Sucesos De Las Islas Pilipinas

Summary of Events

The Philippine islands have a long history of colonization from different colonizers. These

colonizers were, for the most part, interested in the natural resources that can be found in remote

islands in the tales of travelers. One of these blessed islands is the Philippines, an island with long

coastlines and a rich culture. But not until the Spanish came and replaced our culture with their

own negotiated culture to subdue us and make us follow their majesty’s will. Antonio Morga wrote

about the Philippines’ history based from his experiences and later on annotated by Jose Rizal for

clarity and corrections. This is the history of the Philippines ------ our history.

Chapter 1: Discovery and Conquest

Little is known about the world back then, only tales of far away lands can be heard from the

mouth of intrepid travelers eager to explore even more areas of the world. Even nations took

interest in the prospect of exploration as it will open up new knowledge and another not-so-obvi-

ous intention is economic implication. Two nations who were active in the field of exploration with

well-deserved reputation, namely Spain and Portugal, contested the right to explore the world.

These two powerful colonists have to be brought into terms by Pope Alexander the sixth, arrang-

ing a bilateral exploration agreement. Originally, a portugese by the name of Ferdinand Magel-

lan arrived in the Philippines, however, the natives got wind of his true intentions and was killed by

a native chief Lapu-Lapu. Finally, after so many years, a spanish explorer, Adelantado Miguel

Lopez De Legaspi was successful in negotiating a truce eventually giving him the chance to man-

age the Philippines under the command of his Majesty.

 Despite the Adelantados’ success in courting the natives, some didn’t react so nicely and main-

tained a stubborn stance against the Adelantado. With the help of the seemingly used natives of

Sebu, the Adelantado set forth to quell the uproar of rogue villages working against his will. It is

important to point out, according to Rizal, that the natives of sebu who helped the Adelantado in

pacifying the other towns were also using this as an opportunity to win leverage on the side of the

spaniards. Those who helped in the pacification were given huge exemptions on tax. Everything

was well until a chinese pirate, Limahong, plundered Manila and killed the master of the camp

Martin De Goiti. The Adelantado rallied against Limahong with the help of native chiefs from dif-

ferent parts of the archipelago to drive the pirate away succesfully.

Chapter 2: Francisco De Sande’s Term and other Events

Adelantado’s governorship was prematurely ended by his death due to old age. Juan De Sal-

cedo, his son, won the hearts and minds of the ilocanos for his natural intelligence and gentleness.

News of Adelantado’s death reached Spain, the king of Spain appointed a Mexican native Fran-

cisco De Sande to rule the Philippines and restore order. Again, Sande encountered resistance

from the abrupt change in leadership, pacification campaigns have to me mounted. Just as when

they thought they have pacified everyone, conflict brews up in Mindanao. De Sande didn’t meet

too much success in Mindanao as its terrain and diversity makes it hard to conquer. All he could

do was to offer a peace treaty and established camps only on the northern parts of Mindanao.

Like Adelantado, a spanish colony was established in Camarines Sur. In honor of De Sande’s

hometown in Mexico, the colony was named Caceres. There is a huge resemblance between the

governorship of Adelantado to the governorship of De Sande, a cycle of negotiation, conflict,

suppression and peace. With years of governing the Philippines, De Sande’s body was slowly

giving in to old age. Penalosa is dispatched to fill in the ailing former’s place, it didn’t take long

and De Sande dies. Penalosa is now the new governor of the Philippines.
Chapter 3: Ronquillo De Penalosa’s Term and other Events

The Beginning of this chapter is marked by a surge of immigrants flocking in from Spain to

revitalize the Philippine tourism. By order of his majesty, Penalosa was given the authority to take

600 married and single castillans to the Philippines. Penalosa founds a spanish town in Panay and

named it Arevalo, again, under the tradition of honoring his town of origin. Trading in the Philip-

pines flourished as goods went in and out of the Philippines, the Chinese became an active trad-

ing partner with the Philippines enjoying privileges as a favored trading partner. Also, Penalosa

actively sought the economic interest of the Philippines by sending a trading ship to Peru in order

to acquire goods he thinks the Philippines need. Because of storms and because of navigational

problems, the ship did not reach Peru and instead returned to the Philippines.

Chapter 4: The Administration of Doctor Sanctiago De Vera and its Suppression

De Vera arrives in the Philippines and enters Penalosa’s office, he was recieved with full honors.

Reinforcements were sent to Maluco for conquest by the chief captain of Tidore. A ship full of

gold and merchandise of great value was intercepted by Thomas Escander, an englishman. The

King of Spain wanted an account of the Philippine islands, Alonso Sanchez was sent to Spain to

inform the King of the Philippines current situation. Alonso Sanchez’ true motives appeared, after

gaining much publicity by going to rome in visiting the pope, he asked for numerous concessions

that appeared outside the benefit of the Philippines until it became unbearable. He asked for the

removal of the current audiencia in the Philippines. Later on, Dasmarinas took office, he was given

by the king a large sum of money to sustain his voyage, he was even appointed as a knight in the

order of Santiago. He left from Mexico and sailed to the Philippines with what ships, soldiers and

goods he could spare. He arrived in Manila in 1590.

Chapter 5: The Administration of Gomez Perez Dasmarinas
and Licentiate of Pedro De Rojas

Gomez Perez reaches the Philippines. While here, he suppressed the audiencia. Little did

anybody know of his arrival and so everybody was caught by surprise. He was brimming with

vigor and enthusiasm as he appropriated his tasks as the new governor. For the first time, the

relationship between the Japanese and the Philippines were strained, trade ships arriving here

from Japan became less and less. Gomez Perez was a bit ambitious, he envisioned capturing the

island of Maluco as it possessed precious trade goods especially spices.

Chapter 6: The Administration of Don Francisco Tello

Don Luis Dasmarinas was waiting for news from captain Juan Xuarez Gallinato. Diplomatic

relations between the Philippines and Cambodia were reaching a defining point. A new Gover-

nor, Don Tello was also sent here to the Philippines to relieve the current governor as his term was

almost at its end. A new archbishop of Manila, fray Ygnacio Sanctivanez, will be arriving with

Don Tello. Shortly after Don Tello was seated, Estevan Rodriguez de Figueroa died in Mindanao.

His remains were sent to the College of Manila. The war on Mindanao was getting costly, plans to

abandon it have never been seriously considered, if the Philippines was to be molded as a whole

nation, they will need to pacify Mindanao just like any other island here in the Philippines.
Chapter 7: The Administration of Don Pedro Acuna

In what seems to be an endless cycle, another new governor was sent here to the Philippines.

Don Pedro De Acuna will now be the new governor of the Philippines. He is said to be intellectu-

ally and politically adept on account of him being appointed as the new governor. It didn’t take

long and he died of an acute illness, it now fell into the hands of the upcoming governor to con-

tinue the positive streak Acuna had started. Piracy was also at its all time high as periodic raids

by settlers from Mindanao partially dulled the trading sector. Huge seaports capable of building

warships were constructed to safeguard the trading channels.

Chapter 8: The Philippine Islands

The eastern islands, as mandated by the Treaty of Tordesillas, belongs to Spain. The Philip-

pine islands are rich in natural resources which made it very attractive to Spain. A source of raw

materials ready for exploitation was seen. Counting all the islands here is impossible, roughly 40

islands are large enough to be considered as a major island, the rest are islets. Upon arrival at

Sebu, the spanish encountered natives with painted bodies which they called Pintados. The span-

iards established their main base in Manila as it was a lot more accessible to trade and travel

more than any other islands here in the Philippines.