Catanduanes State University

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FILIPINO REVOLTS AGAINST SPAIN

FILIPINO REVOLTS AGAINST SPAIN

The Filipino love freedom. They do not like cruel foreigners telling them what to do or
oppressing them. Now, the Spaniards did not really take good care of the Filipinos under Spanish rule. So,
the Filipinos often rebelled against the Spanish government. During the three centuries of Spanish rule in
the Philippines, there were more than 100 revolts by the Filipinos. They help to bring a little improvement
in the peoples lives. But the Filipinos were not happy until they were free.
Causes of Revolts. There were many causes of the Filipino revolts against Spain. The list below
shows the different causes of the revolts and gives famous examples of these kinds of revolts.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Our love of freedom and independence

Abuses of Spanish encomenderos
Tribute (residence tax)
Forced labor (polo)
Land grabbing by the friars
Basi (wine) Monopoly
Religion

Dagohoys Revolt (1744 1829). The revolt of Francisco Dagohoy in Bohol was the longest
revolt in Philippine history. It lasted for 85 years from 1744 1829. Dagohoys brother, a policeman in
Inabangan, was killed in a duel with a rebel. The Catholic priest refused t give him a Christian burial
because dueling was a mortal sin.
Francisco Dagohoy got angry and led his people in a revolt. They killed two priests in the is;and
of Bohol. Soon, the Boholanos wanted to get rid of all Spaniards in their island. They set up their own
free government in the mountains. They no longer wanted to be under the Spaniards.
Twenty Spanish governors general failed to stop this rebellion. In 1827, Governor Manuel
Ricafort ordered 2,200 Filipino-Spanish troops to attack the Bohol patriots. But this strong attack failed.
In 1828 to 1829, another attack was made by the Spaniards against Bohol. After years of figting, the
Filipino patriots were finally defeated.
However, the Spaniards did not find Dagohoy. He died two years before. His brave compatriots
surrendered. About 19,000 survivors were pardoned by the Spanish governor and allowed to live in new
villages. These villages became the towns of Batuan, Bililihan, Cabulao, Catigoian, and Vilar.
Silangs Revolt (1762 63). Diego Silang and his wife Gabriela led a famous revolt in Ilocos in
1762 63. This revolt happened during the British invasion. It strated on December 14, 1762. Diego
Silang proclaimed the independence of his people and made Vigan the capital of Free Ilocos.
The British invaders in Manila heard of Silangs revolt. They tried to get his help in fighting their
enemy, the Spaniards.
But Silang was killed by an assassin on May 28, 1763. The Spaniards paid his friend, Miguel
Vicos, to shoot him at the back. Silang died in the arms of his wife Bagriela. After his death, his wife
continued the revolt. Because she won many battles, Gabriela Silang was called Joan of Arc of the
Ilocos.

But Gabriela was defeated later. She was executed at Vigan on September 10, 1763. This ended
the Silang revolt in the Ilocos.
First Pampanga Revolt (1585). The abuses of the Spanish encomenderos (holders of
encomienda) started the first revolt in Pampanga in 1585. Some brave Pampagueo leaders plotted with
the people in Manila to enter Intramuros and kill all the Spanish officials there.
But the plot did not succeed. A native Filipina who was married to a Spanish soldier reported it to
the Spanish authorities. The masterminds were arrested and executed. This put an end to the plan to stage
a revolt.
Revolt Against the Tribute (1589). One of the earliest revolts against the tribute (residence tax)
started in Cagayan and Ilocos in 1589. In that year, the Filipinos here revolted because of the abuses of
the tribute collectors. They killed many Spaniards. However, the Spanish governor, Santiago de Vera,
pacified the rebel patriots. He pardoned many of them and improved the tax system.
Sumuroys Revolt (1649 50). In 1649 the Visayan alcaldes mayor ordered to send them to
work in the Cavite naval shipyards. The Visayan men hated this order and did not like to leave their
homes and their families.
Sumuroy, a native of Palapag, Samar, led them in an armed revolt. On the night of June 1, 1649,
he and his men killed their parish priest. In those days, the Spanish priest was really like the government.
Soon, the rebellion spread to other towns in Samar, cebu, Masbate, Camiguin, Albay, Northern Mindanao
and Zamboanga. Like Sumuroy and his men, the rebels in this areas hated the system of pole (forced
labor).
Sumuroy and his men set up a free government in the mountains of Samar. It took the Spanish
rulers about a year to defeat him. On a stormy night in July, 1650. They took it after a bloody battle.
Sumuroy was caught alive and executed as a punishment for his revolt.
Agrarian Revolt (1745 - 46). Between 1745 to 1746. Filipino landowners in the four provinces
of Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite and Laguna revolted against the Spanish rule. Their revolt was due to the
land grabbing by Spaniards who took over their ancestral lands.
The first spark of the revolt was at Lian and Nasugbu in Batangas. The Filipinos in these towns
demanded and return of their lands occupied by the Spanish priests. The Filiinos burned the local
churches, looted and convents, and ruined the ranches of the priests.
Soon, nearby towns and provinces also sympathized with the revolt. Government troops were
sent to put down the rebels. After some battles, the leaders were shot or exiled. The other men were
pardoned after they surrendered.
The scandal behind the revolt was investigated by Spanish officials. It went all the way to the
Spnaish King. King Philip IV ordered the Spanish priests to return the stolen land to the Filipinos. But the
Spanish priests appealed the case and later won. So they did not return the lands of the Filipinos after all.
Much later, during the American era, the American authorities bought the friar lands owned by
religious orders. Then the land were subdivided into smaller lots and sold to Filipino farmers.
The Basi Revolt (1807). This was a most unusual revolt in Philippin history. It was all about the
love for a homemade wine from sugarcane called basi.
In 1786 the Spanish government took over the making and sale of wine. They banned people
from making homemade wine. The people of Ilocos hated this order because they were nor forced to buy
the wine from government stores. Before, they made their own basi at home. It is too bad of course that
they could not stop drinking wine.
On September 16, 1807 the Ilocanos of Piddig, Ilocos Norte, rose in armed revolt. The revolt,
spread to nearby towns and bloody fighting continued for weeks. Finally, on September 28, 1807 the

rebels were defeated by superior Spanish power. The Ilocos basi revolt was over. Many lives were
unfortunately lost, all because of the love for drinking wine.
The Religious Revolt of Hermano Pule, (1840 41). This was the revolt for religious freedom
in the Tagalog provinces in 1840 41. It was led by Apolinario dela Cruz, popularly known as hermano
Pule, of Barrio Pandak, Lukban, Tayabas (Quezon).
Apolinario started his own religion in Lucban in June 1840. It was called the Confradia de San
Jose (Confraternity of St. Joseph). They had their own rituals, prayers and leaders especially suited for
Filipinos. But the Spanish officials did not allow any other religion nut Catholic one. So they banned
Hermano Pules new religion.
Thousands of Filipinos in Tayabas, Batangas, Laguna and Manila had already joined it. They
became fanatical about their new cult. So the Spanish official sent government troops to break up the
group, Hermano Pule and his followers took up arms to protect themselves. After many bloody fights,
they made their last stand at the alitao, near Mt. Cristobal, in October 1841. The government troops
attacked their camp and killed many followers, including helpless old folks, women and children.
Hermano Pule was executed in Tayabas on November 4, 1841.
But this was not the end of the story. They Spanish atrocities caused a big scandal in Manila and
Spain.
Many Filipino soldiers in the Spanish Armys Tayabas Regiment at Malate had relatives killed in
the massacre. They secretly planned to take revenge on the hated Spaniards.
On January 20, 1843, the Tayabas regiment at Malate rose in mutiny. They were led by Sergeant
Irineo Samaniego. Dramatically, they captured Fort Santiago in Intramuros.
But on the next day, several Filipino soldiers loyal to Spain opened the gates of Fort Santiago.
The loyalist troops outside were able to rush in and defeat the rebels after a bloody combat. Sgt.
Samaniego and 81 of his followers were shot at the Luneta at sunset of the same day, January 21, 1843.
Why the Revolts Failed. The early revolts by the Filipinos against the Spanish rule failed
because of two reasons:
(1) The Filipinos were not united. Instead of helping each other to oust the Spaniards, the
Filipinos fought each other.
(2) There were no national leaders who united the people. The leaders of these revolts had
influence only in small area-some towns, a few provinces, or some islands. There were no
Gom-Bur-Za, Rizal, Bonifacio, or Aguinaldo then. These national leaders only came in the
19th century.