Rubielyn O.

Galvan
BSA-1D

Introduction of Spanish colonial institution - letter of bishop De Salazar in abuses of the

Spaniards
The introduction of the Spanish colonial institution in the Philippines was marked by
many significant events, one of which was the letter of Bishop Domingo de Salazar to the
King of Spain. In this letter, Salazar denounced the abuses of the indigenous population and
the mistreatment of Chinese migrants by the Spanish colonists and called upon the crown to
intervene in the colony's affairs
Bishop Domingo de Salazar, the first bishop of the Philippines, was a Dominican who
greatly subscribed to legal principles that defended the rights of the indigenous people. His
letter to the King of Spain in 1582, titled "In Defense of the Indians and the Chinese of the
Philippine Islands," was a significant document that highlighted the issues faced by the
locals under Spanish rule. On June 20, 1582, Manila's first Bishop Domingo de Salazar, OP
wrote a letter to the King of Spain complaining about the ill-treatment of Spanish officials to
our ancestors. He had just arrived then to Manila and could not bear to hear the reports
brought to him by the rulers of Tondo (residencia), most of them would plot a revolt against
Spain five years later.
Bishop Domingo de Salazar's letter to the King of Spain detailed several abuses
inflicted upon the indigenous population and Chinese migrants in the Philippines by the
Spanish colonists. Some of these abuses include:
1. Unjust collection of tributes: The Spanish civil authorities unjustly collecting tributes from
the natives. This was a significant concern as it directly impacted the livelihoods and well-
being of the indigenous people.
2. Illegitimate ruling: Bishop Salazar questioned the legitimacy of the Spanish regime in the
Philippines. He asserted that the Spanish king had no legitimate title over the Philippines,
making the collection of tributes and other exactions from the natives in the name of the
crown unjust.
3. Mistreatment of Chinese migrants: The letter also highlighted the mistreatment of
Chinese migrants by the Spanish colonists. This was a critical issue as it showed the
widespread nature of the abuses, affecting not only the indigenous population but also
other groups residing in the colony.
4. Injustices by Spanish civil authorities: The letter pointed out various cases of injustices
perpetrated by the Spanish civil authorities. These injustices were significant enough to
warrant a mention in the letter to the King of Spain.
These abuses, among others, were significant enough for Bishop Salazar to call upon
the crown to intervene in the colony's affairs, highlighting the severity of the situation in the
Philippines under Spanish rule. The bishop also questioned the abusive alcades mayores
(equivalent to today's provincial governor) and their corrupt practices. Most of these
officials, if not relatives, were friends of then-incumbent Governor-General Gonzalo
Ronquillo de Peñalosa. Pampanga alone was divided into four alcades, and this government
position mutated in other provinces previously under a single governorship. Salazar also
reported to his king how Peñalosa brought to the mountains of North Luzon the abled men
of Pampanga, resulting in starvation not only in the said place but in Manila (which was
being supplied with eggs, livestock, and rice by the province). The alcades also sequestered
the handful of provisions of the households, punishing them for it, and then resell these at a
higher price.
Bishop Salazar continuously wrote his king afterward, reporting abusive encomenderos
(Spanish soldiers given the privilege to administer a certain population called encomienda)
and other officials. Salazar argued that encomenderos were “obliged to provide the Indians
with ministers to instruct and care for them, to defend and protect them, to see that they
are not ill-treated, and to answer for them in all necessary matters." Encomiendas,
continued by Bishop Salazar, “are and should be instituted rather for the good of the Indians
than for that of the encomenderos; and that the encomenderos cannot be termed, nor are
they, the lords of the Indians, but their attorneys, tutors, and protectors.”
In the same year, the bishop convened the early friars--known for zealousness,
integrity, and compassion--to discuss the welfare of the natives. This was called the First
Synod of Manila. Among the legacies of this meeting was the careful study of the laws,
customs, and languages of the natives for effective administration. The synod also
questioned the presence of Spain in the Philippines whether as protector of the inhabitants
or as a colonizer. These efforts of Salazar resulted in the legitimacy of the power of the friars
to protect the natives against abuses