Annotation of Antonio

Morga’s Sucesos De
Las Islas Filipinas
Module 6
Dr. Morga and his “Sucesos”

Antonio de Morga (1559 - 1636) was a Spanish historian, a lawyer and a notable colonial
official for 43 years in the Philippines, New Spain and Peru. He stays in the Philippines,
then a colony of Spain from 1594 to 1604. As a Deputy Governor in the Philippines, he
reestablished the audencia and took over the function of judge (“oidor”).

When he reassigned to Mexico, he published the book Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas in 1609,
considered as one of the most significant works on the early history of the Spanish
colonization of the Philippines.

The history is said to cover the years from 1493 to 1603. Discussions deals with the
political, social and economic phases of life both the natives and their colonizers.

Morga’s official position as a colonial officer allowed him to access too many government
documents. Probably the best account of the Spanish colonialism in the Philippines written
during that period.
Morga’s work is based on documentary research, the author’s keen observation, and his
personal involvement and knowledge.

The history was published in two volumes both in 1609, by Casa de Geronymo Balli in
Mexico City. The first English translation was published in 1868 in London. On the
dedication page, Morga writes “… this small book… is a faithful narrative, devoid of any
artiface and ornament… regarding the discovery, conquest and conversion of the Philippine
Islands, together with the various events in which they have taken part… specially
describing their original condition…”
Rizal’s Annotation of the Book

Patriotic as he was, Jose Rizal had an ardent longing to know the true condition of the
Philippines when the Spanish conquerors came ashore to the islands. He had been working
on the sensible presupposition that the native populations in the archipelago were
economically self-sufficient and thriving and culturally lively and colorful.

To back his theory up, Rizal had to look for a reliable account of the Philippines before and
at the onset of Spanish colonization. Hence, his friend Dr. Ferdinand Blumentritt, a
knowledgable Filipinologist recommended Dr. Antonio Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas
Filipinas. Even then, his history of the Philippines had the impression among many scholars
of having an honest description of the Philippine situation as regards the era covered.
The value of Antonio de Morga's Sucesos de las Islas has long been recognised. A first-hand account
of the early Spanish colonial venture into Asia, it was published in Mexico in 1609 and has since
been re-edited on a number of occasions. It attracted the attention of the Hakluyt Society in 1851,
although the edition prepared for the Society by H. E. J. Stanley was not published until 1868.
Morga's work is based on personal experiences, or on documentation from eye-witnesses of the
events described.

Moreover, as he tells us himself, survivors from Legazpi's expedition were still alive while he was
preparing his book in Manila, and these too he could consult. As a lawyer, it is obvious that he would
hardly fail to seek such evidence. The Sucesos is the work of an honest observer, himself a major
actor in the drama of his time, a versatile bureaucrat, who knew the workings of the administration
from the inside.It is also the first history of the Spanish Philippines to be written by a layman, as
opposed to the religious chroniclers.

Morga's book was praised, quoted, and plagiarized, by contemporaries or successors. Filipinos have
found it a useful account of the state of their native culture upon the coming of the conquistadors;
Spaniards have regarded it as a work to admire or condemn, according to their views and the context
of their times; some other Europeans, such as Stanley, found it full of lessons and examples.
Activity

1. Read Ambeth Ocampo’s : Rizal’s Morga and Views of Philippine History

2. Write at least 5 importance of Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas that helps Jose Rizal to understand the true
condition of the Philippine archipelago before the conquerors came.
3. Create a Political Caricature that represents the Philippine situation base on what you read.

Use this link to open the Google Drive

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YHixHzG4qz9QzTfiQBI1RSk9qADIzKxA/view?usp=sharing

Look for this PDF doc with the title Morga