Annotation of

Antonio de Morga
Sucesos de Las Islas
Filipinas
 Annotation Sucesos
- Is an added note by way - events, happenings or
of comment or explanation occurrences.
to a document or book.

De las Islas Filipinas

- Means “The Philippine
Island”.
Who is Antonio de Morga?
 1559 (November 29) - Antonio de Morga
Sanchez Garay was born in Seville, Spain
 1574 - He graduated from the University of
Salamanca.
 1578 - He received his doctorate degree in
cannon law
 1580 - He joined the government service as
lawyer
 1582 - He served as mayor of Baracaldo in
Vizcaya, Spain (married to Juana de Briviesca
de Munotones)
 1593 (August) - He was notified as Lieutenant
to Governor General of the Philippines
Who is Antonio de Morga?
 1594 (February) - He sailed from Cadiz, Spain
going to Mexico
 1595 (March 22) - He departed Acapulco going
to Manila
 1596 (June 11)-He arrived in Manila and
acquired the second-most powerful position in
the colony as Lieutenant to the Governor
General
 1595- He first served under the Governor-
General Luiz Perez Dasmarinas, who was
interim after his father's death
 1598- He resigned as lieutenant governor and
assumed the office of the oidor or judge in the
Audiencia (Audencia de Manila)
Who is Antonio de Morga?
 During his period, Morga supported the galleon
e trade between Spain and China (China to
Manila)
 1603 (July 10) - Morga was reassigned in
Mexico
 1594 to 1604 - He served for 43 years as
Spanish lawyer and high-ranking colonial
official in the Philippines and he was a
president of the Audiencia for 20 years
 1609 - He published his book, Sucesos de las
Islas Filipinas
 1636 - He died at age of 77
Sucesos de las Isla Filipinas
 Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas (Events in the
Philippine Isles) was a historical account which
described the scenarios in the Philippines from
1493 to 1603 under the colonial rules of Spain.
 Dr. Antonio de Morga as the principal author of
the Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas, published his
work in 1609.
 This work, perhaps was the best account of
Spanish colonialism in the Philippines and it
was merely based partly on documentary
research, partly on keen observation, and
partly on Morga's personal involvement and
knowledge.
 Sucesos de las Isla Filipinas
The book was published in two volumes,
both in 1609 by Casa de Geronymo
Balli, in Mexico City
1609 (April 17) - Viceroy Luis de Velasco
authorized the publication and granted
Morga the sole right to publish it for ten
years
1609 - Fray Garcia Guerra, archbishop
of Mexico, approved the publication of
the work
Sucesos de las Isla Filipinas
 1493 to 1603 - Pre-Colonial Philippines to
Colonialism
 The first volume is consisting seven chapters,
this deals with the discoveries, conquests, and
other events... until the death of Don Pedro de
Acuna.
 The first 7 chapters underscore the
accomplishments of the different governor-
generals assigned in the Philippines
 The last chapter (Chapter8) contains a brief
summary and A account of the nature of these
regions, their inhabitants, the manner of
governing and converting them, and other
details
 Sucesos de las Isla Filipinas
As mentioned by Blair and Robertson (1907), Morga's book is
written in the true historic spirit, which has a special value. Its
various threads of the history of the islands are followed
systematically. This includes political, social, and economic
phases of life. Morga's Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas vividly
portrayed:
 The natives and their conquerors;
 The futility of the Spanish policy in making external
expeditions;
 The consequent neglect of internal affairs;
 The great Chinese question;
 The growth of trade;
 Communication with Japan;
 Missionary movements from the islands to surrounding
countries;
 The jealous and envious opposition of the Portuguese; and
 The dangers of sea-voyages
RIZAL ANNOTATION:
Sucesos de las Isla
Filipinas
Rizal Annotation
 1888 (August 18) - After two hundred
seventy nine (279)years Jose Rizal began to
copy by hand the entire first edition of
Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas.
 1888 (December 11) - Rizal went in Madrid
and Barcelona tosearch the historical
materials in Bibliotheque Nationale
(National Library).
 1889 (By the end of September) - He
brought the manuscriptin Paris for
printing and sent letter to Ferdinand
Blumetritt requesting him to write an
introduction.
 Rizal Annotation
 In January 1890, Rizal published his
annotation;
“Sucesos de las Filipinas por el Doctor
Antonio deMorga. Obra publicada en mejico
en el atlo de 1609,nummente sacada a luz y
anotada por Jose Rizal, yprecedida de un
prologo del prof. Fernando Blumentn’tt”
Translated
(Events in the Philippine Islands by Dr.
Antonio de Morga. A work published in
Mexico in the year 1609,reprinted and
annotated by Jose Rizal and preceded by an
introduction by professor Ferdinand
Blumentritt)
 Rizal Annotation
Rizal’s Annotation: Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas
In the review conducted by Arnel G. Perez (2017),
he generated the following themes in
Rizal’sannotation of Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas
Filipinas,Chapter 8 [Rizal (1962)] :
 The Oriental Islands: Philippines;
 Topography and Seasons of the Oriental
Islands;
 The Oriental People;
 Abundances of Natural Resources;
 Customs and Other Practices of the Oriental
People; and
 Variation of Languages and Dialects among the
Oriental People
The Oriental Islands: Philippines
 The Oriental Islands as described by Morga are found from the
West to the Eastwhen navigated from the India of Portugal. These
islands of the Philippines (OrientalIslands) are all extensive and
principal. Luzon, Mindoro, Tendaya, Capul, Burias, Masbate,
Marinduque, Leyte, Samar, Ibabao, Cebu, Panay, Bohol,
Cranduanes, Calamianes, and Mindanao are the known islands.
 However, as annotated by Rizal the Island
Tendaya is difficult to determine
becausethe island is either referring to the
chief called Tandaya or to the
southeastern part of Samar called Ibabao
or Zibabao (Rizal, 1962:241).
Topography and Seasons of the
Oriental Islands
 As described by Morga, the temperature on
these islands change from various regions
andprovinces. From the month of June up
to September heavy downpour of rains,
whirl-winds, andstorms are experienced.
From the month of October up to the end of
May, the skies are clear andthe sea is
smooth. But in some provinces, winter or
cold season and heavy rains begin earlier
than in others.
 Topography and Seasons of the
Oriental Islands

 In the annotation of Rizal, he corrected Morga

for considering rainy seasons as winter and the
rest of the year belongs to summer season. He
also added that Manila by months of
December, January, and February the
thermometer goes down more than in the
months of August andSeptember (Rizal,
1962:242)
 The Oriental People
 As observed by Morga, the people who inhabit the large island of Luzon in
the province of Camarines with the neighboring provinces around Manila are
the natives of the islands who are middle-sized and similar in color like the
quince fruit. Both men and women have good features, very black hair,
scarce beard, quite ingenious and resolute, keen, and quick-tempered.
 In the province of Cagayan, the natives
have the same complexion but they are
more physically able, brave, and warlike
than the others. They have long hairs and
hand down with their shoulder. The
natives of Luzon before the advent of the
Spaniards wear clothes made of cangan
fabric without collar, bahaque (bahag) with
their waste, and potong tightly over the
forehead
 The Oriental People
 The natives of the southern part, islands of Visaya
are known themas the tattooed people. They are
good-looking, good disposition,living in the better
conditions, and having nobler manners thanthose
in the islands of Luzon and surrounding one.
Natives fromthis place wear large earrings of gold
and ivory, and bracelet

 In the annotation of Rizal, he corrected Morga

describing that menand women go out without any
outer garments and barefooted. Heclarified that
natives in all places are circumspect and careful
incovering their bodies with extreme modesty and
bashfulness.
 The Oriental People
 Men and women particularly the prominent people are very clean and
neat in their person. They dye their hair and they use gogo as their
shampoo. They bathe their entire bodies in the river or stream. Rizal
clarified the use of gogo, he rather mentioned that the bark of shrub is
crushed and not cooked. Similar, he mentioned about bathing of some
women during menstruation and bathing after the funeral (Rizal,
1962:246)
 Moreover, as regard with their roles, the women weave blanket sand
spin cottons. They pound the rice which is to be cooked for their meals
and prepare the rest of the food. They do the house chores and they
also help in livestock raising like chickens and pigs. However, the
men-folk engage in the work of the fields, fishing, boating, and
farming.
Abundances of Natural Resources
 During the pre-conquest time, there is abundance of
natural resources. There are variety of fruit bearing trees
and different species of fishes. Livestock like cows, pigs, and
chickens are also abundant in the provinces. As quoted by
Rizal, there was such abundance of cattle that Fr. Gaspar
de San Agustin says, speaking about Dumangas. This
convent has an extensive farm for cattle, of so many cows
that there was a time when they were over 30,000. This
farm also has many and very fine horses (Rizal, 1962:252)
 Variation of Languages and
Dialects among the Oriental
People
 As described by Morga, the language spoken in Luzon and
adjoining islands is very different from that spoken in the
Visayas. Cagayan have their own dialect likewise with the
Ilocanos, Zambalenos, Pampanga, Manila, and other provinces.
Throughout the islands, writing is well developed and writing was
done on bamboo pieces or on paper. As stated by Rizal, the
horizontal direction was adopted after the coming Spaniards
(Rizal, 1962:273
 Customs and Other Practices of
the Oriental People
 Prominent in the observation of Morga is about the custom on
marriage. Marriage among the natives are generally between the
principals and their fellow principals or nobles. The practice of
dowry is also observed during that time. This observation was
supported by Rizal:
"This custom continued the union between the parents and the
children, a wiser practice that which is followed in many parts of
Europe where cases are found of children neglecting their
parents once they have taken possession of their patrimony, or
of parents who do not consent to the marriage of their children in
order not to part with their property" (Rizal, 1962:282)
 Customs and Other Practices of
the Oriental People
 This dowry, if can be called thus, represented a
compensation for the parents of the bride for the care
and education of their daughter (Rizal, 1962:283).

 Bigay-kaya (dowry) means to give what one can, a

voluntary offering, a gift of good-will. This confirms
further that in the case of marriage there was no sale,
unlike in the already known alms for scapulars, rosaries,
belt, etc. (Rizal, 1962:284)
Conclusion
Rizal's annotation of Morga's Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas
affirmed and clarified the entire works of Dr. Antonio de
Morga. In his annotation, Rizal asserted his personal
observation and experiences which he failed to avoid his
personal sentiments against the Spanish government and
Friar officials.

As Ferdinand Blumenttrit commented, Rizal committed the

error of many historians in appraising the events of the
past in the light of present standards. and Rizal made a
bad impression about Catholicism (cruel method and
abuses of the priest)
 Importance of Rizal’s Annotation
to the Present Generation
 To awaken in the Filipinos the consciousness of our past
 To devote ourselves to studying the future.
 To first lay bare the past in order to better judge the present and to
survey the road trodden during three centuries.
 To prove Filipinos and culture of their own, prior to colonization, that
the Filipinos were not inferior to the white man
 To shatter the myth of the so-called “ Indolence of Filipinos”.
 To reduce those Filipinos who denied their native toung into rotten
fish.
 To embrace the generic term “Indio” or in today’s case. Filipino, with
all it’s negative connotation and turn it into one dignity and nobility.