Our Latin American

Heritage
and

The British Invasion

Intended Learning Outcomes:
1.Students will able to enumerate the events during
the early year of Spanish colonization, when most of
the officials were Mexicans.
2.Students will able to identify the causes why
Philippines fell to the hands of British.
3.Students will able to identify the high official of
Mexican and British government.
 The Philippines had very close relations with Mexico during
Spanish era. The Philippines was colonized from Mexico in 1565.
For 256 years (1565-1821), our county was rules by Spain from
its Mexican colony. So, our heritage was enriched by the Mexican
or Latin American culture. The close relationship was broken only
when the Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821.
MEXICO'S ROLE IN THE CONQUEST OF THE
PHILIPPINES
Mexico played a great conquest of the Philippines by Spain. After the Magellan
expedition, the Legazpi expedition was successful in colonizing the Philippines in 1563.
This expedition was patronize by the Mexican authorities , paid for by Mexican funds, and
manned by the Mexican soldiers and sailors.
It was Legazpi, with the help of Father Urdaneta, who conquered the Philippines for
Spain. But both Legazpi and Urdaneta were only Spanish by birth; actually they lived in
Mexican success.
It maybe also be said that without the additional troops, missionaries, and supplies from
Mexico, Legazpi's expedition could not have succeeded. The additional soldiers were
recruited from Mexican towns. The missionaries came from Mexico. Also, the supply for
food, ammunition came from Mexico.
 It maybe also be said that without the additional troops, missionaries, and
supplies from Mexico, Legazpi's expedition could not have succeeded. The
additional soldiers were recruited from Mexican towns. The missionaries came
from Mexico. Also, the supply for food, ammunition came from Mexico.
We should also remember that the Spanish government in the Philippines
was always in need of funds. It suffered from lack of money because some of
the Spanish officials were corrupt and they did not develop our country’s
natural resources. The Philippines then was really poor country in terms of its
economy. It was a heavy burden on the Spanish king. And it was only save
from collapse by annual subsidy from Mexico.
MEXICANS IN THE PHILIPPINES
Many Mexicans came to the Philippines to live or to work. With Legazpi
came his two brave grandsons, Felipe and Juan de Salcedo. Both these Mexicans
contributed to the conquest of the Philippines.
Two Mexicans served as Archbishop of Manila. They were Archbishop
Miguel de Poblete (1653-1667) and Archbishop Manuel Antonio Rojo (1759-
1764). Archbishop Rojo also became the acting Spanish governor of the
Philippines during the British invasion ( 1762-1764).
The first Mexican saint of the Catholic Church served as a missionary in the
Philippines. He was Father Felipe de Jesus, who came to Manila in 1590. He was
one of the 26 Christian martyrs crucified at Nagasaki, Japan on February 5, 1597.
 Miguel de Poblete Archbishop Manuel Antonio Rojo
Juan de Salcedo
FILIPINO IN MEXICO
If many Mexicans came to the Philippines during Spanish era, many
Filipinos also crossed the vast Pacific Ocean and lived in Mexico. The first
Filipinos who went to Mexico were the four heroes of the “Tondo Conspiracy
of 1587-1588.” This secret revolution society was found out by Spanish
officials on October 6, 1588, and all its leaders were arrested, executed and
exiled. Those who were exiled to Mexico were Pedro Balinguit, datu of
Pandacan; Pitongatan, datu of Tondo; Felipa Salonga, datu of Polo; and
Agustin Minguit, another datu of Tondo. What happened to these four exiled
heroes in Mexico.
 During the long period of Galleon trade between Manila
and Acapulco many crew members of the Galleons deserted
and lived permanently in Mexico. The Filipinos who left the
ships married Mexican women and put up a Filipino colony
in the hills of Acapulco. Incidentally, they introduced a new
wine industry in Mexico- the palm wine (tuba) from
Mexican coconuts. Their palm wine became popular among
the Mexicans.
THE PARIAN OF MEXICO

It is interesting that the Philippines influenced the Mexicans to build

their own Parian (Chinatown). The Manila galleons brought to Mexico
many goods from Asia- ceramics, Silk, cotton blankets, cigars, etc. Soon,
Mexican authorities built a special market or shopping center in the main
plaza of Mexico City, the capital of Mexico.
In 1703, the special market for Asian goods was inaugurated. It was
called the “Parian" after the famous Chinatown in Manila. It consisted of
many stores selling all kinds of Asian goods.
 Parian in Mexico in 1800s
Thousands of people came, not only
from Mexico city but from nearby towns,
to see and buy products from the
Philippines and other Asian countries.
In 1843, the Parian was demolished to
give way for an independence plaza to
honor Mexican independence. Today, the
site of this former Asian market-place in
Parian in Mexico today
Mexico City is the Plaza de la
Independencia.
MEXICAN CONTRIBUTION TO THE
PHILIPPINES

During the two and a half centuries of Philippine-Mexican relations, the

Mexicans contributed many things of lasting value to Philippine life and culture.
These contribution are:
1. New plants and animals. Among the new plants which came from Mexico
were achuete, avocado, Calabasa (squash), beans, cacao, camachile,
cassava, chico, guava, nut potato, sirihuela, cincamas, sili, tobacco,
tomato, wheat and many flowering plants like azucena, marigold, cadena
de amor, pointsettia, calachuchi and acapulco. Among the new animals
were the cattle, fighting roosters, oxen, horses, ducks and mayas.
2. New Industries. Among the new industries from Mexico were
bookbinding, adobe stonemaking, making panocha (sugar) from cane,
cattle ranching, cigar and cigarette making, and the weaving of hats and
mats.
3. New diet and dress. Mexico influenced Filipino diet through the new
plants which were introduced from the New World. Filipinos learned to
eat corn, chocolate, cassava flour, white potato, fermented salted fish, and
fruits and vegetables of Mexican origin. The Western costumes were
introduced by Spain through Mexico. Men used the coat and trousers.
 Thus, today the coat is called the americana because it came from the Latin America not
because it came the United States. Women used the saya (skirt) and vistida (dress). The cottonh
undergarment of Filipino women, called the naguas came from Mexico.

4. New musical instruments and dances. The first western musical instruments are the violin,
guitar, flute, harp, drum, trumpet, and cymbal were alsi brought to the Philippines from Mexico.
The present day como and comparsa had Mexican origins.

5. Catholic Images. Many Catholic images came from Mexico. These are now found in famous
shrines in the Philippines. For example, the Black Nazarene in Quiapo Church, the patronage of
Antipolo (Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage), and Our Lady of Guadalupe in Pagsanjan, Laguna.
6. Catholic Churches. Many churches built in the Spanish ere were copied from Mexican churches.
This was because their Spanish priest who built them were came from Mexico. Many of these
Mexican baroque stone churches still exist. The most famous one is found at Mexico, Pampanga.
7. Customs and Traditions. Many customs and traditions of the Filipinos
reveal the Mexican influence. For example, the moro-moro plays, the
town feria, the Moriones festivals in Marinduque, the Santacruzan (May
procession), the pabitin (party delights hung from a pole), and the annual
celebration of Todos los Santos (November 1) to honor the dead.
8. Words and language. Mexican enriched the Philippine language. More
than 100 words in Filipino came from Mexico, among them are acacia
(tree), balsa (light wood), chocolate, bayabas (guava), mais (corn),
palengke (marketplace).
9. Mexican blood. Many Filipino families today have Mexican blood because their
ancestors came from Mexico. They are the descendants of Mexican officials and
soldiers who came to live and work in the Philippines. They include the Macabebes
of Pampanga, and the Amayas, Carranzas, Cuevas, Hidalgos, Morelos, Zaldivars, and
Zapatas of Manila, Cavite, Pampanga, Masbate, Zamboanga and other places.
10. Inspiration for independence. When Mexico and other Latin American countries
won their independence from Spain after a long preparation in the early 19 th century,
the Filipinos were inspired to seek their own freedom. The first written constitution
made by Felipe Calderon for the Malolos Republic in 1898 was patterned after the
constitution of Mexico, Brazil, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Guatamela.
FILIPINO CONTRIBUTION TO MEXICO
Mexico also benefited from the Philippine influence. These Filipino contributions to Mexican
history and culture are not so well known. They are as follows:
1. New plants. Many Philippine plants were introduced into Mexico during the colonial era.
These new plants included cinnamon, pepper, and tamarind, coconut and mangoes, bananas
and ilang-ilang.
2. Tapayan earthen jar. Many Mexican families in Acapulco and nearby towns still use the big
jar called tapayan in their homes. This was introduced during the galleon trade.
3. Antiques. Many Mexican families keep treasures of Philippine antiques, like the monton de
Manila (shawl), Paete handicrafts, and Ilocano blankets, which were part of the galleon
cargoes from Manila.
4. Parian. The Parian of Mexico City existed from 1703 to 1843 and was
copied from the Parian in Manila.
5. Filipino words. Some Filipino words are now used by the Mexican
people who came from the Philippines. Among these Filipino words are
manga (mango), monton (shawl), racatan (lakatan banana), parian (market),
palay (raw rice), maluto (cooked rice), and saranggola (kite).
6. Filipino Blood. Many Filipinos came to live in Mexico especially those
sailors who deserted the galleon ships. They lived in Acapulco and nearby
towns, married Mexican women, and their children still live there.
7. Independence money. It is also curious that the Philippines helped Mexico gain
its independence from Spain. The Mexican Revolution was about to collapse. The
forces of General Agustin de Iturbide, Mexican revolutionary leader, were hungry,
broke, and desperate. At this darkest hour of the Mexican fight for independence,
the train carrying the galleon money from Mexico to Acapulco passed by. The
money belonged to Spanish merchants in Manila who exported goods to Mexico on
the galleon. But General Iturbide and his troops held up the train and got the money
for his troops. Thus, he was able to continue and win their fight for independence.
Until now, Mexico has not repaid any of the Manila businessmen, whose money
helped to win Mexican independence.
THE BRITISH INVASION

The Philippines became a British colony briefly for only two

years (1762-1764). But the coming of British showed the Filipinos
that the Spaniards could be beaten. The British invasion was also a
very interesting time in our history. For the only time in our
history, the Philippines had three governor generals, each one
claiming to be the real head of the colony. The British also made
many changes in the Philippines history.
WHY THE BRITISH CAME
The British invaded the Philippines as part of the Seven Years War
(1756-1763). The two leading opponents in this war were Britain and
France. They clashed in Europe in America and in Asia. France were
supported by Spain because the Spanish king was related to the French
king, who was also from the Bourbon family.
Thus, the Philippines, a colony of Spain was dragged into the Seven
Years War of the Big Powers in Europe. The British used this war as an
excuse to invade the Philippines and to colonize it.
ARRIVAL OF THE BRITISH INVADERS
The British invasion of the Philippines was planned from India by the British
East India Company. At the time the colonial authority in India. The British officials
of the East India Company prepared the military expedition for the conquest of the
Philippines, a Spanish colony.
The British expedition had 13 ships and 6, 830 men including (British and
Indian troops). The commanders were Admiral Samuel Cornish and General
William Draper.
On the evening of September 22, 1762, the British fleet entered Manila Bay. The
officials and residents of Manila did not know that the ships were hostile enemies.
They did not know that Spain was now at war with Britain, because they had not
receive any news of the Seven Years war.
 On the morning of September 23, two British officers under a flag of truce went
ashore and entered Manila. They presented the British demand for the surrender of the
city to the Spanish Governor General then was Archbishop Manuel Antonio Rojo.
Archnbishop Manuel Rojo was surprised. But he refuses to surrender.
After that General Draper ordered the attack of Manila. The British troops landed at
Malate and occupied the areas of Ermita, Malate, and Bagumbayan (Luneta) around
Intramuros.
SURENDER OF MANILA TO THE
BRITISH

Manila was not in a position to fight the enemy. The Spanish officials were caught
by surprise, and they did not have enough troops or arms to defend the city.
Two attempts by the Spanish defenders to save the city failed. One was led by
Cesar Fallet, a French soldier-of-fortune, who led some Filipino-Spanish troops. The
other was led by Manalatas, a fearless Pampangueno, who led Filipino warriors from
nearby provinces. The forces led by Manalastas proved Filipino loyalty to Spain. But
they, too, were outfought by the British invaders.
 Archbishop Rojo held an emergency council of war to decide what to do. The Spanish officials
could not agree among themselves. Some wanted to surrender to the British. Others wanted to keep
on fighting.
On the night of October 4, part of the city walls facing Luneta was blown open by the Britain
cannons. At sunrise of the next day, the invaders stormed the city through the hole in that wall.
Fierce fighting began in the streets of Intramuros.
As the battle raged, panic spread among the people. Many people were killed in the streets and
houses. Hundreds tried to escape through the Pasig River. But the British soldiers fired on them and
killed them mercilessly. To put a stop to the horrible killing, Archbishop Rojo raised the white flag
of surrender at Fort Santiago on October 5, 1762. Thus Manila fell to the British invaders.
The next day , October 6, 1762, the Spanish authorities signed the terms of surrender.
THE LOOTING OF MANILA

After the surrender pf Manila to the British invaders, a horrible thing happened. The
British and Indian conquerors looted homes, schools, churches and other building in
Manila. For more than 30 hours, the wild soldiers went into private homes and public
buildings, and they stole precious art, valuables, and anything else they wanted. They
burned 400 houses in Tondo and Binondo. They even opened the important graves of
officials including those of Legazpi and Salcedo, in San Agustin Church. The nuns in
the Convent of Santa Clara were protected only when General Draper ordered it
surrounded by his troops.
 The outrageous looting of Manila on October 6 and 7, 1762 shocked
the people because it was the first of its kind. The Spaniards and
Filipinos never imagined that the British, who were supposed to be
civilized, would allow it to happen. The memory of this tragic events is
still preserved in the historical marker at San Agustin Church in
Intramuros. Because many Philippines treasures were stolen and taken
abroad by the British, we lost many of our own historical records and
antiques. The stolen wealth in cash and valuable treasures was worth
1,000,000.
THREE GOVERNOR GENERAL IN THE PHILIPPINES

One of the interesting effects of the British occupation of the Philippines was
the existence of three governors general in the country. For two years (1762-64),
each one of these governors general claimed to be the real head of the colony. They
were as follows;
1. The British governor who was appointed by the British East India Company.
After the fall of Manila, the British named their own man to rule their new
colony. The British governor ruled, assisted by a legislative body called the
Manila Council. The first British governor was Dawsome Drake. The last one
was Alexander Dalrymple.
2. The acting Spanish governor general, or Archbishop Antonio Manuel Rojo.
Although he surrendered the Philippines, he claimed to be the real leader of
the defeated Spanish forces and residents.
3. The rebel Governor general, or Simon de Anda, who led the army of
Filipino and Spanish troops that continued the fight. Anda escaped from
Manila and went into hiding at against the British with an army of volunteers
and he rallied the Filipinos in the provinces to the side of Spain.
FILIPINOS REMAIN LOYAL TO SPAIN

Because the Filipinos remained loyal to Spain, the British did not conquer the
provinces. They only conquered Manila, Cavite and some nearby areas like
Cainta, Taytay, and Pasig.
The Filipinos did not welcome the British because of two reasons:
1. They were shocked by the horrible looting of Manila after it was surrendered
to the British; and
2. Spanish priests warned them that the British were Protestants who did not
believe to the Catholic religion.
END OF THE BRITISH INVASIONS

While the Spaniards and the British were fighting in the Philippines, the Seven Years
war ended in Europe. The European Big Powers signed the Treaty of Paris on February
10, 1763 to end the war.
At this time, Britain was supposed to return the Philippines back to Spain. But
because there was no telegraph or telephone at that time news did not reach the
Philippines until the next year, 1764. So, the British did not evacuate Manila and
nearby areas until 1764.
On May 31, 1764, the rebel leader Anda and his troops made their triumphant entry
into Manila to the cheers of the people, the salute of guns, and the sound of music.
At the patio of Santa Cruz Church in Manila, the British handed over the ruling power
back to Spain. Then they sailed away, never to return. The British had occupied the
Philippines for a year and a half.
SOURCES/REFERENCES:

Halili, Ma. Christina. Philippine History. Manila,

2004.
Gregotio Zaide and Sonia Zaide. Philippine
History and Government. Quezon City,
2011.