Valena, John Andrie

Ventocilla, Veronica

Verano, Jalen Abijah

Group 2 (BSA I)

Reform and Revolt – Reactions to the Spanish Period

(Early Uprisings)

The policies imposed by the Spanish Colonial government resulted in the discrimination
of the Filipinos and exploitation of the natives. The different policies gained different reactions
from the Filipinos some of them resisted the colonization and fled to the mountains and remote
areas to avoid the Spaniards. There are the babaylans, remontados and the moros who wanted to
retain their culture and identity. The other natives resist and revolt against the oppressive policies
of the Spaniards.

Causes of Filipino Uprisings

1. Filipinos lost their freedom and wanted to regain it. Lakadula’s Revolt, the Tondo Residents
Conspiracy and Ladia’s Uprising were examples of this cause
2. Discontentment with Spanish rule due to the brutality and injustice of many Spanish officials
in the country. Examples of the revolts were the Magalat Revolt, Gaddang Revolt, Dagohoy
Revolt, Diego Silang Revolt in Ilocos and Polaris Revolt in Pangasinan.
3. Agrarian unrest brought about by the desire of the Filipinos to recover the lands grabbed
from them by the friars. Examples were the Agrarian revolts brought out in the provinces of
Batangas, Laguna, Cavite, Pampanga, Bulacan and Rizal.

The Early Uprisings

Lakandula’s Revolt (1574) Rajah Lakadula attacked the Spaniards in Tondo because the Spanish
authorities did not fulfil their promise to exempt him and his descendants from paying tributes.
Governor Salcedo intervened and promised to give him protection and his relatives.

Magat Salamat’s Conspiracy (1582) A secret society led by its leader Magat Salamat,
Lakandula’s son, was formed in Tondo to overthrow the Spanish government. The secret society
spread as far as Palawan and Borneo. The society’s plan was to make Agustin de Legaspi the
king of the Philippines if the leaders and members were successful in overthrowing the Spanish
government. Unfortunately, two of its members reported the plot for the uprising to the Spanish
authorities. Consequently Governor-General Santiago de Vera ordered the arrest of Magat
Salamat, Agustin de Legaspi and the two Japanese members. Later, they were executed for their
crimes.

Magalat's Revolt (1596) The Filipinos in Cagayan led by Magalat rose in arms against the
Spamards and killed many of them. Governor Francisco Tello de Guzman instructed Pedro de
Chaves to go to Cagayan and kill Magalat. Since he could not capture Magalat, he bribed certain
Filipinos to assasinate Magalat and he succeeded in doing so, and the revolt collapsed.

Sevententh Century Uprisings

Gaddang’s Uprising (1621) In Cagayan Valley, the Gaddangs revolted against the Spanish rule
because of the Spanish abuses. Several Gaddang villages joined the rebellion. Fr. Pedro de Santo
Tomas tried to pacify them but the Gaddangs refused to be pacified. After a time, however, he
finally persuaded the Gaddangs to give up their rebellion. Bancao’s Revolt (1622). In Leyte,
Boncao who had been converted to Catholicism but returned to the traditional faith of his
forefathers incited the people to fight the Spaniards who did not follow their old folk beliefs.
Because the Spaniards prohibited the practice of any religion different from Catholicism, conflict
resulted. Spanish authorities in Cebu sent loyal Filipinos to Spain to go to Leyte and restore
peace on that island. As a result Bancao was killed in a battle and after bitter fighting, his men
surrendered to the Spaniards.

Tamblot’s Revolt (1622) Another religious uprising was that of Tamblot. Tamblot, a Boholano,
was a babaylan (local priest) who incited the Boholano to throw off Catholicism and return to the
old religious beliefs and practices. Again from Cebu, the Spanish authorities sent Spaniards and
Filipinos to Bohol to restore peace. Consequently, Tamblot’s forces were defeated in the battle
that followed.

The Cagayan Uprisings in 1625, 1627 and 1639 Once again the Cagayanos anger was aroused
by the Spanish abuses. But because of the help of other Filipinos, the Spanish authorities were
able to put down all these uprisings.

Ladia’s Incitement (1643) Pedro Ladia who called himself, “King of the Tagalogs” and claimed
to be a descendant of Raja Lakandula of Tondo incited the people to drive the Spaniards out of
the country. But before he could do this plan, the Spanish authorities arrested Ladia and executed
him.

Sumuroy’s Uprising (1649) Juan Sumuroy resented the order of Governor Diego Fajardo that
workers in Samar and other Visayan provinces must go to Cavite and work in the Spanish
shipyard. Resenting the governor’s order, the workers led by Sumuroy killed the Spanish town
curate of Palapag, Samar with some other Spaniards. The rebellion spread to Zamboanga, Cebu,
Mindanao, Masbate, Albay and Camarines area. Finally, after a year of fighting, he was
eventually captured and executed.

Maniago’s Uprising (1660) Francisco Maniago of Pampanga appealed to the people of

Pangasinan and Ilocos provinces to help him join his rebel movement against the Spanish
authorities. They closed the rivers to prevent food from being transported to Manila. They
resented the cutting down of timber and building ships because of the meagre needs given to the
workers. Juan Macapagal, a pro-Spanish Filipino persuaded Maniago to lay down his arms and
was promised a large sum of money, and pardon for all his men With this promise, Maniago and
his men returned to their peaceful life.

Malong’s Uprising (1660) Andres Malong of Lingayen, Pangasinan, disillusioned by the

Spanish abuses, rose in arms with the help of Filipinos in the provinces of Zambales, Cagayan,
Pampanga and Ilocos provinces. The revolt of Malong was succes‘sful and in his enthusiasm he
proclaimed himself, “King of Pangasinan”. The Spanish forces composed of Spaniards and loyal
Filipino soldiers pursued Malong’s forces and in the battle, Malong was defeated. He was
executed for being a “traitor” to Spain.

Eighteenth Century Uprisings

Dagohoy Uprising (1744). This is the longest uprising in the Philippine history for it ended in
1828. The rebellion was caused by a Spanish priest who refused to give a Christian burial to his
brother who had faithfully served the priest. Francisco Dagohoy of Bohol gathered 20,000
followers and incited them to revolt against the Spanish authorities. Dagohoy established his
government in the mountains. Many expeditions were sent against him but they failed to capture
him. But in 1828, Governor Mariano Ricafort sent strong Filipino forces against Dagohoy and in
the battle Dagohoy was defeated. The governor pardoned the rebels and allowed them to settle in
the lowlands.

Agrarian Uprisings (1745) The Filipino tenants rose in rebellion against ' the administrators of
the friar estates. The Spanish friars became wealthy and powerful by acquiring large tracts of
land and they leased the land to the Filipino with high rent. They also prevented the tenants from
gathering wild fruits and firewood from the friar estates. Because of the Filipinos resentment,
they rose up in arms in the provinces of Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Pampanga, Bulacan and
Rizal. The Spanish government sent out troops to quell the uprisings and the uprisings we‘re put
down but the agrarian problem still remained even after the Spanish regime.

Diego Silang Uprising (1762) Diego Silang, an Ilocano from Pangasinan, incited the Ilocanos to
rise in arms against the Spaniards. He resented his having been imprisoned for asking the
Spanish government to abolish the hated tribute. Silang succeeded in expelling the Spanish
provincial governor and other Spaniards from Vigan, abolished the tribute and the forced labor
and proclaimed an independent government with Vigan as capital. In several fights with the
Spanish army, Silang showed his brilliant leadership. Unable to kill him, an assassin was hired to
kill Silang. His friend Miguel Vico, a Spanish mestizo, shot Silang in his own house in Vigan on
May 28, 1763. But his death did not end the revolt. His wife Iosefa Gabriela took over the
leadership of the revolt and fought courageously. Riding in a fast horse, she led her troops to
Vigan. Defeated in the battle of Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, she fled again to Abra where she was
captured. With her 100 faithful followers, she was executed on September 20, 1763.

Palaris Revolt (1764) The people of Pangasinan revolted against the Spanish authorities under
the leadership of Juan de la Cruz Palaris due to the abuses of the Spaniards and the collection of
excessive tribute. The revolt started in Binalatongan (San Carlos) and spread to the towns of
Bayambang, Paniqui (then a part of Pangasinan), Dagupan, Calasiao, Santa Barbara, Mangaldan,
San Jacinto and Malasiki (Malasique). For more than a year Palaris dominated the province. In
1764, the Spaniards, now rid of Silang and his wife, sent some 3,000 Ilocano troops to
Pangasinan to quell the revolt. In the battle that followed, Palaris was defeated and died in that
battle.

Nineteenth Century Uprising

Religious Revolt of de la Cruz (1840). Apolinario de la Cruz, known to the people of Tayabas
(Quezon) as Hermano Pule, was a deeply religious man who worked at the San Juan de Dios
Hospital in Manila, founded the Cofradia de San Jose (Brotherhood of St. Joseph), a religious
society. The Spanish government did not approve of such society except those related to
Catholicism. Despite of such prohibition, De la Cruz continued his religious activities. The
government went after him and fled from one town to another and back to Tayabas where he
proclaimed himself as King of the Tagalog. Alarmed by the success of de la Cruz, the Spanish
authorities sent a detachment of Filipino soldiers and in the battle of Ilayang Sabang in 1851, de
la Cruz Won. Angered at their defeat, the Spaniards sent a strong Filipino force in the battle of
Alitaw; de la Cruz Was defeated. He later retreated to Tayabas but was later captured and
executed.

The Muslim Wars The Muslims were the last Philippine group to surrender to the Americans.
Till the end of the Spanish regime, the Spaniards never completely conquered the Muslim
Filipinos. The Muslims of Southern Philippines had been a problem to the Spaniards. Legaspi,
De Goiti, and Salcedo fought them in Cebu, Mindanao, Camarines, Zamboanga and even in the
Visayas. In the Visayas, the Muslims fought the Spaniards under the leadership of Tagal. They
burned down towns, pillaged the Churches, carried off more than 600 captives and sailed for
Jolo. In the battle of Punta de Flechas near Zamboanga, Tagal was defeated.
Reasons for the Failure of the Internal Uprising

1. The leaders and their men, as a whole, lacked military discipline.

2. Those who revolted against the Spaniards did not have enough experience in modern warfare.

3. Those who revolted fought the Spaniards without full assurance of help from other Filipinos.

4. The Filipino rebels did not fight as Filipinos but as small ethnic groups, thus there was no
unity among Filipinos to stop the abuses of the Spanish authorities.

5. Many Filipinos showed more loyalty to Spanish conquerors than to their Filipino comrades.

External Uprisings

The Chinese Uprisings. To discourage Chinese from coming into the country, the Spaniards
compelled them to pay special tax for permission to stay in the country, tax to own a house and
tribute. The Chinese resented these taxes and so several uprisings were made by the Chinese
people.

In 1662, the Chinese in the Parian (outside Intramuros) thinking that they were to be
killed, fled to Santa Cruz district across Pasig and began killing the Filipinos and Spaniards.
They were then pursued by the Spanish and Filipino soldiers to the mountain until they were
surrounded and slained.

In 1686, some Chinese in Parians rose in arms against the Spaniards and loot the
churches, homes of wealthy people and business establishments. However, Spanish soldiers
arrived and put a stop to such looting and murder. In 1762, some Chinese in Pampanga and
Manila planned to rise in arms on Christmas Eve and massacre the Filipinos and Spaniards
engaged in worship in the church. The plot was discovered by Governor Simon de Anda and put
some 6,000 Chinese to death. This event is called the “Red Christmas in Philippine History”.

Limahong’s Invasion. In 1574, Limahong, a Chinese adventurer, landed in Paranaque and

subsequently invaded the City of Manila. However, he was repelled by the Spaniards. Later, he
returned to Manila but was beaten off by the Spaniards under Juan de Salcedo and Governor
Guedo de Lavezares. Limahong then withdrew to Pangasinan and established a colony at the
mouth of Agno River. The Spanish authorities sent a powerful troop to destroy Limahong’s fleet
of junks. In the succeeding siege which lasted four months, Limahong escaped by digging a
canal to Lingayen Gulf leading to the China Sea.

The Portuguese Attack. On September 30, 1566, Gonzalo Pereira, a Portuguese naval
commander landed in Cebu harbor. In October, he told Legazpi that the Spaniards have no right
to colonize the Philippines and that he would force the Spaniards out of the country: On October
30, he issued an ultimatum to Legaspi to evacuate Cebu but the Spaniards refused to leave. For
two months Legazpi and his men suffered under the Portuguese blockade but diseases broke out
the ranks of the Portuguese who then sailed off. But in the later part of 1570, Pereira returned to
Cebu. He demanded that the Spanish fortification be abolished and the Spaniards leave Cebu.
Legazpi refused and a battle ensued: The Spaniards fought desperately beating off the
Portuguese attacks. With the Portuguese failure, they sailed back to the Moluccas.

The Dutch Attack (1597). During the reign of Carlos I of Spain, Holland was under the rule of
Spain. It was only after the end of the 30 years war in 1648 did Spain finally recognizes Dutch
independence. However, realizing the importance of Dutch trade with_ Portugal, Spain closed
the port of Lisbon to all Dutch merchant ships. This situation angered the Dutch government.
Because of this situation, several attacks were made by the Dutch. In 1600, Oliver Van Nourt
was sent to attack the City of Manila. The naval combat in Mariveles (known as the First Battle
of Mariveles) resulted in Antonio Morga’s victory, who was then the justice of the Spanish
Royal Audiencia.

In 1610, a Spanish squadron under the command of Governor Juan de Silva met the
Dutch fleet in Mariveles, the second battle of Mariveles was fought. The Dutch forces lost in the
battle and more than 200 Dutch prisoners were taken. The Dutch did not give up their hope of
conquering the Philippines. Another fleet under the command of Admiral Lam appeared at Plaza
Honda off the coast of Zambales on April 13, 1617. Another battle ensued and again the Dutch
forces lost. Although beaten several times, the Dutch continued harassing the Spaniards. The last
attack in the Corregidor Island was the last serious attempt to gain foothold on Philippine soil.
The British Attack (1762). War having been declared between England and France and Spain on
the other hand, England sent an expedition to the Philippines to this country. With a fleet of 13
vessels and more than 6,000 British and Indian soldiers, the British flotilla entered Manila Bay
and landed in Ermita and Malate on September 24, 1762. The British bombarded the walled city
of Intramuros and later occupied the City of Manila on February 10, 1763. With the Treaty of
Paris between England on one hand and France and Spain on the other hand, the war in the
Philippines drew to a close. Soon after, the British troops sailed away for India and Manila
became a Spanish possession once again.