GOVERNOR GOMEZ PEREZ Y DASMARIÑAS Y RIBADENEIRA

Spanish Governor of the Philippines, born in Galicia in undetermined date and died near
Punta Santiago (current province of Batangas, Luzon) of October 25, 1593, which exerted the
mandate from 1590 until his death.

Knight of the Orden of Santiago, Gómez Pérez Dasmariñas served as corregidor of Murcia and
Cartagena villas before being named Governor of the Philippines in 1589 to replace Santiago de
Vera. Come to Manila in June 1590, the new Governor applied between its first measure a
cédula of August 1589 which was dissolved the Royal audience, in order to reduce
administrative costs and reinforce the dependency of the Viceroyalty of Mexico. In 1592 he had
built the Real force of Santiago, a project which commissioned the engineer Leonardo Iturrino. It
also published decrees establishing the emancipation of
slaves, reform taxes, restrictions on trade by the Chinese
community or the legal protection of the natives. Many of
these measures were responding to the desire of
consolidating Spanish sovereignty not only material way but
from a legal perspective and moralist, in the context of the
discussions on the right of conquest; It was therefore matter
of dissension between the civil power, represented by the own
Pérez Dasmariñas, and religious, in the person of the
Bishop Domingo de Salazar.

His Government was also marked by attempts to consolidate

the Spanish presence in the archipelago, and with this aim
Dasmarinas dispatched an armed expedition to Mindanao
under the command of Esteban Rodríguez de Figueroa (may,
1591) and other missionaries to the region of Cagayan
(Northern Luzon). He also received the visit of two diplomatic
embassies from Japan (1592) and Cambodia (1593); in the
first case, had to respond to threatening intentions of the Japanese Emperor Hideyoshi, who
Spanish authorities demanded the payment of tribute. In October of 1593 the Governor sailed
under the command of an expedition of four Galleons in order to submit to the sovereignty of
Spain the Moluccan Islands, formally belonging to the Crown of Felipe II since the incorporation
into its domains of Portugal (1580); However, the ship that was traveling Dasmarinas suffered a
mutiny in charge of the Chinese rowers, who killed him. To know this event in Manila was
appointed interim successor his son Luis Pérez Dasmariñas.

Source: “Perez Dasmarinas Gomez”, The Biography, Accessed on September 25, 2018,
http://thebiography.us/en/perez-dasmarinnas-gomez

ORDER ISSUED BY THE GOVERNOR FOR COLLECTION OF THE TRIBUTES

I, Gomez Perez Dasmariñas, governor and captain-general of these Islas Philipinas for
the king our lord : Inasmuch as I am notified, by the decrees and instructions of his Majesty,
wherein he commands and charges me to exert myself to check the excesses and lawless acts
which are prevalent in the collection Of the tributes in the encomiendas belonging to his
Majesty, as well as those of the other encomenderos, I have looked into this matter; and, with all
the care and attention I could give, I have consulted and conferred as to the best order and
method that should be employed in the aforesaid collections, in order that God and the king, our
lord, may be served. Therefore, in order that the Indians may not be annoyed or aforesaid
excesses — it is fitting that the procedure is not due them, to put an end to the evils and wrongs
which have existed in this business, and to check the aforesaid excesses — it is fitting that-the
procedure which is to be henceforth followed be understood and established. Accordingly, by
this present I do order and command that in the collection of tributes, not only in the
encomiendas of the king but in all others, the following rules and conditions shall be observed:

First: In the encomiendas of his Majesty as well as in those of private persons, where
they have Christian instruction and the administration Of secular justice for the maintenance of
law and order, the entire tribute levied may be collected from the natives; and the encomendero
is bound, with that part Of the tribute which falls to him, to aid in the support of the minister or
ministers of religion who belong to his encomienda. The said tribute shall be collected in its
entirety in the aforesaid encomiendas where justice and religious instruction exist, and equally
from all the Indians therein, whether believers or unbelievers. I also order all encomenderos
who are or shall be appointed in the encomiendas, to provide with the utmost punctuality and
promptness, each in his own encornienda, that part of the tribute which is due from them for the
maintenance of religious teaching, churches, and all Other purposes of religion, under penalty of
being deprived of their encomiendas; and the collectors, under the penalties hereinafter written,
which will be most vigorously executed.

Item: In those encomiendas where justice is administered, but where, through lack of
ministers, there is no religious instruction, the tribute shall be collected, reserving that part which
would be due to the minister, if they had one— namely, a fourth part of the tax, a little more or
less, which part shall be left and freely surrendered to the Indians.

Item: In those encomiendas which, on account Of their remoteness, have neither

justice nor religious instruction, no tribute shall be collected until such time as God shall order
the affairs of these islands; and his Majesty, informed of their condition, shall make other
provisions, in order that he may be better served.

Item: The same is decreed for those encomiendas which are disaffected or have never
been pacified. No collection shall be made in this case except from those encomiendas which,
having once been pacified, and having rendered obedience to his Majesty, shall without any just
cause rise in rebellion, From those encomiendas may be taken such part Of the tribute as can
conveniently be collected, for their preservation and by way of recognition; and whatever small
portion his Majesty may order, and what the lord bishop cites, may be collected.

And since, according to the above, no tribute is to be levied where there is no justice,
occasion is offered for many parts of these islands — which, on account of their great distance,
are beyond its reach — to become turbulent and rebellious as soon as they realize that they are
released from tribute which is now collected from them. Most pernicious consequences [would
follow (?) — illegible in MS.] and many Other districts would be disloyal and rebellious; and it
would be necessary, when they should have sufficient religious instruction, to go back and win
them and [illegible in MS.] anew. Assiduous efforts shall be made to provide, as quickly as
possible, justice in the aforesaid encomiendas. Where it is now lacking, charge the
encomenderos to inform me of such districts and territories, with their topography and location;
also Of the number of those who pay tributes, so that I may appoint accordingly, in each
encomienda, an alcalde-mayor, or a deputy, or others, if necessary, who may be suitable
persons for such offices. They will have salaries suffciently large to enable them to administer
justice to the natives, protecting and defending them against anyone who would injure them,
and maintaining such intercourse and friendship with them as will incline them to receive
religious instruction when they shall have it. Thus in all the encomiendas which have this justice
and preparation, as Soon as it is known what benefits are conferred upon the natives by those
ministers of justice, in influencing and governing them, as above stated, authority will be given
to the encomenderos to collect the three-fourths of the tribute, as I have Said. But in the
meantime, none of it shall be imposed Or levied; and as soon as justice is established, efforts
shall also be made, until religious ministers shall come, to employ a layman or laymen of
virtuous life and example, in order to in- struct the natives, to the best of their ability, in the
things of our holy faith; and such persons shall receive some benefice, in accordance with the
royal right of presentation.

The encomenderos shall fulfil and observe all the aforesaid orders, under penalty of
being deprived of their encomiendas. In encomiendas belonging to his Majesty, and in those of
other and private persons when the encomenderos shall —by order, or through any other lawful
impediment— be prevented from making the collections personally, in case these collectors
should exceed just bounds they shall be fined five hundred pesos for his Majesty's treasury, and
half the expenses of any war thus caused. In addition, they shall make good-any losses caused
by them to the said Indians and shall pay all costs. The aforesaid persons are likewise ordered
to make the collections with all possible gentleness and equity, observing the Other instructions
of his Majesty concerning the manner of collecting tributes. The Indians shall pay in kind, or in
such articles as they prefer to give. I also order that an authorized copy of this my decree be
furnished to each and every one Of the encomenderos or collectors who shall engage in the
aforesaid collections. This decree I order and command to be observed, fulfilled, and executed,
under the penalties above stated, for the present and until such time as his Majesty, when well
informed of the present state of affairs in this land, which has been mentioned above, shall
make suitable provisions ira these and all other matters, according to his pleasure. Upon the
first occasion that offers itself there shall be sent on my part and that Of the encomenderos Of
this commonwealth, to his Majesty, a detailed and careful account Of what is here decreed and
ordered, as well as what the lord bishop suggests and advises; so that his Majesty, having
examined both sides of this question, may make such provisions and so direct our course that
God and his Majesty may be best served, and all may have the same subject. Done in Manila,
on the twenty-eighth of February in the year 1591.

Source:

G. P. Dasmariñas “Order Issued by the Governor for collection of the Tributes” in Blair, Emma
and Robertson, James, Eds. The Philippine Islands 55-Volumes, Cleveland, Ohio: The A. H.
Clark Company, 1903-1909, Vol. 8: 27-32.