SPANISH CONQUEST OF

LANAO
 1637

• AFTER THE FALL OF

LAMITAN, CAPITAL OF
SULTAN KUDARAT, THE
SPANIARDS EXPLORED
LAKE LANAO FOR THE
FIRST TIME.
• It was reported that the Spaniards
first penetrated Lanao as a result
of the unexpected attack
conducted by the Meranaws
against the district of Cagayan
which was then under the
supervision of Fr. Fray Agustin de
San Pedro a.k.a. Padre Capitan, a
fighting Portuguese-Recollect.
• They went to invade the Meranaw
territory in order to take revenge
on them for their intrusion of
Cagayan. It was reported that
they found no opposition on their
penetration. One village was
sacked and burned, and sufficient
booty was found there to
recompense the losses of
Cagayan.
• The impressive attack under the
leadership of Fr. Agustin however
was not appreciated by the
Jesuits. They knew that this
action was a major stumbling
block to their ambition to
propagate Christianity in Lanao
under their mission.
• To make sure that Jesuits would
successfully propagate
Christianity ahead of the
Recollects, they took the initiative
of persuading Governor-General
Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera to
immediately send an adequate
expedition for the government’s
control of Lanao and for the
fulfillment of their ambition.
• Fortunately, the Governor-General was
convinced by their suggestion to
immediately undertake the invasion of
Lanao. Hence, the Governor--General
instructed Gen. Pedro de Almonte, the
over-all Commander of Mindanao, to
make the necessary planning for the
fulfillment of the plan. Since the
jurisdiction of Iligan and Dapitan was
under the command of Capt. Francisco
de Atienza. The expedition to Lanao
territories was entrusted by Pedro de
Almonte to Capt. Atienza.
• And because Fr. Agustin already
known for his successful
penetration of Lanao without a
major opposition from the Meranaw,
Capt. Atienza realized that to ensure
victory of his plan, he decided to
take Fr.Agustin in his company so
that he might avail himself of all his
experiences. The priest agreed, as it
fitted so well his martial spirit.
• Meanwhile, the Meranaws were made aware
and alarmed by the coming invasion by
Spaniards. As precautionary measures, the
Meranaw chiefs sent their envoys to persuade
the Spanish attackers not to push through
their plan to prevent further damages. The
Meranaws were willing to provide gifts and
presents in the name of their chiefs in
exchange of a Spanish concession. However,
the Spaniards were determined for an attack.
Capt. Atienza declined to heed the request of
the envoys and blurted that it was more
honorable to die in battle rather than retreat
like cowards.
 APRIL 4, 1639
• While the Meranaws have not yet reached
any concrete decision, the Spaniards
suddenly arrived on April 4, 1639 which
resulted in the confusion of the people.
Many of them abandoned their camp and
arms and fled with their boats into the lake.
It was reported that the village of Wato was
burned by the Spaniards. The following day,
friendly Meranaw ambassadors went out to
meet the Spaniards and offered submission
and vassalage. Capt. Francisco de Atienza
accepted the friendly gesture of surrender
and ordered an immediate ceasefire.
• Registration of the inhabitants
of Lanao was immediately
undertaken. As reported, fifty
villages existed in the area,
which were ruled by four
datus who were subjects of
Sultan Kudarat.
• As part of the agreement, the Meranaws
must allow the Christian missionaries to
propagate Christianity and discourage
foreign preachers of Islam in the area.
This will be followed by their conversion
and the construction of Christian
churches. Consequently, the conversion
of more than two hundred Meranaws to
Christianity was administered by the
Recollect missionaries and their
administration was taken care of by the
minister of Bayug.
• Due to the success of Spanish invasion
of Lanao, Fray Agustin recommended
the immediate construction of a well-
garrisoned fort to effectively guard the
Meranaws, otherwise their efforts would
have been useless. In order to curtain
retaliation and considering the
possibility that once the Spaniards leave
the area, Sultan Kudarat might come to
the aid of the resisting Meranaws and
would encourage them to fight until the
end.
• However, the recommendation of Fr.
Agustin was not given favorable
action by the higher authorities.
Instead the Spanish troops left the
area bringing with them 17 Meranaw
captives after confiscating their
arms and ammunition, thinking that
the Meranaws would commit to
follow what was agreed upon, and
thus, behave accordingly.
• Meanwhile, Capt Atienza notified
Gen. Almonte about the success of
their mission before leaving Lanao.
Gen Almonte on his part sent troop
reinforcement consisting of 70
Spaniards together with 500
Visayans under the command of Sgt.
Pedro Fernandez de el Rio to take
control and complete submission of
the Meranaws.
• The priest who joined this troop was
Fr. Pedro Gutierrez, a Jesuit priest.
While in Marawi, Fr. Pedro Gutierrez
persuaded the sargento mayor to
grant them the responsibility of
propagating Christianity in the
Meranaw territory. The Sergeant
agreed favorably and awarded the
possession of Lanao to the Jesuit
society on behalf of the Governor-
General.
• Thus, Fr. Gutierrez gave notice
that the conquest of Lanao
belonged to their society
discrediting the role played ahead
by the Recollects. Having taken
possession of the area, both the
father and the sargento mayor
returned to their mother units in
Mindanao on the third day.
• Fr. Agustin on his part was very much
stressed by the inaction of the higher
authorities about his suggestion of a
planned and proposed fort in the area.
From his point of view, any delay of such
plan would enable the Meranaws to gain
strength and inevitably reclaim their
liberty and would strongly take arm to
defend it. He continued by saying that
the existence of a fort in the area is very
necessary so as to prevent any
approaching forces of Sultan Kudarat.
• Fr. Agustin strongly believe that if that
would happen, the Spaniards would
encounter a more serious and difficult
task to regain control of the Meranaws.
Hence, he decided to travel to Manila to
personally persuade the governor-
general for the immediate construction
of a well-garrisoned fort because if this
will not be materialized all things were
in danger. He was accompanied by
some friendly Meranaw datus.
• Fr. Agustin personally enlightened
the Governor-General. This led to a
plan on the immediate construction
of a well-garrisoned fort. Troops
were also planned to be sent for the
garrison and its defense. However,
such decision of the governor-
general delayed due to the
interventions of the Jesuits who
argued that the spiritual
administration of the Meranaw
territory belonged to them.
• They argued that the
representation made by the
Recollects was an intrusion. As a
result of this dynamics, the plan
did not come to fruition. As
decided, Fr. Agustin was no longer
permitted to return to Lanao
instead he was reassigned to
Butuan.
• When the misunderstanding between the Jesuits
and the Recollects subsided, Governor-General
Corcuera pushed through the recommendation of
Fr. Agustin in sending another expedition to Lanao
purposely to fortify the lake and preserve what
had been gained. He instructed Capt. Pedro
Bermudez de Castro to lead the expedition with
500 Visayans from Bohol. The governor-general
also allowed the detained hostages to go back to
Lanao together with the Captain to assure the
Meranaws of his confidence. The captain was
accompanied by Jesuit fathers namely Fr. Diego
Patiño and his associate Fr. Gregorio Belin.
• When the expedition team arrived in
Marawi in 1640, the Spaniards noted
that the atmosphere in the place
was no longer as peaceful as it was
left by Capt. Atienza. The Meranaws
had become indifferent. When the
Spaniards left the area, the
Meranaws destroyed all the crosses
and burned the small buildings that
had served as gathering areas of
those who were converted to
Christianity.
• The coming of Sultan Kudarat to Lanao when the
Spaniards left the area also exacerbated the
Meranaw’s fury against the Spaniards. They were
enlightened by the advice of Sultan Kudarat that
submission to the Spaniards was ridiculous.
Kudarat told them that they never realized that
surrender was nothing else than a toilsome
slavery under the domination of the Spaniards.
He told the Meranaws to look at the other tribal
groups like the Tagalogs and the Visayans who
had been reduced to extreme misery. He retorted
that if they were subdued, they should not expect
better treatment.
• Hence, he offered to give them his aid, and
to employ the strength of his kingdom for
their defense. Consequently, Kudarat
stirred up the Meranaws and agreed to
resist with all their powers.
• The fury of the Meranaws against the
Spaniards however was kept secret. When
the Spaniards returned to Marawi, they
tried to quiet Spanish suspicions, and
showed themselves repentant for what had
happened. They cooperated with the
Spaniards in the construction of the fort.
• But, when the fort was then half-finished
the Meranaw suspended their aid and
turned hostile against the Spaniards. They
finally decided to attack the Spaniards who
are inside the fort. The Spaniards resisted
valiantly, and unceasingly. But the lack of
provisions inside the fort caused them
much rattle and panic. They knew that they
will surely be defeated not through the use
of arms but because of hunger and thirst.
Because their situation was doomed, they
decided to seek reinforcement from Caraga.
• This letter was received by Padre Capitan
when Capt. Francisco de Atienza
accidentally happened to be in Butuan.
Both responded right away because they
realized the ominous danger. They arranged
speedy reinforcement. They finally reached
Marawi and saw within sight of the
captured presidio. The Spaniards believed
that occupants inside the fort no longer
expect any hope of survival because the
fort was already surrounded with straw and
dry grass ready to be burned.
• Luckily, the arrival of an expedition
under Capt. Atienza and Fr. Agustin
saved the trapped Spaniards. The
advancing Spaniards undertook to
break up the siege. Arranging their
troops in order and drawing them up
in military array, they attacked
sword in hand. With great valor and
spirit, they dispersed all enemy
troops in less than two hours and
freed the presidio, which was well
near its ruin.
• When the trapped Spaniards were
finally freed out of the fort, they
took on a boat. They were joined by
some large boats and formed a
considerable squadron and started
moving forward to Iligan. The
Spanish authorities believed that
had it not been for the intervention
of the Jesuits, these achievements
would have led to the completion of
the fort and retention of Capt.
Bermudez de Castro in Lanao.
• The Spanish authorities blamed
the Jesuits’ intervention because
the well-planned and extensive
arrangements of the Spanish
government in Lanao were put to
no effect. Capt. Bermudez
returned to Manila to make a full
report of the incident to the
governor.
• After such failure, Spanish forces
were not able to return to Lake
Lanao for over 250 years. Thus,
the Meranaws maintained their
independent nation under their
traditional organization called
pangampong which was free from
European domination.
• However, after such a long period
of isolation, Governor-General
Valeriano Weyler took personal
command in 1891 to resume
campaigns in Lanao. By that
year (1891) the Meranaws were
headed by Datu Akadir Amai
Pakpak. He was a very influential
and powerful leader of Marawi.
• Skilled in their own native warfare, the
Meranaw defended themselves inside
fortifications called kota built of rocks
and earth, covered with vegetation as
dark as the jungle and studded with
emplacements of ancient cannon. At
times when a kota was surrounded by
enemies, these warriors would spring
like tigers and charge the invaders of
which they were experts at close range.
The lake itself played an important role
in the strategy.
• To make sure that the invasion was
successful, Weyler mobilized 1,242
heavily armed troopers using four
transports, namely the Manila, Cebu,
San Quintin and Marquez de Duero
which landed in Linamon on Iligan
Bay preparatory to their overland
invasion of Lanao. In spite of strong
resistance from the Meranaws, the
Spaniards succeeded in bombarding
Fort Marahui. Both sides suffered
heavy casualties.
 AUGUST 21, 1891
• On the Meranaw camp, survivors escaped
together with Amai Pakpak. The fort was
captured on August 21, 1891 and for the
first time the Spanish flag was raised in
Marawi. However, three days after the
capture of Marawi, the Spanish invaders
decided to withdraw. They were forced to
return to their bases in Iligan because a
considerable number of Meranaws coming
from different settlements around the lake
came with stronger forces to retaliate
against the defeat of their kinsmen.
• In 1894, Governor-General Ramon
Blanco realized that for an
effective control of the people
around Lake Lanao, they must
establish a fleet of steel
steamship similar to the army and
navy equipment to guard against
impending Meranaw invasions
around the lake.
• Consequently, the Spanish government
entered into a agreement with an
English shipbuilding firm in Hongkong for
the initial construction of two light and
armed gunboats named later - the SS
Blanco and the SS Lanao. Both were
capable of bringing well-armed group of
men using Spanish weapons and
English-made rapid-fire guns. In 1895,
another two gunboats were built to
complete a four-gunboat detachment of
the Spanish navy on the lake, namely -
the SS Corcuera and the SS Almonte.
• Meanwhile, Amai Pakpak and his
men rehabilitated Fort Marahui
after its heavy bombardment in
1891. In preparation of an
anticipated attack from the
Spaniards, the Meranaw warriors
were able to fortify the kota with
additional defenses of giant brass
cannons on the stone walls.
 MARCH 10, 1895
• On March 10, 1895, the Spaniards under
the personal command of Governor-
General Ramon Blanco with strong
forces of about 3,000 to 5,000 armed
men invaded Marawi. Despite heavy
losses on both sides, Gov. General
Blanco succeeded in hoisting the
Spanish flag in Marawi for the second
time at the expense of 400 Spanish and
Filipino soldiers killed and wounded. In
that battle, Amai Pakpak was killed
while the remnants of his men retreated
to other forts.
• When the Spaniards had succeeded
in the establishment of a garrisoned
fort in Marawi, they stationed the
fleet of gunboats on the lake with
SS Blanco as the flagship.
Eventually this action wrought
havoc on the Meranaws because the
Spaniards combined their action on
land and water resulted in the
destruction of many kotas.
Movement of Meranaws using war
vintas were also curtailed.
• However, despite their defeat many of
the Meranaw warriors sustained their
resistance by retreating to the hills so
as to build new forts. Amai Manabilang
who was an influential Sultan of Marawi
entered into a peace negotiation with
the Spaniards after the capture of
Marawi in 1895. In that year, as a token
of friendship and to court his
collaboration with the Spaniards,
Governor-General Blanco presented him
a document certifying Amai Manabilang
as his adopted brother.
• The invasion of Marawi would have been
a greater victory on the part of the
Spaniards that may result in the
conversion of the Meranaws to
Christianity but because of the outbreak
of a revolution in the Northern part of
the country and the arrival of the
Americans in 1898, the Spaniards were
forced to abandon Marawi so as to
concentrate their attention to Luzon. In
their hurried evacuation, the Spaniards
sunk their gunboats in the lake to
prevent the Meranaws from using them.