of
Vietnam separated from Taiwan on the north by the Bashi Channel. The republic is bounded on
the east by Philippine sea, on the south by Celebes Sea, and on the west by the South China Sea. It
comprises about 7,100 islands, of which only about 460 are more than 2.6 sq. km (1 sq. mi) in
area. Eleven islands have an area of more than 2,590 sq km (1,000 sq mi) each and contain the
majority of the population. These islands are Bohol, Cebu, Leyte, Luzon, Masbate, Mindanao,
Mindoro, Negros, Palawan, Panay, and Samar. The total area of the Philippines is about 300, 000
sq. km (116,000). Manila is the capital and largest city of the Philippines.
Physical Features
The Philippines is rugged land of towering hills and rolling valleys. The highest peak is Mt. Apo
with 9,690 feet high in Mindanao. Many mountains and plains are found in this archipelago and
Sierra Madre, which extends along the Pacific cost of Luzon from Cagayan in the north to Sorsogon
in the south is the longest mountain range while the largest plain is the Central Plain of Luzon
which is the ‘rice granary of the Philippines’. The mountains from a backbone and are the principal
topographical feature like in Luzon, Mindanao and northern Luzon has more diversified topography
with broad plains and level, fertile valleys in the interior. The valley of the River Cagayan in
northern Luzon is a plain about 80 km (50 mi) wide, surrounded by the mountains of the Sierra
Madre on the east, the Cordillera Central on the west, and the Caraballo Mountains on the south.
To the south of the Carballo Mountains is the Central Plain, which extends from Lingayen Gulf to
Manila Bay, and the Laguna de Bay, the largest lake of Luzon. The plain is drained by the River by
the River Agno in the north and by the River Pampanga in the south. On the southwestern coast
are the Zambales Mountains. Luzon has a narrow, mountainous extension to the southeast called
the Bicol Peninsula. In Mindanao, the largest island of the Philippines after Luzon, the Diwata
Mountains border the Pacific coast, and west of them lies the valley of the Agusan River. In
southwestern Mindanao is large lowland area, the valley of Mindanao.

Philippines contains many navigable rivers and lakes, which facilitate transportation and
communication. Cagayan River in Luzon known as the longest river while Laguna de Bay is the
largest lake. In addition, the lowest place is the Philippine deep, an ocean depth off the coast of
Mindanao; it is in fact, the deepest part of the world. The Philippine coastline is irregular, longer
than that of the United States and is dotted with innumerable harbors, bays and gulf, Manila Bay
with rocky Corregidor standing guard at its entrance is considered as the finest harbor in the Far
East. Other larges navigable rivers traverse the principal islands of the Philippines including Chico,
Abra, Pampanga, and Bicol. The Rio Grande de Mindanao (known in its upper course as the
Pulangi) and the Agusan are the principal rivers Mindanao.

Luckily, this country is endowed with fertile soil that is capable in producing abundant crops in
fact it is considered as the richest lands on earth. Though, its climate is warm but considered as
the most healthful tropical climate in the world has a means annual temperature of about 27C (80
F). It contains two distinct seasons-the dry and the wet. The wet season is from July to October
and the dry season is from March to June but the intervening months is from November to
February neither too dry nor too wet. This country holds the record for the world’s heaviest 24-
hour rainfall-46.7 inches. Rainfall averages about 2,030 mm (80 in) a year in the lowlands. In most
of the Philippine Islands the rainy season occurs during the summer monsoon, from //may to
November, when the wind blows from the south-west; the dry season occurs during the winter
monsoon, from December to April, when the wind blows from the north-east. From June to October
the Philippine Islands are sometimes struck by typhoons, which occasionally cause great damage.

First Inhabitants

Theoretically, the first humans in the Philippines Islands are thought to have come from CHINA
and the MALAYAN Archipelago some 250,000 years ago, during the Ice Age, but few remains from
that time have been discovered. Afterwards, other peoples migrated to the islands; the aboriginal
people are the Pygmies or NEGRITOS also called Aetas, Atis or Itas. It is said that they originally
came from Central Asia having march about 250,000 years ago across the land bridges which one
connected our land with Asia. After their arrival in the archipelago, the land bridges became
submerge. Thus, the pygmies became the first inhabitants of this country. They are dwarfed
people, generally under five feet high, with dark skin, black kinky hair, small flat noses, thick lips
and well-shaped bodies. They have primitive culture. They wear scanty clothing mostly leaves and
trees bark. They have no fixed home and wander place to place. They have no government, no
system of writing, no arts and no sciences. They lived by fishing and hunting using bows and
arrows in which they are very skillful. A MONGOLOID people from southeastern Asia followed
about 10,000 years later. All are thought to have reached the islands across a land bridge that no
longer exist. larger groups of people from the regions of present-day China and Vietnam arrived
from about 7000 BC to 2000 BC. The largest migrations to the islands, however , probably
occurred after the 3rd century BC. The last arrivals were people from the MALAY Peninsula and the
INDONESIAN archipelago. These migrants brought with them their iron tools and technology that
included glassmaking and tie-and-dye weaving.

Next is the Indonesians about 5000 years ago. They came in boats, being the first sea-immigrants
to reach the Philippine shores. It is believed by ethnologist that they were descendants of the
Mongolian race with Caucasian affinities. There were Indonesian immigration. The first wave was of
slender physique and had a light complexion. Those who came in the second wave were of bulky
physique and had dark complexion, thick lips, large nose, and heavy jaws. Such difference in racial
features explained by the fact that the later Indonesians had mingled with the black people of
Micronesia prior to the coming of the shores. The culture of the Indonesian immigrants was more
advanced than that of the Pygmies. The Indonesians lived by hunting, fishing and crude
agriculture. Their weapons consisted of vows and arrows, knives and blowguns. They had one
favorite domestic animal-dog. They lived in organized settlement and wore cloths. They tattooed
their bodies, chewed betels nuts, cooked food in bamboo tubes and built a fire by rubbing together
two pieces of dry sticks.

The MALAYS was the third Asian people to settle the Philippines. Like the Indonesians, they came
from southeastern Asia and reached our shore by means of boat. There were three waves of Malay
immigration who were to become later the Rigorous, Bontoks and Tinggians ; the second wave, who
came between 100AD and 1300 were alphabet-using Malays such as Bisayans , Tagalogs ,
Ilokanos, etc; and the third wave , who came between 1300 and 1500, were the Mohammedan
Malays or Moros.

The Malay belongs to the brown races. They were of medium height with brown complexion straight
black hair, dark-brown eyes, flat nose and well-built physique. They were more advanced than the
Negritos and the Indonesians in culture. They wore textile clothes and jewels; lived in houses and
villages; had government, laws, systems of writing, arts and sciences; and had a civilization which
was influenced by the ancient civilizations of Malaysia, India, China, and Arabia. Their armaments
consisted of Kris and bolos, spears, and rattan-and-hide armor, bows, arrows, and bronze artillery.
Their forts are called Kutas and they used war-boats for naval warfare.

Purchase of Panay
Malayan colonization of the Philippines is a vague chapter in the Philippine history, owing the
scarcity of ancient records. A fragmentary account of it can be reproduced from the story of the
purchase of Panay from the Bornean datus about the middle of the 13th century. This story is
fortunately recorded in the old Bisayan chronicle called “Maragtas” and is preserved as Bisayan
traditions.
the resources

Plants and Animals

About 37 per cent of the Philippines is covered by forest or woodland Among the trees are the
banyan many varsities of palm trees yielding nubber. and many indigenous trees with extremely
hard wood such as apitong, yacal, lauan, camagón, ipil, white and red nama, and mayaps
Bamboo and cinnamon, dove and pepper plants grow wild, as do numerous species of orchid has
the richest collection of orchids in Asia Have approximately 10,000 species of flowering plants and
ferns Most popular among our flowers is the scented, onow-white Sampaguita, the national flower
One of the most valuable indigenous plants is the abaca, or Manila hemp, a plantain, the fiber of
which is used in making cordage, textiles and hats. Mangrove trees and nipa palms grow in coastal
swamps, and considerable areas of the uplands are covered by coarse grasses of little value for
cattle. Except for rodents comparatively few varieties of mammals are found in the Islands. The
most important are the domesticated water buffalo called the carabao, the farmer’s friend.
Several species of deer, wild and domesticated pigs, the mongoose, and a variety of humped cattle
Reptiles are numerous, and the islands contain about 750 species of birds, including colorful
parrots.
The three famous Philippine animals are mouse-deer of Palawan, reputed to be the smallest deer
in the world, The Tamaraw of Mindoro, a peculiar name which looks like a small Carabao,
tarsiers of Bohol, the smallest monkey on earth. We have 750 species of the bids exceeding the
number of those in Australia, China or Japan Coastal waters teem with marine fauna particularly
mollusks for which the Philippines are noted. Pead oysters are abundant around the Sulu
Archipelago, in the extreme south-west, and Sulu pearls are famous.

Mineral and Forest Wealth

The Philippines are richly endowed with mineral and forest resources Both metallic and non-
metallic minerals are found in large quantities in as well as the richest gold producing region in
the Southeast Asia and the third-ranking producer of chromites in the world. As the title island of
Nonoc, off the of Surigao has been discovered the world’s largest deposit of nickel. Other minerals
are silver manganese, chromites, copper all iron, coal lead, marble and mineral waters

More than I of our total land area is covered with forest with 3000 species of trees including the
Narra, our national tree Lumbering in one of our major industries compared with other great
lumber-producing countries of the world. The Philippines ranks first regard to the ratio of forests to
the tonal land area and sixth in forest extent About 27 per cent of the land of the Philippines is
considerable. In the northern islands the solis are chiefly of volcanic origin coral limestones an
important consent of the sails in the southern islands. In general, the soils of the archipelago are of
poor quality.
The mining industry is an important aspect of the economy of the Philippines Leading products
include gold (40 tones in 2002), silver (9 tones) copper (18,364 tones), coal (1.35 million tanes)
nickel (9.900 tones in 1994), and sat (492,100 tones in 1994)

Fisheries and Marine Wealth

Practically every stream, lake bay and sea bounds with fish: We have about 2.000 species of fish.
Of all edible fish, lapulapu is the most liked because of its delicious flavor. The smallest fish in the
world is found in Manila Bay near the mouth of Malabon River called Pandaca Pygmaea. It is
smaller than tablus, which is found in Lake Buhi, Camarines Sur. Our marine wealth includes
pearls, sponges, shells, snails, turtles and edible seaweeds. Philippines have 10,000 of the 60.000
known species of shells in the world The rarest and most valuable shell in the world called "Glory of
the Sea" ifs found in our country. Beneath our southern seas are found many rich pearl-beds. The
world's largest peart called the “Dowell Pear” was fished out of Palawan waters.

Wonders of the world

God endows Philippines with natural wonders, which arouse the admiration of world tourists. In
northern Luzon are the centuries old terraces of the Ifugaos It is said that if these terraces were
placed end to end, they would extend half way around the world. In the province of Albay can be
seen the beautiful Mount Mayon. It is one of the famous volcanoes in the world because of its
perfect cone.
Another world-famed volcano in our country is Taal Volcano in Batangas, which is reputed to be
the smallest volcano known to man Other natural wonders in our country are the Manila Bay
mural, the Pagsanjan falls in Laguna, the Maria Cristina Falls in Mindano the crystal caves in
Baguio the Hundred Islands of Lingayen gulf and the Underground River of Palawan.

Very little known about the Pre-Spanish history in the Philippines because of the scarcity of
ancient records and thus would unfortunately served obscured about the mats of antiquity.
Generally, the fragmentary knowledge of the past is a result of long years of arduous research
made by scholars who patiently reconstructed the ancient history from facts obtained from the old
of neighboring Oriental countries, the few archeological relics of our ancestors and the existing old
traditions and customs.

By the 5th century AD new Filipino civilization had emerged from the mixture of cultures Traders
from on far away as India became frequent viators to the islands. Several primary Industries-
mining, metallurgy, and forestry-came into being and gold and coins were introduced India of
exchange. By the 12th century, the powerful Sunstra-based Kingdom of Sri Vijaya had to extended
its considerable influence to the Philippines Starting in the 13th century, Islam wad through the
southern parts of the archipelago and became firmly established there. The Chinese Ming dynasty
maintained tributary commercial and diplomatic relations with the islands throughout the 15th
century.

India
Centuries before the Christian era, India was a land of powerful kingdoms, teeming cites and great
cultural achievements. One of her kingdoms was the Pallava Kingdom, which became the
dominating power in South India and expanded overseas to the Malay Peninsula Cambodia, Java
Sumatra and other East Indian lands. The colonies established in these islands were India’s
political and cultural outpost in Malaysia in the 18th century AD the Pallava dynasty fell because
of the onslaughts of rival dynasties. Out of the former Pallava colonies in Malaysia arose various
independent Malayan states notably the Sri-Vishaya and Magjapahit Empires. Through these two
empires India's cultural influences streamed toward our shores. The Indian cultural influences at
reached our shore during the days of the Sri-Vishaya and Madjapahit empires profoundly affected
Filipino life. About 5% of the Filipino blood is said to be Indian. Owing to the racial affinity, we
inherited the Indian stoical outlook in file, indifference to pain and dignity of bearing. Our ancient
religion bore impress of India. The term Bathala originated from the Sanskrit Bhattara Guru
meaning the night of the gods The Lanao epic Darangan is the longest epic in pre-Spanish Filipino
literature is basically Indian in plot and characterization The Agusan legend about a man named
Manubo Ango who was turned into stone resembles the story of Ahalya in the Hindu epic
Ramayana.The tale of the Ifugao god Balituk who was said to have drawn water from a rock with
his arrow a similar to Arjunas adventure in Mahabharata, another Hindu epic.

Many Filipinos superstitious beliefs came from India such as a comet passages war or calamity
pregnant woman who eats twin bananas will give birth to twins, and a girl who sings before a
stove while cooking will marry an old dower. The sarong (skirt) and putong (turban) of the ancient
Filipinos and the tight-fitting trousers and embroidered shawls of the present-day Moros are of in
Indian origin. According to our scholars, the ancient Filipino writing originated in India. About
25% of the worths in the Tagalog language are Sanskrit terms. Among them are dala (fish net)
asawa (spouse), diwa (thought) puri (honor), lakambini (princess) lakan (noble) and wika
(language)
China

Sino-Philippine relations antedated Spain's advent in the orient. In 982 AD some Filipino traders
visited canton. Trade relations flourished between China and the Philippines before the arrival of
Magellan. Two Chinese writers, Chao Jo-Kua (1209-14) and Wang Ta-yuan (1349) described this
early Sino Philippine commerce. Not only Chinese traders but also Chinese Immigrants to our
shores in ancient times. In 1571 the Spaniards found 150 Chinese residents in Manila.

It is believed that China exercise nominal rule over the Philippines during pre-Spanish times.
According to the Ming-shih, the Filipinos pay tribute to China from 1372 to 1421. A Sulu
chieftain, member of a tribute embassy died in China in 1416 and was accorded royal burial by
Emperor Yung-lo. A Chinese tribute collector, Pun Tao Kong was born in 1403. Died and was
burned near Jolo. His tomb is preserved to the present day.

China's cultural influences that early Filipinos learned the use of porcelain, umbrellas, gongs,
silver, and other commercial metals, the manufacture of gunpowder, and the art of metallurgy The
loose style of early Filipino clothing, the sleeve jackets and louse trousers of the Moro women, the
use of slippers and the so-called camisa de chino reveal Chinese influences Some Filipino games
notably kite flying and sungka. Also some Filipino customs, past and present are Chinese in origin
Among them are the arrangement of marriages by the parents of children, the practice of having a
go-between in marital negotiations, the employment of professional mourners during funerals, the
veneration of ancestors and the filial respect accorded to parents and elders. Intermarriages
between Filipinos and Chinese improved the Filipino racial stocks. Consequently, our people have
acquired the sterling qualities of the Chinese such as love family, frugality, patience, humility and
forbearance.

Many Chinese words have enriched our language such as sangko (oldest brother), pansit
(noodles), pingga (potters pole), tingkhoy (oil lamp) and susi (key).

Japan

In the 13th century trade was already established between Luzon and Kyushu. Filipino merchants
made trips to Japan and Japanese traders voyaged to the Philippines. Japanese immigrants settled
in Cagayan, the Lingayen Gulf area and in Manila. The town of Agoo, anciently located on the shore
of Lingayen Gulf was an entrepot of Philippine-Japan commerce hence, the Spaniards called it
"Port of Japan".

From the Japanese cultural influences, early Filipinos learned various Industries Including the
manufacture of weapons and tools, the tanning of deerskins and artificial breeding of ducks and
fish. The last named industry was Japan's greatest industrial legacy to pre-Spanish Filipinos So
advanced were its methods that the Spaniards were astonished and admitted their superiority to
the pisciculture methods then prevailing in Europe Japan also invigorated the Filipino racial
stock. Descendants of Filipino-Japanese marriages have proved to be enterprising, industrious
and daring.

Arabia

History shows that after the death of Mohammed, Arab conquerors and missionaries carried the
torch of Islam westward to the orient. By 1276, Islam was rooted in Malacca, which became the
seat of the Mohammedans Malay Empire, following Madjapahits downfall. It reached the
Philippines was Mukdum, an Arab teacher from Mecca. He landed in Sulu in 1350. Other
Mohammedan leaders followed him such as Rajah Agenda who arrived in Sulu in 1390 from
Sumatra and introduced the first firearms in the Philippines, Abu Bakr, who riches Sulu in 1450
from Johore, married Baginda's daughter and became the first Sultan of Jolo, and Sarip
Kabungsuwan who landed in Cotabato in 1475 from Johore-and became the first sultan of
Mindanao

Arabia's cultural influences to the Filipinos still living religion in Mindanao and Sulu. With this
religion came, a new form of government- the sultanate, a new alphabet-the Arabic script; the
Moorish arts and sciences, and the use of firearms. The calendar, laws and literature of the
Mohammedan Filipinos are of Arabic origin. Arabic work sprinkles the Mora languages of
Mindanao and Sulu. Among them are Kali (judge), shara (law) Koran (bible), dunya (word), pandita
(priest) and nabi (prophet). Even in the Tagalog language, there are certain Arabic terms, notably
piklat (scar), and sulat (letter).

Chapter 2: Ancient Filipino Civilization

Long before the advent of Spain and Christianity the Pacific world, the Filipinos had their own
civilization. This civilization was the result of the blending of Nagito Indonesian and Malay's
cultures and further enriched by cultural influences from India, Arabia and Japan, etc.

Houses and Clothes

The ancient Filipinos lived in houses bamboo, wood and nipa usually grouped in villages along
riverbanks. Others, like the Kalingas and Bagobos inhabited tree houses while the maritime
Bajao's lived in boathouses. Aside from living in fixed dwellings, ancient Filipino wore clothes of
cotton, silk and hemp and was fond of jewelry. The male attire consisted of the collarless, short-
sleeved jacket called Kangan and the bahag. The female attire consisted of the loose-sleeved camisa
called baro and the short, loose skirt known as saya. Over the skirt, women customarily wore
pieces of cloth wrapped around their waists called tapis Either men or women used any footwear.

For headgear, the man had turban. The women wore no putong, instead. They knotted their hair
gracefully at the back of their heads Our ancestors were fond of personal adornment. They had
rings, earrings, bracelets, armies, necklaces and leglets, all made of gold and studded with pearls,
agates, beads and other gems.

Tattoos

Our forefathers tattooed their bodies with various designs Men tattooed themselves to enhance
their personal appearance and to show their war record. The Bisayans were the most tattooed of
the ancient Filipinos: hence, the Spanish chronicles called them pintados and the Visayan Islands
“Islas de los Pintados”

Food and Drinks

Rice was the staple food in pre-Spanish Philippines ss it is today. It was cooked in pots or in
bamboo tubes. Other kinds of foods were fish, sea turtles, carabaos, hogs, chickens, edible birds,
sugar, spices, fruits and vegetables. The early Filipinos wines were the Bisayan pangasi (made from
rice), the tagalong alak (coconut wine). The llokano basi (from sugarcane), the Igorot tapuy (from
rice) and tube, (the most popular beverage extracted from the coconut palm.
Social Classes

In ancient Philippines there were three social classes

(1), Nobles called Maharlikas consisted of the petty king (datu) and the blue-blooded families. The
men bore the title of Gut or Lakan. The equivalent of the Spanish Don, the woman. Dayang, the
equivalent of the Spanish Doña
(2) treemen called timaquas were those who were bom free or were emancipated slaves: They were
our ancient middle classes
(3) Slaves called alipin constituted the lowest class.
Causes of slavery in ancient Philippines were
(a) birth of inheritance,
(b) captivity in wars,
(c) purchase,
(d) failure to pay debts,
(e) punishment for crimes.
Among the ancient Tagalogs, there two kinds of slaves
(1) aliping namamahay, who were more serfs then slaves could own
property, could marry at will, and could not be sold by their masters and
(2) aliping saguiguilid, who were real salves, had no property. They could be sold and could not
marry without their master's consent.

Marriage and Customs

The parents arranged marriages There were two prerequisites to marriage

(1) the dowry (bigay-kaya) which consisted of gold, slaves or lands given by the groom to the girl
parents and
(2) the lovers servitude in the girls house for a period of time.

Among the nobility, the wedding was an elaborate and pompous ceremony. There were feasting,
music, and merriment. Among the freemen the ceremony was simpler and less expensive. The
slaves had no ceremony at all. A stave man simply asked a slave woman to live with him.

Government and Laws

The unit of government was the barangay, a settlement of from 30 to 100 families. The ruler of the
barangay was called datu, who was executive, legislator, and judge in times of peace and
commandar in times of war. In most cases, the datu inherited his position, in some cases the datu
intented his position; in some cases a man became a datu because of his strength, wisdom or
wealth.

There was no national government; hence, no national king. Ancient Philippines was divided into
hundreds of barangays, independent of one another. Sometimes several barangays united to form a
confederation for mutual welfare and for better protection against common enemies. A good
example of the ancient confederation was the confederation of Madyaas under Sumakwel. This
confederation existed in Panay during the 13th century. Ancestors had both oral and written laws.
The oral laws were the customs (ugali) of our race, which were handed down orally from generation
to generation Our legendary lawgiver was a woman named Lubluban. "the great granddaughter of
the first man and the first woman in the world
The written laws were promulgated by the datus with the help of the elders and were preserved in
writing Samples of our pre-Spanish written laws were the Sumakwel Codec 1250 and the kalantaw
Code in 1433

Religion

With the exception of the Mohammedans In Mindanao and Sulu, ancestors were animist and
pagans. The supreme god was Sathya, creator of heaven, earth and men. Below him were other
gods and goddess of agriculture; Sidapa, Bisayan god of death; Apolaki Dal’lang Ilokano goddess of
beauty, and Mayan, Zambal god of power and strength Ancestors worshipped ancestral spirits
called anitos (Tagalog) a diwatas (Bisayan). They also believed in magic powers of amulets ne
charms such es vanting anting which was believed to make its possessor invulnerable to iron
weapons; gayuma, a love potion which could arouse an adamanal woman's affection; odom; Bikol
magic herb, which was supposed to make it's possessor invisible to the human eye, and uga
Bisayan charm which enabled any man to cross of over without getting wel

Many of the ancient Filipina beliefs survived to the present day Among them are the following:

The appearance of the comet is an ill omen, for it foretells war, pestilence, or calamity. 2. When a
pregnant woman cuts her hair, she will give birth to a heiress child 3 A pregnant woman should
not eat twin bananas, otherwise she will give birth to twins,

4. A girl who sings before the stove while cooking will marry an old widower.
5. And when a cat wipes its face with its paw, a visitor is coming to the house.

Music

The early Filipinos were fond of music. Among the musical instruments used were:
1 Kudyapi (Tagalog guitar)
2 Kalaleng (Tinggian nose-flute)
3 Gangsa (Igorot gong)
4 Silbay (lokano reed flute)
5 Tultogan (Bisayan bamboo drum)
6 Kulintang (Moro Xylophone)

Aside of these musical instruments they had beautiful songs for all occasions. The greatest of the
native songs was the kundiman, a love song of haunting melody. Other Filipino songs of long ago
were the dal-lot, Ilokano ballad song depicting the exploits of Lam-ang Tokandia legendary hero,
the ayegklu, Igorot serenade song, the tudob, Agusan harvest song and the kuilaykuilay, Tinggian
wine song. Two popular dances in ancient Philippines were the balitaw and the Kumintang both
love dances with graceful movements. Other dances were the dandansoy Bisayan tuba dance, the
mahinhin, Tagalog courtship dance, the kinnoton, Ilokano ant dance, and the peujalay, Moro
wedding dance.

Education

Writing existed in ancient Philippines. The percentage of literacy was high and almost all the
natives, both men and women can was used a sharp-pointed piece of iron called sipol or the tip of
their dagger as a pan colored saps of jungle plants for ink, and the bark of trees or banana leaves
for paper. It is believed that ancient writing came from India. Though their literary work both oral
and written were rich but unfortunately, most of their written literature were lost because of the
destruction of our ancient records, Of the existing popular epics of our pre-Spanish literature, the
Darangan of the Lanao Moros is the longest. Next to that are the Hudhud end Ilim of the Ifugaos.
The children of the early Filipinos were given the rudiment of education. They were taught either by
their parents or by the barangay elders in their own homes. In ancient Panay there was a regular
school, called bothoan, where the children were instructed in reading, writing, and arithmetic
Religion. Swordsmanship and ubus (art of acquiring amulets).

Arts and Sciences and Math were expressed in a different form like in architecture was expressed
in me bahay kubo style of dwelling, which was cool and cozy-well adapted to the tropical climate.
They built various kinds of boats-from the one-man canoe called Banka, to the 230-man warboat
called karakao. Early printing was the tattoo. Skilled tattoo artists, using Kuman bodies as canvas,
dagger points and brushes, and black soot and plant saps as colors painted gorgeous designs
representing the sun, moon stars, flowers, animals, and geometric figures. Sculpture was
manifested in the anito statues of stone, wood, and gold made by tribal carvers. The handles of
weapons and bolos were usually fancifully carved, evincing primitive sculptural art. Although their
medical lore was associated with magic had some knowledge of medicine. They knew the curative
power of many medicinal plants. They were herbalists who were expert in the use of poisons. There
was some crude knowledge of astronomy. Ancestors adored the heavenly bodies, attributing godlike
powers to them. The Tagalogs: the Pledades, Poyo-Poyo by the Bagobos and the Dipoper,
Monbunkol by the Ifugaos called me morning star Tala. The early Ilokanos knew astrology, and
they called an astrologer mammacta Mathematics was already visible where they can count up to
100,000,0000 (sangbahala)

Chapter 3: The Rediscovery and the Conquest by Sword and Across

Long before Magellan was born, the Philippines was already discovered. Since time immemorial,
Asian products notably silk and spices, found their way into European marts through several
caravan and maritime routes. The orients then was a region of mystery to the Europeans who
stirred by wonders tales of Asia’s fabulous riches told by the crusaders and by the medieval
travelers Marco Polo, Fr. John of Plano Carpin, Fr William of Rubruck, Fi Odoric of Perdenoni and
Fr Giovanni Marignolli.

The Rediscovery

The Portuguese king protested the papal arrangement, claiming the Portugal rights over the lands
in the East which was affirmed by previous Popes, were violated Accordingly, to patch up the
colonial difficulties, Spain and Portugal concluded the treaty of Tordesillas on June 7 1454. This
treaty shifted the demarcation line to 370 leagues we of the Cape Verde Islands with all lands west
of the line belonging to Spain and those east of t to Portugal.

Ferdinand Magellan

In 1512, accompanied by Enrique, a Malay slave whom he had acquired in Malacca, Magellan
returned to Lisbon. Afterwards he took pain in the North African campaign against the moors. In
this campaign he was fierce by an enemy lance in the left knee which cause him to limp for the rest
of his life.
At the close of the African war Magellan again returned to
Lisbon, where he poured over old maps and crystallized is beef in a westward route to the East.
Unfortunately, his monarch Ning Emanuel proved to be ungrateful. Not only did he refuse in
Increase Magellan's pension but also ignored his proposed plan to blaze a westward route to the
Spice Islands. Only one man in Portugal believed in Magellan's idea that a westward route could be
discovered. He was Ruy de Faleiro, an eccentric, violent tempered man, but a learned astronomer
 Having fallen from royal favor like Magellan, he became a bitter man. Magellan goes to Spain and
renounced his Portuguese citizenship. The Spanish king Chartes 1, the Emperor Charles V of the
Holy Roman Empire upon the advice of Cardinal Fonseca agreed to finance the expedition In
ensuring days Magellan was busy recruiting his crew gathering supplies and conditioning the
ships for a long ocean voyage Magellan's voyage started on August 10, 1519 and his voyage was
considered as the greatest achievement of the age of geographical discoveries whom the world now
immortalizes Ferdinand Magellan, born an Sabroza Portugal in 1480 of noble lineage, he was
educated at the kings count of Lisbon where he served as page to Queen Leonor With 268 men
the expedition was ready to sail. It consisted of five small ships: the Trinidad (flagship) the San
Antonio, the Concepsion the Victoria and the Santiago. Accompanying Magellan were the
Venetian Knight, Antonia Pigafetta, who wrote the history of epochal voyage, Duarte Barbosa,
Magellan's brother-in-law and Enrique, Magellan Missy's slave. The voyage begins on September
20, 1519 where he hosted sails and the historic voyage From Guam, Magellan continued his
voyage westward at dawn of Saturday, March 15 1621 he saw above the horizon the touring
heights of Samara The following day, Magellan landed on the small-inhibited islet of Homonhon at
the mouth of Leyte Gulf On march 18, nine friendly Filipinos from the neighboring island of
Saluan arrived in about and hospitably gave their cargo of bananas, fish, coconuts, and psalm
wine to Magellan. They were the first Filipinos seen by the Spaniards.

First in the Philippines

On the afternoon Monday, March 25, 1521, Magellan left Homonhon and reached Limasawa on
Holy Thursday, March 28. A Filipino king named Kolambu ruled this land. At the time of
Magellan's arrival Kolambu had as visitor his brother Rajah Siagu, the King Butuan. Kolambu
welcomed Magellan and made a blood compact to seal their new friendship and brotherhood. This
was the first recorded blood compact in the annals of the Philippines. It took place on Good Friday,
March 29, 1521, On Easter Sunday, March 31, 1521, a mass held on Limasawa's shore. It was the
first Christian mass held in the Philippines. It was officiated by Rev Pedro de Valderama, fleet
chaplain and was attended by Magellan, Kings Kolambu and Siegu. Spanish voyagers and Filipinas

After the mass, Magellan entertained the people of Limasawa to a spectacular display of European
tournament staged by the best swords men of his expedition. The people marveled at the visitor's
skill with their weapons. At sundown of the same day, Magellan in the presence of Spaniards and
Filipinos solemnly planted a large wooden cross on the summit of a hill overlooking the sea. He
named the country the Archipelago of St. Lazarus Pigafetta, an eyewitness of the event said: Alter
the cross was erected in position, each of us repeated a Pater Noster and an Ave Maria and adored
the cross; and the kings did the same. Magellan's helped the people of Limasawa in harvesting
their rice. The harvest over king Kulambo piloted the feet to Cebu, a flourishing Kingdom under
Rajah Humabon. Magellan landed in Cebu, a flourishing kingdom under rajah Humabon, Magellan
landed in Cebu on April 7, 1521 and on the same day he made a blood compact with Humabon. At
that time Cebu was already on antrepot of Oriental trade. Magellan met there a Siamese trader.

On Sunday, April 14, 1521, a mess was held on the shore of Cebu. Rajah Jumabon and his
warriors were highly impressed by the sublime ceremony After the mass, Magellan planted a
wooden cross, which still exists. On the same day, 800, Filipinos were converted to Christianity
They were the first Christian Filipino including the baptism of Rajah Humabon's wife Queen Juana,
serve as the romantic annals of the Christianity in the Philippines. Aher baptism, Magellan gave
her an image of the child Jesus as gm This image is preserved to the present day and the patron
saint of Cebu City.

The Battle of Mactan

King Humabon and other chieftains submitted to Spanish sovereignty Only one Filipino defied the
white men and he was the fearless, Lapulapu King of Mactan, Magellan was irked and he wanted to
crush the defiant champion of Filipino freedom. At the dawn of April 27, 1521, Magellan invaded
Mactan with an assault army of 60 steel-dad. Spaniards in three ships and 1,000 Cebuano
warriors in 30 boats. Before the battle, he boastfully told Humabon and his men to remain in their
boats and to watch how the European fight. He waded ashore and attacked the Mactan defenders.

The battle was furiously fought. Magellan found out too late that he had underestimated the
fighting prowess and fierce courage of Lapulapu and his men. The Spaniards were routed and
driven back to their ships Magellan fought valiantly but in vain. Lapulapu warriors pounch on him
and killed him. Thus fell Magellan, whom Pigafetta called our mirror, our light, our comfort and our
guide." Only two ships the Trinidad and Victoria reached Tidorer. The Concepsion had been burned
off Bohol a coast owing to the lack of men to navigate it. After securing a rich cargo of spices, the
survivors decided that the Victoria under Del Cano's command would sail back to Spain via the
Cape of Good Hope while the Trinidad commanded by Gomez de Espinosa would go via the Pacific.

The Trinidad left Tidore homeward. Adverse Pacific wins forced it back and wrecked it at Ternate.
While Victoria crossed the Indian Sea, rounded the Cape of Good Hope and finally reach San
Lucar, Spain on September 6, 1522 with only 18 survivors. The voyage around the world lasted 2
years, 11 months and 16 days. That was the first time the globe was circumnavigated by man.
Spain had every reason to exult in such an epic achievement

The Conquest by the Sword and the Cross

After ascending the Spanish throne, Philip II fitted out a new expedition to the Philippines. The
command was given to Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. The expedition consisted of four ships and 380
men. Father Urdaneta, a survivor of Loaisa expedition, was named chief navigator of the feet. With
the expedition came the first Augustinian mission, which was composed of the following Fr. Andres
de Urdaneta as head.

First Spanish Settlement

Legazpi adopted the policy of attraction so that within a short time, king Tupaz and his men
became friends of Spain. A Spanish settlement, the first of its kind in the Philippines was
established it was in the form of a triangle, with two side facing the sea and the third fronting the
land it was surrounded by a strong palisade and was defended by a fort Wells were dug to assure
constant supply of water. A church for the Augustinian Fathers was erected and in the church was
kept the historic image of the child Jesus Buildings were constructed for the soldiers. Affectionally,
Legazpi named the settlement "City of the most Holy name of Jesus in honor of the sacred image
Thus Cebu City, which Legazpi founded in 1565, is the oldest city in the Philippines

As Legazpi was laying down the foundations of Spanish rule in Cebu, the Augustinians
missionaries were busy sowing the seed of Christianity. The first person in Cebu convert was the
widowed niece of Tupaz Father Diego de Herrera baptized her under the name Isabel in honor of
lsabel Garces, Legazpi’s deceased wife in the same year, 1565 after her baptism, she was married
to Andrea Calafate, member of Legazpi's expedition. The wedding ceremony was officiated by Father
Herrera. This was the first Christian marriage and the first Filipino-Spanish marriage on the
Philippine soil. On March 21, 1568, King Tupaz accepted the baptism at the hands of Father Herrer
with Legazpi as the godfather. He was named Felipe in honor of Philip II, his son. Cebu's crown
prince was likewise baptized and was named Carlos Following the example of their King and
Prince, the Cebuanos accepted Christianity. Owing to the shortage of food in Cebu Legazpi moved
to Panay in 1559 On the bank of Panay River, he founded the second Spanish settlements in the
Philippines. At the beginning, the Panay Filipinos were hostile but owing to the apostolic labors of
Fr Juan de Alba and other Augustinians missionaries, they were later pacified and became friendly
to Legazpi.
With Cebu and Panay as the bases, the conquistadors and the missionaries working side,
extended Spanish rule and Christianity to other Islands In 1509, Captain Luis Enriquez
de Guzman, accompanied by Fr. Alonzo explores and pacified Masbate, Ticao and Burias. He

went as far as Ybalon, Albay in southern Luzon. He was the first white man to see Mt. Mayon.
In January 1570, Legazpi see his fighting grandson Juan de Salzedo to Mindoro to punish the
Moro pirates who preyed upon Panay villages On May 8, 1570, a Spanish expedition to Manis left
Panay under the command of Marshal Matrin de Goiti. On the way, Salcedo explored The Pansipit
River in Batangas where he had a skirmish with the people and was wounded in the Jeg by a
poised arrow. At the time Manila was a Mohammedan kingdom under Rajah Soliman. It was a
civilized outpost of Islam, Soliman refusing to submit to Spanish vassalage defended his Kingdom
against Spanish invasion. The fifth for Manila took place on May 24, 1570. Goiti won the day and
captured Manila including Soliman's artillery pieces which were made by Panday Pira After his
victory, Goil with Salcedo returned to Panay.

The following year, a stronger Spanish expedition under Legazpis personal command appeared in
Manila Bay. The sagacious Lakandula of Tondo, Soliman's uncle realizing the futility of resistance
to a superior foes, paddled out to the bay and welcome Legazpi. The second conquest of Manila was
a bloodless affair. The defiant Soliman evacuated the city and gathered his warriors somewhere in
the north Man fell into Spanish hands without a fight. On May 19 1571 Legazpi took possession of
the city.

Soliman would not yield to Spanish invasion without a fight. With the help of the chiefs of
Macabebe, Hagonoy and other villages, he collected a fleet a warboats and an army of the warrior of
the north shore of Manila Bay. On June 3, 1571, Solimans flotilla engaged Goiti's naval force
Bankusay Channel, off Tondo’s shore. The fight was fierce Soliman's fighting heroically perished in
the battle. He was the last Filipino King of Manila and on June 24, 1571, Legazpis proclaimed
Manila, the capital of the Philippines. He rebuilt it from the ashes of Soliman's kingdom into a
Spanish city.

The Death of Legazpi and the Last Spanish Conquistadores

On August 20, 1572 Legazpi, the first governor and adelantado of the Philippines died at heart
attack in manila. His death was a deeply mourned by both the Spaniards and the Filipinos He had
serve God and the king so well, sacrificing even his own personal fortune, that he died a poor man
His work during the seven years of his sojourn in the Philippines entitles him to a place among the
greatest of colonial pioneers)

Worthy grandson of Legazpi, Captain Juan de Salcedo was known as the greatest military hero of
the Spanish conquest. He was youthful and dashing Spanish cavalier. He subdued the region along
Laguna de Bay, discovered the gold mines of Paracale; then going northward, he pacified Ilokandia
and Cagayan and later in 1573, he conquered Bikolandia and Catanduanes. In recognition of his
military services to the Spanish crown, he was given the encomienda of the Ilocos and was
promoted to the rank of field marshals His last service to Spain was the saving of the Philippines
from Lim-Ah Hong's invasion from 1574-75. He died of fever in Vigan on March 11, 1576 at the age
of 27.

Chapter 4: The Spanish Colonial System and Relation with other Foreigners

As a colony, the Philippines was a financial burden to the Spanish treasury. For this reason, the
adviser of Philip II recommended the abandonment of the Philippines. The King spurned their
advice. He told them that the chief objective of the Spanish colonization was the propagation of
Christianity and that for the conversion of the Filipino people he would gladly spend all the riches
of the Indies.

The Spanish Colonial System

The Philippines was a crown colony in the sense that she belonged to the Spanish King. From the
beginning of Spanish rule to 1821, she was a dependency of Mexico being administered directly by
the Mexican viceroy in the name of the Spanish King After Mexico's separation from the Spain in
1821, the Philippines came to be directly ruled from Madrid and this arrangement lasted until
1898. The King appointed the governor-general and other colonial officials and issued royal
decrees. At first, the council of the bodies helped the King in administering the colonial affairs,
subsequently the council was abolished and the minister of the Colonies took charge of colonial
matters.

Spanish Laws and the Governor General

All laws for the Philippines were made in Spain They consisted of royal decrees issued by the King
pertaining to inheritance and successions and laws dealing with penagogy, civil rights and
commerce, mining and copyright The chief executive bore the title of Governor-General and
Captain-General. He was appointed and removed by the King. Symbolizing the might and majesty
of Spain, he exercised great powers. He appointed ambassadors too and received ambassadors
from neighboring countries, he appointed and removed colonial officials except those whose
appointments came from Spain and he was commander-in-chief of the colonial armed forces.
Until 1861, he was the president of the Royal Audencia. The governor-general administered not
only the Philippines but also other Spanish colonies in the Pacific such as the Marianas, the
Carolines and Palau Islands. The powers of the governor-general were checked by the following:
1: The Royal Audencia, highest court in the colony and served as the highest tribunal for all civil
and criminal cases.
2.The Residencia, a court conducted by an incoming governor-general to examine the conduct of
the outgoing governor-general.
3. The direct reports to the King sent by the friars and subordinate officials
4. The visitador (investigator), whom the king sometimes sent for the purpose of investigating the
affairs of the colony.

The two advisory bodies assisted the governor-general in administering the Philippines.
1. Board of Authorities
2. The council of Administration

Provincial Municipal and the City Government

For administrative purposes, the Philippines was divided into provinces and special districts. The
provinces were known as alcaldias, each governs by an alcalde mayor. The special district,
representing unpacified regions where known as corregimientos, each under a Corregidors usually
an army officer. The alcalde mayor of the province exercised both executive and judicial function
He received a salary but his office was lucrative because of his privilege to engage in trade This
privileged was greatly abused so that law abolished it in 1884 Finally, in 1886, the alcalde mayor
was simply made a judge and civil governor was appointed chief executive of the province.
The province was divided into pueblos (towns). Each pueblo was administered by gobernadorcillo
(petty governor). He was popularly called capitan and his wife, capitana. At first all married males
of the town elected him annually Later in the 19 century, 13 electors headed by the outgoing
gobernadorcillo elected him: Other town officials besides the gobernadorcillo were the teniente
mayor (chief lieutenant, jues de sementeras Justice of the fields), jues de ganados (justice of cattley
juez de policia (justice of police) and the directurcilo (municipal secretary). Every pueblo was
divided into barangays (barrios), each under a cabeza de barangay. Like the gobernadordillo, the
cabeza served annually without salary. Several large towns in the Philippines were organized into
cities: Among them were:

Manila, Lipa, Jaro, Albay, Arevalo, Naga and Vigan. The city government was called the
Ayuntamiento and the city council known as cabildo was composed of the alcalde (mayor)
regidores (councilors), alguacil mayor (chief constable), and the escribano (scrivener).

The Encomienda System

The encomienda was a piece of land including its inhabitants and resources, which was granted
but the king to Spanish colonizer as a reward for his services. The holder of the encomiendas was
called encomiendero. The first encomiendas were assigned y Legazpi in Cebu in 1571 upon
instructions from Philip II.

The Encomiendas were of two kinds namely

1. Royal Encomiendas owned by the crown
2. Private encomiendas owned by private individuals

In 1591, there were 267 encomiendas in the Philippines with a total population of 667, 612. Owing
to the abuses of the encomenderos, the King gradually abolished the encomienda system definitely
came to an end.

The Tribute and the Palo

As a symbol of vassalge to Spain, the Filipinos paid tribute. One tribute corresponds to one family
consisting of husband, wife and minor children. An unmarried man or woman paid one-half
tribute. At the beginning, a tribute amounted t eight reales (one peso) payable in money or in and
Later in 1851, it was increased to 12 reales (one peso and a half) The tribute was finally shed in
1884 and was replaced by the cedula tax om paying the tribute, all mate Filipinos from 18 to 60
years of age were obliged to render forced later called polo. This labor lasted 40 days later in 1854
it was reduced to 15 days.

It took various forms such as the building and repairing of roads and bridges, construction of
public buildings and churches, cutting timber in the forests: working in shipyards and serving as
sailors and soldiers in military expeditions. A person who rendered the forced labor was called
polista. He could be exempted by paying the which was a sum of money.

Abolition of Slavery

One of the beneficial results of Spanish colonization was the abolition of slavery. King emancipated
all slaves in the Philippines. Pope Gregory XIV, on a bull of Apr 18, 1591, threatened to
excommunicate all those who would not liberate their lives.
Relation with Other Foreigners

No sooner had Spain obtain a foothold in the Philippines than her conquistadors cast their eyes on
distant horizons Lured by her power, Spain fought against the

Portuguese

Portugal contested Spain's title over the Philippines. She asserted that the Philippines like the
Moluccas les east of the demarcation line and that hence, it belong to her Prior to Legaspiz’s
arrival, the Portuguese from the Mollucas visited the Philippines and in 1512, Portuguese (niner
and Magellan's friend was shipwrecked at turtle islands and took refuge and Mindanao. In 1538, a
Portuguese captain, Francisco de Castro landed in Mindanao and convened some natives to
Christianity and in 1563, a Portuguese expedition prowled the waters of the Visayas and plundered
Bohol.

As early as 1566, several Portuguese ships appeared in Cebu and warned Legazpi to leave the
Philippines but he ignored their warning. Twice, the Portuguese attacked and blockaded him in
Cebu first in 1568-69 and again in 1570 Legazpi resisted gallantly on both occasions and repulsed
the enemy.

In 1578, King Sebastian of Portugal died without an heir. Two years later, Philip II of Spain, one of
the rival claimants of the vacant throne annexed Portugal. The union of these two kingdoms
stopped the colonization in the East.

Dutch

On November 8, 1600, the first Dutch feet to cruise in the Philippines waters appeared at
the entrance of Manila Bay it was commanded by Admiral Oliver Van Noort, he blockaded the bay
and plundered all boats that tried to enter or sail out of the bay.
The Spanish authorities alarmed by the presence of the Dutch enemy, hurriedly out of the galleons,
the San Diego and Bartolome and manned them with a mixed force of Filipinos and Spaniards
under the command of Dr Antonio de Morga.

The battle between Morga and Noort was near in Mariveles on Dec. 4, 1600. After six hours of fierce
engagement. Morga's flagship, the San Diego sank Morga and his men saved themselves by
swimming to the nearby Fortuna Island. The other Spanish galleon captured the Dutch ship the
concord. Von Noort escaped on board his flagship, the Maurice and return to Holland That was the
first recorded Spanish-Dutch conflict in the Philippines. The second Dutch attack occurred in
1509. In October of that year, a Dutch Squadron led by Admiral Francois de Wittert bombarded
Iloilo. Wittert tried to take the town by storm but the gallant Filipinos under the command of
Fernando Ayala repulsed him. Following his defeat in Iloilo, Wittert proceeded to Manila and proved
to be Witters last battle. He died in action and only one Dutch ship escaped and brought home.

In 1619 England and Holland concluded an agreement for concerted power against Spanish in the
Far East. As a result, this agreement, a powerful Anglo-Dutch fleet entered Manila Bay in January
1651 and blockade the city The English and Dutch naval commanders quarreled. The blockade
was raised and the combined fleet sailed away In 1645, the Dutch Marauders again prowled in
Philippine waters. Two battled galleons sent out by Manila authorities to drive away the enemy
Several attacks followed like in July 29 in Marinduque and two days later in Mindoro and on
September 24 in Maraviles. The Dutch again experienced defeat.
On June 10, 1647, twelve Dutch ships from Batavia entered Manila Bay and bombarded Cavite
and after their defeat, the Dutch plundered the coast of Bataan. They captured Abucay and
massacred 400 Filipino soldiers who heroically defended it. The tragic news of Abucay massacre
aroused the wrath of both Filipinos and Spaniards. A large force of Filipino troops was rushed in
Bataan, the Filipino soldiers fighting hard to avenge their compatriots, force the Dutch
invaders to sail away.

The Dutch continue to menace the Philippines. In 1731, the Dutch tried to gain foothold in
Bukidnon and the Spanish squadron came and foiled the attempt but in July 1735, a Dutch fleet
blocked Mania but failed to capture the city. While in 1747, the Dutch attempted to establish a
trade base in Basilan. The Moros however drove them away. Finally, in April 1848, two Dutch
warships bombarded Jolo for 24 hours but failed to take the town This was the last recorded
Dutch attack in the Philippines.

Lim-ah-Hong

The first Chinese threat to Spanish rule in the Philippines was in the form of invasion by Lim-Ah-
Hong famous Chinese pirate in search of his kingdom, he appeared in Manila Bay on November 29,
1574 with 625 war junks, 2,000 soldiers, 2,000 seamen, 1,500 women, many artisans and
shiploads of farming and household goods. The Spanish defenders repulsed the attack and drove
back the invaders to their ships Lim-Ah Hong, undaunted by his initial defeat prepared a second
and stronger attack. The Chinese hordes stormed the city walls and their fleet raked the city with
devastating broadside. Soon Manila burst in flames. Both Filipino and Spaniards fought heroically
and hurled back the invaders Lim-Ah-Hong retreated with his ships and men northward to
Pangasinan. He established a colony at the mouth of the Agno River. To drive away from the
Philippine soil, an expedition of 1, 500 Filipinos and 250 Spaniards sailed from Manila on March
22, 1575 and besiege the Chinese During the siege, Lim-Ah-Hong built boats and dug a canal to
the sea On August 3, he slipped through the Spanish blockade and escape to China. Some of his
men who were left behind field to the hills and mingled with the Igorots and Tinggians in China,
Lim-Ah-Hong reorganized his forces and gathered a new fleet.

The Chinese viceroy of Fookien defeated him in the naval battle of Palahoan. He fled to Siam but he
was not permitted to stay there he went to other kingdom, none of which welcome him for fear
of China. Later nothing more was heard of him.

Chinese

On May 23, 1603, three Chinese mandarins arrived in Manila, allegedly to see Chin San (mountain
of gold. The Spaniards distrusted their story so that after the mandarin's departure, they
strengthen the city defenses. A secret plot was hatched in the Paris under the leadership of Eng-
Kang. On the night of October 3, 1603, the Chinese struck They attacked Tondo and Quiapo.
Emboldened by their initial success, they stormed the city walls but finally repulsed out the former
captain in the wars fought with a gallant valor. Failing to take the city, the rebels retreated to the
hills of San Pablo, Laguna where they were crushed by a punitive Filip no-Spanish expedition The
second revolt on 1839 was causing harsh order forcing the Chinese to work in Calamba, Laguna
and maltreated by the Spaniards. The hostilities flared up in Calamba and neighboring towns, the
alcalde mayor of Laguna and several. Spanish friars were killed Many churches and homes were
razed to the ground. After a month of fighting, the revolt was finally
 suppressed About 20, 00 Chinese lost their lives in the revolt. Property losses amounted to
7,000,000 in the twenty towns plundered or burned by the rebels.

The third revolt was in 1662 after expelling all Chinese residents. The Chinese rose in arms. They
burned Santa Cruz district, killed Spaniards and Filipinos and pillage the home. An army of 4,000.
Pampangans under Francisco Laksamana, a descendant of Lakandula marched against them The
Chinese rebels fled to the mountains of Taytay and Antipolo where Laksamana pursued and
crushed them in battle. As a reward for his services, he appointed commander in chief of Fort
Santiago for 24 hours, the highest military honor ever accorded by Spain to a Filipino The fourth
Chinese revolt on 1686 engineered by ex-convict named Tingco. They killed the Spaniards, burn
the city of Manila and loot the churches and houses. The government troops arrived and routed
them. Tingco caught and executed them. His followers escaped to Pasay were pursued and
annihilated.

The last revolt happened when the British came and occupied Manila in 1762. The Chinese
collaborated with them and helped them. With the connivance of the Manila Chinese about 900 in
Guagua, Pampanga secretly plotted to massacre the Spaniards on Christmas Eve of December 4
1762. One of the plotters happened to reveal the plot to his Filipina sweetheart who lost no time in
relaying the starting news to the parish post and finally crushed the Chinese rebels.

Japanese

The first Japanese revolt occurred in 1606. The Japanese enraged by an order of the Royal
Audiencia to deport them from the country. A Spaniard happened to kill a Japanese in the course
of their quarrel immediately the Japanese residents rushed to arms to avenge their compatriot's
death. Actual hostilities wire averted, however because the Franciscans friars were able to pacify
the 1,500 armed Japanese.

An arbitrary order of the Spanish authorities forcing all the Japanese to work in the suburbs of
Manila caused the Japanese in 1607 to rise in revolt. This time actual clash of arms occurred. The
Spanish troops rushed to Dilao, the Japanese town outside the city walls. They defeated the rebels
after a bloody fray. The town was foundered and then burned to the ground.

Chapter 5: The Cross Versus the Crescent and Filipino Revolts Against Spain

The Cross Versus the Crescent

The Spaniards fired the first shot of the Moro wars in 1578. Governor Sande, after his Bornean
campaign dispatched a Spanish assault party to Jolo. This party attacked Jolo in June 1578 and
took it notwithstanding as desperate defense by Sultan Panguian. This aggressive an marked the
beginning of a long, bloody between Spain and the Moros.
In 1596, another Spanish force under the command of Captain Rodriguez de Figuerda invaded
Cotabato and came to blows with the Moros under Datus Sirungan and Buisan. The Spanish
invasion was a failure.

Counter-attacks

To retaliate against Spanish attempts to conquer the land, the Moros launched counter-offensive.
In July 1599, Datus Buisan and Sirungan leading a powerful fleet of Vintas raided the Visayas.
Encouraged by their initial success both datus repeated the raid the following year at Arevalo
Panay, they were repulsed by the Bisayan bowmen under the command of Alcalde Mayor Juan de
Sierra who died in the fighting.
The Spanish authorities sent punitive expeditions to curb the rising tide of Moro depredations. The
first expedition was sent against Jolo in 1602. The second expedition attacked the Moro Kutas at
the Rio Grande de Mindanao The famed Kudarat, the greatest sultan in Mindanao's history,
defeated this expedition.

Subsequent punitive expeditions against Jolo were sent in 1627 and in 1628 again in 1630.
All these expeditions failed to destroy the Moro power.

Military Base

A defense measure against the Moros decided to establish a military base in Zamboanga and
clearest of Moros After the founding, a Moro raiding expedition under Tagal, fiery brother of Sultan
Kudarat prowled the Visayas for eight months. With heavy load of war booty and Christian
captives, he sailed homeward and boldly passed Zamboanga. To pursue him where a furious fight
ensued on December 26, 1637 the Moro fleet was destroyed; 300 Moros killed 1200Christian
captives were liberated and a rich treasure of war spoils was discovered Tagal himself perished in
battle.

In On March 14, 1637 Governor Corcuera launched an attack on Lamitan, Kudrat's stronghold
near Lake Lanao, the fight was fiercely contested Lamitan fell and Kudarat retreated with his forces
to hilly Ilihan and Corcuera troops storm Ilihan. Kudarat escaped with bullet wound in one arm.
After five months, Corcuera was back in the Moroland for another campaign to attack Jolo, Jolo fell
after a bloody fight against Sultan Bungsu. Bungsu escaped but his wife Sultana Tuan Baloca was
taken prisoner.

Futile Measure Against the Moors

The first Spanish expedition to reach Lanao was jointly commanded by Er Agustin to reach Lanto
was jointly commanded by Fr. Agustin de San Pedro and Captain Francisco de Atienza. Father San
Pedro was a renowned Recollect missionary warrior, who won lasting laurels in the Philippine
history as a valiant Mora fighter.
The expedition started in Caraga and reach Lanao on April 4, 1639, after a hard march through
the jungles The lake region was explored and alliances were formed with some Moro datus. The
following year, under the command of Pedro Bermudez de Castro reached Lake Lanao. This time,
the Maranaws roused by Spanish aggression attacked expedition. A relief column under Father
Son Pedro rushed to the rescue and saved the expedition from annihilation

In the course of time, the Moros continued to go on to the warpath raiding the Christians towns
and villages of the northern islands. These raids rose to terrifying heights especially after the
withdrawal of the Spanish garrisons from Jolo and Zamboanga. To counterattack the rising tide of
Moro ravages, Zamboanga was refortified in 1719 and other Spanish forts were constructed at
lligan, Dapitan, Caraga Tandag, all in Mindanao, in Palawan, cuyo and Romblon.
Watchtowers were built along the coasts from Mindanao to Luzon. Armed galleys and higates
patrolled the sea-lanes. The coast inhabitants were concentrated in larger towns for better defense
against the Moro raiders. Finally, treaties were concluded with the Moros such as the treaty of
1645 with Sultan Kudarat, and the treaties with Jalo in 1726 and 1737 But all these measures
failed to stop the Moro depredations.
The second half of the 18th century saw the height of the Moro raids. Everywhere, the Moros struck
and left horrible trails of blood and death. In 1769, the Moros landed of Malate within sight of the
Spanish cannons, plundered the pace and sailed away with 20 prisoners and rich spoils of war.
According to Spanish records the Mores captured on average of 500 Christians annually and sold
them as slaves in Batavia, Sandakan and in other slave markets in the East Indies Between 1778
and 1793, the Spanish government spent more than one million pesos for military operations
against the marauding Moros. In the course of the Moro wars, many missionaries won fame as
gallant warriors. They

fought side by side with the soldiers in the defense of the cross against the plunging hordes of the
Crescent Offer missionary heroes died while fighting against the Moros. Toward the closing
decades of the 9th century, the Maro power decline and the raids lost their sting 1848, the first
steamships purchased by Spain arrived in Manta Bay and sounded the death knell of Moro
supremacy in the seas for the steamships could cut the fastest vinta of
the Moroland.

The Moros continued their resistance against Spanish Invasion in other battle sectors of the
moorland. In 1886-87, Governor-general Emilio Terrero campaigned with little success in Cotabato.
In 1891, Governor General Valeriano Weyler captured Marawi put failed to conquer the Maranaws.
The last Spanish governor-general to attempt the conquest of Mindanao was General Blanco. He
campaign in the Lanao lake region in 1895. The end of the Spanish rule in 1898 saw the Moros
and the Spaniards stalemated in the region of Mindanao.

Filipino Revolts Against Spain

The unbeatable three centuries slay of Spanish rule in the Philippines has made immeasurable
interruptions not only against the superpower foreign invaders but as well as the Filipinos had
risen in more than 100 revolts.

Lakandula, the last King of Tondo welcomed Legaspi in 1571 and became a friend of Spain. In
return for his friendship, he and his descendants were granted various privileges notably exception
from tribute and forced labor. After Legazpi's death, he became disgusted because of the Spanish
oppression. In November 1574 while the Chinese invaders under Lim-An-Hong harassed Manila, he
gathered his warriors at Navotas and proclaimed his revolt against Spanish rule. To save the
situation for Spain, Father Geronimo Marin and Marshal Juan de Salcedo -two Spaniards beloved
by the Filipinos paciffed the aged Lakandula and assured him the nights of his people would be
respected. On these terms, Lakandula and his men laid down their arms and aided the Spaniards
giants the Chinese invaders.

The Pampangans revolt in 1565 was a protest against the abuses of the Spanish encomenderos.
They sought the help of Borneans. Unfortunately, a Filipino woman who had learned of their secret
plan revealed it to the Spanish authorities. The revolt was nipped in the bud and the leaders were
executed While in 1587-1588, he Magat Salamat Revolt was happened. Magat Salamat, the gallant
son of Lakandula conceived of a secret plot at Tondo for the purpose of regaining the freedom and
lordship, which their forefathers had enjoyed before them. He associates Agustin de Legazpi.
Lakandula's nephew and son-in-law of the Bornean sultan, Martin Panga, chief of Tondo, Huan
Bassi, chief of Taguig: Pedro Balinguit, Chief of Pandacan, Dionisio Capolo, chief of Candaba;
Omaghicon, Chief of Navotas; and Felipe, chief of Polo. Salamat carefully organized his forces. He
won the support of the Cuyo Filipinos and the Borneans. He was also negotiating Christian
Japanese resident in Manila for arm and Japanese old. For fifteen months, he plotted secretly.
Unfortunately, captain Pedro Sarmiento, Spanish soldier-encomendero discovered the plot and
denounced it on October 26, 1588 to Governor Santiago de Vera. Before the patriots could strike,
Governor de Vera moved swiftly and arrested Magat and his associates. They were executed
together with the Japanese Dionisio Fernandez Others who were less guilty were fined heavily or
exiled.

During the rule of Governor Francisco Tello from 1595-1602, two brothers incited the people of
Cagayan to take up arms against Spain One of them was named Magalat. The initial fare up of
Against revolt was suppressed and the two brothers were exiled to Manila. He was permitted to
return to Cagayan where he gathered the chiefs of Tuguegartao and other villages and resume the
revolt but failed. Magalat was assassinated and with his death the revolt ended in November 1601.
The Igorots revolted in defense of their gods. An Augustinian missionary went to the rebel camp
and beseeched the Igorots to submit peacefully to Spanish authority. The latter refusing to heed his
words of peace killed him. Captain Aranda then attacked the rebels and crushed them.

The Gaddang Revolt of 1621 in Cagayan Valley because they were weary of the oppressions of the
Spaniards A Dominican missionary tried to pacify them but failed. The Gaddangs generously
allowed him and other missionaries to depart unmolested. Finally, Father Thomas second attempt
and other missionary's eloquence and courage finally stopped the uprisings.

In 1621, in the island of Bohol, they're broke out a religious revolt led by a native babaylan (priest)
named Tamblot. This priest incited the people of Bohol to return to the faith of their ancestors
assuring them of the aid of their gods against the Spaniards Rallying to his cause, they rose in
arms burned the churches and attacked the garrison. On New years day of 1822, the government
troops from Cebu's uprising suppressed the revolt Bankaw revolt in 1622 flared up in neighboring
island of Limasawa. Bankaw, the aged chief who had welcomed Legazpi in 1625 and for his
hospitality had received a letter of gratitude from King Philip Bankaw gave up his Christian religion
and return to his animist's gods. He persuaded the people of Leyte to rise against Spain and the
revolt spread the island. Alcalde Mayor Alcarazo of Cebu quelled the movement. Bankaw and his
first son with Pagali perished in the battle.

In 1643, a Bornean named Ladia's, the descent of Lakandula appeared in Malolos, Bulacan and
preached an uprising against Spain. The parish priest urges them to desist from taking such action
and finally convincing them of the futility of fighting against Spain. Ladia was arrested and
executed in Manila. The Sumoroy rebellion was happened from 1649 to 1650, the alcalde mayors of
the Visayas ordered by Governor Fajardo to send men to Cavite shipyards. The Visayans resented
this order because of the hardship of leaving their homes and families Incensed by the harsh
gubernatorial order, Samar led an armed resistance against Spanish authorny On the night of
June 1, 1649, Sumoroy started the hostilities by killing the town curste His rebellion spread to
other towns of Samar and to Cebu, Masbate, Camiguin, Albay, Camarines. Northern Mindanao and
Zamboanga. Spanish troops were rushed to Semar and help out successfully for about a year. He
was well entrenched in the mountains where he and his followers had an independent government
One stormy night in July of 1650 the government troops assaulted Sumoroy's mountain stronghold
and took it after a desperate fight Sumoroy was caught alive and was executed.

In October 1660 the Pampangans revolted under the leadership of Francisco Maniago. The causes
of this uprising ware:
(1) The natural love of the Pampangans for liberty
(2) the forced) labor in cutting timber and construction of galleons and
(3) the failure of dishonest officials to pay for the rise taken from the people

Maniago established his war camp at Bacolor He blockades the rivers to stop the flow of commerce
to Manila and dispatched letters to the people of Pampangans and Ilokos so citing their cooperation
in the struggle for freedom unfortunately, his caused was weakened by his failure to obtain the
suppon of Juan Mecapagel, a powerful chief of Arayat, Macapagal remained loyal to Spain.
Through mediation of Father Andres Salazar the revolt thus came to the bloodless and The
generous governor-general remedied the people's grievances Repercussions of Maniago's revolt
reached Pangasinan. The people of Lingayen led by Andres Malong proclaimed their uprising on
December 15, 1660 and other towns joined the movement Malong flushed with the initial process
proclaimed himself as king Malong committed a great blunder in trying to extend his rule to other
provinces. He sent Vera with 6,000 men to Pampanga and Gumapos with 3,000 men to the llokos
and Cagayan, leaving Pangasinan In a weakened position with only 2,000 men under his
command. With his depleted forces, Malong was beaten and led to the mountains. He was pursued,
taken alive and executed at San Carlos Subsequently, Gumapos was captured and executed at
Vigan. Inspired by the Malong’s revolutionary propaganda, the Ilokano is revolted in January 1661.
They began the hostilities in the towns of San Nicolas, Baccara and Lauag putting the Spaniard to
the sword and burning the churches. The revolt was short-lived for the government forces came
and suppressed it. King Almazan and he associates were executed.

In the year 1663, a Bisayan mystic named Tapar founded a new religion in Oton, Panay that was a
modified form of Christianity The Spanish curate opposed the religious movement and was killed.
Afterwards, the government troops appeared on the scene and quelled the religious revolt. Tapar
and his friends were put to death. The longest revolt in Philippine History was the Dagohoy
rebellion which began in 1744 has ended in 1929, a period of 85 years.

In 1744, the Spanish curate of Inabanga refused to give Christian burial to Boholano who died
had died in fight with another man Francisco Dagohoy brother of the deceased killed the priest
and incite the people to nee in arms against Spain. The rebellion spread like a forest fire and
everywhere Dagohoy s men struck with success. The lion heated Dagohoy established a free
government in the mountains. Twenty successive Spanish governor general from de la Torre to
Martinez failed to overthrow Bohol's independence. Finally, in 1827 and in 1828, the energetic
governor Ricafort sent powerful Spanish expedition to the island. More reinforcements were
rushed in 1829. The Boholanos sorely missing the able leadership of Dagohoy who had died years
before were submitting to the overwhelming forces The long rebellion ended on August 31, 1829.

As early as 1609, Miguel Banal of Quiapo, a descendant of Rajah Soliman petitioned the king of
Spain for the restoration of Filipino lands granted to Spaniards. His petition was not heeded and
thus were sown the seeds of Agrarian unrest in the Philippines. Between 1745 and 1756, the
Filipino tenants embittered by their agrarian bondage, rose in arms and fought for what they
considered their racial patrimony. Hostilities were particularly violent in the towns of Lian,
Nasugbu, Taal, Hagonoy, Taguig, Paranaque, San Mateo, Bacoor, Cavite, Silang, Imus and Binan.
The revolts were suppressed but the Filipino tenants never forgot their agrarian grievances. When
the British conquer Manila in 1762-1763, the Ilokanos struck for liberty under the able leadership
of Diego Silang. The revolt began in Vigan on November 14, 1762 Silang proclaimed the
independence of his people and made Vigan the capital of Ilokos Sur Rising to Heroic heights,
Silang buried his army against the Spanish forces at Cabugao and won a brilliant victory The
British conqueror of Manila heard of Silang's successful anti-Spanish movement and they lost no
time in soliciting an alliance with him against the common enemy. Silang was willing to accept
British aid and alliance Unfortunately, Silang did not live to continue his unfinished work He was
assasinated on May 28, 1783 His brave wife, Maria Josefa Gabriela righted called the Ilokano Joan
of Arc carried on the cause and succeeded for a time to hold her own against the Spanish attacks.
She was later defeated and was executed at Vigan on September 20, 1763. Simultaneously with the
Silang uprising was the revolt of Juan de la Cruz Palaris, which began in Binalatongan ,
Pangasinan on November 3 1752. This revolt spread to other Pangasinan towns and soon Pala is
established an Independent government with Binalatongan as the capital. The collapse of Silang's
revolt foreshadowed the end of Palaris libertarian struggle. In 1764 Don Manuel de Arza after
having crushed the Silang revolt marched against Palaris and broke the latters resistance Palaris
was taken alive and executed. His flag symbolizing Pangasinan's independence was taken and was
presented as a war trophy to Governor Simon de Anda.
The Basi revolt of 1807 was caused by the prohibition of the manufacture of basi, a popular
Ilokano drink. The government then had a monopoly of wine manufacture and angered by
such government policy, the Ilokanos rose in arms on July 1, 1807. Emboldened by their initial
successes in the towns of Laoag, Batac, Piddig and Sarrat, the rebels planned to capture Vigan and
later attack Manila. Their crushing defeat at San Ildefonso on September 28 put an end to their
ambitious scheme. Apolinario de la Cruz better known as Hernando Pule in 1840-41 headed the
first religious revolt of the Tagalogs Born of pious parents in Lukban Quezon, influence his dream
to become a minister of God. To enter a religious order in Manila but denied because he was a
native. Undaunted, he worked in the hospital of San Juan de Dios and acquired his religious
education by reading the Bible and listening to Church sermons in 1840, he returned to his
hometown and founded the Cofradia de San Jose, which was banned by both civil and ecclesiastic
authorities. Against all official opposition, he continued his religious activities and won many
followers in Quezon, Laguna and Manila. Soon he came to blows with the government troops. He
won his first fight at Ilayang Isabang, a barrio of Tayabas town on October 23, 1841. Shortly after
his victory, he was beaten at Alitao. He escaped but was captured and executed in the town of
Tayabas on November 4, 1841.