Chapter 7

During the occupation of Legazpi, the main characteristics of the native and
Spanish people were needed to understand the type of exploitation carried

out how much suffering it caused and the nature of the resistance it caused,
while other communities developed the concept of private property did not
yet exist in the tribe. In terms of mercantilism the Spanish emphasized the
instantaneous generation of wealth for commerce rather than sticking to
long-term natural resource development. Church and state shows the active
participation of friars in the colonial administration. Some of the natives
have tried to drive the Spanish away and the first attempts are led by
lapulapu who fought with Magellan. Another attempt in 1587 was led by
Magat Salamat and Augustine de Legazpi, they seek assistance to Bornean
rulers and Japanese captains who were supposed to help them drive out the
spanish but the plan ended when they were betrayed by another chchief.
The fight against the cruel method of collection of the tributes gave people
the urge for revolt. Forced labour is also one of the cause of the uprising, the
people seek for help from the borneans but this time a native woman
married to a Spanish soldier betrayed them. The Spaniards tried to win over
influential chiefs by rewarding them and giving them exemptions from
tribute and forced labor. It is a great step for Spaniards as a start of
colonizing during the hispano dutch war abuses were condoned as the
natives helped to produce the supply and manpower needed as for the
increase of demands of materials for the war. Given that the other people
has limited consciousness their basis for protest was a contra position of the
power that their old gods has to the power of the new religion. Tamblot is a
babaylan who told that he had seen a goddess who promised the people a
life of abundance without the burden of paying tribute. If they would start
an uprising against the Spaniards, which started their revolt. Spaniards called
this revolt as dangerous one as it can spread to other areas and
communities. The revolt was then followed by the Latinos. Their nativism
and superstitious beliefs were evident but they were defeated and banco's
head was placed on a stake as public warning. Another nativistic uprising
then was led by Tapar, convincing his followers through his stories of talking
to a demon who had promised them help. Tapar proclaimed himself god
almighty and give certain titles to his followers such as Christ holy Christ and
Virgin Mary. It has features where Catholicism is adopted. As there were
demands on labor since hispano dutch war all the regulations made for
protecting the pallistas were discarded, it caused a higher rate of abuses.
Sumuroy led the first resistance against forced labor. He ordered to kill a
priest and burn church's resulting friars to flee and the rebels regrouped. The
important aspect of this revolt is that it caused other coastal villages to
initiate on taking actions. It somewhat gave motivation to others on joining
the rebellion. Northern Mindanao uprising was led by Dabao as a cause of
the controversial decree to send carpenters to the Cavite shipyard. He is
known for his tricks, one of his tricks mentioned is when he volunteered to
catch the man who stole a quantity of maize and rice, he chose eight strong
followers of his and bound their hands behind their back in a way that they
can untie themselves at a signal. When his disguised prisoners have to be
set for their punishments Dabao drew his dagger and attacked the captain
and then his followers joined him. The nativistic revolts gave opportunities
to the chiefs. The people still follow their chiefs despite their involvement on
exploitative processes. The local chiefs were delegated on the job of
recruiting manpower. They often confiscate the wages of the laborers and
others had to pay for substitute workers. By the time of the historical status
quo, chiefs made use of the people’s libertarian impulses to satisfy their own
ambitions which led for the awakening of the advanced provinces of Luzon
to rise against Spain. Pampanga was greatly affected of all the forced labor.
Their goods and services got a rate much lower than the market price. The
government owed them 200 000 pesos. Their immediate cause of uprising
waste ill treatment and they chose don Francisco maniago as their leader.
Spaniards were alarmed as the people were trained military art and the
Spanish force in the philippines that time was greatly reduced. The governor
started with force gathering three hundred thousand men as a show of
mutual cordiality causing other rebels to waver and distrust onr another. De
Lara promised to Macapagal many rewards if he would side with the
government but it was all a lie as he was not protected but was hostage. The
rebels sent an envoy for Macapagal but he killed him. He became a loyal
defender of his majesty. The governor proposed a partial payment of
fourteen thousand on two hundred thousand do amount as for what the
government owes De Lara returned to manila with Maniago and appointed
him as maestre de campo. The Pampanga revolt was really non-revolt as
there were no deaths, no burn churches and villages. The crisis in Pampanga
is evident in this revolt. The chiefs have become the middlemen of power
and all their selfishness had caused people struggle. Natives from the
community of Pampanga had a long history of cooperation with Spaniards.
Their modus viviendi had a firm material basis. The two forces benefited
from each other. Andres proclaimed himself king of Pangasinan and made
Gumapos as a count. He then sent letters to the chiefs demanding their
allegiance and he asked them to kill the Spaniards. The revolt is remarkably
joined by great number of people. The uprising was not known by the
Spaniards as it spreads. Malong's forces were large but the Spaniards still
managed to kill 500 rebels and they were defeated.
The history of the people’s struggles for freedom and a better life was the
most fundamental aspect of Philippine history. The native inhabitants of the
archipelago gradually became aware of their identity as one nation during
the anti-colonial struggles against Spain. The pattern of the struggles faced
by the masses in the past will provide us with an understanding of the
importance of fighting for freedom as well as enlightenment on their
contribution to where we are now. People once joined us but later on
regretted, on the other hand Ilokano chiefs are more concerned with their
valuables so they brought their preachers to the bishop’s house. The bishop
then publicly threatened the Zambals with excommunication in order to
protect the valuables of the chiefs but the Zambals didn’t like the threat,
they sent the bishop to Santa Catarina and proceeded to root his house. A
new development worth noting during the rebellion where attitude of the
rebels toward religion rebellion did not result in a resurgence of nativism, in
fact the rebels on occasion asked to hear mass and to be confessed.
Observance of catholic Christ however did not prevent them from
appropriating or destroying church property. Priests were killed and some of
the priests were jailed or sent away. The Pampanga, Pangasinan and Ilocos
uprisings of the 1660s were typical examples of revolts led by principales.
Pedro Almazan as one of the members of the principalia was the first leader
from Ilocos who revolts against Spaniards. They shared grievances with
people making it possible to them to have a common cause. The Boholanos
was led by Francisco Dagohoy was the most successful revolt. They
maintained their independence for 85 years. The factors which helped them
were the distance from manila and the fact that Spaniards were busy with
the British invasion during part of this period. Mountain settlements proved
beneficial in more than a tactical sense, it is a great advantage in terms of
distance as it ensures a higher safety from the Spaniards, on top of that
they can easily get access to food coming from the resources in the
mountain like fruits and vegetables, they also has access for resources
needed on making their shelters. Unsuccessful military attempted to put an
end on the revolt, it was then the church’s turn to make the effort bishop
Espeleta of Cebu tried to persuade the rebels to give up their assistance by
promising to secure a general amnesty to find remedies for the abuses of
government officials and also to assign secular priests instead of just Jesuits
to the Bohol parishes but the rebel refused the offer. The recollect
missionaries also tried to persuade Dagohoy to abandon his rebellion but
there was no further proof that Dagohoy agreed on 1827. An expedition of
2200 native and Spanish troops failed to suppress the rebellion. It was
followed by the military expedition on 1828. The Boholano rebels prepared
their defense by building stone trenches around it , after suffering many
casualties, the survivors were forced to abandon the port. After the end of
the rebellion around 10 000 of the rebels had to be resettled in five new
villages and the rest distributed to other villages in order to ensure peace.
By the middle of the 18 th century more and more people were already
becoming aware of all the economic injustices by the church such as land
grabbing subjecting the cultivators, searching throughs and charging
exorbitant. Struggles of the people against abuses of government officials
and friars were given new momentum with the British occupation of manila
in late 1762. People demanded abolition of the tribute and the replacement
of the alcalde mayor who had been committing many abuses. The Silang
revolt contributed a lot in the story of rebellion during the Spanish
colonization, it lasted five months from december 14 1762 to may 28 1763.
This revolt provides us with the prototype of the ilustrado leadership of the
19th century. He urged the masses to fight the British, he stated that his task
required the unity of the principales and the common people into the
commercial.The indulto de comercio was a privilege sold by the central
government, a right given to alcalde mayor to engage in trades also
affected both the principales and the common people. These act as the
shared common basis for action against the Spanish rule. Silang was only
against all the abuses of the Spanish rule and the heavy taxation. These
demands were all important actions for the betterment of the community.
Silang’s demands were all important steps that made him achieve some of
his goals including the freedom of people. The second phase of Silang’s
career shifted his allegiance in a most survival way from one master to
another, if we analyze this tactic, it is essential to build connection and
gather more knowledge in other perspective. Silang sent a letter to the
British commander declaring himself convinced of the superior qualities of
the English. He offered his allegiance and that of his people, he also tried to
impress the British by proving his power over his people, he offered that he
will seize the Augustinian friars and have them ready whenever the
kingdom has them. His gifts were also enumerated in the letter. The letter
convinced the British and they gave Silang a title making him more like a
British puppet. Through the rebels we can be aware of a larger perspective
considering our rights in the community. Every successive uprising of our
ancestors were considered as a brave step for political awakening and they
also contributed to the national consciousness of the people.

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Chapter 7

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During the occupation of Legazpi, the main characteristics of the native and

Spanish people were needed to understand the type of exploitation carried

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