With history, culture, and art given little attention in our public schools curriculum, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the National Museum of African American History and Culture make one think of our own past, the challenges and victories experienced by our peoples—whether lowland Christian or Muslim, mountain or seaside dwellers. Chinoy, or Tisoy.
We have had our own Holocausts and minority groups with histories and cultures that demonstrate endurance, resilience, and victory.
Spanish conquistadors and missionaries did not have an easy time. Heretofore independent indios resisted being subjects of newly arrived foreigners, worshiping new gods, yielding land and valuables; paying tribute and enduring forced labor under new masters.
Mainly farmers and fishermen, our ancestors were made to labor at things they never did—felling trees and building galleons, quarrying and hauling stone for fortifications built to protect the newcomers against them. Between the hardships and absence of immunity to new diseases, indios died in droves. Women and children were left to starve because fields were abandoned with the absence of husbands and brothers.
Over the 500 years after Lapu Lapu slayed Magellan in 1521, Filipinos experienced the Moro Wars, numerous revolts and reprisals, the Revolution under Bonifacio, and the Filipino-American War under Aguinaldo, World War II including the Battle of Manila, the Communist and Mindanao Separatist Movements, Martial Law abuses, EJK, and countless other tragedies.
Rebellions during the Spanish regime failed, causing death and hardships not only among the protagonists but also to civilians and their families.
Early struggles for independence
Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, the first Spanish governor general, established government in Cebu in 1565. On learning about Luzon and Manila, he sent Martin de Goiti to investigate. Reaching Manila in 1569, Goiti fought and defeated Tondo’s Lakandulà and Maynilad’s Rajah Sulayman. With the defeat of the two rulers, the Spanish moved the colony’s capital to Manila.
Tagalog and Pampango datus resisted and under Tariq Suleiman of Macabebe engaged the Spanish in the 1571 naval Battle of Bangkusáy. Tariq Sulaiman was killed, enabling the Spanish to consolidate their presence. The natives did not give up, however, and led by Agustín de Legaspi (successor of Lakandulà as ruler of Tondo), datus of what is now Rizal province, Bulacan, Pampanga, and areas up to Palawan plotted (1587-1588) to massacre the Spaniards. Unfortunately the plot was exposed by our Benedict Arnold, one Antonio Surabao of Calamianes. The conspirators were captured and exiled, suffered horrific deaths, and/or their properties confiscated. Forced labor, onerous tribute, and abuse caused rebellions throughout the Spanish regime.
In 1589, Ilocanos and Ibanags rose because of high taxes and tax collector abuses. In Bulacan (1643), Pedro Ladia, a descendant of Lakandulà, was furious over the confiscation of his lands and led an uprising. Caused by polo y servicio (forced labor) that sent Warays to the Cavite shipyards, Agustin Sumuroy of Palapag, Samar started a rebellion that spread to the rest of the Visayas, Bicol, and Mindanao (1649-1650). Sumuroy and key followers were defeated, captured, and executed, ending the revolt.
In Pampanga and Pangasinan (1660-1661), discontent over the demands of religious orders, high tribute, forced labor that took men away for up to eight months, and confiscation of farm produce led Francisco Maniago to foment rebellion that spread to Pangasinan under Andres Malong. For once, the then governor-general was conciliatory and the rebellion ended.
Land grabbing by religious orders led landowners of Batangas, Laguna, Cavite, and Bulacan to rise in arms in 1745. Madrid ordered the return of the disputed properties and the rebellion ended.
Diego Silang took advantage of the British Occupation of Manila (1762-1764) and declared Ilocos independence. The Spanish arranged for the assassination of Silang but his wife Gabriela continued the fight. The people of Pangasinan also took advantage of government’s preoccupation with the British. Led by a man known as Palaris, the rebels were initially successful in taking control of the province. With the end of the British Occupation and the capture and death of Gabriela Silang, however, the Spanish succeeded in ending the revolt. Palaris was captured and hanged.
There was also resistance to proselytization by Spanish missionaries.
The people of the Cordilleras did not allow any missionaries to enter their territory and successfully repulsed troops sent by central authority. The Spaniards eventually established a few settlements, among others in Trinidad Valley, but otherwise failed to colonize and Christianize the highlanders.
In the Cagayan Valley, a priestess named Caquenga led a rebellion (1607), but she was captured and executed. The Itneg similarly resisted conversion. Led by Miguel Lanab and Alababan, the natives killed Dominican missionaries and carried on a revolt (1625-1627). The authorities adopted a scorched earth policy, destroying farms and other food sources, forcing the Itneg to surrender.
A babaylan (native priest) of Bohol named Tamblot and his followers attempted but failed to go against Jesuits missionaries (1621) and return to the religion of their forefathers. Another Bohol rebellion was led by Francisco Dagohoy. It lasted 85 years (1744-1829), the longest in Philippine history. Ironically, it was led by Catholic converts. Dagohoy’s brother, an already converted man, was killed in a duel. Because dueling was considered a sin, he was refused burial in the Catholic cemetery. The Spanish suffered defeat after defeat and the rebellion ended only after Dagohoy’s death.
Another religious rebellion took place in Tayabas (now Quezon) in 1840-1841. Apolinario de la Cruz (known as Hermano Pule) formed his own religious order that drew believers mainly in Tayabas, Laguna, Batangas, and Manila. The sect was banned and fighting broke out. Pule was captured in a final battle at Mount San Cristobal and executed.
The imposition of what was probably our first “sin tax” caused the Basi Revolt of 1807. Searching for sources of government revenue with dwindling receipts from the Galleon Trade, Manila decided to nationalize the manufacture and sale of basi, the alcoholic drink made from sugar cane. Ilocanos went up in arms. Revolt began in Piddig, Ilocos Norte under Pedro Ambaristo and quickly spread to other towns. The Spanish went after them in full force and the revolt ended. Government then decided on the Tobacco Monopoly.
(To be continued)
Notes: (a) The only sources of the early indio response to Spanish colonization are Spanish accounts, which is why the real name and background of Agustin de Legaspi is unknown and that the name Tariq Sulaiman is merely a guess; and (b) The Basi Rebellion is depicted in a series of 14 paintings by artist Esteban Villanueva exhibited in the National Museum branch in Vigan, Ilocos Sur located in the still surviving home of martyr priest Fr. Jose Burgos.
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