*EARLY PHILIPPINE HISTORY The principal peoples of the Philippine archipelago were the Negritos, proto-Mal ays, and

Malays. The Negritos are believed to have migrated by land bridges some 30,000 years ago, during the last glacial period. Later migrations were by wate r and took place over several thousand years in repeated movements before and af ter the start of the Christian era.2 Not much is known of the early inhabitants of the Mindanao Island peninsula duri ng this time line. Although Western time line puts Philippine history in accord ance to their discovery of the islands, this short-sighted view point cannot era se the factual history of the people who discovered and inhabited the islands lo ng before the western world arrived. The barangay method of government of these peoples, in use for over a thousand years, was the biggest dividing line betwee n their nation of small enclaves and the present geographically defined country that is The Philippines. 900s A.D. - Western timeline is pushed back a few hundred years A Philippine Document - The Laguna Copperplate Inscription (LCI) reveals a liter ate population. *1000s A.D. The vegetation and flowers are growing profusely and beautifully, just waiting t o be discovered. * 1100s A.D. The vegetation and flowers are growing profusely and beautifully, still waiting to be discovered. *1200s A.D. The Beginning: "Land of Flowers" In the beginning, there was Jambangan (not Samboangan, as others might insist it came later as a Spanish inflection to their pronunciation) the ancient place that was settled in the 1200s by the Subanons, who are considered by historians to be the founding fathers of the place they called the Land of Flowers. (interest ing historical note: The mainland of the North American continent was first sigh ted by the Spanish explorer and treasure hunter Don Juan Ponce de Leon on Easter , March 27, 1513. He claimed the land for Spain and named it La Florida, meaning "Land of Flowers".) They are of Malayan decent who traveled away from their hom eland in Indonesia to find their new home on the tip of the Mindanao island peni nsula. They are a farming-based people who choose to settle along the banks of t he rivers (called suba in their native tongue) and consequently derived their et hnic name from it. The Subanons (People of the River) mostly grew root and tree cr ops, along with their rice staple, which they still do to this day. One can only imagine how Jambangan must have looked back then, with its profusio n of native vegetation and flowers. It is said that Marco Polo's ship probably spe nt some time exploring the coasts of Mindanao and Sulu in 1292 while waiting man y months on the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia for a favorable monsoon to deliver a royal bride from the court of Kublai Khan, a grandson of Genghis Khan and supre me leader of the vast empire of Mongolia (1215-94), to the Khan of Persia and ma y have made contact with the new inhabitants of the region. The monsoons around this area of Southeast Asia were constant and reliable, well known to all the s easoned mariners and widely credited for the profusion of early commerce in the area.2 The Chinese have historical documentation of trade between the Malayan t ransplants who occupied the Sulu Archipelago and their residents, mainly from th

e Fujian, or Fukien, Province that started during this century and continued on to this day. Astoundingly, Filipino archivist credit this eras Chinese connect ion with Fujian as the sole contributor to the lineage of ninety percent (90%) o f Chinese-Filipino (Chino-Pinoy or ChiNoy) ancestry. The trade monopoly between Fujian, China and The Philippines, especially with the early Malay settlers who congregated in the Sulu Archipelago region, is a testament to the very strong p osition ancient Jambangan enjoys today as the international business trade cente r for all of south-western Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago. NOTE: Koxinga (see 1600s A.D.) is from Fujian and his threat to Spanish rule in the Philippines reflects this ancient trade monopoly. *1300s A.D. The Malayan influx Then came the Badjaos and the Samals from Malayan decent who settled along the J ambangan shoreline in the 1300s. They made contact with the founding Subanons wh o told them the namesake of their newfound home. The new settlers however prefer red to call it Samboangan, which to this day is what they sentimentally call it. However, those who still insist on referring to Samboangan as the original name of Zamboanga City are subject to debate of loose historical facts. One can only imagine the migration route that was founded by the Malayan settlers into Jamba ngan and Mindanao, and the trade route that ensued along the Sulu Archipelago be tween them, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, and the traders from the Middle East, I ndia, China, and Japan who were plying the waters of this area. The Tausugs came next along with the Yakans, both of Malayan decent also. The Ta usugs eventually became the most dominant and aggressive ethnic group of the ent ire region, establishing their own Sultanate based in the island of Jolo, and wa s part of the bigger Sultanate of Brunei in north Borneo, a thriving trade cente r of more than 70,000 people. The world at this time was in a trading frenzy and the Malays were leading the way to new products, commerce, and exotic shores, a nd Jambangan was a contributor to this trade activity. The Badjaos, Samals, Tausugs, and Yakans from Malaysia and Borneo/Brunei still c onsist a big majority of the minority group that make up todays area population . On the other hand, the founding Subanons of Indonesia have long moved their nu cleus onto the hinterlands of the Mindanao Island peninsula to pursue their anci ent ways, leaving behind only a semblance of their numerous presence. One can ca tch a glimpse of what it must have been like in the early days by visiting their mountain home today. The Yakans would choose to establish themselves in the isl and of Basilan, with a small thriving community present here today. The Badjaos are a sea-faring tribe in its truest sense and can be seen scattered around the Sulu Archipelago, but have a loose foothold on residency here. *1400s A.D. Mohammedanism takes hold In the 1400s, the new settlers of Jambangan, Mindanao Island, and the Sulu Archi pelago region experienced a spiritual transformation that is evident to this day . Mohammedanism was introduced to these people of Malayan decent, and eventually spread out to the Visayas and as far north as Manila, and preceded the Spanish arrival by only sixty years. The Mohammedan conquest of the Philippine Islands w as almost complete, and the country would have been a Muslim state today. With a ll due respect to the views of the Mohammedans of the Philippines, the religion of Islam was highly tolerant of other religions even at the zenith of its empire building. Jews and Christians were, to name a few, allowed to practice their be liefs in, of all places, the center of the Islamic world at this time - Baghdad. Their many contributions would also enrich the culture of Islam. If one is inc lined to understand a more detailed history of Islam, we recommend: Islam - Empi re of Faith.

1500s A.D. The Spaniards arrive The early 1500s brought along the Spaniards and their Catholic religion into the Philippine Islands, in search of spices and riches. The Spanishs recorded pres ence in Jambangan can be dated as far back as November 1596, when a small Spanis h settlement and garrison was established in the port of La Caldera, the present -day Caldera Bay area barrio called Recodo, located about fifteen miles north-ea st of present downtown Zamboanga City. Captain Don Juan Ronquillo del Castillo b uilt a presidio with a fort (La Caldera Fort) as the base of their operations in Mindanao and against the Cotabato Moros (the Buhahayens, and their alliance wit h the king of Terrenate, Moluccas) after withdrawing from the Tampacan and Lumag uan area (present-day Cotabato), and burning their fort and settlement there (wh ich was founded by Captain Estevan Rodriguez de Figueroa in February, 1596), the n left Captain Juan Pacho (or Paches) behind to man it before returning to Manil a. February 1596 - Mindanao Island (Cotabato) is first settled by the Spaniards: "While these things were happening in Camboja and Cochinchina, orders had arrive d from Espaa from his Majesty to conclude an agreement that Captain Estevan Rodri guez de Figueroa had made with Gomez Perez Dasmarias, under which the former was to pacify and settle the island of Mindanao at his own expense, and receive the governorship of the island for two lives {58} and other rewards. The said agreem ent was effected, after certain difficulties that arose were settled. Don Esteva n Rodriguez prepared men and ships, and what else was necessary for the enterpri se, and with some galleys, galleots, frigates, vireys, barangays, and lapis, {59 } set out with two hundred and fourteen (214) Spaniards for the island of Mindan ao, in February of the same year, of ninety-six (1596). He took Captain Juan de la Xara as his master-of-camp, and some religious of the Society of Jesus to giv e instruction, as well as many natives (from Luzon island) for the service of th e camp and fleet. He reached Mindanao River (in Cotabato), after a good voyage, where the first se ttlements, named Tampacan and Lumaguan, both hostile to the people of Buhahayen, received him peacefully and in a friendly manner, and joined his fleet. They we re altogether about six thousand men. Without delay they advanced about eight le guas farther up the river against Buhahayen, the principal settlement of the isl and, where its greatest chief had fortified himself on many sides."11 November 1596 - La Caldera Presidio is built and garrisoned: Juan Ronquillo is sent to Mindanao and takes over the command there, but being d iscouraged by the outlook advises an evacuation of the river of Mindanao (locate d in modern-day Cotabato) and the fortifying of La Caldera (in Jambangan, now ba rrio Recodo in Caldera Bay) on the Mindanao coast. However he gains a complete v ictory over the combined forces of Mindanaos and Ternatans, which causes him to send another despatch to (Governor Francisco) Tello. But the latters reply to the first despatch having been received, in accordance with its orders he burns his fort in Tampacan (Cotabato). Then after burning their fort and settlement, the Spaniards embarked all their f orces as soon as possible, left the river, and went to La Caldera (in Jambangan, now barrio Recodo in Caldera Bay), twenty-four leguas farther down in the direc tion of Manila. Having entered port, they built a fortress and left there a garr ison of one hundred (100) Spaniards, with some artillery, provisions, and boats for their use. After establishing a garrison at La Caldera, he returns to Manila with the rest of his command."11

It is curious to note that while official Spanish records show the year 1596 as being linked to the reference of La Caldera in Zamboangas history, there are al so other writings that note the year 1569 as being the year the La Caldera fort was established. While this year has no recorded account as being what it is pur ported to be, the numerical date ending does lend to a possible visual impairmen t called dyslexia, wherein original numbers are transposed, in this case noting 96 as 69, thus 1569. So, historically speaking, 1569 cannot be substantiated as the date the Spaniards established their presence in La Caldera, making the year 1596 the historical La Caldera year according to official Spanish records. It is also feasible, and highly likely, that the prominently exposed area of Jam bangan was discovered much earlier (in 1575) by the Spaniards, whose location la y at the very tip of the western peninsula of the Mindanao island, and whose sea passage (which is now known as the Basilan Straight) is the most logical naviga ble route of the Spanish ships, and those of many other country origins, includi ng the nearby Joloans, Mindanaoans, and frequent Chinese traders. In 1575, the newly appointed Filipinas Islands Governor and Captain-General Doc tor Francisco de Sande, who succeeded after the death of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi , the colonial founder (the islands were discovered by Ferdinand Magellan) of th e Filipinas Islands and the town of Cebu, personally led an expedition to the is land of Borneo where he attacked and captured the enemys fleet and the principa l house and residence of the islands king. 1575 Mindanao exploration by Governor Sande possible first Spanish encounter of Jambangan place and people "When the news of the entrance and conquest of the Filipinas Islands by Miguel L opez de Legazpi, and of his death, reached Espaia, his Majesty appointed as gover nor and captain-general of the islands, Doctor Francisco de Sande, a native of C aceres, and alcalde of the Audiencia of Mexico. The latter journeyed thither, an d took over his government in the year one thousand five hundred and seventy-fiv e (1575). Among other enterprises, the governor made in person the expedition to the islan d of Borneo with a fleet of galleys and frigates.{27} With these he attacked and captured the enemy's fleet, which had come out to meet him. He captured also the principal settlement, where the king of the island had his house and residence. After a few days he abandoned it (Borneo) and returned to Manila, on account of sickness among the crews, and his inability to support and care for the Spaniard s in that island. On the way back, and by his orders, Captain Estevan Rodriguez de Figueroa entered the island of Jlo; he came to blows with the natives and thei r chief, whom he conquered, and the latter rendered him acknowledgment and submi ssion in the name of his Majesty. Captain Figueroa commanded the Governors fle et of galleys and frigates, with more than 1,500 Indian bowmen from the province s of Pangasinan , Cagayan, and Pintados, according to San Agustins accounts. Thence Governor de Sande went to the island of Mindanao which he explored (most probably the peninsula tip of Jambangan , which is the closest and first area of Mindanao island you see coming from the island of Jlo - see map), reconnoitering its river (possibly the formerly great "Tumaga " river) and chief settlements ( the barangay Tetuan was formerly a sizeable river delta community called "Lama-L ama" by the natives in honor of their chief named Datu Lama). On his way he redu ced other towns and natives of the same island, who had been pacified, to friend ship and alliance with the Spaniards (it should be noted that no captured Joloan s or Mindanaos ever signed a friendship or alliance pact with the conquering Spa niards - they only acknowledged and submitted temporarily to Spanish authority, until the Spaniards departed or became weakened)."11

It is popularly written that the earliest Spanish settlement of Jambangan dates back to sometime in 1593, when a Catholic mission was established in the La Cald era area. This common story is however unsubstantiated in any official historica l account by Spanish records or any other means. It would be interesting to find out how this aspect of local founding first came about. Regardless, we will pre sent our own analysis of how the La Caldera Mission came to be established in 15 93, according to actual chronological events in the same year, bridging the wide gap between local fact and fiction. The Society of Jesus missionaries are widely known for accompanying the fleet of Spanish soldiers during their missions for prayer support of the troops and pac ification of natives in their newly conquered territories, and especially in the establishment of Jambangan. The Jesuit order first came to the Filipinas in 15 80, founded by fathers Antonio Sedeo and Alonso Sanchez, who were personally sele cted for accompaniment to the islands by newly appointed and the first bishop of the Filipinas, Don Fray Domingo de Salazar, of the Dominican order, during the administration of Governor Don Gonzalo Ronquillo de Pealosa .11 During this same term period of 1580, the king of Spain had assimilated the king doms of Portugal after Spain defeated Portugal in the Battle of Alcantara in Aug ust 25, 1580, uniting the previously divided New world of maritime exploration a long the demarcation line as directed by Pope Alexander VI in May 4, 1493, and o fficially implemented with the signing of the Treaty of Saragossa between Spain and Portugal in April 22, 1529. The aforementioned Spanish victory will bring ev er closer the happenings in the Filipinas and the beginning of La Caldera, as it lead to the eventual joint Spanish-Portuguese expeditions against their long-ti me nemesis in the kingdom of Terrenate and their Dutch protectors. After August 25, 1580, the King of Spain and his newly conquered Portuguese empi re, "ordered the governor of Manila to maintain good relations with the chief ca ptain of the fortress of the island of Tidore, in Maluco, and to assist him when necessary, he sent a fleet and soldiers thither from Manila, under command of C aptain Don Juan Ronquillo del Castillo. This he did at the request of Diego de A zambuja, chief captain of Tidore, for the expedition and conquest of the island of Terrenate. But after reaching Maluco, the expedition did not succeed in its o bject. {28} Thenceforward, supplies of men and provisions continued to be sent f rom the Filipinas to the fortress of Tidore." 11 In order to better understand Spain's conquest of the Filipinas in 1575, and the s ubsequent zeal for Christianizing the island archipelago and its diverse inhabit ants by the various Orders of Spanish priests sent there, in spite of the fact t hat the islands were not a profitable venture for the Crown, we need to look bac k way back into Spain's ancient history. Spain only began its existence as a singl e country on October 17, 1469 when the independent kingdoms of Aragon and Castil e united after the marriage of Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella of Castile. P ortugal used to be part of Castile until after a then count Alfonso was proclaim ed the first king of Portugal, and subsequently declares independence from Casti le on July 26, 1139. Early on, Spain used to be a conglomeration of states and k ingdoms. One of its states Gibraltar was invaded by Tariq ibn Ziyad in 711 A.D., beginning the 900-year Moorish conquest of Spain, which was ironically first se ttled by the Iberians from a Libyan tribe in North Africa. The Moors were Arabic Muslims of Africa, and their Islamic religion was spread far and wide into the Christian society of Spain. Islam transformed Spain into a Muslim kingdom, and i ts 900 years of influence will live long and prosper like no other conquerors be fore or since. The citizens of Moorish-Spain during this time period were essent ially "Moros," and they were the forefathers of the "Spaniards" who conquered th e Filipinas. The mere thought of encountering the Moros of the Filipinas and the ir Islamic religion made the conquering Spaniards' blood boil with revenge, and th e Catholic priests' zeal burst with religious conversion and complete assimilation

of all Muslims. Whether they liked it or not, the blood that ran deep in the ve ins of the Spaniards, and the Mindanao and Sulu pirates, was the same ancient " Moro" blood that was spilled between them "brothers against brothers!" Neverthele ss, no matter what the significance of the link may be, atrocities were committe d by everyone, and profit was made by many. Today, all this travel through ancie nt Spanish and Moorish history brings us to a place we simply call home Zamboang a, La Bella Ciudad de Flores!