Chapter 4: Spanish Era

In Search of New Lands

The Portuguese were few years ahead of the Spaniards in the Discovery of new trade routes. Inspired by Prince
Henry, The Navigator (1394 – 1460), Portuguese navigators sailed down the African coast to reach the East. In
1487, led by Bartolomew Dias, the Portuguese rounded the Cape of Good Hope in Africa. A few years later, in
1498, he reached Calicut, India, by sailing eastward from the Cape of Good Hope.

Christopher Columbus (Christoforo Colombo), who had failed to convince the King of Portugal that he could
reach the East by sailing westward, was able to get the support of the Spanish Crown. Columbus is a well- known
navigator from Genoa who served King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I of Spain. In Year 1492, he reached the
land which he thinks that was India and he called the natives Indians. The land that he discover was not the India
thus it is the new continent which is not part of Asia called America (New World), named after a well- known
navigator Amerigo Vespucci.

On May 3, 1493, Pope Alexander VI, attempting to settle the rivalry, issued a papal bull known as the Inter
Caetera. The Pope decreed that the Spanish zone of exploration should be west of the imaginary line drawn
north to south, 100 leagues west of the Azores and Cape Verde Islands. All lands east of the demarcation line
should belong to Portugal. The demarcation line was drawn to identify Spanish and Portuguese spheres of
exploration and conquest. The following year, the two kingdoms agreed in the Treaty of Tordesillas to move the
demarcation line 370 leagues west of Cape Verde Islands and still be guided by the provisions of the papal bull.

Magellan’s New Route to the East

September 20, 1519, Ferdinand Magellan (Fernando Magallanes in Spain), (FernaoMagalhaes in Portugal) left
the port of San Lucar de Barrameda, Spain with five ships namely Trinidad, Concepcion, Santiago, San Antonio,
and Victoria together with about 250 men. Together with him were Fr. Pedro de Valderama, Antonio Pigafetta,
Duarte Barbosa, and his Malay slave Enrique de Malacca.

The snowstorms were in a headstrong. The men became apprehensive and asked Magellan that they all return
to Spain, but Magellan declined. Instead, he asked them to take courage. The ship took shelter from storms in
Port San Julian (now in Argentina) in March 1520.

With the first signs of spring, the exploratory voyage continued in search of a route to the Southern Sea (now
Pacific Ocean) discovered by Vasco Nuñez in 1513. A strong typhoon had driven ashore and destroyed the
smallest ship, Santiago. In August, the four ships went farther south and eventually, they came upon a strait
which Magellan called “Strait of All Saints” (now Strait of Magellan). Magellan sent the San Antonio to explore
the southeast opening of the strait. Trinidad entered the southwest. Secretly, San Antonio, the biggest ship who
carried their foods, piloted by Esteban Gomez, deserted on the night of November 20 and sailed back to Spain.

In the next five months, the ship was running out of supplies. Instead of biscuits, the men ate sawdust, leather
rope, rats and worms. Many got sick with scurvy (a gum disease). A number of his men died.

March 6, 1521, had reached an Island in Western Pacific. He called it Islas de Velas Latinas because the boats
flagship has Latin signs (it is the Island of Marianas today). He gave another name to this island after they stole
the ship Trinidad; he called it Isla de Ladrones (Islands of Thieves).

Discovery of the Philippine Islands

From Ladrones Islands, Magellan's fleet went on their voyage westward. At the dawn of Saturday, on March 16,
1521, they saw the towering heights of Tandaya (Samar) and named the island Islas de San Lazaro, for it was
the feast day of St. Lazarus. In March 18, he met the native tribe of Homonhon found at the mouth of Leyte Gulf
and built two tents for the sick. The natives welcome the Spaniards and gave them wines, bananas, fish and
coconuts.

On Holy Thursday, March 28, the fleet landed in Masao (Masawa) or known as Limasawa an island in Southern
Leyte. He met Rajah Kolambu and Siagu and performed a Pacto de Sangre (blood compact) a sign of friendship
on March 29, Good Friday.

On Eastern Sunday, March 31, a mass was held on Limasawa's shore with Fr. Pedro de Valderama officiating. At
the sundown, Magellan, in the presence of Spaniards and Filipinos, planted a large wooden cross on the summit
of a hill overlooking the sea. He named the country the Islas de San Lazaro.
On April 7, Magellan rogether with Rajah Kolambu and Spanish and native fleets landed on Sugbu (Cebu). On
the same day, Rajah Humabon chief of Sugbu made a blood compact with Magellan after the latter had won his
trust and friendship.

On Sunday, April 14, a mass on the shore of Cebu was held with Rajah Humabon and his people attending the
ceremony. After the mass, Magellan planted a huge wooden cross and gave Lisabeta, wife of Humabon, an
image of the Child Jesus (Sto. Niño) as a gift. There were 800 Filipinos who participated in the mass and
underwent ritual baptism. As for Humabon renamed as Carlos, made him the King's representative in Cebu and
his wife Lisabeta renamed as Juana and promised to unite the local chieftains under his authority.

Rajah Humabon and Datu Zula of Mactan welcomed the Spaniards, but not Lapulapu (Kalipulako) another
chieftain of Mactan. Lapulapu refused to accept the new political system and pay tribute (tributo). He decided
to break away from Rajah Humabon. To teach him a lesson, Magellan invaded Mactan on April 27, 1521. He led
an army of 60 steel- clad Spaniards in three vessels and 1,000 Cebuano warriors in 30 boats. He told Rajah
Humabon and his men to stay on thier boats and watch how the Europeans fight.

Magellan had misjudged the fighting skill of Lapulapu and his men. The Mactan warriors repulsed the Spanish
force with their spears and bamboo stakes. They aimed their spears at the unshielded legs of the Europeans. The
Spaniards were forced to go back to their boats. Magellan was wounded in the battle. A poisoned arrow hit his
rigth leg and then a bamboo spear struck his face. Lapulapu and his fighthers pounced and killed him. The
remaining Europeans retreated and left the body of their captain behind.

The battle of Mactan was a scandalous defeat for the Spaniards for they were not able to prove themselves
better in combats. On May 1, the natives of Cebu carried out the plan to massacre them. While the Europeans
attending a banquet prepared for them by Rajah Humabon, the warriors attacked them.

The remaining members of the expedition were forced to flee the islands before the Cebuanos could kill them
all. They burned the ship Concepcion for lack of men to operate the vessel. With two ships left – Trinidad and
Victoria, they continued their voyage to Moluccas.

On November 8, 1521, they finally landed in Tidore, an island in Moluccas. They were able to reach cargo of
spices. The survivors decided that the Trinidad, led by Gomez de Espinosa, would sail back to Spain by crossing
the Pacific to Panama, while the Victoria, under Juan Sebastian del Cano’s command would sail via Cape of
Good Hope, to avoid the Portuguese.

The Victoria crossed the Indian Ocean, rounded the Cape of Good Hope and finally reached San Lucar, Spain on
September 6, 1522, with only 18 survivors. The voyage around the world lasted 2 years, 11 months, and 16 days.

5 Post – Magellan’s Expedition

1. Jofre de Loaysa – sailed on 1525 with 7 ships and 450 men. Failed to reach the Philippines.
2. Sebastian Cabot – sailed on 1526 with 4 ships and 250 men. Failed to find the Strait of Magellan.
3. Alvaro Saavedra – sailed on 1527 with 3 ships and 110 men. First expedition from the Viceroyalty in Mexico
(Nueva España/New Spain). Only one ship, the Florida reached Surigao in Northeastern Mindanao but failed to
colonize the country.
4. Ruy Lopez de Villalobos – sailed on 1542 with 6 ships and 400 men. He named Mindanao Caesarea Caroli, or
the imperial islands of Charles. He named Sarangani, Antonia in Honor of Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza of
Mexico. He renamed Leyte, Felipina in honor of the future king Philip II of Spain. Later, the name Felipinas was
given to all the islands. Villalobos failed also to colonized the Mindanao.
5. Miguel Lopez de Lagazpi (1505 – 1572) – sailed on November 19, 1564 with 4 ships and 380 men. He was
accompanied by Father Andres de Urdaneta, Felipe Salcedo (Legazpi’s grandson), Guido de Lavezaris and
Melchor de Legazpi (Legazpi’s son).

On February 22, 1565, he made a Pacto de Sangre (Blood Compact) with Urrao, friendly chief from Samar. He
also welcomed by the young chieftain of Limasawa named Bankaw. He landed in Bohol and befriend with the
two native kings, Sikatuna and Gala on March 16, 1565 and made a blood compact after a few day with the
similar pact.

On April 27, 1565, he arrived in Cebu. Rajah Tupas and his Cebuano warriors challenged the enemy forces but
were overpowered by the Spaniards.

On April 28, 1565, one of his men named Juan de Camuz a Greek sailor discovered the image of Sto. Niño in one
of the houses, and believed that the image that found was the image given to the mother of Rajah Tupas and
wife of Rajah Humabon, Lisabeta (Juana). Viewing is as a sign of God’s approval, he named the first settlement
and city Ciudad de Santissimo Nombre de Jesus (City of the Most Holy Name of Jesus), in honor of the sacred
image.
The Spanish Conquest of the Islands
The Augustinian missionaries, on the other hand, went assiduously spreading the Christian Faith. The first
Cebuano convert was Jandulaman, a widowed niece of Tupas, later on named Isabel in honor of Isabel Garces,
Legazpi’s deceased wife. After her baptism she married Master Andres, a Greek member of Legazpi’s expedition.
Fray Diego Herrera officiated the wedding, the first Christian marriage on Philippine soil. Rajah Tupas also
accepted baptism and named Felipe, in honor of Philip II of Spain. Tupas son name Pinsucan was likewise
baptized and was named Carlos.

In 1569, Lagazpi transferred to Panay due to meager food provisions in Cebu. He sent his grandson to Mexico
with his first report to the Spanish King. The people of with their two chiefs Datu Macabaog and Datu Madidong
became Christians.

Legazpi heard the well- known city in the North named Manila. In May 8, 1570, he sent Juan de Salcedo and
Martin de Goiti. They past on Mindoro and asked for Tributo (Tribute/ Tax). From Mindoro De Goiti and his
1 200 Spanish men and 600 natives from Panay continue their plan going to Manila while Salcedo and his men
stay on Bonbon (Taal, Batangas today) and claimed it as the land belong to Spain.

De Goiti find the Manila as a rich city with the traders from China, Siam, Arab, India, and Japan. Chinese and
Japanese people also lived there with the natives. He sent this interpreter ashore to invite the local chief to a
conference, with Rajah Matanda and his nephew Rajah Sulayman and they accepted it. There was also the chief
of Tondo Rajah Lakandula.

On May 24, 1570, De Goiti seized Manila after the war between the Rajah Sulayman’s men and De Goiti’s 80
men fighters in Sulayman’s fort (Fort Santiago stands today). De Goiti back and some of his men back to Panay
and report on what was happened on the rich kingdom of Manila. From thereon, Legazpi decided to colonized
Manila.

On April 1571, with the stronger expedition consisting of 27 vessels, 280 each Spaniards, and 600 Visayan allies.

Lakandula, king of Tondo realized that it was useless to resist the Spanish forces. He welcomed Legazpi and
persuaded his nephew Sulayman to make peace with Legazpi.

On June 24, 1571, the Feast of Saint John the Baptist, he proclaimed Manila as the capital of the Philippines
(celebrated as Manila’s foundation day). He called the city Nueva Castilla.

From Manila he commanded his grandson Juan de Salcedo to captive the cities from Center and North Luzon. He
apprehended the territory of Rizal, Laguna, Zambales, Pangasinan, and Ilocos. He proclaimed the city of Villa
Fernandina (Vigan today), and past captured the shores of Luzon, territory of Quezon like Polilio before he back
to Manila.

Years later, King Philip II, by his Royal Decree of June 1, 1574, named Manila, Insigne y Siempre Leal Ciudad
(Distinguished and Ever Loyal City).

On the August 20, 1572, Legazpi, the first Spanish governor and adelantado (title given to those who personally
funded their expedition) of the Philippines, died of heart attack. Guido de Lavezaris succeeded and stayed in
post until 1575.