CHAPTER II

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Familiarize oneself with the primary
documents in different historical periods
of the Philippines.
2. Understand history through primary
sources.
3. Properly interpret primary sources
through content and context of the
documents.

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V. ENCOUNTER WITH THE WEST
SPANISH EXPEDITION
• At the start of 16th century, Europe has tremendously advanced in
politics and sciences with brought fast changes in many parts of the
world.
• Circumnavigation is defined as the act of travelling all the
way around something. (travel all away around the world with a
ship)
• Three Reasons for Spanish Expedition:
a. To find the Spice islands

b. To spread Christianity

c. To add fame and glory for Spain

• Ferdinand Magellan presented his daring plan to King

Charles I of Spain to reach the Spice Islands by sailing west.
• Convinced in the proposition submitted by Magellan, King Charles
Trinidad, Concepcion, San
I then gave him five ships-
Antonio, Victoria and Santiago.
• The king also gave food to accommodate the 234 crew to last for
two years and with addition of weapons and navigational
instruments.

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THE JOURNEY
1. September 20, 1519 –Magellan expedition left San
Lucas Spain.
2. October 21, 1520- Magellan discovered a strait in the
southernmost part of the South America and called it
“Strait of all saints” currently called as Strait of
Magellan.
3. March 17, 1521-Magellan and his crew landed in the
island of Homonhon (Samar) at the entrance of the gulf of
Leyte. Magellan called it “The Archipelago of Saint
Lazarus”
4. March 25 1521- Magellan and his men reached
Limasawa, Leyte made a blood compact between Rajah
Kulambu of Limasawa and Rajah Siagu of Butuan.
5. March 31, 1521- The first Christian mass was held at
Limasawa, Leyte with father Pedro Valderamma.
6. April 08, 1521 - Magellan reached Cebu which was
ruled then by Rajah Humabon.
 Magellan sought friendship among the natives
and took special pride in converting them to
Catholicism.

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  Lapu-lapu, the Mactan chieftain, refused the
presence of the Spaniards and declared war
against them
7. April 28, 1521- the battle of Mactan occurred due to
refusal of chieftain, Lapu-lapu to recognize the Sovereignty
of Spain with ships, instead Lapu-lapu and his men fought
valiantly against the Spaniards; Magellan died in the
battle.

VI. THE PHILIPPINES UNDER SPANISH

RULE
• Under the command of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi
and other Spanish forces, the Philippines was under the
colony of Spain and it lasted for three hundred and
thirtythree years. (333 years)
• The three reasons for Spanish Conquest in
the Philippines (3G’s)
1. God

2. Gold

3. Glory

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SPANISH CONTRIBUTIONS
1. Catholicism - Filipinos set up altars adorned with Catholic
images, flowers and candles in their homes. Roman Catholic
Holidays: Christmas, New Year, Semana Santa, Nochebuena,
All Saint’s Day
2. Cuisine - Lechon, Puchero, Paella, Embutido, Leche Flan,
Corn, Sausage, Kare – Kare, Sinigang, Lumpia and etc.
3. Language - The Filipino language, derived from the
Tagalog language, which is the national language today, was
even a Spanish influence. Numerous words and some
grammatical concepts of the Spanish vocabulary are adapted.
4. Values - “Pagmamano”, siesta, mañana habit, Simbang gabi,
prayer, cockfighting and etc.
5. Education - Introduced the Western System of Education.
Spanish History and language, reading, writing, arithmetic and
music.

CASTE SYSTEM
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(The social classes for the Spanish era in the Philippines)
1. Peninsulares - they are the Spaniards who are born in
Spain
2. Insulares - they are Spaniards born in the Philippines
who took important government positions.
3. Mestizos - Filipinos mixed with other blood.
4. Indios (Natives) - Filipinos who have an Austronesian
blood.

POLITICAL SYSTEM
The earliest political system used during the Spanish era
was the Encomienda system, which resembled the feudal
system in Medieval Europe.
• Conqustadores, Friars, Nobles - They are given
estates and other riches. In exchange, they will pledge
their services for the king of Spain.
• Encomendero - Tasked to provide military services
and governance to the inhabitants.

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NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
 Governor-General (Gobernador y
Capitan General)
o The most-powerful person in the entire country
besides the King of Spain.
o Headed the Supreme Court (Royal Audiencia), was
Commander-in-chief of the army and navy, and was
the economic planner of the country.
o All known Executive power of the Local government
stemmed from him. o His yearly salary was P40,000.

o For obvious reasons, the Governor-General was

usually a Peninsular (Spaniard born in Spain) to
ensure loyalty of the colony to the crown.

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PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
• On the provincial level, heading the pacified provinces
(Alcaldia), was the Provincial Governor (Alcalde
Mayor). o Annual salary ranged from P300 to P2,000
before 1847 and P1,500 to P1,600 after it.
o Their salaries be augmented through the special
privilege of “Indulto de Commercio” where all people
were forced to do business with him.
o The Alcalde Mayor was usually an Insulares (Spaniard
born in the Philippines).
o City Governments (Ayuntamientos), were
also headed by an Alcalde Mayor.
• The unpacified Military Zones (Corrigimiento) were
headed by the Corregidores.

 Alcalde Mayors and Corredores exercised multiple

prerogatives as Judge, Inspector of Encomiendas, Chief
of Police, Tribute collector, Capital-General of the
Province even Vice-Regal Patron.

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MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
• The pueblo or town is headed by the Gobernadorcillo or
“little governor”.
Among his administrative duties were:
o
 the preparation of the tribute list (Padron)
 recruitment and distribution of men for draft labor
 communal public work and Military conscription (Quinto),
Postal Clerk and Judge in minor civil suits. o He intervened in all
Administrative cases pertaining to his town: Lands, Justice, Finance
and the Municipal Police.
o His annual salary, however, was only P24 but he was
exempted from taxation.
o Any native or Chinese mestizo, 25 years old, literate in oral
or written Spanish and has been a Cabeza de Barangay of 4
years can be a Gobernadorcillo.
• Barrio government rested on the Barrio Administrator (Cabeza
de Barangay). He was responsible for Peace and Order and
recruited men for Communal Public Works.
• To check the abuse of power of Royal Officials, two ancient
Castilian Institutions were brought to the Philippines.
o Residencia was the public investigation and trial of
outgoing colonial officials in order to ascertain whether they
had committed abuses in the performance of their duties.
o Visitas was a secret investigation of an official conduct as
a public servant.

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TAXATION
To support the Colony, several forms of Taxes and
Monopolies were imposed. The Buwis (Tribute), which could be
paid in cash or kind.
It was initially fixed at 8 Reales (One Real being 8 Centavos)
and later increased to 15 Reales, apportioned as follows:
 Ten Reales Buwis,
 one Real Diezmos Prediales (Tithes),
 one real to the Town Community Chest,
 One Real Sanctorum Tax, and three Reales for Church
support.

FORCED LABOR
• Polo y servicios is forced labor for 40 days of men
ranging from 16 to 60 years of age who were obligated to
give personal services to community projects.
• One could be exempted from polo by paying the Falla (a
corruption of the Spanish falta, meaning “absence”), a daily
fine one and a half real.

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VII. CHALLENGES TO SPANISH AUTHORITY

REASONS FOR THE REVOLTS

1. Refusal of Spanish authorities to grant reforms
2. Policy of the Spanish government not allowing the
natives to learn the Spanish language
3. Religious intolerance of the friars
4. Imposition of the Polo, tribute and taxes
5. Monopolies and the Galleon Trade
6. Agrarian injustices and cases of land grabbing
7. Greed, cruelty and abuses committed by Spanish
authorities

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REVOLTS
a. Lakan Dula Revolt

Lakan Dula was friendly with Legazpi and his men and he
helped Martin de Goiti in the conquest of Central Luzon
provinces. As repayment, Legazpi exempted him and his
descendants from the payment of tribute and polo y
servicio. Gov. Gen. Guido de Lavezares lifted the
exemption. Lakan Dula resented this. In the attack of
Limahong on Manila, Lakan Dula revolted against the
Spaniards and they retreated to Navotas. Juan de Salcedo,
grandson of Legazpi and Father Geronimo Marin
persuaded Lakan Dula to lay down arms in exchange of
his and his descendants’ exemption from tribute and polo
y servicio. Lakan Dula believed them and ordered his men
to return to their homes in peace. They were even given
gifts of silk and gold.

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 b. The Tondo Conspiracy

A group of Filipinos in Tondo formed a secret society

whose purpose was to regain their freedom. Magat
Salamat, Agustin de Legazpi, Juan Banal, Pedro Balingit
and many others plotted to have a Christian Japanese ally
bring Japanese weapons and soldiers to the Philippines to
drive away the Spaniards to make Agustin de Legazpi
King of the Philippines. This may be a good plan but it
was aborted because of spies who reported it to Spanish
authorities. Leaders were arrested and executed while
those implicated were banished to Mexico.
c. The Revolt of Magalat

Magalat led natives of Cagayan against the Spaniards.

Spanish soldiers were sent but the Ilocanos fought
bravely. Spaniards hired a Filipino assassin to murder
Magalat. The plan succeeded.
Cagayan became quiet.

d. Ladia’s Conspiracy
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Pedro Ladia, claiming to be a descendant of Lakan Dula,
instigated a revolt in 1643 against the
Spaniards of Malolos, Bulacan. He wanted to be the King
of the Tagalogs. The friar curate of Malolos learned of the
plan and dissuaded the town people from believing Ladia.
He urged them to remain faithful to the Catholic Church
and the King of Spain. He also notified the authorities of
Ladia’s activities. Ladia was arrested, sent to Manila
where he was executed.

e. The Revolt of Maniago (1660)

Francisco Maniago, leader of the Kapampangans,

declared war against the Spaniards. He sent an emissary
to the governor general in order to make peace and make
the following demands: 1. Governor general to pardon all
those who participated in the revolt 2. Kapampangans to
receive ₱200,000 as payments for rice which the
Spaniards seized from them; ₱14,000 as down payment
and remainder to be paid in installment; and 3.
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Kapampangans to continue to cut timber as required by
forced labor but would be given sufficient time. The
governor general acceded and Maniago laid down his
arms. It was considered a success in the sense that
Maniago was able to air his people’s grievances and get
what they wanted.

f. The Revolt of Malong (1660)

Andres Malong, a native of Binalatongan, led the people

of Lingayen against the Spaniards for their maltreatment
with regard to polo y servicio. Malong was so successful
that he proclaimed himself King of Pangasinan. He
appointed officials under him and urged people of
surrounding provinces to take up arms against Spaniards.
He sent soldiers to Ilocos, Cagayan and Pampanga thus
weakening his position. He was pursued, defeated,
captured and executed.

g. Palaris Revolt

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In 1762, Juan dela Cruz Palaris, led the people of
Binalatongan, Dagupan, Calasiao, Santa Barbara,
Mangaldan, San Jacinto, Malasiki, and Paniqui over the
imposition of tribute. This lasted for a year.

h. Revolt of Bancao (1622)

Bancao was befriended by Legazpi, became a Catholic

and served a loyal subject of the Spanish King. Later, he
returned to the religion of his forefathers. He convinced a
lot of natives to go back to their original faith. The natives
stopped going to church. The friar curate hated Bancao
for this and sought the help of the governor of Cebu. This
led Bancao to incite his people to rise in arms.
Hundreds of Filipino soldiers under Spanish officers
defeated Bancao, who died fighting.

i. The Revolt of Sumuroy

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The people of Palapag, Samar gathered under Agustin
Sumuroy to revolt against leaving their homes and being
separated from their families. The friar curate of Palapag
was killed and the revolt spread to Mindanao, Camarines
and Albay. Sumuroy fought bravely against the forces
sent by the governor general. He chose the mountains as a
natural fortress and withstood the enemy attacks. In 1650,
a strong army contingent was sent. He was defeated,
captured and executed. Tapar led uprisings in Oton,
Panay. Dagohoy, who just like Tapar, wanted to return to
the religion of their ancestors.

j. Dagohoy’s Rebellion

Proved to be one of the longest rebellions in our history

lasting from 1744- 1829. He had his own government in
the mountains with some 20,000 followers obeying his
orders and practicing their own faith.

k. Diego and Gabriela Silang Revolt

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More Rebellions in Luzon The succeeding rebellions were
clearly economic in nature. Diego and Gabriela Silang led
a widespread revolt in Ilocos Sur on the issue of the right
to engage in the galleon trade by Indios.
l. Basi Revolt

Likewise, in 1807, the Basi revolt in Ilocos Norte erupted

over the issue of government monopoly on the
production, pricing, and sale of basi, a favourite local
wine among the Ilocanos. Resistance in the Interior and
Mountainous parts of the Cordillera region, a maingel
(warrior-leader and expert in headhunting) leads the tribal
communities. Trade and commerce with the lowlanders
existed but on a limited basis among the locals. Attempts
at expeditions failed due to the fierce resistance by the
taong bundok.

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 m. The Moro Wars

Moro wars in the South colonization and Christianization

of the Muslim (called Moros by the Spaniards) was the
longest, bloodiest and also the most frustrating for the
Spaniards. They remained unconquered and unconverted
until the end of Spanish rule.

FAILURE OF THE REVOLTS

1. The revolts lacked coordination.
2. The Filipinos had no leader of great ability.
3 The Filipino rebels had insufficient arms.
4. There was no feeling of unity and nationalism among
Filipinos.
5. Many Filipinos were more loyal to the Spaniards
especially the friars than to their countrymen.

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VIII. CULTURAL CHANGES AND IDENTITY

• Change in Filipino Names

o Before the coming of Spaniards, Filipinos had no
surnames. Their names were taken from their physical
appearance or from any natural event or object. o
Governor General Narciso Claveria issued a decree in
1849 allowing the Filipinos to change their names.

• Intermarriage

o The Spaniards as a rule did not intermarry with

Filipinos. There were exceptions and these exceptions
led to limited intermarriages between Spanish men and
Filipino women. There were very few recorded
marriages between a Filipino male and a Spanish
female. o The child of the marriage of a Filipino
and Spaniard was called Spanish mestizo.

• Amusement
o Cockfighting was the principal form of
entertainment of the Filipino men.

• Changes in Clothing

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 o The barong or what is popularly called today
barong Tagalog, began to worn at this time by the
ordinary menfolk.
o Putong the indigenous counterpart for male head
gear or hat, consisting of a cloth wrapped on one’s
head or a round or rectangular shaped hat.
o The women, in the other hand, still wore their

skirt or saya, the tapis and the patadyong. They

learned to wear a camisa in a Spanish way.

• Position of Women
o Their rights over property which they enjoyed
during pre – Spanish times were curtailed.
o They could not sell the property they inherited

from their parents before their marriage without

the consent of their husbands.
o They should be very obedient to their
husbands. o The friars taught them to prepare
themselves for marriage, which was thought to
be the only function of women.
o They were taught prayers and how to behave in

public.
o They were not, however, taught how to be
independent, how to help their husbands in

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 earning more for the family, how to work in
order to earn when their husbands were sick or
away and they were not how to think for
themselves.

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References

Agoncillo III, Teodoro & Mangahas, Fe. Philippine History (Expanded and Updated edition)

Torres, Jose Victor (2018). Batis: Sources in Philippine History, C & E Publishing Inc., Quezon
City.

Candelaria, John Lee P., et.al, (2018) Readings in Philippine History, Rex Bookstore, Recto
Avenue, Manila

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